The best rides to combat high fuel prices

By: Charles E. Buban
Philippine Daily Inquirer



It’s almost unthinkable that your P100 is no longer enough to buy two liters of gasoline. There’s not much of a difference even if you’re filling up your ride with diesel.


Nowadays, the high cost of fuel definitely has become a factor in buying a car, influencing buyers to get a more fuel-efficient model or variant.

But which one?
Since 2002, the Department of Energy (DoE) has been organizing fuel economy drive events not only for its fuel-efficient driving campaign but also to provide a validated chart that may guide car buyers whenever they want to compare fuel consumption of various makes and models of vehicles.
But it was not until 2008 onwards that this annual event started to merit so much attention from the public.
The results proved useful even for car companies, especially those who would like to highlight their most fuel-efficient models.

Historic
In the 2009 edition, the DoE made a historic decision to fill up all participating vehicles with the more environment-friendly E10, gasoline variant blended with 10 percent ethanol.
This highlights the department’s effort not only to tell the public to consider models that are not only fuel-efficient but also one that could also reduce emissions.
These DoE tests also highlighted the fact that vehicles belonging to the same category carry different price tags (diesel variant is usually priced much higher than their gasoline counterpart), built as well as designed differently that a would-be car buyer should also consider the so-called “payback time” whenever he or she evaluates or compares models. Payback time refers to the point at which one’s savings on fuel will exceed the extra money forked over in order to get a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
Here are some models (with their corresponding fuel efficiency) that should merit your attention:
Suzuki Celerio subcompact hatchback (manual 1.0L gasoline)—34.34 km/L; you spend just P1.15 per km
Suzuki Alto subcompact hatchback (manual 0.8L gasoline)—34 km/L; you spend just P1.38 per km
Suzuki Celerio subcompact hatchback (automatic 1.0L gasoline)—21.92 km/L;
you spend just P1.80 per km

Chevrolet Spark subcompact hatchback (manual 1.2L gasoline/manual 1.0L gasoline)—22 km/L
Chevrolet Spark subcompact hatchback (automatic 1.0L gasoline)—19 km/L
Kia Motors’ Picanto subcompact hatchback (manual 1.1L gasoline)—20.8 km/L
Honda Jazz compact hatchback (automatic 1.5L gasoline)—27.58 km/L; you spend just P1.43 per km

Honda City compact sedan (manual 1.3L gasoline)—20.67 km/L; you spend just P1.91 per km
Ford Fiesta compact hatchback (automatic 1.6L gasoline)—21.86 Km/L
Hyundai Getz compact hatchback (manual 1.5L diesel)—25.22 km/L; you spend just P1.82 per km
Hyundai Accent compact sedan (manual 1.5L diesel)—23.38 km/L; you spend just P1.97 per km
Toyota Prius mid-size sedan (automatic 1.8L gasoline-electric hybrid)—24.23 km/L; you spend just P1.63 per km
Toyota Corolla Altis mid-size sedan (manual 1.6L gasoline)—15.48 km/L; you spend just P2.54 per km
Toyota Vios compact sedan (automatic 1.5L gasoline)—15.44 km/L; you spend just P2.55 per km
Ford Focus compact hatchback (manual 2.0L diesel)—21.39 km/L; you spend just P2.15 per km
Isuzu D-Max 4×2 pickup (manual 2.5L diesel)—20.57 km/L; you spend just P2.24 per km
Toyota Hilux pickup (manual 2.5L diesel)—19.12 km/L; you spend just P2.40 per km
Mitsubishi Strada 2×4 pickup (manual 2.5L Diesel)—18.57 km/L; you spend just P2.48 per km
Mazda CX-7 mid-size SUV (automatic 2.5L gasoline)—18.17 km/L; you spend just P2.17 per km
Isuzu Alterra 4×2 full-size SUV (manual 3.0L diesel)—19.44 km/L; you spend just P2.37 per km
Kia Carens multipurpose vehicle (manual 2.0L diesel)—19.25 km/L; you spend just P2.39 per km
Toyota Innova multipurpose vehicle (manual 2.5L diesel)—18.41 km/L; you spend just P2.50 per km
Isuzu Sportivo Asian utility vehicle (manual 2.5L diesel)—18.03 km/L; you spend just P2.55 per km
BMW 320d compact luxury sedan (automatic 2.0L diesel)—20.53 km/L; you spend just P2.24 per km
BMW X3 compact luxury SUV (automatic 2.0L diesel)—16.63 km/L; you spend just P2.76 per km
Volvo S40 compact luxury sedan (automatic 2.0L gasoline)—13.52 km/L; you spend just P2.91 per km

