By Andre Palma
Inquirer
CHOOSING a driver’s car is often problematic. Most of the cars that can really rip up the open road at copious amounts of speed are handicapped by prices that would require 25-year mortgages. We would be so lucky to be in that capacity, wouldn’t we?
Thankfully, all is not lost. There are still some cars out there that can fill the budget performance driving requirements of the everyday Filipino motorist. The age of the budget driver’s car is upon us, where low prices don’t automatically translate into the lack of satisfaction.
A blend of simplicity, fun
The mini car segment is loaded to the brim with automobiles that not only drive well, but also are merciful on the bank balance. The Philippine market is lucky though. In the ranks of these small two-box wonders is an automobile that blends simplicity and punch better than most anything in the market today.
The numbers of this little hatchback cannot lie. Powered by an able 1.5-liter, twin-cam, common-rail, turbo diesel the resulting engine figures run about 100 bhp and 235 Nm of torque at just 2,000 rpm. Confused by the math? Mere moments in the cockpit of this rocket will clear any sort of bewilderment and make you beg for 4-piston Brembos.
None other than the Hyundai Getz 1.5 CRDi delivers this pocket-sized punch. Priced around P630,000, one can imagine that most of the money went into the engine. Learn to live with the cheap plastic of the ’90s interior and the aches and groans of the budget chassis and realize that the other “H” brand knows how to build fun cars too.
In the next segment, the beleaguered compact sedan niche, an old familiar name delivers the best bang for buck driving. In 35 years of this model’s existence, many of this car’s faithful followers thought that Honda lost the plot with the bland and boring seventh generation. Mercifully, the eighth generation FD chassis brings back the Honda Civic that Generation X tuners and enthusiasts went goo-goo over — fun, frugal and loaded with potential.
A surprisingly stiff chassis is what really works for this car alongside a suspension design that is made for decent road holding. While the 2.0-liter version comes with more torque and power, it is the 1.8-liter single cam that delivers the best performance, efficiency and retail price.
If you endure the sneering looks in public, the bare basic 1.8V, sans ABS, EDB and airbags, is the one to have. At P777,000, this bare basic car leaves a lot of budget for simple modifications that can really polish this gem in the rough. Look no further than a simple Neova tire upgrade to remind you of what Civics are all about. Imagine what adjustable coil-overs and simple engine modifications will deliver. Do I sound like a teenager? See, I told you, this car is fun!
Real driving monster
Rightfully, at the top of the best cars of 2007 list is a real driving monster. At the lowest rung of true performance automobile is the rally replica. These are turbocharged cars that temper World Rally Championship speed and all-wheel drive handling for public roads. Simply, there is no point A to B car segment faster for the price. And in the Philippine market, there is no more economical example of a rally replica than the Subaru Impreza WRX.
Fine, let’s concede that the Impreza STi is closer to the full-blown rally car than the street-going WRX but again, the numbers don’t mislead. For around P1,700,000 would-be rally rep owners get 230 bhp and 330 Nm of torque. These are really massive numbers for any car that can be made to prowl everyday Philippine roads. Another point to ponder is that at half a million cheaper than a full-blown STi, this everyday rally car conservatively delivers 80 percent of the experience.
So there they are, the cars that have helped define the 2007 motoring year. For the sheer volume of choice, we consumers are better off than ever before. So raise a glass with me to the year about to pass and the one still to come. Here’s to an equally exciting 2008 and if my crystal ball is anywhere near clear as before, we are in for another wild ride. Cheers!
5 Feedbacks on "The best cars of 2007"
doubtful
oh come on! are you saying that a 630k hyundai beats a 650k honda jazz at being best car of the year? id sacrifice 20k for reliability and resale value anytime. if you purchase a hyundai now, you would end up with a junk after 5 years. purchase a honda, and it will still run like a dream even after 10 years. believe me, i have a 14 year old civic and its as reliable as a ever. first the coty gave kia multiple awards, now this, a hyundai as a “best car” … tsk tsk tsk… i wonder how much hyundai paid for this advertisement.
mel
Biases is sometimes hard to avoid. However, this can be negated by objectively rating a vehicle based on technical considerations rather than what it feels like driving a car for several days to be rated. Readers still need to see more unbiased comment.
Paul
I bought a new Getz 6 months ago to get me easily and economically around the busy London streets. It has cut my motoring costs by over half compared to my Rover 75 1.8l. It came with a five year manufacturers warranty. 3 years servicing for the price of a theatre ticket. 3 years free RAC (Breakdown/recovery) membership and £1000 off the RRP. And all for £7000 (P590k). It may not have the luxury of others in its class, or indeed the kudos - but it does everything it says on the tin, and I’m looking for 5 years hassle free motoring. So what if it’s junk at the end of 5 years (which I doubt) - buy a new one and start again. (By the way - it takes motorway driving at 80mph with consummate ease, and not a single rattle).
PS. Hyundai have neither paid nor influenced me in any way with the submission of this comment.
doubtful
easy for you to say that it doesnt matter if a car becomes junk after 5 years, you are living in the U.K. where the monthly income of most people there probably is equivalent to a year’s average salary here in the philippines. good luck with your hyundai.
Kikomann
I would have to agree that Honda is a good brand, known for it’s reliability. But this does not mean that other brands cannot be good (or even better)as well. Truly, most people would doubt the reliability of Koren cars in the past but the quality and durability of new generations of Kia and Hyundai have improved dramatically. I’ve known a few people who own hyundai vehicles for more than 5 years already and still very satisfied with their vehicle with no “major” repairs encountered. Being open minded, I would not be surprised if in the next 5 years to come, Hyundai or Kia would reap more and more prestigious awards than any other Japanese branded cars. Time will come that Filipino’s and car buyers in the world would associate Korean cars to excellence and reliabilty. Similarly, when this time comes, it will not mean that other brands are not good (or even better) as well.
By the way, Im surprised to know that taxi fleets in Singapore are now using Hyundai Sonata replacing the ever reliable japanese branded large sedan car.
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