Once more, with feeling

First off, let’s set things straight. The logo above reads "backseat driver" specifically because this is an opinion column shared by this writer, regular contributors Manny de los Reyes, James Deakin, Lester Dizon, Andy Leuterio, and pretty much every man and woman who bothers to read and send in their comments on the stuff we write. As such, opinions, which by nature ought to vary, will necessarily abound where issues raised in this space are concerned. So, you may or may not agree with what we have to say, but you can be assured that we’ll keep on writing our own opinions down because that’s what we’re tasked to do. (You aren’t tasked to text in your opinions, but of course we welcome them.)

Now that all that is out of the way, let’s get down to business. I wrote that little introduction/reminder exactly because we are once again forced to voice out our vehement objection to the importation, conversion and sale of right hand drive vehicles from other countries into our hapless shores — a sensitive issue, no doubt. We are forced to do so because it is becoming more evident by the day that the practice won’t stop any time soon. Yes, many of the backseat drivers out there will disagree with what we have to say (and many will surely text in their objections) but we will, as we have before, stand by our assessment of the situation. Here’s why…

First off, I will stand by the legitimate auto industry that I have sworn to help promote. As legitimate taxpaying entities, the embattled Philippine based auto industry players are forced to go up against self-serving, tax-evading, law-manipulating opportunists who have little (or no) regard for the laws that ought to govern us all. While the legitimate players are saddled with heavy taxes that necessitate adding premiums to their sales packages, these blokes can drop the prices of their products and pretend to champion the "poor" among us. These same opportunists will, however, conveniently forget about delivering peripheral services and warranties due to the consumer once they’ve taken the hard-earned Pesos away from our willing countrymen. Understand this, however. In life, you will always get what you pay for. Scrimp on your next big investment (after your real estate) and you’ll get some pretty disappointing service and performance down the line.

Next, quality control will always be an issue where converted vehicles are concerned. Someone once told me that he’d bought an SUV-ic (a term motoring journalists coined to refer to converted vehicles that come in through our free ports) and was satisfied that he’d spent money on it. He argued that he did have cars from legitimate auto manufacturers as well and that his SUV-ic performed just as admirably. He even told me that he probably knows more than I do where these vehicles are concerned since he has first hand experience with them when I had none. I congratulated the guy for having found one of the few converted vehicles that are probably going to serve their buyers well. I also told him that he is the first person to tell me that he’s completely satisfied with his SUV-ic because the ten or so SUV-ic owners I’d spoken to before him complained of faulty steering response from their admittedly cheap but poorly converted vehicles. Here’s how I see it from this perspective — personally, I will not take that risk. I will not buy a vehicle whose safety features I am not confident of because my family rides in the vehicles that I use. Frankly, I love my family too much to subject them to such risks. So, no, I probably will never get to know what it’s like to be behind the wheel of an SUV-ic. If you have purchased an SUV-ic and are confident that your family will be safe in it, then that’s your choice.

Finally, I make the value for money argument. A converted vehicle is definitely cheaper, but will the vehicle serve its purpose in the long run given your actual budget? See, essentially, what you’re getting with an SUV-ic is a vehicle that is perceived to be of better value. A converted Mitsubishi Pajero will cost around half of what a locally sourced, tax-paid, left-hand-drive version will. So for half the price you still have your Pajero, right? Everything seems fine and dandy, right? Let me ask you this. What’s wrong with getting a locally sourced, left-hand-drive version Mitsubishi Adventure, then? With a similarly priced Adventure, you’ll probably get a newer model with warranties, one that can most probably provide better fuel economy numbers — which is probably what you can afford to begin with given your budget for the purchase of the car. Your car may not look as great as the next Pajero does but that’s what your budget can realistically afford anyway — and there is absolutely no shame in that.

Or, if you really want me to spell it our for you, given P750,000, I would rather buy a brand new Suzuki Swift that get a right hand drive converted into left used BMW 316i that was shipped in from another country. I just think that the new yet modest Suzuki is a lot more practical, realistic and safe for my use than the admittedly more beautiful but converted BMW — and I have absolutely no issue with that.

Sorry, folks, but this is one issue that is just not debatable from my perspective. You can have your opinions about how the vehicular trash from other countries ought to be acceptable in the Philippines because we are still progressing but you can never expect me to join the bandwagon. No, sir. I’ve seen how progressive countries embrace change and prosper along the way. What they do is take in the new and kick out the old — vehicles included. As long as we continue to take in crap and show that we are satisfied with the crap, the countries who are looking to move forward will keep throwing their trash our way. Sorry, but no crap for me. Thank you.

So, that’s this backseat driver’s stand on this issue. Come on. Let’s see those text messages, baby.

Last week you had your fair share of comments and suggestions. Here are some of them…

I can’t comprehend what gives people the privilege or the right to drive through traffic with bike riding escorts, sirens and megaphones. 09196614259 (We can’t either.)

Are jeepneys exempted from the seatbelt law? If not, then apprehend violators. — 09274933374 (They are not exempted but are allowed to use the two-point lap-belt, which is why they seem to violate the seatbelt law when not all of them do.)

Comment to 09209269180 re: 40-60 seconds stop on Roxas Blvd. This is to allow time for pedestrians to cross. Some are on wheel chairs. — 09184129789

Please make a comparative review on the different vans like the Hi-Ace, the Urvan, the Starex and the Pregio. — 09175086424 (We will, soon as we get to test drive them all.)

My son drove home with one headlight and was apprehended and given a ticket by the MMDA. Some jeepney drivers don’t use headlights at all but are not apprehended. — 09185074963

The government should ban SUVs and gas guzzlers. Promote MCs and bikes. Singapore has done it, why can’t we? We reduce fuel demand and pollution. Why wait three years? — 09185195335 (Sound suggestion but realistically, there are two reasons why it’s almost impossible to do what Singapore did in the Philippine setting. First, freedom of choice is not something the Pinoy motorist will easily give up. And second, there is a need to educate those who would want to use bikes — and this would have to be a long-term project.)

The DPWH failed again. It’ll be rainy season soon but EDSA from Cubao to Makati is still in bad condition. Tapal-tapal nalang palagi! — 09178946153

Speak out, be heard and keep those text messages coming in. To say your piece and become a "Backseat Driver", text PHILSTAR<space>FB<space>MOTORING<space>YOUR MESSAGE and send to 2840 if you’re a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber or 334 if you’re a Smart or Talk ’n Text subscriber or 2840 if you’re a Sun Cellular subscriber. Please keep your messages down to a manageable 160 characters. You may send a series of comments using the same parameters.