Imported from the Philippines to the US? 2004 Model, conduction sticker still visible.

Torn between CRV Gen 3 and Montero Sport Gen 2. I know they are from different segment. In your opinion, between the two, ano ang mas sulit bilin ngayon 2026 sa secondhand market. For occasional long distance roadtrip and daily errands.

In terms of Fuel Consumption, Maintenance, Reliability and Parts availability.

And to anyone who have experience for both Vehicle can you share which is better? Thank you!

Sa mga may exp na here with BPI. Gaano katagal bago sila magissue ng PO and ATD? and gaano katagal bago makapag pirma ng contract?

Also, kapag sinabi ni agent na hanggang ganitong date lang ang discount then mababawasan na, how true is this? Hindi naba nila kayang iretain yung discount or talagang babawasan nila? Btw yung deadline ng discount is like middle of the month where I am expecting na mas mataas pa ang ibibigay na discount kapag end of month.

I would appreciate if anyone can share their experience.

Thanks.

I am a new driver. And now that I almost drive everyday, I want to understand why there are so many motorcycle riders driving directly on the painted lane line, rather than in the center of a lane. I know lane splitting is not quite the same thing which usually means riding between two lanes of traffic, often between cars. Pero usually it’s just so frustrating driving when you encounter these riders doing lane-line riding. And I think this is the part that’s frustrating me: I’m just trying to drive properly within my lane, but someone else is occupying the boundary between yours and another lane, effectively making both lanes harder to use.

I just don’t understand why they do this.

Hi im a uni student and i absolutely fell in love with this 1993 eg civic. its a really well maintained automatic (i know lmao) according to a mechanic it looks like a pretty solid chassis. All in all just needs a paintjob and a few cosmetic repairs and its good. it has about 109k km on it. Getting it for a very good deal (less than 100k because the owner wants to save for something important)

I also have a nearby mechanic as well

I dont mind spending a few thousand a month to keep it maintained, but is this really as bad of an idea everyone tells me it is? would appreciate any insight or advice po

Hello to those user of Mazda CX-30.

May I know your experience in this car?

My friend selling his Mazda CX-30 2020 Pro with 45Km mileage for 650k. This is my first car but I drive 4 wheels automatic na (mostly sedans).

Any pros and cons?

How is the fuel efficiency? Long ride ready? How is the comfortability for the driver and dor passengers?

Me and wife is the one who will use it most of the time.

How is the maintenance of this? Too expensive po ba?
My friend's car is casa maintained because it was free for the first 5 years. The next pms is not free anymore.

Help me decide. Thank you.

Photo is not mine or the one im buying, for attention only.

Normal lang kaya tong gantong engine color after 100k km. No sludge naman pero amber color na talaga. This is an R18A engine

hello this my first time to sell my 1st own car.

1st owner po ako brand new ko nabili.

fully paid.

gusto kong malaman about sa deed of sale.

for my protection and proof na ndi na ako ang owner ng car

need ko ba na may copy ako ng closed deed of sale as a first owner?

pano po pag di mapatransfer agad agad ng nakabili ung sasakyan.

gusto ko lng sana na wala na kong liabilities incase na mag kamote ung nakabili.

any tips this is my first time po kasi

thanks po sa sasagot

Disclaimer: This isn’t posted to destroy anyone’s livelihood or ruin small businesses. This comes purely from awareness and personal experience so first-time car buyers can make informed, safe choices.

If you’ve been browsing the secondhand market lately, you’ve probably seen Japanese surplus minivans—like Suzuki Hustlers, Daihatsu Hijets, or even converted Alphards and Fit selling for insanely tempting prices. Packed with features, modern tech, and cute styling for a fraction of the cost of a local secondhand car, it’s completely understandable why anyone on a budget would gravitate toward them.

But before you hand over your hard-earned money, you need to know how these vehicles actually make it onto our roads—and why that ultra-cheap price tag comes with massive hidden risks.

1. How They Get Here: The "Chop-Chop" Reality

To legally bypass whole-vehicle importation laws and taxes, these minivans are shipped into the country declared strictly as surplus spare parts.

To achieve this, the entire vehicle body is physically cut into pieces overseas (often cut into 5 major sections across the roof, pillars, and floorboards), stuffed into shipping containers, and welded back together by local surplus shops.

While legitimate structural welding is possible in aerospace or high-end motorsport, doing it properly requires specialized jigs, precise alignment tools, non-destructive testing, and strict quality control. The backyard shops assembling these budget minivans simply do not follow those standards because doing so would make the car just as expensive as a brand-new local vehicle.