Those who love fast cars ridicule them, and those who admire SUVs find these two diminutive rides too claustrophobic for comfort. But things have changed. Increasingly worried over frequent rise in the prices of gasoline, Filipino car buyers have fallen in love with these two cute offerings from Suzuki that offers not only very low price tag but also higher fuel efficiency and lower running cost. And carmakers are quick to take note of this trend.

It should be interesting to note that another subcompact model proved that with small engine, compact and light weight body would result in fantastic fuel-efficiency rating. This time, Chevrolet Philippines teamed up with rally cross and rally racing events organizer Roadwise Motoring Foundation and Automobile Association of the Philippines to make the fuel-efficiency test possible.

The Picanto topped last year’s edition where the 28 participating vehicles drove 162.8 kilometers starting from DoE office in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City to Lipa City Hall in Batangas and back. This is the model that achieved a 26.2 km/L fuel efficiency rating in a field test conducted by Kia Philippines.

Apart from the DoE-organized fuel-efficiency run, the Jazz also made headlines in the Petron Xtra Mile Challenge especially in the 2008 edition, when an automatic 1.3 Jazz ran 1,402.4 km on a single tank of fuel. This figure broke the previous records set by motoring icon Pocholo Ramirez (1,114 km) in 2005 and Team Zayco Hermanos (1,400 km) in 2006.

The Fiesta recently made world headlines when this Ford gem traveled more than 800 km on a single tank of gas, driving from Chiang Mai to Bangkok in Thailand. Two models were used, 1.6L Fiesta Sport 5Dr hatchback model and 1.6L Fiesta Sport 4Dr sedan model. The Fiesta 5Dr Sport achieved a 19.79 km/L.

The Korean automaker has attracted the attention of car buyers, thanks to its models’ innovative, edgy designs. But even before this, Hyundai became famous for introducing diesel-powered engine in passenger cars here in the Philippines.

Introduced in 1997, the Prius has become the best-selling hybrid in the world with more than 3 million vehicles already sold worldwide. As the world’s first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid, the Prius helps curb emission levels or global warming carbon dioxide—by approximately 18 million tons—equivalent to what would have been emitted by gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and performance for 14 years.
Coming up with reasonably priced, long-lasting vehicles has made Toyota the best-selling brand here in the Philippines. What made the 2009 edition of the DoE fuel economy run more interesting for Toyota is the fact that these two models, belonging to two separate segments, finished with an almost identical kilometers per liter fuel consumption.

In the 2010 Ford Focus Coast to Coast Challenge (Sorsogon in Bicol to Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte), this model set a new fuel economy record of 25.9 km/L after covering 1,432.3 kilometers on a single tank of diesel.

These three heavy duty and ubiquitous diesel-powered workhorses from the country’s most trusted brands should merit car buyers’ attention because despite their powerful engines, they could still deliver great savings for their owners.

It’s interesting to note that in an Isuzu Philippines Corp.’s organized fuel-efficiency run held last year, a manual 4×2 D-Max averaged 24.26 km/L after running 1,844 kilometers on one full tank of diesel.

