The fuel tank is half full

Self-important "VIP" convoys. Chaotic U-turn schemes. Rising fuel prices. A fiscal crisis. Okay, we’ve got a lot of bad things to complain about from behind the wheel. But rather than rant once more about why driving in this country is such a pain, I thought I’d list down some good things about it for a change. Here’s what I could think of…

1. "Economical" doesn’t have to mean boring. Or embarrassing. In the past, a fuel efficient car also meant "underpowered", "cheap", and "unexciting’, a car best for taxicab duty. Economy cars today like the Toyota Vios, Chevrolet Aveo, and Honda City/Jazz are well-built and fun to drive. You wouldn’t mind being caught dead in one of them, or fueling them up. A recent Jazz test drive impressed me with 15.38 kilometers per liter of unleaded, driven in EDSA weekday traffic with the A/C at full blast and with another passenger on board.

2. Globalization produces better cars. The sexy Mazda3, successor to the Familia/Protégé, shares its platform with the Volvo S40 and Ford Focus. The breeding shows with precise steering and suspension tuning, and a very European cabin, despite the fact that it’s a Japanese make. The Chevrolet Optra is another example, mistakenly criticized as just being a "rebadged" Daewoo Nubira. Daewoo, at least the shoddy Daewoo company we first became familiar with, went bankrupt before the Optra came about, so it’s just a GM brand now. A result of GM’s takeover of Daewoo (they got all the good parts like the high-tech R&D centers), the styling is by Italian styling house Pininfarina, the suspension tuning is British (I suspect Lotus, because Lotus has historically done that work for Daewoo), the "D-TEC" engines are based on Opel motors but tuned by Holden (GM’s Australian brand), and the transmission was designed by Saab engineers and manufactured by Aisin of Japan. Philippine Optras are manufactured in Thailand, but it’s also manufactured in South Korea as the Daewoo Laseti and Suzuki Forenza (for export to the US), and in China as the Buick Exelee. The result is a very nice, solid, well-built car with a sense of style, value and performance that should meet the expectations of most people wherever in the world that it’s sold.

3. Road courtesy is not passé. There are jerks and there are jerks, but once in a while, it’s nice to encounter a motorist who gives way at intersections or when you’re pulling out into a busy street. Practice road courtesy and the favor will be returned sooner or later. What’s 10 seconds lost to someone signaling a merge into your lane anyway?

4. "Premium" doesn’t have to mean European anymore. It used to be that you had to be seriously wealthy to enjoy an indulgence like a six-cylinder engine or a solidly built car. Sensing a small but prestigious market for value-conscious, well-to-do buyers, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda have come up with fully-loaded 3.0-liter V6 models that don’t breach the P2-million mark. The engine upgrade, along with other features like drive-by-wire throttles and High Intensity Discharge headlamps, puts these cars into near-luxury levels of drivability and comfort. Unless you’re dead set on buying European and willing to spend more than 2 million on a car that may not even have the spaciousness of a Camry or Accord, these Japanese have got a great deal for you.

5. Food is everywhere. Trips out of Manila are almost always punctuated with breaks at mega gas stations on the SLEX or NLEX. The fuel-up takes five minutes, the eat-up at resident fastfood joints can take up to an hour. Starbucks, Jollibee, McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King… try looking for these on the highways of Japan or Korea.

6. Traffic enforcers can be reasonable, hardworking people. Give these guys a break. It’s no joke toiling under the sun in a cheap, stuffy uniform inhaling traffic fumes and getting the ire of motorists every working day. Some are corrupt, but there are also some who’ll let you off with just a warning if they see you’ve made an honest traffic mistake and aren’t about to confront them with a self-righteous attitude. In three years, I’ve been stopped for swerving and crossing a red light, all of these my mistake. Reasoning that the lane lines weren’t clear and that buses blocked my view of the traffic lights along with an embarrassed mea culpa, I was let off without even a hint of a lagay. Just a nice, friendly warning.

7. The "people’s car" will be back. Columbian Autocar Company will soon introduce the Picanto hatchback. I first saw this econocar at the Hyundai-Kia headquarters in Seoul and thought it looked cute and practical. Here’s hoping the model that makes it here will be something the average buyer won’t mind being caught dead in.

8. Some taxi drivers aren’t so bad. We’ve heard the horror stories, but once in a while the traffic angels bless us with drivers that bring you to your destination, no questions asked. They even have interesting points of view about GMA and BF. And of course, some make the headlines when they return valuables and money (lots of it) to forgetful passengers. Don’t forget to tip them.

