Quickie Used Car Review - Chevrolet Spark (2006-2010)

Welcome to our quickie used car reviews, in which we will summarize our car reviews to three sections: the overview of the car, the variant that you should get, and the associated maintenance costs. Links to the full review will be posted here.

2006-2010 Chevrolet Spark

The Good: Can go with ease around town, headroom is decent

The Bad: Engine needs to work hard, limited cabin space

The Say: Rivals outdone this hatch in every aspect.

Go For: 1.0 LT
Avoid: 0.8 badged as Matiz

Price Range: P150,000-P200,000
Our Rating: **

Full Review: Used Car Review - Chevrolet Spark (2006-2010)
Latest vehicle profile: Chevrolet Spark

See the different versions of this vehicle:
2006-2010

Car Features - American Branded Cars Not Sold in the US

Whether you like it or not, the American car market is still one of the largest vehicle buyers across the globe, although China had been buying more cars than the US of A just a decade ago or so. The Detroit Three had gone through good and bad times with some of them churning out great and mediocre vehicles and some cleaning up unsalable brands.

Nowadays, debates of whatever is considered as an "American" car are widespread, since vehicle components are built in every part of the world for final assembly. Japanese manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda have plants in the US, while GM and Chrysler assemble some US market vehicles in neighboring Canada and Mexico. Outside, Ford is active in Europe and is doing well while the other two struggle, Buicks are best sellers in China, and General Motors owned a lot of brands and uses different names for every market. However, not all places they do well especially Ford is reported to pull-out in Indonesia and Japan and Chevrolet wasn't a success in the United Kingdom. Globalization had caught up them which means they have to adjust to a market's requirement and preferences.

In this article, we shall discover American branded vehicles sold in the Philippines which are not sold in the United States which covers brands like Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge. We are including the cases of the Ford Ranger and Focus which have two different versions aimed for markets outside North America, although the Focus' third generation model is the one model for all consumers and the Ranger still lives outside the continent. Another case is the usage of a US market name for a vehicle not sold there, which we will include in this list. Last one is whether that particular generation of the vehicle is not sold in the US market.

Used Car Review - Honda Civic (2012-2016)

Myk Belmonte checks out the subdued appeal of an otherwise sporty car.

2012-2016 Honda Civic

History
Everyone knew what happened in the latter part of 2008 with the global financial crisis crippling nearly every car manufacturer around the world. The Detroit Three (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler) went into serious trouble with two of them declaring bankruptcy and flying to the White House just to ask bailout money, the Japanese experienced falling sales despite their vehicles meeting the people's needs during that time, and the Koreans bucked the trend by having an increase in sales.

Honda developed the ninth generation Civic at the height of the global financial crisis in which led the company that consumers (during that time) wouldn't care about high end features and top notch quality as long as the vehicle was fuel friendly and affordable. That mindset cost them against several models such as the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra, which sold more in the United States and became more plushier and of high quality. Initial reviews were poor and Honda introduced a quick update for 2013 in the US. Different countries get different Civics of this generation like most get the sedan, Europe has hatchback and wagon versions, and the Type R is the remaining variant from the nameplate sold in Japan, as the Nippons prefer minivans and hatchbacks.

The Civic nameplate is one of the popular ones in the Philippines, especially it was Honda's best seller for several years and beating the Corolla in the sales race. Things went bad for Honda Cars Philippines as the latter part of 2011 they had to endure the crippling effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the flooding in Thailand, with the latter causing them stock depletion. Launched in February 2012 in the form of the EXI variant which featured stability control, side airbags, cruise control, back up camera, and 60/40 fold rear seats which was later on removed in models imported from Thailand that saw introduction in July of the same year. Updates occurred in May 2014 which was its mid-life change that had the upper models wear Modulo or Mugen bodykits and the deletion of the manual transmission while November 2014 had the manual and the non-bodykit variants return.