Another interesting result in the SUV category of the 2008 DoE Fuel Economy Run was the fact that despite its 1.775-ton weight and big engine displacement, the Alterra still exhibited an excellent mark when compared with the rest of the participants powered by more advanced or smaller displacement engines.

Looking for a reasonably priced family transporter? Consider these three top fuel misers as tested by the DoE.

Of course, the DoE fuel economy runs also invited a number of multimillion-peso luxury models. While fuel-efficiency rating would likely be the least of their would-be buyers’ concern, it is interesting to note that these three models made significant marks in besting their equally expensive counterparts.

Fear is the absence of FAITH

Voting starts to mount

Motoring Today by Ray Butch Gamboa
The Philippine Star
August 17, 2011

It’s quite interesting to watch and observe how the voting is shaping up for this year’s search for the motoring public’s most preferred automobile models in each vehicle category and the most popular automobile, the country’s “2011-2012 Automobile of the Year – People’s Choice”.

This year marks the 7th staging of Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards, which is presented by BDO Auto Loan in cooperation with Air21, the official courier and Caltex with Techron with media partner The Philippine STAR and the major participation of Vistamar Beach Resort & Hotel together with AGC.

Try checking out the voting website by logging on to www.autofocus.com.ph and see for yourselves the interesting and sometimes intriguing turn out of votes for each participating model that come from the various voting modes. This year voters can register their choices by electronically voting online (once for every e-mail address during the entire voting period) or at offsite voting centers located at designated Air21 outlets (once daily for every person) or through ballots (with valid dates) cut out from the motoring section of The Philippine STAR, which can be dropped in designated Air21 and Caltex service stations nationwide.

Aside from being easy and convenient, voting can also be fun because each time a vote is cast, the voter stands the chance of winning prizes. When you drop your STAR ballots or cast your electronic vote in Air21 designated outlets, you can draw a possible prize of a coffee mug, mini wall clock, ball pen, etc. It however doesn’t end there, as names of all those who cast their votes in whatever manner including online are automatically included in bi-monthly electronic raffles that give away more prizes that shall be delivered to the winners’ registered addresses by the official courier, Air21.

As of last Monday, August 15, this is how the volatile tally of votes looked like.
In the Sub Compact category, it appears that the Honda Jazz, which was the 2005 Sub Compact of the Year is pulling away with more than one hundred votes lead over the second placer BMW 1 series, which is up by seven votes from the Hyundai Accent, which is running 3rd. Votes from both Jazz and BMW 1 come from online, off site and STAR ballots.

In the Compact category, a neck-to-neck race for votes is going on with leads changing by the day between last year’s Compact of the Year, the Chevy Cruze and the Nissan Sentra with the Hyundai Elantra a far 3rd. Most of the Sentra votes come from online and STAR ballots while those of the Chevy Cruze come from online and offsite voters.

In the Mid Size Sedan category, the Nissan Teana has a significant lead over last year’s Mid Size Sedan of the Year, the Hyundai Sonata, which has almost the same margin over third running Honda Accord, which won the category title in 2006. Votes from online and The Philippine STAR come high for the Teana, with the Sonata having almost equal representation while the Accord has none from STAR ballots.

 

In the Large Sedan group, slight leads are being registered by the present top 3 contenders; namely BMW 7-Series on 1st followed by back-to-back Large Sedan of the Year (2008-2009) Porsche Panamera with Audi A8 on 3rd. We indeed still have a wide open race in this class.

The Sports Car category has a leading model with over a hundred votes lead. The newcomer Chevy Camaro at present comfortably leads the BMW 6-Series Coupe with the Hyundai Genesis, back-to-back Sports car of the Year (2009-2010) struggling on 3rd. The Chevy Camaro votes come from all three voting modes.

In the AUV category, the Toyota Innova, which won AUV of the Year in 2007 appeared for a while like running uncontested until lately with the Isuzu Crosswind, Tri-peat (2008-2009-2010) AUV of the Year closing the gap by the day running 2nd and the Mitsubishi Adventure inching on 3rd. Both the Innova and the Crosswind get their votes from all modes while the Adventure missing out in the off-site voting.