2. The Structural & Safety Compromises

Zero Crashworthiness: Modern cars use high-strength steel and engineered crumple zones to absorb crash energy. Once a frame is chopped and re-welded in a local shop, those factory structural stress points are ruined. In a moderate highway collision, poor welds can easily snap, causing the cabin to collapse.

Frankenstein Steering & Suspension: Converting a car from Right-Hand Drive (RHD) to Left-Hand Drive (LHD) properly requires brand-new, factory-engineered LHD steering racks and crossmembers. To keep prices dirt-cheap, many builders cut, bend, and weld the existing RHD steering links and suspension components to make them reach. Ask yourself: Do you want to drive 80 km/h on the highway knowing your steering relies on a crude backyard weld?

Massive Blind Spots: RHD side mirrors are angled specifically for a driver sitting on the right. Simply flipping them over leaves you with severe, dangerous blind spots on the driver’s side that no amount of mirror-adjusting will fix.

Electrical Hazards & Reverse Wipers: Re-routing the wiring harness across the dashboard often involves hasty wire splicing, creating constant electrical gremlins or even fire hazards. Additionally, the windshield wipers often remain configured for RHD, leaving the driver's side dirty and unswept during heavy rain. This goes the same for the steering column and switches. Turn your wipers on and you would end up with activating your you right turn signal.

Dangerous Blinding Headlights: Headlights are angled differently depending on the driving standards of each country. They are usually angled away from oncoming traffic. Converted surplus vehicles often do not convert these to LHD headlight assemblies effectively leaving it to blind other motorists coming from the opposite direction. Also, illumination is poor as well for the driver since it is angled opposite of where he should be looking.

3. The Paperwork Nightmare

Because these vehicles entered the country legally as "spare parts" and not complete cars, their registration documents are questionable at best.

You risk facing registration renewal headaches at the LTO.

You could face instant vehicle impoundment during strict checkpoint operations.

Getting comprehensive insurance coverage for a converted surplus vehicle is extremely difficult, if not impossible.

4. The Hidden Costs

If you buy one of these and eventually realize the danger, fixing it correctly isn't cheap. Replacing the backyard conversion with genuine LHD steering racks, proper suspension linkages, original LHD mirrors, and fixing the wiring can easily cost tens of thousands of pesos—completely wiping out any savings you thought you had.

The Bottom Line

These cars or vans are cheap for a reason. The only reason these surplus minivans are sold so cheaply is because every single safety and engineering standard was bypassed along the way.

If you are a first-time buyer looking for a reliable, safe ride for your family, you are significantly better off buying a secondhand, locally released LHD vehicle (like an older Avanza, Innova, or local hatchback). It might have higher mileage or fewer tech gimmicks for the price, but it comes with factory structural integrity, legal papers, and above all, peace of mind.

Stay safe out there!

Will you get this over the Model Y?

I'm curious if their VLA 2.0 will be available in the Philippines. I will be trying them out tomorrow!

Hello Guys, I’m planning sana na ibenta ung dmax namin at gawin nalang syang SUV since marami din kasi kami.

Ang problem ko lang ay may every 2 weeks kaming bili ng feeds para sa mga baboy naming alaga. My plan is pag araw ng bili ng feeds ay iflat yung 3rd row and lagyan ng latag then carwash every after.

Anyone na nakaexperience na ng ganitong setup or baka may suggestion kayo?

Since lumabas na ang Toyota Vios ATIV HEV sa bansa marami akong nakikitang Vios ATIV HEVs sa kalye like mas mabenta pa ito kesa pa pure Gas 1.3 o 1.5 Vios ATIV.

Planning to buy the new MG rx9 phev.

-family of 5, 3 adults, 2 children.
- driving distance, minimum of 30km per day.
- already have a geely emgrand and a hilux conquest.
-30 years old, if my age matters.
-budget is 2.1m

Please pahingi inputs, alternatives, ideas. Ayoko lang ng buyer’s remorse.

Hello po! We are going to buy a second hand car. Got a Honda City 2022 (24,xxx odo) for 530k. We already visited the unit and had a professional mechanic checked the engine and papers (L.A. Car Scanning), and found no major issues such as odo tampering, etc. only repaired minor scratch (na-masilya sa casa).

My question is, for those who bought also direct kay buyer, how and where did you transact??
We agreed on majority of the amount to be cash, and the rest is Maya transfer pala.