Value and Costs
Nowadays, you may score for a ninth generation Civic at the tune of P580,000 to P750,000. Unlike older iterations of this model that are commonplace in the used market, this one comes out a few times in the classifieds block and online selling sites. Do take note that Japan sourced models are a rare specie, since only a few were brought in and sold for a limited period of time, so if you were able to spot one for a low price you've got a winner here. For the Thailand imported units, better head for the facelifted units since these were better equipped than the older ones.

The good news for the 1.8 engine it is the same with the previous generation (albeit with slight differences) which makes maintenance costs somewhat lower while the 2.0 engine has some shared components with the CR-V. Like any car, do check the vehicle for any hidden quirks and problems since these may be a bargain point, slashing the overall price.

Exterior and Interior
You may know or not know this one but this one shrunk in size in all aspects which was one wrong move that they did in developing this vehicle, especially that cars aren't going smaller each time they are redesigned. Outside, you may tell it looks bland and designed during a lazy rainy day or worse, take a clay replica of the Civic FD and have some changes outside. Yes, some say this lost its mojo but think of this one as a rocker college dude who wears a suit and tie during their graduation ball, mellow and subdued. Facelifted models had the 1.8 E wear Modulo bodykits while the top end 2.0 EL gets Mugen ones.

It is the same banana when you go inside, gone are the daring and futuristic interior and in place is a more silent looking interior which has a luxurious appeal. Some details from the previous generation model were retained such as the two tier instrumental gauges which has two levels for the speedometer (don't worry, it is still digital) and the tachometer. New additional items for for this generation include rear folding seats, cruise control, and an LCD screen situated beside the speedometer which lets you view vehicle settings, audio settings, average fuel economy, or even the time. One negative inside are some cheap interior fittings, a step down from the predecessor.

Engine
Sure, the R18Z1 1.8 carrying 139hp at 6,500rpm and 174Nm at 4,300rpm and the R20A5 2.0 having 153hp at 6,500rpm and 190Nm at 4,300rpm are either carryovers from the FD Civic or shared with other Honda vehicles, but these are solid performers. One new feature is the ECON driving mode which adjusts the drive-by-wire throttle control unit to improve fuel consumption. Still, this vehicle is rev-happy and has that kick known for.

Driving Impressions
Does this one still drives like the older models? If we are to answer, although it has some sportiness in it, it drives more in the veins of a luxury sedan. The previous generation model was criticized for hard seats and its ride is on the firm side, good thing it received more comfortable seats and a softer ride although high speeds will punish you with lots of noise.

Verdict
Honda had experienced troubles and making some bad decisions which had cost them their reputation and image. Yes, it trades in the sporty image for a more mature image which caused some fans to look elsewhere. But in the end, Honda made an evolution by making it more mature than before, although this one lacked some character and appeal.

Used Car Review - Mitsubishi Fuzion (2007-2015)

For this Monday, Myk Belmonte revisits an old nameplate which failed for some reasons.

2007-2015 Mitsubishi Fuzion

History
Bet you don't know this one that China Motor Corporation, a motor company based in Taiwan, has a 14% ownership by Mitsubishi Motors. CMC also has a joint venture in Mainland China with Fujian Motor Industry Group and Mitsubishi themselves under the Soueast (South East Motor Company Limited) brand. CMC has a technology sharing contract with the Japanese brand during the 70s and still holds until today, with most of their vehicles are existing models of the three diamond motors which are adapted to Taiwanese tastes except for the Freeca (Adventure in the Philippines) and Veryca that are totally built up from the top.

Replacing the Freeca MPV is the Fuzion (or Zinger to our neighbors up north) in 2005, which rides on the chassis of the Mitsubishi Challenger/Montero Sport. This vehicle, despite being available for a decade, didn't receive any redesigns but updates involving the engine for emission purposes and an upgrade to a five speed automatic were made standard during its selling life. Before leaving this paragraph, we'd tell you the name was derived from an energetic person and not a meal from a popular fast food chain.

