Hello all.
My leg is better so my friend Emily (Growler's mate's g/f) and me have been looking at a new car for each like I posted earlier. He made us do it as a project. It's down to the Honda City and a Ford Lynx again like I got already (Mazda-based car I know it is but the Ford saleslady doesn't like to agree! She says it's got Ford on the engine which is true but she doesn't know I read HJ's reviews! Glad I do!)
Lynx is a lot of car for the money. Very nice inside (Ghia), got moonroof, spotlights and a nice sound system. Nice shape, doesn't look like an old bus like the Corolla and the Civic. Anyway both those outside the budget. Leather also. Got those clear tail lights. If we buy two they won't give discount but they said one year's free reg and comp insurance and free breakdown on each plus a free first aid kit , a crooklock thing and a Ford umbrella! (Useful now it's gonna rain for the next 5 months!). G he made me list everything on an xls spreadsheet. I thought bit of a PITA but when I'd done it I saw where he comes from. Honda City is also nice but a bit ordinary, it's the same price but no leather. Also not so much room inside. We didn't like it plus the sales assistant treated us like stupid women. Bit dumb for 2 cash buyers? Might look like silly girls maybe but take the trouble to find out. Well he lost his commission.
Lynx comes out at US$14,679 on the road. Pay in USD not Pesos and you get a better price maybe +/- 2%.
Not much trade in on my old (2001) Lynx though. G says sell it privately. It has been very reliable and Ford service here is really good. Like when the service is due they call and remind you and pick it up from your house and deliver it back, then they call up after 2 or 3 days and ask is everything OK.
G he got a black metallic Lynx with grey leather also last September so I think I'll go for it too. Emily she wants a white one, but they said 6 weeks from the factory. They got a metallic maroon in stock I said why not that. She said maybe but not black it's the devil's color. Well she's from the province so what to do ?! :+)
Now this is the stupid part about the Philippines. It always takes 6-7 weeks to get your number plates from the LTO. That was OK provided you drove around with your registration papers in the car. You got a thing called a conduction sticker to show your registration was being done. Now with all the security (election, terrorist etc) cars without license plates are banned from driving. So you have this new car and nowhere to go in it,
G he knows a couple of big cheeses in the City Hall, says he can get a letter from Mayor's office saying car is on government business not to delay. Costs him a bottle of Tanduay Rum and a box of Tabacaleros famous Filipino cigars). Of course you dont give that in the office, you meet in the pub later! What a country! Love it or leave it he always says but I know he won't leave it.
Good news, my Harley Sportster is on the Evergreen ship to Taiwan from Oakland CA. (home of Sonny Barger and the Hells Angels hehe). I got the bill of lading copy. Its in pieces so can be declared as spare parts. Less duty. It's an '02 one. Big Dadi he said 883 cc not enough power for safe riding so he got a 1200 for me. Not so heavy like the Fatboys and Heritage models and I'm a girl not so strong. Red metallic. Ken our Kiwi mechanic will assemble it and test it and fiddle the reg papers with the LTO thru his contacts to get it legal. Definitely I will post some pix. I'm very excited about having a proper bike after my little Virago. I took my training class also a few months back, he made that a condition.
He wont like me to say this but his big all-dancing 69 Mustang he made so much bola-bola about is in the shop waiting for transmission parts from the USA. Been hot-rodded on the airbase drag meet on Sundays too much by the retired Nam vets here and some stuff burnt out, I don't know what, convertor or something. I told him when he bought it but he never listens .That man, suss maria osep! Now he's looking at an orange '73 Camaro, truly I don't know what to do with him, where we gonna put it: 3 bikes, 4 cars?
But we did have a good summer riding out. Us girls and our crazy men. Youngest is 53 oldest is him - not saying(!) When those HD's fire up on their open pipes one after the other you can feel your whole body reacting. Like a drug. So happy all of us together, we're so lucky. Such beautiful places to see here in the RP, I saw nothing of my own country till these guys showed up .Real gentlemen, really. They do ride hard but they always know what they're doing. We've been to places you can't even find on the map. And so much Jack Daniels they drink my goodness. But never before a ride of course, it's military discipline before we ride off, they all have a military background anyway. Makes us feel safe. And so much better on a m/cycle than in a car. Plus I've learned to ride now and I'm not scared anymore. Even counter-steering! That was a scary one.