9. The Park n’ Fly really works. Two months ago, my scheduled ride to the airport didn’t arrive (girlfriend overslept). I drove to Park n’ Fly in record time with no idea what to expect. An attendant asked me to check in with flight details and other info while they parked my car. A shuttle brought me to the airport 10 minutes later, then picked me up on time when I came back two days later. I specified a body wash as well, and the car was safe and clean when I arrived. I only had to pay less than P600 for the whole service, about as much for a two-way airport taxi service, but minus the hassle and with the comfort of one’s own car.

10. The pickings are good. If you’re in the market for a new car and have a budget of less than P1-million, you’ll have no shortage of good choices. This is a far cry from just five years ago, when newer players like Chevrolet and Mazda had yet to enter. Combined with low interest and downpayment plans, and assuming you’ve got the financial stability to buy/finance a new car, the manufacturers are tripping all over themselves to sell you their car. And you, of course, have the luxury of getting the most value out of your hard-earned peso.

After Manny delos Reyes’ exposé on the rude Autobahn owner two weeks ago, we’ve been getting tons of texts on rude automotive shop owners and rude drivers left and right. Maybe if we keep exposing them, they’ll be more sensitive and/or more courteous. Here are some of the exasperated messages we got...

Autobahn still at it. Can we do something about it? — 09174004507 (We’re letting other people know about Autobahn’s unprofessional practices through Backseat Driver. How’s that for a start?)

To Manny, I had a simlar experience with Autobahn. Good thing they encountered a journalist to expose them. Expose more good and bad shops for the public’s information, please. — 09198336624 (Yes, sir!)

Gray Mitsiubishi Galant with plate number TEU-222 worse than ill-mannered public utility drivers. Cuts off people on purpose — how rude! — Rey T., Makati City (You know what Rey, I think the same discourteous dude cut me off once, too...)

"Re-educate" all public utility drivers, tapos ang problema natin sa traffic. — (Hmm, probably not if we have more of the kind of private vehicle owners like Rey T.’s best friend in the gray Galant...)

I had my own Autobahn at Wilancor at Araneta Avenue. The lady cashier scowls and slams your change. — 09178459239 (Any other bad experiences on this one? Keep the text messages coming in!)

Law enforcers are law breakers themselves. Just observe the police and the MMDA bike riders, they don’t wear helmets! Only in the Philippines! — Lito G. (Sounds like a topic we can actually tackle in a future column.)

Lester Dizon’s "Unsolicited Advice" drew some unsolicited reactions from our other Backseat Drivers, too. Here are some of them...

Amen to Lester Dizon’s "Unsolicited Advice". We agree with your suggestions 100 percent. You should be the LTO Commissioner, then driving will be awesome. — 09164468576 (Lester, kamag-anak mo ba ito? But seriously, those were some sound suggestions...)

Regarding Lester Dizon’s article "Unsolicited Advice." I agree with all he says. Its time the LTO instilled more discipline in all drivers. (Lester Dizon for President!) — 09274037745

What’s the name of the "automobile association that will fight for your rights as motorists"? Any branch here? — Albert Dacer, Bacolod City (So, Lester, does AAP have a branch in Bacolod?)

You’re right, politicians ought to quit it with those annoying billboards! — Joseph, Pangasinan (Like we said, sound suggestions...)

Attention concerned government agencies! Backseat Drivers have a mouthful to say about many of our established systems and practices.

Can the LTO do something about motorcycles without headlights and backlights traveling at night? Very rampant in General Santos City. — 09177145097 (Yeah, do something!)

Emission testing is good provided it serves its purpose. In our case, it only becomes an additional burden to vehicle owners. — 09205532302 (Sounds like something we can tackle in a future column, too...)

The Empire State Building took 14 months to bulid. One side of the Sevilla Bridge at Kalentong in Mandaluyong — three lanes and about 20 meters long — also took 14 months to build! — 09178459239 (Duh...)

And finally, our esteemed columnist Butch Gamboa also drew a reaction — for something he didn’t write!

Why is is that Butch Gamboa no longer has Pit Lane Notes in his column? — 09175164416 (We’ll answer this one for Butch. Sometimes he puts it the Pit Lane Notes, other times he doesn’t. He isn’t really required but if you’ll notice, more often than not, Pit Lane Notes comes out after the races.)

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 2333 if you’re a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber or 334 if you’re a Smart or Talk ’n Text subscriber.