What price,economy? by Niky Tamayo

What price, economy?

A lot of people seem to consider greenhouse emissions consideration numero uno in guiding the direction in which automakers need to go in the future. As a happy coincidence, lower carbon dioxide emissions also equate to greater fuel economy.

And yet, the alternatives available to consumers to lower emissions and increase economy are either unpalatable to the common consumer or too expensive.

A car like the Suzuki Alto will get you up to and over the 30 km/l mark, but concerns over safety and useable space turn off buyers looking for something more like their Toyota Corolla.

A Toyota Prius will also do over 30 km/l, but it's twice as expensive as said Corolla, as well.

In Europe, buyers have long had the diesel option, yet locally, diesel cars are the exception, rather than the norm. While modern common rail diesel SUVs and compact SUVs are quite popular, diesel cars are less so. The trouble is that modern diesel cars cost more than their gasoline counterparts. Only Hyundai and Ford are bothering to attack this market. While Ford has the benefit of a local factory, which gets them tax breaks, Hyundai has to make do with CBU (completely built up) units from Korea.

Which is why the Elantra never really got off the ground. Will the i30 be any different? One would hope so. The i30 doesn't break any new ground as a motor vehicle per se, but the economy of that 1.6 liter diesel cannot be denied.

EDIT: As an aside: Why do people always seem to think that journalist review economy is any different from user economy? It's not like we go out of our way to game a car's economy to make it look great. Far from it, in fact. Most "motoring journalists" drive like maniacs.

Just because I get higher numbers than you doesn't mean I don't know anything about measuring economy (in fact, quite the opposite)... it just means my route is less congested than yours and that I drive gentler.

No two people will ever get the same economy. I don't get the same economy on different days. On the Focus TDCi, for example, I got as low as 7 km/l on one 3 kilometer school run (though this was done long after the review), averages of 11-13 km/l in traffic on our regular 20 kilometer commute, 9-11 km/l in heavy traffic on a 15 kilometer trip, and 20 km/l on the highway.

Some people see the highway numbers, do a run in rush hour traffic, taking an hour to go just two or three kilomters, and think we're pulling these numbers out of our butts. We're not. Your driving route sucks. Buy a bicycle and get over it.

Seriously... unless you're driving for little kids or old ladies... what's wrong with walking or biking?

