Motoring Today Column

Oct 26, 2016

Car buyers will again have a most convenient way to decide what model to purchase with the country's biggest multi-brand test drive event again being staged this November.

With the current state of ultimate disarray the metro's traffic is in the midst of, going from one car dealership to another to compare and choose from two or more competing models that you have in mind to have, can be a nightmare of nightmares. You'd probably spent more time on the road travelling between car dealerships than in their showrooms looking over the choices. And what about the test drive, the "must have" prerequisite before writing the checque? In stop and go traffic? Not a good way to go indeed.

With the Auto Focus Multi Brand Test Drive Festival again lined up for its preChristmas staging, those who are in the market for their first car or their next can heave a sigh of relief.

From November 17 to 20 (Thursday to Sunday), the country's foremost auto manufacturers, importers and distributors shall line up their best vehicles currently available in the market at the Concert Grounds of the SM Mall of Asia for the public to have an up close look with a test drive to boot.

No need to go through all those traffic gridlocks in the metro to compare car models. Just move from one display tent to another and book your test-drives. And you don't have to agonize through stop and go traffic as there's a test drive course right within the venue where you can experience the vehicle's ride or suspension system's performance, its braking capability, maneuverability and other features.

The participating auto companies have also lined up some special offers, freebies, giveaways, free coffee, ice cream, etc., throughout the duration of the 4-day test drive weekend. Not to mention special discounts and promos.

The list of automobile brands participating include, in no particular order,Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Isuzu, BMW, Lexus, Mazda, Suzuki and the maiden appearance of newcomers Mahindra and Ssangyong.

With this line up of remarkable and exciting car bands we again look forward to record numbers of actual test-drives made, which continually increase each time we hold these multi brand events.

We shall update you as to what actual models would be available for test drive as soon as the actual line up from the participating auto companies is confirmed.

Remember, it's best to test-drive it, before you buy it!

The 2016 testing season of Car Awards Group, Inc. (CAGI) was recently marked with a luncheon at the Manila Polo Club. The objective of the group is to determine the best cars that are available in the country on any given year through a series of tests conducted by its members.

"We are expecting around sixty (60) new or significantly upgraded vehicles to join this year's testing,"said CAGI president Robby Consunji."Eligible for consideration this year are vehicles launched in the Philippine market from October 2015 to November 2016. This time frame is set yearly, to ensure that only the latest vehicles are tested and the buying public is able to make informed decisions when making their purchases" added Atty. Robby.

For the second year in a row, auditing firm KPMG shall be in-charge of all the data handling during the testing process, which shall commenced on October 25, 2016.

Without me knowing it, I got all those "on time, all the time" enthusiasts worried all this time since March when we used to hold, for many years, the first of two legs of the STV Auto Rally Corporate Challenge.

Worry not guys, as long as I can, the ARCC, in whatever form, shall run-always run.

After we made a very successful revival of the Sampaguita Rally some years back when we gathered over 60 cars in the starting grid, a feat never seen in the history of this motorsport discipline ever, with no less than AAP's motorsports top honcho, Mandy Eduque attesting, himself a Sampaguita Rally legend in the same mold of the late greats, Pocholo Ramirez, Dodo Ayuyao, Tony Mapa, et al, we said there's no turning back.

With the local auto industry enjoying an all time high in its rapid development, the frenzy of industry activities just goes on and on making it difficult to find a common date when most of the industry players can take a break all together for such a bonding, fun, exciting but fiercely competitive event. And having said that, we thought having the usual yearly two legs can be doubly challenging for us organizers. And considering that this is the only motor sport event where competing auto companies are willingly participate together, we might as well try our best to get them all together. After all, the ARCC is for the exclusive participation of the local auto industry.

And for this year, rally day shall be on November 26, a Saturday with the exciting flag-off once again at the Ayala Harbor Point Mall in Subic, with the dynamic organizational skills of its Marketing Manager, Argee Gomez again on the line, but no worries there as these have always been successfully proven in the numerous previous staging of the ARCC in Subic.

As of this writing the confirmed list of Corporate Rally Teams participating includes; Auto Nation Group (Mercedes Benz/Jeep/Chrysler),Chevrolet Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines, Isuzu Philippines, Lexus-Manila, Mazda Philippines, MINI, PGA Cars, Peugeot Philippines, Ssangyong Philippines, TATA Philippines and Toyota Motor Philippines.

We have scheduled the pre-rally briefing on November 19, Saturday at the STV VIP Lounge during the Auto Focus Multi Brand Test Drive Festival at the SM Mall of Asia.

See you guys and remember to be "on time, all the time".

For the latest info on traffic management, transport, motor sports, all about cars, the auto industry and other related matters check out these websites (www.motoringtoday.ph / www.autofocus.com.ph)

Happy Motoring!!!

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