My Christmas Wish List

If you regularly scan the major news sites like The New York Times, Washington Post, or LA Times, then you already know that most of the automotive news has been about the bailout package for the Big Three. So, of course the Bush administration has okay’d a “partial bailout package”, but left the majority of it for later – possible, if, when, however, depending on – to president-elect Obama.

The overriding question has been “What if it doesn’t work?” What if the Big Three (okay, Ford technically hasn’t asked for a loan yet... just said it needs access to one in case the other Two flounder) can’t get out of their jam by March 2009? Chrysler has already shut down its plants for a full month to cut production. Even mighty Toyota is bracing for the fallout, expecting to post a loss in Q4 and sharply reduced profits in 2009.

With the widespread financial crisis squeezing credit everywhere and impacting on sales, businesses are in sink-or-swim mode. But you know what? It’s Christmas. Time to re-inject a little faith in our lives and in the way things tend to work out.

Doomsayers can talk about the coming “Carpocalypse”, but I’m an optimist by heart. You have to be if you want things to happen your way. That said, here’s a Christmas Wish List for the coming new year. It’s a bit of a cliché, I know, but by luck of the draw I’m this week’s Backseat Driver so I thought I’d get it over with at least once in my life.

Wish #1: That hybrid vehicles become available next year, even in limited, by-order-only numbers. Toyota has ’em, Honda has ’em, Ford has ’em. Sure, they’re expensive, but they’re amazing “halo products” in this New Age of green. Now that we’ve seen the evils of oil, especially when fuel prices peaked at P60 this year, a car that needs less of it has nearly the same sex appeal as a sports car to me. And they’re a lot of fun to drive too... in a techno-geek sort of way.

Wish #2: That e-jeepneys hit a critical mass in the cities. They’re clean, they’re quiet, and can be just as colorfully cheesy as the noisy, smoky, jeepney that hails its roots to... wow... World War II.

Wish #3: That by some glorious miracle, the South Superhighway construction FINALLY gets finished. Done. Kaput.

Wish #4: That inexperienced motorbike riders stop weaving in and out of lanes and in between cars and blaming motorists when they get hit in a “blind spot zone” and do a face-plant.

Wish #5: That inexperienced drivers set their mirrors properly to minimize the blind spots and maybe, just maybe, avoid bumbling into another person’s lane or worse, hit another vehicle. Like a motorbike rider, for example.

Wish #6: That loud, forceful, horns become standard equipment on all new automobiles. In developed countries it’s rude to use the horn, but in Metro Manila it’s just one more form of “active safety” to keep wayward parties out of your lane. Would you believe even “macho” vehicles like the Mitsubishi Strada or the Subaru STI have horns that go “meep-meep”? Here’s how they should sound: “BOO-YAH!!!”

Wish #7: That all self-important government convoy drivers and security agents realize that the real money in their obnoxious sirens-and-blinkers method can be had in Iraq, where they will be paid in dollars by firms like Blackwater for driving like the @$$holes that they are. And that when they get there they appreciate that ticked-off civilians will think nothing of throwing bombs and shoes at them.

Wish #8: That AUX input jacks become standard equipment. Why, oh why, do top-of-the-line models have such excellent acoustics but still have no provision for the ubiquitous iPod?

Wish #9: That automotive product planners pay attention to the seats. Lumbar and thigh support are common failings these days.

Wish #10: That GPS maps finally become available. I love maps, but GPS takes road navigation to a whole new level. You’ll never get lost in a strange town again.

Happy Holidays!

Aw…while we’re at it, why don’t we let one of our Backseat Drivers say his wish out loud as well? Here’s a reaction that sums up how many felt about Lester Dizon’s Christmas wish list last week…

I wish all your wishes will come true for a better Philippines. – batang_porac

And here’s one pretty sound reaction as well from another reader who chose to comment on the never-ending BF Homes drama that our columnist Ray Butch Gamboa has been writing about for quite some time now…

The good mayor should remove the speed bumps leading to his village (Tahanan) since it causes traffic and benefits only his neighbors. He opened BF to the public but never removed speed bumps, hence traffic jams. – smoothe

Oh and smoothe, to answer your other question (which we didn’t print anymore)… yes, the local dealers should have a list of E10 compliant cars among their product offerings – at least ideally they should. Happy holidays and drive safely, everyone!

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.)