Lessons Coming From the Road

Having engine trouble? Couldn't figure out what is wrong with your car? Give it up and get some professional help!

That is one lesson I learned while on the road, and for goodness sake in one of the roads in LA! That was some years ago...but that lesson I'm able to carry with me 'til now. I had some engine trouble and couldn't figure out what's wrong with the Honda Civic I was driving. I was guessing it was the head gasket that needs replacement, but boy, where and how will I do that? So I had to call the owner of the car and told her what was going on. After a long litany of my own car diagnosis, the friend gave me a very simple instructions, and that is to call Los Angeles auto repair. 

Why haven't I thought of that? Why did I not ask where to get some help rather than where can I buy parts?! LOL

Ship That

Companies like American Auto Transport is quite new to me. Actually the whole concept of shipping one's car to any place is something not so common here. If we move to a place within the country we usually bring the car with us via boat/ship. If we order the car let us say from Manila and we live in Cebu, the seller ships it here, it's not like how most people in the US or in the North America would do it.

This reminds me of a friend who has to move to Belize to work, he had his BMW shipped there. He also mentioned to me that he can do it wherever in the US. I think this is a cool service and if you are looking for one, you may check them out to see what they have to offer!

Brought to you by: AmericanAutoShipping

Cars...

I've been away, my apologies to Sayre for missing Fun Monday. I just got swamped with a lot of things and I was not feeling well last weekend. But I still want to make a quick post about her theme --

I want to know your car history.  What was your first car?  Which was your favorite car?  And what are you driving now - and why?

Hmmm, I will try to make this easy and fast as I'm trying to catch with a lot of things.

The very first car I got to drive was a 1997 Mazda Miata. It was a birthday gift but it turned out I wanted to travel than drive so I sold it. Ha! I'm not just too excited too drive. The bf then always drives for me and if he was not around, my friends were always there. I have photos of it but can't seem to find it right now, but nevertheless it looked like this one --

And yes, it was red too! :)

No regrets as I was to tour Europe in exchange of it and I'd say the tour was way better than driving around the city. :P

After that I never had any chance to own a car. Not that I can't afford to get one, but I'm just too lazy to drive. The IT Guy always drives for me. My family and friends can give me a ride anytime. If they're not around, well, I can take a cab. I always take a cab. In fact I like it that way because I don't have to worry about parking and all.

The IT Guy has a different story though. He's a lover of cars, like most men. But that is his story to tell. And I just couldn't get the passion to talk about it. Between cars and shoes and diamonds, I'd get the shoes and diamonds! LOL

P.S. My Monday was a manic one! The Company has entered into a merger and the partner company just visited our site and that kept everybody busy.

Our Car Insurance Guy

Do you carry a good relationship with your car insurance broker?! Well the reason I am asking is because I do. Ha!

If you recall I did a quick post here before on renewing car registrations and well for this month we have another car which registration is due for renewal. If there is anything not so nice about that other than the expense is the fact that we have to allocate time for it. Getting car insurance to having the car inspected can be too much at times. Now that is the part when having a good insurance guy comes handy. ;)

About 5 years ago my friend referred me to his insurance broker. I used to find the guy a bit weird and too organize. He seems to know when all our cars due for renewals and thus pays us a visit weeks before the due date. At times it's nice but other times it gets irritating especially when the renewal is not topping your list of to dos. So one day I got a bit rude and that's it, I lost contact with him. Now we need him...

The IT Guy as diligent as he is opted to just do the papers himself as I refuse to help! On the way to the LTO (Land Transportation Office) he met the guy. Then the guy came to him and said, I can't contact Mariposa so I thought of just visiting your office....because you have one car due for renewal! ROFL

He is still the same guy, ha!

Anyway...we are grateful as he is taking care of everything right now. Don't you just love people like him?!

Turbochargers As Gifts

Most of you will agree with me when if I say that it is harder to find gifts for males than females, right?!

Well that is how I feel every time I want to get the IT Guy something. Okay...I can just focus on tech gadgets which can be pricey and most likely he already has or get him some car accessory. I can't think of anything beyond those categories.

Anyway before I left for Manila the other week, on our way to the airport he was like playing with the car and was speeding up and he mentioned something about turbochargers. Hmmm...

He explained that the air induction plays a major component in every car...and that oxygen is an important factor in a car's performance. I can't seem to remember so well how he explained it to me but it was something like a turbocharger helps improve horsepower and more.

So I am planning of getting him an audi turbo. I found a good source online and well it is not that pricey as I thought it is. You may want to check it out yourself if you want. ;)

I just want to get him something that most guys can't believe their girlfriend's would get them. I am so so! LOL

I Need My Own Car!

The entire Sunday was spent with my bed and bed alone...and in the process of dragging myself out of the rut I was forcing a conversation with the IT Guy and was prodding him of buying another car...because I want to drive again. Asking that believe me seems asking for my life back!