In the Compact SUV class, the 2005 winner Nissan XTrail has established an early lead in the voting but back-to-back (2009-2010) winner the Hyundai Tucson appears unrelenting in trying to catch up, while Triple winner (2006-2007-2008) the Honda CRV assuming the role of a dark horse. The XTrail’s voting strength comes from online and STAR ballots.

The drama in the Mid Size SUV group is the “tug-of-war” for the lead between the Nissan Murano and the 2009 winner Mitsubishi Montero with last year’s “Automobile of the Year”, Kia Sorento on 3rd but with votes consistently coming in.

In the Large SUV group, it’s the BMW X5 that’s on the lead over the Mitsubishi Pajero with the 3-time category leader (2008-2009-2010) Porsche Cayenne a close 3rd. BMW X5’s strength comes from online and off site votes while the Pajero has significant votes from STAR ballots and likewise online.

Among Minivans, the Nissan Grand Livina has surged ahead despite an early lead registered by the Toyota Alphard, which is now running 2nd significantly ahead of the Kia Carrens, which had the category title for 3 straight years (2008-2009-2010). The Grand Livina votes come strong from online and STAR votes while at the moment the Alphard has yet to see votes from the STAR ballots while the Carens has neither from offsite nor from the STAR ballots.

In the Full Size Van category, the Hyundai Grand Starex has not given up the lead from Day 1 of the voting. This could very well be their 6th domination of the class having won the title of Full Size Van of the Year for 5 straight years (2006 to 2010). Running second with presently half of the votes of the leader is the Toyota Hiace with the Foton View with a possible maiden appearance in the podium.

Almost a hundred vote-lead is presently being enjoyed by the 2-time title holder (2008 and 2010) Nissan Navarra over 2nd placer Mitsubishi Strada, which won in 2009 with the Toyota Hilux a close 3rd in the Pickup class.

The newly introduced Open category, which lists vehicle models that are not classified in any of the pre-established categories, the Volvo V60 is on the lead with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe coming closely behind and the Kia Soul looking like waiting in the fringes. Although votes for the Benz come strong online, Volvo’s evidently stronger offsite voters and STAR ballots make the difference.
In the race for the title of 2011-2012 Auto Focus Automobile of the Year – People’s Choice, here are the Top 5 as of Monday, August 15.
Nissan Teana
Honda Jazz
Chevrolet Cruze
Hyundai Accent
Mitsubishi Montero Sport

End of the voting this year is on September 30 with give-away prizes flowing for all voters.

Perfect Getaway Cars

Just as there are different kinds of out-of-town trips there are different types of vehicles. For some, the preferred weekend getaway is hiding out in a luxury resort to take a break from their high-powered city life. For others, traveling to the country's breathtaking nature destinations for outdoors is their idea of a getaway.

At Nissan, there is a perfect vehicle for every kind of getaway. Select members of the press were treated to Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. On-Road/ Off-Road Weekend Experience last July 15-16. The two-day itinerary took the participants from Manila to Clark, Pampanga to enjoy two unique weekend getaway vehicles.

On-Road Getaway with the TEANA

The drive from Manila to Clark was the perfect occasion to showcase the Teana's powerful 3.5 liter V6 engine, it's numerous luxury amenities and it's striking profile on the road.

The 3.5 liter VQ-V6 engine in the Teana is powerhouse. It has won a spot on WARD's 10 Best Engine's List for 14 consecutive years. The VQ-V6 is the only engine in the whole world to have done so. It is the same engine found in the venerable 350Z sports car. Nissan's racing heritage is clearly evident in the performance of Teana. 

Highway performance was characterized by lots of straight-line speed and super smooth shifting. There was no evident "shift-shock" as the Teana accelerated to high-paced cruising velocities. Nissan's electronic transmission technology clearly displayed it's advancements in highway driving situations. Along with this, the steering wheel adapted its level of responsiveness to match the Teana's traveling speed.

