mikek1

We purchased a car as soon as we arrived in the Philippines. It would be so difficult for us to not have a car. Carrying several bags of shopping would be difficult if we were to use jeepneys or trikes. We undertake a weekly trip from our province to a neighboring province. This itself would be very time consuming if we used local buses, even more difficult during the period of lockdowns as there are very few buses running.
Driving in the Philippines can be frustrating especially as its very slow due to poor narrow roads and constantly having to overtake tricycles. The other major concern is night time driving. There are no dual carrigways in our province or neighboring provinces so owing to drivers in the the opposite direction using full beam one is constantly dazzeled. This is particularly dangerous especially when you encounter vehicles, trikes without lights, and worse, pedestrians not taking any attention of vehicles.
I tend not to Drive long distances at night, and if we needed to purchase a small single item I walk into the Town to avoid potential parking problems.

Servicing of the car is not a problem, although it can be tedious due to all the unneccesary paperwork. The level of servicing is very good, much cheaper than the UK. The downside is that if a small item for repair ( simple fuse) is required thay generaly have no stock. Insurance is more expensive than the UK.No claims bonus does not exist.

mikek1

Used cars are very expensive in the Philippines. Cars that would be scrapped,in the UK Command a high price in the Philippines. If you need to buy a used car here, always ask for the Service history (CASA maintained). Any seller that as regulary had the vehicle serviced by a main dealer is unlikly to have tampered with the mileage. The mileage is recorded when serviced. New cars have didital mileage information, so winding back with a drill attatchment is not an option !

Gazza-d

My insurance has dropped a couple of k each year for the last two renewals. Granted there is no mention of a no claims bonus.

mikek1

Your car Insurance will drop owing to the depreciation of the cars value………especially in the first 3-5 years.

Gazza-d

A family friend put his car into a dealer to sell as they were returning to the UK for a few months. The car hadn't sold so arranged to pick it up. The dealer was late arriving and when he did turned up with the family on-board and miraculously about 15k less on rhe odometer. So it can be done.

mikek1

it sounds like the dealer was using your freinds car as a convieneint run around ! Yes the dealer could have changed the vehicle Binnacle although that would be expensive, depending on the car. The philipppines is no different to the UK when it comes to dodgy used car sellers…..the name Arthur Daley springs to mind !

Gazza-d

The equipment to adjust digital odometers are readily available and not expensive. Just check out Lazada.

sunnydays

We bought a new Avanza after a test drive and found it very flimsy in the build despite it felling "solid" in the test drive. The wings and side panels are probably fibre glass and easily dented. Insurance paid for 2 dents (my fault) and the paperwork for this included photographs and a description that needs a lawyer to sign.. What you tell the lawyer or write up is what you want, they'll sign anything reasonable for 300 pesos. There are some excellent body shops that produce good work for a fraction of the dealer rates.
An Isuzu Crosswind looked the ideal car for us with the accommodation and rugged looks plus nice chubby tires but the performance was lousy despite it labeled Turbo diesel. seats three in the front seats and the space inside is good. Couldn't cope with the poor performance, put your foot down an all you got was more noise! The family came from Manila to buy it and the lady with them said that some cars they'd seen had no paperwork! Her son in the UK told her to buy it because "they look after their cars in the UK".