Frequently asked questions

Having been a motoring journalist for almost 20 years, I have been a recipient of an innumerable amount of queries and questions pertaining to just about every aspect of the automobile. Of the myriad questions I have been asked, five have been among those that have been asked me most frequently. Here they are in no particular order:

Are Korean cars really at par already with Japanese cars?

The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” True, the Japanese—particularly Toyota and Lexus—may still be the most consistent in terms of quality and reliability (as reflected year in and year out in the respected J.D. Powers surveys), but the Koreans—specifically Hyundai and Kia—are easily at par, or perhaps even superior, to other global makes; not just from Japan, but from Europe and America as well. 

Is it wise to buy a used car? How do I make sure I don’t get ripped off?

While it is always better to buy a brand-new car, budget limitations compel a vast number of car buyers to shop second-hand. And while there are no official numbers to reflect just how many used cars change hands every year, it might be safe to assume that it numbers more than brand new cars sold annually (which is in the quarter-million mark).

So, yes, it is wise to buy a used car. Of course, it is pretty much a caveat emptor (buyer beware) affair. Which means that if you have a limited knowledge about cars—or if you can’t tell if a shiny used car has been involved in an accident or has been flooded—then it is best to have yourself accompanied by a knowledgeable friend or even a mechanic who can tell the difference.

It would also help a lot if you can make the purchase from a reputable used car dealer, especially if they can offer even a limited warranty in writing. But don’t be surprised if they refuse to offer that, especially if the car is over three years old. Many car manufacturers’ warranties expire after three years, so if the manufacturers themselves won’t warrant the cars, it’s hard to expect used car dealers to do so. The same applies if you’re buying from a private seller. Just make sure that they allow you to thoroughly inspect the car and to let you test drive it. If they won’t let you, walk away—even if, or make that especially if, the price seems too good to be true.

Which car brands are the most fuel-efficient?

While some car brands may be associated with being fuel-efficient—Toyota seems to spring to mind for many—fuel economy is primarily a function of engine efficiency. Which basically means that it all depends on the type of car and the type of engine it has. If you want maximum fuel efficiency in a gasoline engine, then the small hatchbacks and subcompact sedans with their small engines are for you. Needless to say, the bigger the car, the bigger its engines gets; ergo, the lower its fuel economy will be.

The fuel efficiency champions, however (at least those you can buy off a dealership now), are the hybrids and those with diesel engines—particularly ones with state-of-the-art common-rail direct-injection (CRDi) diesel engines. So far, only Toyota, Lexus, and Honda offer hybrids locally. Passengers cars with CRDi engines range from most of the luxury brands (Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo) to the Hyundai Accent Hatchback. All pickups and most SUVs (Montero Sport, Fortuner, Alterra, Everest, Tucson, Santa Fe, Sportage, Sorento) come with CRDi motors as well. (Apologies to those I’ve missed.)

Special mention goes to the newer gasoline engines of some Mazda models, which with their SKYACTIV technology, boast compression ratios as high as those of diesel engines, endowing these cars with fuel efficiency higher than that of most traditional gasoline engines.    

Are locally assembled/manufactured cars inferior in quality to imported ones?

The answer is a resounding, “No!” Locally assembled cars go through the same quality standards as their imported counterparts. True, we may not have the same level of automation and robotization in our local plants, but that is more a function of manufacturing volumes than anything else. A manufacturer needs volumes in the tens of thousands to need—and justify the cost of—robots; something the local car industry still doesn’t have. But, again, the lack of robots doesn’t imply the lack of quality. Just ask Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, who still make cars principally by hand.

Besides, quite a few locally assembled cars are exported to other markets, which means that yes, Filipino workmanship is world-class.

Is it advisable to have my car serviced at gas stations or neighborhood talyers while it’s still in the warranty period?

This is a question I’m asked too often. And I can’t blame the people asking them. While cars nowadays are exceedingly competent and reliable, the dealerships servicing them are still woefully a far cry from the very products they sell in terms of quality service.

Personally, I veer away from dealerships—even if my own car is still under warranty. First of all I hate waiting, even for just a number which they place on top of your car—something I don’t have to undergo with my neighborhood talyer or gas station.

Secondly, I don’t appreciate not being able to approach my car to watch it being worked on. I understand that this policy is mostly for customers’ protection and safety, but I would really rather be able to see actual parts being replaced. I’ve heard too many horror stories of parts swapping or parts not being replaced at all to last me a lifetime. Besides, it irritates me endlessly to sit in a customers’ lounge and see my car far off in the distance just sitting there with no one working on it. This never happens in a talyer or gas station. Some so-called five-star service centers even go on a lunch break and actually sleep on their work stations while customers silently fume over all the wasted time.

Third, dealerships almost always perform needless checks and/or service jobs that are definitely unnecessary (i.e. engine flushes, synthetic oil, etc.). Oftentimes they do this without giving the customer a chance to opt out of the service. And the price premiums may be shocking to say the least. 

That said, if you have a brand new car—whether it’s a luxury European make or an entry-level Asian brand—and you just want to make sure that the warranty is not void, then there really is no choice but to take your car in for regular preventive maintenance service (PMS). As they say, don’t hate the player, hate the game. Once the warranty expires, then it’s your call.

If you have car-related questions, email [email protected] and I will try my best to answer it.