The handy cruise control is easily engaged in clear stretches of the highway. At this point the driver can relax a little bit and fully appreciate the car's interior amenities. The quiet cabin boasts of ventilated leather seats. Even the front passenger is provided with an ottoman-style leg rest. The Teana's interior luxury is a clever contrast to it's sports car capabilities.

Off-Road Getaway: X-Trail

In Pampanga, the weekend activities shifted to a different kind of driving experience. Things got interesting when it was the X-Trail CVT's turn to display its 4X4 capabilities.

The perfect venue was provided to test the X-Trail CVT: an off-road track. The participants were game to put the X-Trail CVT through its motions on every possible off-road condition. From wet, dry and muddy roads to steep inclines and sharp descents the X-Trail CVT showed its skills. The adjustable drive settings (4X2, auto and 4X4) proved highly engaging in rallycross tests and severe off-road portions of the track. In certain track instances, when a raised wheel loses traction, power was transferred to the 3 wheels remaining on the ground, it was clearly observed that the X-Trail CVT is definitely a capable go-anywhere, do-anything SUV. It even looked good covered in mud.

XTRONIC CVT Driving Experience

The X-Trail CVT, like the Teana, is equipped with the Nissan Xtronic CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission). In real world experience, this is the technology inside Nissan vehicles that provide powerful and smooth acceleration.  It enables the engine to stay within its optimal power range at all times. No drop in RPM is experienced when the transmission is shifting gears, which then provides no "shift-shock" for the driver.

The successful On-Road/ Off-Road Weekend Experience showcased both the Teana's and the X-Trail CVT's unique strengths while highlighting the real-world benefits of  Nissan's advanced XTRONIC CVT technology. 

Mr. Johnson Wang, Nissan Motor Philippines AVP for Marketing, Sales & After-Sales states, "We know motorists have varied preferences, aspirations and personalities, that's why we offer different vehicles that fulfill this desire for a perfect automotive partner." 

If you want to shift your weekend drives, Nissan has spirited models for your kind of getaway

               Be still and know that I am God..

It will heal...

The ones who waited all night for him to call, only to check your cell phone the next morning and be disappointed. The ones who made it through that bitter break up, dried your own tears, and moved on with your life, only to have him walk back in it months later like nothing ever happened. Those of you who cried on the first day you talked again because you knew exactly where this phone call was going. The ones who listened to him say, “I only want to be your friend”, one day, then listened to him say that he loves and misses you, and the next when he doesn’t want to be anything at all. Here’s to the ones that took him back, hoping that maybe this time, he was different, hoping that maybe people really do change.

We listened to our friends tell us that we were stupid for even thinking about giving him another chance, got crap from our parents, and even snuck around to see him even for a while. We went through the great stage with no fights all over again. We started this out thinking it would be just friends, and ended up falling in love with him again. We wanted nothing more in the world than to hear him tell us he loved us too, that even though things were bad in the past, they would be different this time. And when we finally heard it, it was like we were dreaming. This is for us.

Here’s to the ones who believed what he said, sat around all over again waiting for a phone call that might come in a few hours, or a few days. Here’s for the tears cried and dried all over again. We wanted so desperately to believe that he was really busy, he couldn’t possibly call us at that moment, or even that he fell asleep early. We trained ourselves to believe the lies because we wanted to believe we had found the one for us. We learned to SETTLE for someone who didn’t treat us the way we should be treated.

Here’s for the ones who did their hair and make up and put on their prettiest everything, only to hear him say that he couldn’t see us today. The ones who never believed it when people told us there might be someone else. We just couldn’t believe that he could do this to us again. This is for those great girls, who loved him more than words can say, and took him back no matter what happened last time because they couldn’t bear to look back on their lives one day and wonder “what if”.

