Our Quest for a New Vehicle

They say that in the world of car sales, August is the "Ghost Month". In the chinese calendar, sales are expected to drop and so promos are developed as contingency plan.

So, my husband and I went from one showroom to another with a plan: low down, long term.

We originally planned on getting another SUV. Our first car as a couple was a 1998 Honda CR-V. But a few months before we had the baby, we sold it off and drove a Toyota Rav-4. We recently gave it up and now we're in search for a sedan.

We test drove a few units and honestly, each car felt the same as the other. A few minor differences, but nothing major we were willing to put extra bucks on.

We thought that if we were to consider a Toyota, we'll go for the Corolla Altis 1.6E. Manual transmission, where you'll have more control. Toyota has problems, though, with the production. Units are getting sold fast and so right now, we'll have to wait for a unit to be available. It retails at around P780k excluding LTO registration, Insurance, O.M.A (One month deposit) and Processing Fee. The next to the 1.6E is the 1.6G (available in manual and automatic transmission), which retails at around P833k. But we found a good deal from an old friend who works for the Toyota Branch we were eyeing on getting a unit from.

Next in line would be a Mitsubishi. I had one when I was in college and not once did it ever let me down. It never spent a night or a day in the Casa, not just that it was well maintained, but performance? Superb. Price? Reasonable. The Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 GLX retails at P685k and the higher end, the 1.6 GLS CVT retails at P745k.

Finally, we test drove a Honda Civic. Sporty and fast, the Honda Civic not only fulfills its promise of ultimate driving pleasure, but a price tag that fits. The Honda Civic 1.8 V Manual Transmission retails at P858k and the automatic version is at around P898k.

For us, one of the most important things to consider when buying a vehicle is the rate. Whoever offers the best terms and whichever can accommodate a stroller, a car seat and an active baby, wins. The driving experience comes with it, still. But then if we think about it, they're all wheeled and can take you places, anyway.

We decided on the Corolla Altis 1.6E. We're releasing it first thing in the morning.