Review: Hyundai i30 CRDi 1.6 MT The Sensible Choice - By. Niky Tamayo

	Review: Hyundai i30 CRDi 1.6 MT The Sensible Choice Words: Niky Tamayo Pictures: Niky Tamayo	Over the past decade, Hyundai has made a name for itself in the Philippines as a leader in diesel technology. Isuzu may have been first to the market with the 4JX1 Trooper, but the Starex was the poster boy of the common-rail revolution. With the Getz, Matrix and Accent, Hyundai made a good stab at bringing the revolution downmarket. Yet while the Accent gained a small but significant foothold in the rental/taxi market, the Matrix died off due to concerns over CBU costs (when the factory moved to Europe) and the Getz diesel never really panned out, and was cancelled. Still, with the Accent on one end and the Tucson, Santa Fe and Starex on the other, Hyundai has most of the diesel market covered. Except for one vital segment: The compact class. Now, before the Focus TDCi came out, our last taste of diesel in a mainstream compact was with the Isuzu Gemini. Way back in the seventies. You’d think that there’d be pent-up demand for a vehicle with compact-car convenience and diesel economy, but when Hyundai pitched the Elantra diesel, they didn’t find enough interest to convince them to sell it. Ford found buyers for the diesel Focus, but only in the rarefied 2 liter market segment, and even then, it sold slowly till they released the Powershift variant. Somehow, most people don’t get the connection between manual transmissions and fuel economy... shame on them. And yet, the TDCi is still too much car for the common buyer. Will the i30 be the car that bridges the gap between the Focus and the Accent? It’s certainly a good looking car. There are shades of BMW and Ford Kinetic design in the rear, and the front is suitably handsome. Both gasoline and diesel variants come with rather modest shoes, with the diesel having the more modest of the pair. To keep pricing reasonable, there are a few things on the gasoline i30 that the diesel lacks. The 17” mags are the most obvious. The automatic transmission is the most telling. Beautiful character line you have back there... no, I wasn't staring at your derriere, miss... Not that that’s such a bad thing. With a manual transmission, the 1.6 CRDi is just about adequate. It gets to 100 km/h from a standstill in 10.6 seconds... 11.1 if you’re gentle with the clutch (and the excessive wheel hop on launch is a convincing argument for restraint). It takes just 6 seconds to go from 60 km/h to 100 km/h. Quicker than most 1.6 liter cars, but not quite as quick as some of the better 1.8 to 2 liter gasoline competition. The engine doesn’t really feel like it’s trying until you hit 3000 rpm, and power falls off well before it hits its 5000 rpm rev limiter. With the gasoline 1.6 AT? Don’t even ask. Just be assured that it goes when you push on the right pedal, and stops when you push on the left one. But then, speed isn’t the i30’s selling point. Economy is. With a mere 1.6 liters and a manual transmission, the CRDi i30 promises to be more economical than the Focus TDCi. And in this, it doesn’t disappoint. That 10.4 is "around-the-block-fuel-economy"... which translates to: Niky's too lazy to walk two blocks from his house to the photoshoot... what? Did you want me to push? Maintain a constant 80 km/h, and you can exceed the Focus TDCi’s 20+ km/l, with the i30 hitting up to 23 km/l. Too bad we didn’t have the time or budget to do an all-out eco-run. We dearly wanted to see if we could hit 30 km/l. Foreign publications have reported numbers in that region on long runs... but we never had a chance to run unhindered by traffic. In traffic, we got around 11-12 km/l, and in normal highway use, we got between 13-14 km/l. Not much different than the Focus. The leaner torque curve of the i30 meant we had to use more revs to keep the pace up. With the Focus, you can just surf that giddy wave of torque from just off-idle and up to traffic speeds. Instruments and stack neat and functional... Note the individual seatbelt warnings. Child-friendly. Despite the traffic, the i30 is a relaxing cruiser, quiet and refined. It has good highway legs and predictable brakes and munches up the miles easily. The seats are supportive without being stiff, and the tilt-and-telescoping wheel allows you to find a good driving position. While the steering is too light and overboosted at low speeds, the speed sensitive power-assist comes into its own at highway speeds, making the i30 hands-off-the-wheel-stable on the highway. The variable assist rack is a fair bit more linear and natural than the one in the Kia Soul, which feels like it’s either on full assist or completely off. Kids, don't try this at home... The other controls aren’t so great. The clutch is annoyingly light and the gear-shift is way too rubbery. Such issues are minor complaints on the similar i10, but as the i30 costs nearly twice as much, you’d think the control quality would be kicked up a notch in this department. At least the door controls avoid Hyundai parts binning. In fact, they’re quite nice. Better than the Tucson's switches, actually... Unlike the i10, the i30 isn’t tuned for outright handling. In fact, it feels almost like... gasp... a Corolla. The suspension is soft and buttery, and there’s a lot of initial body roll in hard cornering. Despite this, the shock absorbers are well-controlled and don’t bounce helplessly over bumps. The handling itself is neutral, with very little understeer and a stable rear end, despite the modest grip levels of the 195-65-15 