Rain now for 5 months so local bar-hopping round the city only for riding, that's it. Manila has so many great bars/pubs/music/girls. Billyboys also (;+))
Drive safely please all, horrid accident on the A23. He used to do that road every day to Brighton he said, lived in Hassocks (Semley Rd), said it has always been dangerous.
I go to church every morning and I always say a small prayer for the BR and all our many friends worldwide.
God bless.
Cathy.
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and bless you for great postings, Growlette - keep 'em coming as often as poss, both of you, pse..
hope leg progress continues!
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i'll second that great to hear what's happening on the other side of the pond keep them coming.i live in burgess hill friend at work is a part time fireman had to attend that crash said he had never seen so many body parts strewn all over the road absoultly horrific.
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What a really good post to read - makes you wonder what we're missing!!
Not many us lot here could have made such interesting reading, by writing about UK!!
Not sure how much of the text should have been censored, though ;-o
Looking forward to your next one!!
VB
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HJ really I just feel good in the Mazda (oops! Ford...). Sorry po! You know one thing here. They don't know how to sell cars to women. They think you're all stupid or you're timewasting or something. Toyota Honda salesmen don't take time to help, maybe because car buyers are all men they don't take us seriously. Just give you a leaflet and the price then walk off.
Gladys is our saleslady at Ford, this would be the 4th vehicle we have bought over 3 years, 5 if we count Emily's one (she hasn't decided yet). Gladys sits down with us, she's patient and she's understanding, she knows what its like to be a woman driver. She doesn't say things like "well, can I draw up the contract then?" and push you. G he calls that the "assumptive close" (spelling?) He used to train salespeople once. I don't know what it means but its very annoying. You feel Gladys she's not just selling you a car she's trying to help as well. She takes ages making sure we understand it all. Not pushing. Nice coffee too!
Honestly I think that's why she got the sale. Other dealers here need some learning about that. Selling to women. Only Ford has a female salesperson. But G made me do it, he said it would boost confidence and he was right. Of course he wants to approve everything after to make sure I didn't make a mistake somewhere but that's OK.
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HJ:
Nice to know in TH they have women salespeople. Believe me it makes a difference and this is why I bought the Ford. Hope i didnt disappoint you over the Toyota but they were just so unfriendly in the showroom. Gladys in Ford takes my number can I call you and we have lunch some time? Big G he trained hundreds of salespeople and says that's a good sign -- the salesperson has confidence in the product. Gladys has sold us the F-150 (gone) and now 3 Lynxes and always good service. Ford showroom here is something: coffee shop, surround sound theater CNN/HBO etc while your car serviced and supervised play area for the kids (me no kids!). Wi-fi zone even if you want to bring your laptop. Shuttle van big US Ford Club Wagon to take you to the nearby mall if you don't want to hang around. Growler he says well of course they get it all back in their prices, those donuts aren't free. but it suits me!
Toyota had none, just freezing air-con, salesman talking in a corner, they didn't come forward, looked bored. They had computers and said you can check out the cars on the website but I done that at home anyway before and we wanted to talk to somebody. Just ignored. Anyway we walked out.
Filipino people are generally very polite (till the men get in a car!) but I know from my visit to BKK and Pattaya and Chiang Mai once only that Thai's are maybe more gentle.(Girls are so beautiful but Big Stuff he says Filipinas more variety! What he means, I hope it isnt what I think....)
My only world experience is Asia, and I never travelled much,just Bangkok and HK short trips only, sorry to the BR for that. But I read it a lot and I have come to understand such a lot about cars. Really it is fascinating. It is also a kind of way of learning about life in UK that you don't get from the Telegraph or Independent or those. I have never been, one day in my dreams maybe. Really I want to go to England. visa for single Filipina? No chance. He still has a flat in Chelsea London and a house there in somewhere else up more north not sure but says he wouldn't last 5 mins with all the rules and regulations!. Still my wild man and he should know better at his age, diba?. Sometimes I can't keep up. He's off to Edinburgh in July and I made him promise NOT to rent a car in UK take a plane or a bus or something, I need him back. Catherine stop it, OT.
If anything I would like to see more women posting on the BR. Perhaps there are some who read but don't feel they can post. If so I would just say have a go. You won't get flamed and it's OK if you don't know so much. Took me ages for the courage but BG made me do it, I worried about my English but he said so what,have a go anyway.