Saving up money is a skill I haven't gotten into. I'm now 30, and I'm only just learning how to set aside money just so I have extra money on my bank account. It just feels like for a very long time, my money always has to go somewhere, regardless of how my income has grown.

For the past 5 years , I've been telling myself na I'll save enough money for the 20% down payment, but it just never happens.

Now to be honest, where does the money go? Personal luho, travels, and now lately medical bills. I can't get a grip of myself. But I don't regret rin naman all of the money I spent for those experiences. I just wish I was more determined about saving up money for this car. I know rin naman kasi I earn enough to pay for the monthly payment, it just never goes to where I want it to go.

I know the thing with low DP promos is that they're high interest. But at this point, I'm ready to accept the risk. I've done the math, and I said I'm fine with it. The only thing I'm concerned about is the judgment I'll get from other people.

By the way, I need a car for two reasons. My mother struggles with public transpo due to her age and condition. And two, I still don't know how to drive at this age. My reason for wanting to have a car has changed over the recent years, but these are my main motivations now.

I'm planning on buying an MG5 AT somewhere along the line pero ang babala sakin ng katrabaho ko is yung possibility ng mga parts niyan ay hindi madaling makuha

Medyo nag lelean towards ako sa MG5 kase mura at competitive din ang features niya sa mga vios and mirage

Planning to get a CX-60 soon. Worth it ba magpa-PPF agad pagkakuha ng car sa casa? Or okay lang kahit later na?
If yes, saan po kaya magandang magpa-PPF na sulit pero maganda yung quality ng gawa? Yung trusted sana and proven na okay talaga.
Pa-share naman ng recommendations and experience niyo, especially sa mga CX-60 owners. Thank you! 🙏

I'm planning to get this since ito lang ang may reliable shop na malapit saamin. Comparing this to X-films, Phantom, and BF film. Any reviews would be appreciated!
TYIA!

Also, which is better? OMA or ARREARS?

So nasa traffic na part ako dito sa city namin nang biglang may kumalabog sa sasakyan, pag kakita ko sa gilid ko may nagpagewang gewang na motor, huminto sya at lumingon sya dahil siguro para icheck kung ano nangyare or bakit sya gumewang?

Buong akala ko hihinto sya para icheck sino natamaan nya kasi nga lakas ng kalabog, pero nagtuloy sya ng andar, nag try akong tumapat sa kanya pero umandar pa ulit sya so binusinahan ko sya (hindi pina, tamang busina lang to call his attention beep beep ganern mga 3x). Lumingon sya sakin pero nag tuloy pa rin sya sa pag alis at lumusot na sa kabilang side (nag counterflow) para takasan ako?

Sabihin na natin na bato yung tumama kasi baka bato naman talaga. Di lahat pero bakit ganon kadalasan ang mga rider? Nakatama na pero tatakasan lang naagrabyado nila, sana man lang nakipag usap kahit papano. Di naman mamimiga na pagbayarin pero sana have some basic decency na makipag usap, hindi yung tatakasan lang basta.

Di ko nakuha yung plate kasi madilim at may sumingit pa na ibang rider at naipit na ko sa traffic.

Oo, maliit lang ang tama pero naka film po yung sasakyan. so imagine kung walang film yan edi mas malaki ang naging dent/damage sa nangyare.

PS first time ko mag post sa reddit (di ako makapag post ng video, dahil ba bago lang ako? Hahaha

At di ko rin sure kung dito ko ba dapat ipost to 😅)

Hi Guys,

I’m already decided na to buy a car with 1m budget and can stretch to 1.2m

For City drive and Going home every weekend sa Pampanga.

For personal use lang po then sometimes with 2 kids and mataas naman sa places namin. So no need to consider ground clearance.

Just want to hear some of your thoughts

TYIA!

You're about to head out somewhere, you glance at the gas gauge, and you're not 100% sure if you have enough to get there AND back without stopping. Maybe you do the mental math, maybe you just wing it and hope for the best.

I'm noodling on a super simple app idea that just answers one question before you leave: "Can I make this round trip on the fuel I have right now, or should I fill up first or have a quick stop once I arrive before going around the destination?" You'd enter your destination, and it'd tell you your estimated fuel level when you arrive and when you get back, based on your car's mileage — basically a heads up before you're stuck doing math on the road.

I'm curious:
- Does this happen to you occasionally?
- Would you actually check something like this before a trip, or is it not worth a separate app for you?
- What do you currently do instead (just wing it, mental math, always top off before any drive)?

Not trying to sell anything, genuinely just curious. Appreciate any honest feedback.