Kumho Optimo tires. This is the diesel, mind you. The gasser has bigger and better wheels, and steers sharper as a result. Unfortunately, the gasoline variant is saddled with a four-speed automatic that also feels eerily Corolla-like in its smoothness and unwillingness to perform. I guess it’s obvious what car Hyundai benchmarked the i30 on. Not just child-friendly, child-seat friendly, too. The i30 is a bit more spacious than other hatchbacks in the class. It’s got better rear headroom than the Ford Focus hatchback and the trunk is usefully large. The rear bench folds flat to give you a huge cargo bay, but you have to flip up the rear bench to get them to lay completely flat. It’s a fiddly operation, at best, and it’s not the neatest looking solution, but it works. Too bad we didn't have a refrigerator to deliver that week... Despite the lack of such niceties as leather, big wheels and body-kit that you can get on other top-of-the-line compacts, the i30 is pretty well-equipped. It comes with front airbags and a full compliment of side curtain airbags, automatic climate control, MP3-player compatibility and steering wheel audio controls, ISOFIX child seat mounts, a manual headlight-levelling system, light dimmer, heated mirrors, a weight-sensitive passenger airbag (good if you have kids) and individual seatbelt warnings for each passenger. Oh, and brakes equipped with both ABS and EBD. Did I mention the vanity lights? They're everywhere! Lotsa airbags, too. While it’s not the perfect compact car, the i30 is a cerebral choice. The gasoline variant is relatively pricey but incredibly well equipped. The diesel variant gives you all of this plus incredible fuel economy. Unfortunately, buyers at the high end of the compact market expect a little sportiness to go with the convenience, and the marketing value of the sporty “2.0” badge should not be underestimated. Still, if you’re more concerned with saving fuel (and the planet) than setting speed records, the i30 deserves a spot on your test-drive list. The Good Great economy (with the CRDi) Fully loaded Comfortable ride and interior Solid feel, nice plastics The Bad Lacking in performance A little pricey Rubbery controls Not much more economical than the more powerful Focus TDCi The Verdict Not quite the homerun the i10 is, the i30 is nonetheless a solid car. CRDi variant as green as motoring gets. http://motormanila.blogspot.com
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niky		Posted: Sunday, June 27, 2010 9:35:41 PM
Rank: Formula 3 racer Joined: 11/10/2006 Posts: 5,210 Location: Manila, Philippines		Counterpoint: Hyundai i30 CVVT 1.6 A/T Words & Pictures: Carlo Sapera Even though the Philippines has always been sedan country, a lot of car makers are now offering lift-back booties in their line-up. Hyundai has three, the i10, the Getz, and now, the i30. Targeted at the Ford Focus, the i30 really stands out in a crowd. The exterior styling is a big leap from Hyundai’s previous boring and bland designs. The i30’s styling has now levelled-up, and it wouldn’t look out of place amongst European hatchbacks. Interior quality has also taken a big leap from the old days. I love the feel of the door inserts and sidings, and the dash lay-out is very European. Everything is easy to reach; from the power window switches to the audio controls. The blue-colored display is nice at night but quite difficult to read in day light. The seats are supportive and the lumbar support is fine. Both front and rear passengers will enjoy the leg and foot room. The i30 is a real luggage eater, too. An average sized person can fit in the boot comfortably. (Karl? Average? - Niky) On the road, the 120 bhp 1.6 liter powerplant needs more punch. It actually feels as slow as the 1.6 Mazda3. The transmission is also quite lazy. You have to manually shift it into third gear in order to overtake buses on the highway. The steering is smooth and sharp, better than the CRDi version, thanks to the low profile tires. For music lovers, the i30 has both aux-in and USB slots for I-Pod/MP3 users, plus audio controls on the steering wheel. Speaker and sound quality are at par with the Corolla Altis. The Hyundai i30 gasoline version is priced at 995,000 pesos; quite high for a 1.6 liter compact. Blame it on CBU taxes slapped on Korean cars. If not for this, the i30 would be perfectly placed to compete with its Japanese counterparts. http://motormanila.blogspot.com
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carlocaraddict		Posted: Monday, June 28, 2010 12:59:04 PM
Rank: NASCAR racer Joined: 11/22/2006 Posts: 2,303 Location: Japan		will still go for the CRDi hahaha!! dont judge a car unless you have driven it! bigbigcar.com..THE NEW HOME OF THE MAKATI MENYEKS!! carlocaraddictsworldofcars.blogspot.com
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mazdamazda		Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010 8:27:20 AM
Rank: NASCAR racer Joined: 11/20/2006 Posts: 2,940 Location: Bulacan		Finally unearthed the pictures of the i30 1.6L... sorry for the late post! How a well-stitched quality leather seats can vastly improve a car's interior. Not to mention the stainless steel finish of the automatic transmission stick. The smart-looking integrated sound system and automatic climate control unit. ESP... not sure if you'll be needing this for the 1.6L CVVT unit, but it's good to know that you have one. Rear legroom is quite good actually... can even fit in 4 adults if needed. The full size spare tire with all the necessary emergency tools neatly held in place.

