Why car sales in RP are down?

Look at the figures and it tells a very sad fact---car sales are down in the Philippines. Two things: First, are Filipinos so hard-pressed that they are postponing their purchases and sticking to their own cars inspite of knowing that it is more expensive to maintain them? Or, car purchase behavior have shifted from buying brand news to the grey market or the secondary market?

I just read an article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it is best to buy a second hand car instead of a new one. One reason is price. Cars being sold in the secondary market are 20 to 30% cheaper than brand new cars. The writer said---why pay 10% or 20% EXTRA for a brand new car when you can buy one less?

I always buy brand new cars because I believe in one thing---convenience for the next 1 to 2 years. I had this impression that I will not get headaches driving a brand new car for at least 1 to 2 years because every single part of that car is brand new.

Lately, however, there is a shift in the thinking of passenger car customers.

Credit that to a slew of articles announcing the recall of this model and that model and it happened across the board. Meaning, every, single reputable car brand here in the Philippines have had their own share of recalls.

Example--Honda. For the love of me, a decade ago, and it is unthinkable for Honda to experience recalls. Honda is a luxury car brand here, and some people I know have shifted because of those recalls.

Toyota had its share of recalls, especially in the luxury SUV segment. That news of Prados being recalled in the States, and news coming from Japan on the recall of other Toyota brands formed a perception that, these Japanese car manufacturers are not that exacting when it comes to their jobs anymore. Japanese car brands are known for their performance and sheer beauty. Now, the opposite perception is the prevalent or ascendant thinking.

Hyundai's Starex had its share of rumours about its mechanical problems and of Starex models suffering from "heat strokes" because of a small radiator. Now, Hyundai said they already fixed the bug but this fact had already made a big impression on customers. I credit Hyundai though because it came up with superb models such as the Accent and the Elantra, electrifying the passenger car segment with these mechanical wonders, thereupon, salvaging Hyundai's reputation. Now, people are talking about how fast and how efficient Hyundai cars are because of these models, Accent, Elantra, Santa Fe and Tucson.

There were several complaints about Mitsubishi Montero and how this car model suddenly accelerates from 0 to 80 kph---magically, causing some "accidents". I don't know if Mitsubishi already corrected the problem but I think it is more of the drivers' lack of knowledge about the Montero. There are several models really of this SUV that has this feature. But this feature should be used not in urban streets but in rural areas.

Of course, who does not know Ford's "found on road dead" thing or Suzuki's car tubes. Suzuki, for its credit, unleashed a wonderful beast in the passenger car section while Ford's Focus continues to astound car enthusiasts.

Mazda, the workhorse in all of these car brands, is silently making a dent in the local car scene. Its Mazda 2 and 3s, and 6,s and its SUVs, the CX-6 and CX-9's, though expensive, but, definitely worth every man's hard-earned cent.

I haven't heard anything yet about Chevies except that some would not buy them because they are American cars and there is this impression that American car brands are inferior than Asian car brands. I don't know about you, but Chevrolet's car models are making a huge killing especially in the younger set, with its futuristic look and fantastic dashboards. They have this Sonic car model, which I intend to look and see tomorrow.

Honestly, I dispute what that fellow journalist wrote about cars. It is time to buy brand new cars. What probably hinders some people from doing so, is another recall news. And they fear that the next one would probably be theirs.

Hence, it is highly important for these car brands to manage their reputations and brand images. They also need to improve their post-sales services, so that things like recalls will never ever frighten prospects like me.

Fourth of July

Before, we Filipinos also celebrate the Fourth of July as our Independence day. Our government changed that after US influence declined over the years. Some Pinoys, especially those based in the United States, celebrate this along with their American friends. Here, we commemorate the fourth of July with our American friends.

Fourth of July has become a very significant date where freedom-loving peoples around the world consider as a day of independence. When Americans decided among themselves that it is time for them to liberate their country from the yoke of British colonialism, many people supported their revolt. The French was with them when they successfully launched their revolt. And when the Americans achieved independence, it inspired the New World. 

With independence, comes great economic prosperity. Free from the constrictions of feudalism and inspired by the liberating ideology of capitalism, the Americans became one of the most prosperous race in the world. Capitalism blossomed and took hold of American life, so much so that everyone aspired to get a slice of the American dream, which, if you look closely, is a dream of becoming prosperous, rich and famous.

As the center of capitalism, America first developed its internal structures. These structures were established to support the uninhibited growth of capitalism.

However, it came to a point that for capitalism to survive, America has to dominate the markets of the world. Over production gave Americans no choice but to build and dominate markets of other countries. They did so thru the use of arms, at first. When it became difficult, Americans shifted their strategy from using war as a strategy of domination to neo-imperialism. Neo-imperialism necessitated America to use its ever-increasing political influence for more trade and more open markets.

Not just political influence, American marshalled its image and social influencers to dominate cultures of other countries. Pop icons such as Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson turned from American icons into world icons. This spurs more consumer interests in whatever American, since minds become accultured to North American consumerist values.

The Philippines fell victim to this when America conquered these islands almost a century ago. Thousands of Americans went on and conquered these lands. If you look at history, Americans were the most brutal invading force this country ever so. The number of Filipinos they killed surpassed those whom Spaniards killed during their 300 year reign. More than half a million Filipinos were brutally massacred in Samar and the rest of the country during the 20 or so years of insurrection against American rule.

Americans also killed 500,000 Filipinos in the liberation of Manila and more than a million died when American troops launched their brutal battles against Japanese forces.

Despite these, Americans (and Japanese) are the most beloved allies of the Filipinos. Ironic, is'nt? We love our Toyotas and our Guess. We danced to rap music and enjoyed sporting Japanese hairstyles. Painful memories do fade away.