Toyota was laughing its way up with the Innova that was a blockbuster hit that replaced the archaic Revo back in 2005. Mitsubishi wanted to dent the market share of the leader by bringing in the Fuzion, which was imported from Taiwan rather than its supposed predecessor's local assembly. Sure it had the credentials and came clean but the lack of a diesel option killed this, and rumors abound it would replace the Adventure but things went the other way around. Two variants were made available, the base GLX and an uplevel GLS Sport.

Value and Costs
Philippine used car market conditions dictate that any high displacement gasoline vehicle would have low residuals, not good for the new car buyer. For any prospective Fuzion buyer, we are pleased to tell you that you can get one between P350,000 to P650,000 since these low resale values benefit the used car buyer more. Since you're buying used, pick the GLS Sport since it gets airbags, ABS brakes, leather seats, reverse sensors, and a DVD player.

Two recalls were issued in March 2012 for the steering column intermediate shaft and March 2016 for a faulty airbag inflator, so keep an eye if these were fixed or changed. Maintenance costs aren't that far between its main rival, the Toyota Innova in gasoline form but do take note since a 2.4 engine resides underneath may mean high fuel consumption.

Exterior and Interior
Looking outside, the Fuzion's tall body may be off for some but this one provides more headroom for the occupants inside. A sleek and streamlined exterior coupled with large headlamps and flared wheel arches makes this vehicle imposing than its direct rival. GLX models come with black door handles and puny 15 inch alloys while GLS Sport gains chrome door handles and 16 inchers.

An interior that is so large gives occupants more interior space for both humans (the third row is best reserved for children) and cargo, with the second row folds and tumbles to give more space. The GLX is basic enough to give you all power amenities, alarm, keyless entry, and fabric seats while choosing the GLS Sport rewards you with a nicer interior and leather seats.

Engine
Derived from the first generation Outlander is a 4G64 2.4 gasoline having 134hp at 5,250rpm and 203Nm at 4,000rpm which does not have any valve timing technology present. Despite the conservative numbers, the Fuzion pulls things well especially it has a torquey gasoline engine to boot.

Driving Impressions
An advantage against the Adventure is a car-like handling, thanks to the suspension setup which is similar to a car. While it is comfortable in total, it may turn to the firm side at certain situations. Overall, if you want a comfortable alternative to an SUV or any truck based vehicle, this is it.

Verdict
Mitsubishi may have studied the Innova well but fell flat on execution, which made prospective buyers go with the archaic Adventure or towards the direction of Toyota. Sure, it has the credentials by offering a van's space, a sedan's handling, and a tough chassis of an SUV but there is more than those.

Car Features - 10 Commonly Repossessed Vehicles May 2016

We all have that election hangover since Monday's polls and we all know who will be our next president while the vice presidential race has yet to be known. The ones who took advantage of the good economy who defaulted on their payments are present. This list aims to help buyers on which bank to go in finding a specific vehicle they want. Let us see after June 30 on how many vehicles will enter repo lots and if Duterte's administration will do good.

Do take note the list is accurate as of May 14, 2016. Sources include: PS Bank, Banco De Oro, RCBC Savings Bank, East West Bank, Unionbank, Maybank, BPI, and Security Bank.

See the top 10 of  the following months: October 2015, November 2015, January 2016, February 2016, March 2016, and April 2016. Original 2014 article here.

Used Car Review - Kia Sportage (2011-2016)

Seeing cars evolve is one thing Myk Belmonte does and is curious of this one.

2011-2016 Kia Sportage

History
Kia's first attempt to the sport utility race is the truck based first generation Sportage, which shares its underpinnings with the Mazda Bongo. It never caught on (even in its home country, it wasn't a best seller in the first place), especially that the Japanese excelled in this category and having a diesel engine didn't attract buyers. The second generation model which is now based on the Hyundai Elantra platform and is the sibling of the Tucson, was a better attempt and didn't have the teething problems of the past but was relegated to the second tier level. It wasn't until the third generation model that its appeal became mainstream and now in the playing field.