This is for the girls that stayed up all night long listening to him whine about an ex girlfriend who cheated on him, and cried during the entire conversation. The ones who hoped he would realize that he deserved better, that he deserved us. When he said that he loved you, but he was in love with her, he didn’t mean it. This is for the ones that held on to something that was never there to begin with. This is for us girls, who somehow managed to get him to forget about her, and get him to tell us that he was in love with us again, only to have him tell us three weeks later that “You’re just not the one for me.” or maybe, “things were going too fast, I’m just not ready.” (Then later on find out he has a damn girlfriend already.)

Here’s to the girls who couldn’t cry to their friends because of how stupid they felt. The ones who held it all in when things came crumbling to pieces again. This is for the ones who couldn’t bear to even tell their mom what was going on, for fear of an “I told you so.” The ones that could just TELL that they had made a mistake ever allowing him into their hearts, their beds, and their dreams again. We knew that we deserved better the entire time, that we deserved a guy who would call when he said he was going to, one that would come see us when ever he got the chance, one that would really care about us. We just wanted the one that we loved like that. Here’s for the ones that FINALLY realized that he never gave one thought about them. Here’s for the time that he took to waste, breaking your heart … again.

This is for those days spent trying to hold back the tears, and the tears that turned into anger, then disappointment. Here’s for us girls who finally realized that we deserve better. This is for those confusing days, when you miss him,and want nothing more than to hear his voice, or feel his arms around your waist. Stay strong, and remember that relationships are like broken glass,sometimes it’s better to leave it alone rather than try to put the pieces back together and get hurt all over again.

Remember the times you cried, and how long it took you to even be able to look at another guy like that. When your song comes on the radio, turn the station. When the day comes that he realizes what a mistake he made and tries calling, turn your phone off. When he tries coming to your house, don’t answer the door.

Think of all the broken promises, and the lies, the manipulation and the tears, the wasted moments and staying up all night wondering where the HELL he was. Think of how your heart used to jump when your phone would vibrate in the middle of the night. Think of how it fell to your stomach when you saw it wasn’t him, and realized that once again, he hadn’t called when he said he was going to. Think of how you excitedly enter the train station just so you can go to the place you were about to meet in time only to find out that he’ll be late for an hour or so. Think of how you spend the day looking for a perfect gift that he would really love only to hear him say “The gift was okay but you could have given me something better”. Think of how many days you skipped your lunch breaks just so you could give him the gift he wants for his birthday or for Christmas only to hear him say I’m sorry babe, I enjoyed doing this and that for 8 straight hours with the boys. I’m broke. Can I just give a kiss? Think of the time you spent thinking what you can do to make him happy only to find out he is busy spending his time thinking of strategies he should do beat his effin’ computer playmates. Think of how he stole your youth and how he made you feel that you are his possession. Think of the long hours you dolled yourself up only to catch him look at other girls.

Think of how he called you selfish, spoiled brat and self-centered after all the things you’ve done, after all the sacrifices.

He might never feel your pain. He might never see the tears behind your nags. He might never notice the long hours you spent to make him happy. He might never notice a loving girlfriend behind that jealous girl you are. He might never see how beautiful and incomparable you are. He might never see your efforts. He might never feel how your stomach will ache after long hours of not having a meal because you want to give him something he’ll appreciate. He might never see the smile behind your cruel complains. He might never see the sweet girlfriend behind your stressful words. He might never see the proud girlfriend behind your loud mouth. He might never see these things. He might never see these things he abandoned with just a single text message, with just a simple “I quit. I’m tired. Goodbye. I love you”. If that is love then all people might as well leave each other and live alone. Goodbye but I love you? Does it make sense?