Anyway...we were discussing about cars...prices and cash availability.

He told me if I drive again maybe I need to get a small car. Well...Mariposa loves big cars! LOL Then he said for my convenience I should have an automatic car...umm....hello, I love manual. Okay...there...we can't seem to agree.

So he said...let's look for car reviews so you get to read yourself why I want you to get a small automatic car.

First consideration...COST. So we checked reviews for Kia. Since I'm starting to see people driving Kia here...and so far they seem to like it! So we were checking Kia cars...and well its price is way affordable...and behold I saw the Sorento! And IT Guy was shaking his head in disbelief...with my obssession with big cars when I am almost minute! Ha!

So I asked him what's his choice...then he said let's check Toyota...Toyota Sienna specifically. I don't know about that car...all I know though is that Toyota here offers good service station and that parts are easy to find. So that is one nice thing. He said...it's not small but not as big as the Sorento. I am not so into minivans. So end of topic.

Then I saw Dodge Journey! I LOVE it! I love it in silver metallic.... So that's it! I can settle for a five door wagon.

IT Guy almost pissed...said one more time -- You need a small car.

So I told him...fine. I need something fancy...sleek...and pricey! LOL

Then in his most sarcastic voice, he said, okay get a - PORSCHE!

Well...I'd love to...but IT Guy will only end up driving it because I am not into fancy cars like these. Truly it's nice...but not just practical for Cebu...moreso just to drive to work.

Oh well...Michael if you are lurking here...I have a change of mind...I think I can accept that gift you wanted to give me many years ago...send that Jaguar to Cebu!

Am I Weird

...because I prefer to drive trucks than sedan?!

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate nice cars...I'm a fan of Mercedes Benz in fact! Just that if I am to choose I'd prefer big cars...and I love trucks...like pickup trucks.

One of the first property that I bought with the IT Guy...is a pickup truck. We love it. We use it always, especially when we drive south the island. Good for out of town trips. And I feel safe driving it. LOL Call that psychological...but oh well. Just my opinion.

Anyway the past days it's been raining and I asked the IT Guy if we can get a cover for it. When I said that I meant anything just to cover it. While he was giving it a thought I went on...but something that would dress the back rather than making it "covered".

I know that statement would ordinarily confuse people but well IT Guy reads me and he can read me well so he said -- "You mean a tonneau cover?"

I was like what is that?!

So I did a quick search and well found an article on Truck Tonneau Cover. So that what he means!!! Very nice...just exactly what I thought we need for the pickup. Just how the article puts it -- if pickup trucks are for practicality, tonneau cover is about versatility. It puts everything in my head in simple nice words! LOL

It's That Time of The Year

...when we renew our car registration!

One downside of having too many cars...or more than you need is when it's time to renew your car registration! That is on top of the regular maintenance expenses.

Right now the IT Guy alone has three...though it's convenient to have options sometimes the cost and time we need to do the registration renewal is just quite demanding.

To renew car registration here we need to do smog check or emission test, get car insurance, and make sure the car is free from any pending violations...and pay the registration renewal fee.

All cars we have go through routine check-up and regular overhauling so we have no problem with smog check. We have also no pending violations so we're good so far. We're just left with car insurance now. Usually we try to get a comprehensive coverage but as the car aged the premium we have to pay gets higher.

And because I always believe in information as power and in benchmarking, I found this online car insurance company. This site offers you quote online thus making you save time. I also check their online quotes and everything looks good...it asks you important information and covers important things like towing and rental reimbursement, something that we usually get separately from our insurance. This car insurance service seems to cover it all and let you do a one stop shop.

You may want to check it out for your needs!

When The Going Gets Tough

...the A/C Fail!

Have you experienced this?! I bet it was ugly...

I think the worst time to have an A/C problem is when you are on the road on a summer time! It does not really matter if you are on a long drive out of town or just within the city on your way to work or worst to a job interview! Can you just imagine yourself reaching your destination drained and in sweat?!

My stand there is better be safe than be pissed on the road! So what I learned from people...ahem...prudent drivers I mean, regardless of status and age is to make sure you do a regular check on your car...it's engine...A/C...electrical and what have you!

Most of the time the IT Guy and I drives a car that runs on diesel. Diesel here is subsidized by the government is way cheaper than gasoline. IT Guy told me that there lots of diesel turbocharger around and are cheap...so that people now has more options and can better their car maintenance.

And since we are talking about A/C...and what really prompted me to make this post is IT Guy mentioning to me about getting some A/C compressor and other stuff. Now I don't know exactly how to make these things work but I sure know I don't want to be stuck on the road with a failed A/C.

You may want to check A/C compressors online and other diesel fuel pumps and turbocharger and you can find how cheap they can go and how easy to buy! For me they serve as my benchmark for pricing and available features as they are not available here yet.