Honda Jazz:media's choice for fuel-efficient car

Interesting read on the wheelsmodo.com/ site.
The Honda Jazz is the undisputed choice among the motoring media in the area of fuel efficiency and functionality for three years in a row. During the 2010 Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards night held at the Valle Verde Country Club, the Honda Jazz was recognized as the Most Fuel Efficient (under gasoline class) and Most Functional Cabin vehicle under the media’s choice category. The Auto Focus Media’s Choice category gives honor to automotive players with high quality products that provide best amenities, safety features and ride comfort.
Revolutionizing the concept of small cars, the Honda Jazz has outdone competition in terms of interior space and functionality with its versatile ULTRA seats. Powered by the i-VTEC engine, the Jazz also delivers outstanding fuel economy without sacrificing power output. Packed with numerous innovative technologies, it is no surprise that the Honda Jazz has gained worldwide popularity that reaches cumulative sales of over 3.5 million units since its debut in 2001.

Isuzu Crosswind runs 1,190 km on 1 full tank

Isuzu Crosswind runs 1,190 km on 1 full tank

By ANJO PEREZ

August 6, 2010, 9:30am

IPC senior vice president Art Balmadrid and Isuzu Isabela branch manager Marissa Mijares flag off the Crosswind for the second leg of the Isuzu Challenge.

An Isuzu Crosswind filled with 55 liters (one full tank) of Caltex diesel fuel was able to travel a distance of 1,190 kilometers during the second leg of the Isuzu Challenge which ran from Isabela to Quezon last July 13.
Isuzu Philippines Corp. just concluded the second leg of the Isuzu Challenge, wherein a stock Crosswind XL ran a total of 1,190 kilometers on just one full tank of Caltex Diesel w/ Techron D.
Driven by Domingo Escarieses and navigated by Anthony Pegarro, both of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), the Isuzu Crosswind which is powered by a 2.5-liter 4JA1-L turbodiesel engine, took off at 8 a.m. from the Isuzu dealership in Isabela along the Maharlika Highway.
With a gross vehicle weight of 2,180 kilograms, the Crosswind passed through Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Tarlac all the way to Southern Luzon before stopping in Quezon.
The Crosswind finally ran out of fuel in San Isidro, Tagcauayan, in Quezon after traveling a total distance of 1,190 kilometers for an average fuel consumption of 21.64 kilometers per liter of diesel fuel.
The result was verified by Rommel Millora, director of both Transport and Traffic Consultants Inc. and the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines.
“This run proves once again that the Isuzu Crosswind is the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its class,” said IPC President Ryoji Yamazaki. “With the proper driving techniques, the Crosswind is very much capable of yielding such fuel mileage even in real-world driving conditions.”
At the same time, IPC confirmed that a contestant who joined the Isuzu Challenge Guessing Game correctly guessed the mileage and won for himself a brand-new Crosswind unit.
The winner of the guessing contest — 27-year-old Ryan Dexter Pinpin Dizon from Angeles City, Pampanga — is a loyal Isuzu customer. Prior to joining the Isuzu Challenge promo, he had been an owner of an Isuzu Hi-Lander and only recently bought a new Crosswind Sportivo. By guessing the exact total mileage of 1,190 kilometers, Dizon won a brand-new and tax-free Crosswind unit.
The third and last round of the Isuzu Challenge, featuring a D-Max pickup, is scheduled to run on Oct. 20. The person who can guess the exact mileage or the closest without going over of this run will win a brand-new D-Max unit. The guessing period will be from July 14 to Oct. 19. Contestants may register and submit their guess on the promo website www.isuzudieselmission.com.ph.
The Isuzu Challenge is sponsored by Caltex Diesel with Techron D and Freego Jeans, supported by JVC, AVT, Centro Manufacturing Corp., Home Depot, Smartlink, Matabungkay Beach Resort, Monde Nissin Corp., and Magnolia Fruit Drink Health Tea Beverages.

Link to the original article is here

Gas Saving Tips

The price of gasoline increases everyday, and it doesn't stop. It continues to rise even as you read this article. However, there are gas saving tips that you can do to be able to save some money and maximize your use of gasoline.

Buy your gas first thing in the morning or late at night. Gas is denser at a cooler temperature. You will be getting more for your money when you stock up your gas in the morning or late at night than stocking up during the day.

Compare gas prices within your community and look for the one that offers the best value for your money. Here's a hint - you can check gas prices online. This way you will not need to drive out just to compare prices in your area. This will surely help you save some gas, too, right?

Keep your car well-maintained. Cars in top condition do not consume too much fuel. Tune your car regularly so that your fuel consumption will be reduced by 20 percent. Always check the condition of the tires, too. Make sure they are inflated and aligned properly. Under inflated tires will increase your fuel consumption by 6 percent. Another important parts of your car that need to be monitored are your oil and air filters. They need to be changed regularly in order to keep your car running smoothly. The overall health of your car greatly influences your gas consumption.

When driving, always stay within the speed limits. If you are driving too slowly, you will consume a lot more gas. If possible, you should sometimes use overdrive. This will help save fuel as well as improve the wear on your car engine. When you go out, make a list of all your errands so that you will be able to get all of them done in one go. Remember that you consume too much fuel if you keep on cold starting your car engine.

These are just a few gas saving tips that will help you save money and maximize your fuel stock. Gas prices are increasing to ridiculously high prices these days and of course, it is important to save money whenever you can.