One day, you’ll find a guy who will worth all the tears, but he won’t make you cry. You may think that you’ll never care about someone like you did to that guy that you always run back to, but you will. You may think you’ll never going to find a guy who will challenge you the way he did, but you will, and the only difference is he’ll challenge you to bring the loving girl back. Someday you’ll find your own hero. He may not be as good-looking as the guy you always run back to but he will surely show you how beautiful of a person he can be to a beautiful person you are. Someday you’ll meet someone who will save you from that SAME GUY. Someday that SAME GUY’S kisses (even if it was your first) will just be plain kisses, no feelings, no love. Someday you’ll meet a guy who will make things right and will give you the signal that the life as you know it ends. Someday God will give you the guy who will not only compensate your efforts but will make you feel you your efforts are enough and that you deserve more. Someday a guy who will understand your pain will come. Someday you’ll see how wonderful you are. Someday you’ll realize that the guy you always run back to is nothing but plain illusions of your young heart. That SAME GUY might be your first but what’s important is the man who will be with you all throughout and at the END, and the man who will be your prince charming in your own fairy tale. YEAH, It’s going to hurt like hell, and it will take sometime to heal, but the point is, IT WILL HEAL. Yes, it will heal.

footprints in the sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticedthat during the low periods of my life,when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,“You promised me Lord,that if I followed you,you would walk with me always.But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my lifethere have only been one set of footprints in the sand.Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,is when I carried you.”

The BEST sales experience in the Philippines

NISSAN offers the best sales experience in the country, according to J.D. Power Asia-Pacific's 2011 Philippine Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study.

Nissan ranked highest this year in new-vehicle sales satisfaction with a score of 839, performing particularly well in the delivery process and salesperson factors. Ford followed Nissan in the rankings with a score of 835. Although ranking below the industry average, Kia (823) improved more than any other brand in the study in 2011, achieving a gain of 40 points from 2010.

Now in its 11th year, the study measures new-vehicle owner satisfaction with the sales and delivery experience in seven key factors that contribute to overall satisfaction: delivery process; delivery timing; salesperson; paperwork; deal; sales initiation; and dealer facility. Overall new-vehicle sales satisfaction averaged 829 on a 1,000-point scale in 2011, an improvement of 10 points from 2010. In addition, all nine brands included in the study improved from 2010. Among the factors examined in the study, satisfaction is highest in the salesperson and delivery process factors, which improved by 12 and two points, respectively, from 2010.

"The study finds a strong connection between sales standard implementation and overall satisfaction," said Mohit Arora, executive director at Singapore-based J.D. Power Asia-Pacific. "Overall improvement in the industry in 2011 was largely driven by more rigorous implementation of sales standards and processes across most manufacturers."

The study found that the percentage of customers who were offered test drives increased to 88 percent in 2011 from 76 percent in 2010. Additionally, for a second consecutive year, the proportion of customers who actually took a test drive when one was offered, increased.

The study also found that customers whose vehicles were delivered to their home were more satisfied with the delivery process, on average, compared with customers who picked up their vehicle from the dealership. Among customers whose vehicles were delivered to their home, satisfaction averaged 830. In comparison, satisfaction averaged 823 among customers who picked up their vehicle from the dealership. The proportion of customers who received their vehicle at home in 2011 (50%) more than doubled from 2010 (23%).

"The hefty growth rate of vehicle sales in the Philippines must not deter manufacturers from providing adelightful sales experience to their customers," said Arora. "In a market where a large majority of customers rely on traditional and non-digital sources of information in making a purchase decision--such as the reputation of the brand or recommendations from friends and family--providing a delightful sales experience helps to generategood word of mouth, which may translate into increased business."

The 2011 Philippine SSI Study is based on responses from more than 1,463 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle between August 2010 and February 2011. The study was fielded from February to May 2011.

It is our understanding, however, that only brands that subscribe to--and presumably pay to enroll in--this study qualify for inclusion. (We could be wrong though.) We're sure it will be a totally different picture once you include the likes of BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, even Chevrolet. Come to think of it, the fact that the roster of car brands included in the study is incomplete, makes it rather difficult to appreciate its credibility.