Released months after its Hyundai Tucson platform-mate, the Sportage is virtually the same in every aspects except for several items inside and out. Just like its corporate cousin, it was a home-run for Kia in every country it was available and sometimes outselling Hyundai.

Filipino consumers had to wait until the middle of 2011 to grab their hands for the local release of the Sportage. Unlike the previous generation model, it became a first class choice among buyers of the segment. First models were the EX sporting the 2.0 engine in either front or all wheel drive while 2012 saw the launch of a sub-million pesos LX paired to a manual transmission in June, a more powerful 2.4 4WD having more options in July, and a front wheel drive diesel variant in October. LX models were made available as a downgraded model (which we will discuss in total later).

Value and Costs
Similar to the Hyundai Tucson, the cheapest models that you can find and buy is priced at P550,000 while choosing a late release model (2014 onwards) hover at the P900,000 thereabouts. As always, gasoline models do cost less than their diesel counterparts and Kia has their five year warranty, which makes things less worrisome. We'd warn you as early as now, equipment in several model years are less as you get in an old model.

If you're aiming for the front wheel drive models (which mostly comprise), do keep an eye on the stabilizer link and in general, some suspension quirks and drivetrain noise. Thankfully, parts are Hyundai derived and you wouldn't need to worry about it since the H badge sells more than the Kia.

Exterior and Interior
Audi's Peter Schreyer was a wise investment Kia had done, especially that his design language had done good to overhaul the image of the Korean brand; and the effect for the Sportage is a more sharp exterior which is complemented by aggressive looking head and tail lamps, daytime running lights (removed in 2014 models), and a rear window which has poor rear visibility. 2014 models had its DRLs and side mirror signal lights deleted and the following year had 16 inch wheels (than the 17 ones of the early ones), fog lamps, and roof rails gone.

As we said with the Tucson months ago, the Sportage suffers the same fate: a modern interior that is of high quality and a well assembled dashboard that has some of the bad pieces mixed in. Another niggle inside is the lack of storage space at the back, which is a trade-off for more space for humans than materials. Later downgraded models do not anymore have the trip computer, steering wheel controls, and make do with a plastic steering wheel.

Engine
Straight from Hyundai's engine stockyard is what powers the Kia Sportage. Initial models have the Theta II 2.0 having 165hp at 6,200rpm and 197Nm at 4,600rpm that was offered between 2011 to 2013/4 and an upgrade to the NU 2.0 resulted to 156hp at 6,200rpm and 192Nm at 4,600rpm. If you are aiming for the DLX it has a Theta II 2.4 that gives you 176hp at 6,000rpm and 226Nm at 4,000rpm while the diesel uses the R 2.0 engine which displaces 174hp at 4,000rpm and 392Nm at 1,800-2,500rpm. When it comes to overall performance, the 2.0 gasoline performs decently if you're picking the front wheel drive but somewhat struggles when paired to the all-wheel-drive, the 2.4 has much better power delivery even when combined with AWD. Choosing the diesel will reward you ample power and wide powerband, which is good especially it has power from two wheels only.

Driving Impressions
Yes, it may have the word "sport" in its name but driving impressions is far from it, especially that it has electric power steering that makes steering light but driving experience numb. Although the cabin has ample space inside, backing up is a trouble and the ride is firm for some people. Same symptoms with its Hyundai brother here, of course.

Verdict
The spot light all went to the Hyundai Tucson, but this alone does not make the Sportage a lesser model. Sure, parts are similar to each other as well as the good and bad traits, but differences inside and out make things interesting for the buyer and that makes it also an appealing option.

Used Car Review - MINI Clubman (2010-2014)

Have fun this month with something novel from Myk Belmonte that you can buy for less.