About The Author

Luke Cameron is owner of Auto News Inc. - an online magazine offering news, tips and articles on automotive related topics. His website can be found at: http://www.autonewsinc.com

Most fuel-efficient cars

This list is lifted from thethe supercars website. It would be interesting if such configuration would be affordable to the masses in the Philippines.

Best Gas Mileage Cars - Top 10 List:
1. Toyota Prius: 48 City/45 Hwy, Base Price: $21,100. 1.5-liter, 16-Valve VVT-i 4-Cylinder engine with 110 hp, 0-60 in 9.8 secs. The most fuel efficient car on the market is the Toyota Prius, also the most demanding car in the U.S. Most dealers will charge you an extra $2000 for this car because it is rare and Toyota just doesn’t make enough of it yet. A small sedan, but roomy enough for 5 and it is perfect for those that drive over 100 miles a day to work.

2. Honda Civic Hybrid: 40 City/45 Hwy, Base Price: $22,600. 1.3-liter, 8-Valve, SOHC, i-VTEC® 4-Cylinder engine with 110 hp, 0-60 in 11.3 secs. Second on the list is a Honda Civic Hybrid, perfect for those Honda's fans that hate the Toyota Prius. 5 seats sedan with an electric motors, allowing you to save money on gasoline.

3. Smart for Two: 33 City/41 Hwy, Base Price: $11,590. 1.0-liter 3-cylinder runs on high-priced premium fuel with only 70 hp. Small, affordable 2-seat car that has a small engine, capable of saving you a lot of money.

4. Volkswagen Jetta TDI: 29 City/40 Hwy, Base Price: $20,000. 2.0-liter, 4-Cylinder diesel engine with 140 hp. Run on clean diesel and it is expected to hit the U.S. market by August 2008; the 2009 VW Jetta TDI actual performances may vary.

5. Nissan Altima Hybrid: 35 City/33 Hwy, Base Price: $25,170. 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder gas engine with 158 horsepower. A midsize sedan made for the Nissan lovers; a bit sportier than most hybrids.

6. Toyota Camry Hybrid: 33 City/34 Hwy, Base Price: $25,350. 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder with 192-horsepower, reaching 0-60 in 8.9 secs. If you love the original Camry, then you should try the Camry Hybrid because it has better fuel economy and it can be a big saver after a few years.

7. Ford Escape Hybrid (tie): 34 City/30 Hwy, Base Price: $26,640. 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder with 155 hp. Along with 2 other SUV, The Ford Escape Hybrid is the most fuel efficient SUV in the world.

Mazda Tribute Hybrid (tie): 34 City/30 Hwy, Base Prices: $25,310 . 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder with 155 horsepower. If you want an SUV that can save you money on gasoline, why not get this Mazda?

Mercury Mariner Hybrid (tie): 34 City/30 Hwy, Base Price: $26,955 . 2.3-liter, 4-cylinder and 155 horsepower. A small SUV that can be a little pricey, but it will make up for it cost in the long run.

8. Toyota Yaris vs Toyota Corolla. Which Toyota vehicle would you rather own? The Yaris is definitely a better buy, but it is smaller than the average sedan and it functionality is very limited.
Toyota Yaris: 29 City/35 Hwy, Base Price: $11,350.

Toyota Corolla: 28 City/37 Hwy, Base Price: $15,250.

9. Mini Cooper: 28 City/37 Hwy, Base Price: $18,700. Engines: 118hp 1.6 L I4. A small vehicle that can also be purchased as a convertible.

10. Honda Fit vs Ford Focus vs Honda Civic. Which do you prefer out of these 3 cars? All 3 cars are under $16,000 and they will get you around 30-miles per gallon of gas.
Honda Fit: 28 City/34 Hwy, Base Price: $13,950.

Ford Focus: 24 City/35 Hwy, Base Price: $14,395

Honda Civic: 26 City/34 Hwy, Base Price: $15,010

Special Car - Honda Civic GX (run on natural gas): 24 City/36 Hwy, Base Price: $24, 590. 113-hp, 1.8-Liter, 16-Valve, SOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine. This is probably the most fuel efficient car because natural gasoline costs less than $1.00 a gallon. However, this isn't on the top 10 list because it is currently only available in NY and CA and it is very limited. You probably won't find a natural gas pump at your regular gas station, that is why Honda sells an at home pump you can plug into your home's natural gas line. A full tank (8 gallons) can travels approximately 170 miles and fueling stations are very limited; make sure to plan your trip correctly if you own a Civic GX.