Motoring Today Column

Apr 27, 2022

What is the best advice one could give to someone who is having difficulty picking the perfect vehicle to buy? Test drive and compare.

Get behind the wheel of the vehicles one plans to buy and get the car that feels and rides right for one's needs and preferences.

If you're in the market for a sedan, a hatch, SUV or, perhaps, a pickup, and can't decide which brand or model to finally plunk that reservation fee on, there's a perfect place and time to test drive and compare.

And one can do it back to back to back to truly see the differences or similarities of the models one is thinking of buying.

After a two-year absence, the Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival is returning to the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds come May 26 to 29.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic locked down communities and put a stop to a lot of fun events and activities, the test drive festival was a much awaited summer affair that helped many finalize choices for buying cars, or try out vehicles they aspire to one day have in their garage.

Many automakers and distributors have signed up to participate in the four-day test drive festival. These include Changan, GAC Motor, Geely, Isuzu, MG, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, and Toyota.

Toyota Veloz Coming

A new vehicle that one can surely test drive at the festival is the All New Toyota Veloz.

The Veloz is the newest member of Toyota's already extensive SUV lineup.

Just before the formal launch of the Veloz, Sherwin Chualim, Toyota Motor Philippines first vice president for vehicle sales operations , said: "Previously known as the top grade variant of the Avanza compact MPV range, the Veloz has evolved to become a new standalone brand ready to claim its position as a sub-compact SUV of choice for customers seeking new adventures."

The Veloz should be one of the many vehicles that auto enthusiasts should be curious enough to test drive at the coming Auto Focus Summer Test Drive Festival.

Free Fuel Promo

Another vehicle that would be available for test drive at the festival is the new Mirage G4, among the many options in the highly competitive subcompact sedan market.

But unfortunately, if one finally decides to get the Mirage G4 after a test drive at the festival, it won't come with free 4,000 pesos worth of fuel.

Until April 30, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines is giving away free fuel for every purchase of the Mirage G4 and the L300.

Explaining the reason for the promo, Takanobu Suzuki, MMPC executive vice president for sales and marketing , said: "We want our customers to have a pleasant start to their ownership experience by preserving that delightful moment when their new Mitsubishi is released from our showroom. This exclusive fuel package is meant to help with that so they can have an unforgettable first road trip with their New Mirage G4 or first business delivery with their L300 care of us."

Still, Mitsubishi could extend the free fuel promo beyond April 30.

German Summer

Are we in for a hot summer of vehicles sales? Volkswagen Philippines certainly hopes so.

Volkswagen is offering easy-to-own financing plans of low down payments, low monthly amortizations, or zero down payments for its lineup of German-precision vehicles until June 30.

And for a limited time, Volkswagen is also offering substantial discounts for select vehicles, from the Santana MPI MT which can now be had for only P550,000 from P686,000 to the subcompact crossover T-Cross 180 MPI AT S which can be bought for P1,068,000, down from P1,098,000.

To find out more on Volkswagen's summer promo, check out its www.volkswagen.com.ph webpage.

New Coding Madness

The summer should also see motorists getting heated over MMDA's new coding scheme meant to reduce the number of vehicles on EDSA and other major Metro Manila thoroughfares.

In essence, the new coding scheme will see vehicles banned from using EDSA and other major metro thoroughfares during afternoon and evening rush hours for two days of the work week from Monday to Friday, depending on the end number of their license plates.

Under the new scheme, the MMDA said private vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2 must stay off major roads during the evening rush hour of Monday and Wednesday; 3 and 4 every Monday and Thursday; 5 and 6 every Tuesdays and Thursdays; 7 and 8 every Tuesday and Friday; and 9 and 0 every Wednesday and Friday.

What should get private vehicle owners more heated is that public utility vehicles like buses, jeepneys, taxis and transport network vehicle services aren't covered under the new number coding scheme.

Still the MMDA expects the tweaked coding scheme to be implemented beginning on May 16 to reduce the volume of vehicles on major roads by 40 percent.

Happy Motoring!!!

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