2010-2014 MINI Clubman

History
We all (or everyone) knows the success that BMW had when it purchased the MINI brand from the ailing Rover group back in the 90s, especially it launched a new model of the Mini Hatch at the turn of the millennium while killing the original one which shouldered on for decades. So successful that numerous spin-off models were made available years after which expanded to the likes of a convertible, coupe, crossover, and wagon body styles. One of the vehicles that we are going to review today is the MINI Clubman, the third member of the family born after the hatchback and its convertible derivative.

Launched in 2007 as a Mini Hatch variant, the Clubman name was first used as a facelift of the classic MINI back in the 1970s, while wagons of the same era use the Traveller or Countryman (the latter became its own model in 2010). This wagon (or estate, as fondly called by the Brits) became the first model in the MINI range to feature suicide doors but was dropped in its 2015 redesign. Just like most models in the brand, one can get the regular version, diesel engines, supercharged models, and the JCW. This model had a "Clubvan" variant, a vehicle designed for commercial purposes, added in 2012.

As part of the MINI brand launch in the Philippines, the Clubman was one of three models that the marque brought in. Just like any model in the stable, one can customize the vehicle to his/her desires from the exterior to the inside. It was dropped from the line-up in 2014, and two years later the second generation model saw local introduction.

Value and Costs
Sold to the tune of P2,150,000 when it was brand new, used ones rarely pop-up the classifieds block and you can get one for P1,950,000 for a locally released unit. Those sold via the grey market and private imports of old models can be obtained for less cash. Unlike the MINI Hatch, only the naturally aspirated and the suprcharged models were available.

If you aim for the supercharged models, make sure you drive it always to avoid carbon deposit buildup (yes, the main reason why you should drive). Another cause of concern if the previous owner had driven the car for a long time on low oil pressure which may take a toll on oil and timing-chain rattle.

Exterior and Interior
Obviously, the main differences here which we will first tackle lies with the exterior design since exterior length is longer than its smaller sibling and somewhat rides higher with a tall ground clearance. The magic here is its suicide doors which was mentioned in the preceding chapters, since the passenger side door swings out towards the opposite side which means easy ingress/egress for the rear seat occupants. Another case are the rear doors which open sideways as against the hatchback's upwards.

Just like what we mentioned in our previous MINI Hatchback review a month ago, stepping inside will give you a cabin that mixes the old and new. Bunches of circles are standard equipment and scattered around inside, with the centered positioned speedometer (which is large, by the way) being the highlight of the vehicle. If you are complaining with the space that the MINI Hatch offers you, rejoice since this one has lots of space but cargo room isn't that much.

Engine
Similar to its smaller brethren, interested buyers are only confined to one engine: a 1.6 but with two fuel systems. You'll encounter the naturally aspirated engine more often which powers the Cooper models displaces 118hp at 6,000rpm and 160Nm at 4,250rpm while going for the S rewards you 175hp at 5,500rpm and 240Nm at 1,600-5,000rpm on tap. Either of the two engines will satisfy your need for speed despite the added weight and size penalty but unlike the Hatch, only an automatic comes standard.

Driving Impressions
Some word of warning: handling and driving dynamics aren't that much close to the original Mini, no thanks to the added bulk and size. Although you may enjoy this one in some levels, you might not buy this for the fun to drive persona alone.

Verdict
Success means expanding a vehicle line without anything to dilute the original formula it was known for. BMW expanding the MINI line produced various results which meant some didn't live up and some were done well. The Clubman isn't something for everyone, since driving capability is compromised and the exterior styling favors the practicality in you.

Car Profiles - Honda Civic

HONDA CIVIC

After a lackluster ninth generation model, the tenth generation Civic rose up from the ashes by offering a turbo engine as a top model. Otherwise, good looks plus latest vehicle technologies come standard on a somewhat pricey vehicle.

The Good:
The Bad:

Price Range: P1,138,000-P1,643,000
Our Rating:

Last Update: January 9, 2018