Several motoring forums here but they are not so detailed. Bikes is another story: huge support in the Philippines and growing. G said love me love my bike so no choice ! I joke and say maybe I get the priest and you marry your Harley, he said sure you can be the flower girl. He's an insulting one.
I saw how the BR worked when G he wanted to buy his daughter Alexandra in UK a small car. So much info given free when I'm sure you guys have busy lives. She got a used Micra in the end from the advice he got and she's happy with that, goes back and forth to college and rock festivals and stuff with her b/f. Big G pays for servicing and the road tax and insurance but she has to buy the gas. So far one set of tyres only, one service and a new battery. Daughter said old ones fine but he said change anyway for the winter so not to be stuck somewhere. I never saw snow except on TV but I guess that's a problem there.
My Lynx Ghia is ready Saturday, we have to pay USD in cash to get the discount, so Friday we go to HSBC and get the money to keep it overnight. Big Boy will be with me to get it. He said take the Mace Spray, I hope he's joking only. He got a gun but not legal to take outside our house (but he does). Only in the Philippines as we say. You never know, someone in the bank or maybe the security guard can tip the bad guys off. It happens. 10 days back he bought a new camera Nokia cellphone and it was snatched by a billyboy. P19,800, suss maria, he only just got it. He was pretty sure the dealer tipped someone off who followed him after he bought it. They use it for the drugs money. Felt so sorry for him, he was saving for it.. Sorry that's OT.
Then I have my car blessed by the priest at the Church of The Presentation of The Child Jesus (PCJ) just down the road.. Good Catholic girl me. Always my little Sto Niño on the dahsboard with the sampagita (jasmine flowers you buy off the kids at the traffic light.. You know here we always say a short prayer and cross ourselves before we start a journey. Big One he says good idea with these maniacs on the road, anything helps. I for sure will put something in the moneybox in the church but I take him Father Anthony also a half bottle of local rum! He likes a drink! He's a naughty one I think.
Sorry bit excited with the new car and too much bola-bola as usual. Sign off now.
Cathy*
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HJ, you have it. OT OT but it's mail order brides syndrome. As you say.
Woops we are OT...My nephew Simon has recently married a Thai lady and is going through the same thing trying to get her into UK.
G'ette went for an interview at the Brit Embassy, had all the papers, return ticket, bank balance, address of my sister in UK (I wasn't even allowed in to the interview, you can't believe these arrogant Embassy people- not one over 25 years old -- what do they know?) but she was turned down--no guarantee she would return to the RP. Ok if you're some Romanian gypsy though with no money, you get welfare too, welcome come on in here's your McDonalds voucher. How can I explain that to her?
Anyway enough, Catherine's got her new car (or will have tomorrow), I would dearly love to take her to UK, I am ashamed that I can't, so let's enjoy the empty roads of the provinces, the long beaches, the warm evenings and the great food. Cheap petrol too (dare I say it? it has gone up yesterday to equiv of 27p/litre, they are forecasting protests next week). It's raining but the National Highways are pretty safe and clear, I said I will leave the bike at home take me up to Zambales to run your car in a bit, you drive. There is a Swiss-run place at Iba on the beach we go to sometimes -- middle of nowhere, great sausages plus Piccato Milanese and Weissbier. Downside is the German drinking songs but you can't have everything.
She has to organize Mum to run the shop while she's away. There are long straight highways so she can give the new Ford a bit of wellie next week. She' s a sensible driver but perhaps a bit cautious.
The Bataan Death March memorial is a good place to visit and we will call in there on the way. It is a sobering reminder of so many brave American and Filipino soldiers who lost their lives in appalling circumstances. Also we visit the Crow Valley where they still have the practice markers for the USAF B-52's when they made bombing runs into Vietnam. It's gravel roads mostly. The scenery is really something and the roads are basic to say the least!
C is so chuffed (new Ford tomorrow) and she's a very safe driver.
As indeed I find women so often are compared with us testosterone-laden males. I am more than happy to place my welfare in the hands of a calm and sensible woman driver. If that sounds patronising it isn't meant to be.
I am finding it hard to get out of my head that A23 accident. It's an area I know especially well.
Please take care.
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