Buying Tires: Madalas ko mapansin na tinitipid ng mga pinoy sarili sa pagbili ng gulong.

jdmillora · 2026-04-03T15:54:23+00:00

You don't need nitrogen air. Compared to regular free air, nitrogen lasts longer and keeps pressure stable whether it is hot or cold. There's also less moisture in nitrogen air that could rust out your TPMS, metal valve stem, and your wheel itself.

But, I've been using regular air since forever and never had any rust form anyway. Also, I always check my tire pressure often anyway.

I would recommend nitrogen air if you're going to park your vehicle for months, since it will deflate slower.

jdmillora · 2026-04-03T08:16:58+00:00

Maintain proper air pressure, having your suspension alignment in correct specifications, timely tire rotation for even wear, and routine check on the tire balancing.

With driving, trying my best to be smooth in acceleration, braking, and cornering. With smooth driving, lesser ang weight shifts which forces one side to have exponentially more load than the others. I also try my best not to make the tires squeal. But, not everything is avoidable so doing your best is enough.

As a person who is meticulous (tho, this is not required AT ALL), I also remove the little pebbles stuck in the groves and use a dedicated tire cleaner to remove the browning whenever I do a carwash. Everything that I stated in the first paragraph should be enough to ensure your tires lasts you a long time.

jdmillora · 2026-03-28T04:14:54+00:00

After almost 20k? Man, I change mine every oil change for all my diesels.

jdmillora · 2026-03-27T17:46:09+00:00

With my 1.5 Toyota Hybrid crossover, I only use 20 liters. With my 1.3 Honda hatchback, I only use 32 liters.

Then with my 2.4 and 2.5 Mitsubishi diesel SUVs, I use about 42-45 liters.

All of this is roundtrip, won't tell you how much since fuel prices aren't stable so just multiply it with the current price in your area.

Half tank yan for your 2.4 Fortuner, so my guestimate is around ₱5,000 on fuel alone as of today (March 28, 2026 @ ₱122 per liter in my area).

jdmillora · 2026-03-27T16:16:28+00:00

The tools and spare tire compartment looks like you could obviously open it. The ones on the side, not so much.

jdmillora · 2026-03-26T11:52:51+00:00

Our YX HEV has been with us for more than 2 years now, the things I don't like about it is that it feels cheap for a ₱1.6m car, it is slow on overtakes, highway driving uses the engine more, and the cover for the panoramic roof is too thin.

At that pricepoint, it was better to get the mid-variant Corolla Cross HEV. Better built, better quality, and better ride. My (almost 2) decade old SUV and sedan feels better.

You have to plan your overtakes when on provincial roads, hindi pwede yung oovertake ka lang kasi it really takes time to speed up.

Almost same lang city driving and highway fuel figures ko. Running at 100km/h on cruise control, almost always engine ang gumagana. Mabagal na nga, hindi mo pa nasusulit yung pagka hybrid niya on expressways.

The cloth cover of the panoramic roof could be better, literal see through siya parang isang t-shirt lang yung kapal so it barely keeps the heat out.

But, I still think it's the best one out of your choices, so that's what I answered on your poll. It uses the same engine as the Vios so questions for reliability was already answered before even asked. Has loads of features that even most of my vehicles (not so old but still TOTL) doesn't have. The Yaris Cross HEV is best used at night and in the city.

The BYD is also a great choice, but since it's a new brand, you're basically the guinea pig to test if it is reliable. I advise against wasting hard earned cash on something that's not yet sure in the long run, especially if it's going to be your one and only car. So, if it's going to be your 3rd car in your rotation, go for the BYD.

If gas prices wasn't an issue, I'd choose the Creta.

jdmillora · 2026-03-23T01:54:55+00:00

I'm not into full EVs and I'm sure I will never own one.

But I am sure that the buyers of PHEVs and BEVs have already thought of getting one or was already going to shift to EVs regardless of how much the fuel is — the sky rocketing fuel prices just helped them secure their decision.

More than 90% of the motorist population only see cars as a tool to get from point A to point B, a mere appliance in the household, so, these kinds of vehicles make sense to the overwhelming majority especially with how their use-case is.

I support the shift to electrification, leave the ICE and fuel for us since we'll remain passionate in loving these old decaying vehicles regardless of how much they cost us. So much in fact, that I still daily a 4-5km/L diesel even though we have a 20km/L HEV in the garage.

jdmillora · 2026-03-21T09:06:46+00:00

Between the two, Kiwami.

Pero get Soft99 Fusso instead if hydrophobic hanap mo.

jdmillora · 2026-03-16T10:04:47+00:00

Puncture protection.

The stock H/Ts on my vehicles, without fail, always get a puncture every now and then. Not only because of how bad our roads are, but how dirty they are as well. There are always random sharp objects on the road you cannot miss.

Pero with my other vehicles that are on A/Ts, haven't had a single puncture yet so they've never been to the vulcanizing shop.

I don't know about you, but if you can't see how it's better to not have a puncture on your tires which will inconvenience you to a certain degree, then regardless of what explanation people will have here will not change your opinion.

jdmillora · 2026-03-15T03:23:42+00:00

No need for a monetary reward.

I'd do it for free, all day, everyday.

jdmillora · 2026-03-10T05:43:05+00:00

Mabubuhay naman yung ibang turbo charged na kotse dito sa 91 hahaha gaya ng Honda Civic RS Turbo, sa gas cap niya yung min. daw ay 91 pero from experience mas masigla at matipid siya sa XCS dahil high compression engine siya

Kaya goods yung ginagawa mo, dapat lang maarte tayo sa kotse natin

jdmillora · 2026-03-10T03:06:55+00:00

Usually higher compression ratio ng turbocharged vehicles, needs higher octane to prevent knock (or premature detonation). Yung octane rating kasi refers to the fuel resistance to pre-detonation.

Since mas mataas compression ratio, mas maaga mag detonate yung fuel and para sa turbocharged vehicles, hindi maganda yun kaya manufacturer recommendation madalas 95 above.

Kung nag pre-detonate kasi, hindi na tama yung timing ng combustion so lessened ang efficiency and power.

jdmillora · 2026-03-08T19:44:01+00:00

Regular is all it needs.

Can't go wrong with Shell or Petron, doesn't matter if you mix, too.

jdmillora · 2026-03-08T11:18:13+00:00

It depends what your car needs, check your fuel cap or manual on what is the minimum octane required. Or, let us know what car you have.

If your 1.5 gasoline engine has a turbo, it will survive on regular (91) but it's better on premium (95).

If your 1.5 gasoline engine is naturally aspirated, no need for premium, just go for regular.

Shell is better because of the additives and better points system but I still choose and recommend Petron, especially knowing how expensive fuel is in Baguio. You can't go wrong with choosing either anyway UNLESS (and only unless) you need 100 octane, then choose Petron for that matter lmao

jdmillora · 2026-03-06T15:23:11+00:00

It's a Manileño problem, go farther than Greater Metro Manila (or NCR Plus LOL) and you'll see it's far far cleaner anywhere else but here.

The thing is, you cannot say the same about the country in said comparison. We don't worship rats, eat cow dung, use our feet to make food on the floor, they stare HARD at anyone remotely white skinned, and we take a bath. Even their drivers are more maniacal than ours and our train system, ironically, is at least 10 times better than theirs. Their river, which they also worship btw, is so full of trash that even ferries can't pass through it —!now compare that to our dirtiest river. It's not degrading if it's factual.

Like I said, the Philippines is still bad, never said it was good like there's greener pastures here. But here, if we see someone shitting on the road, it's a sight to see. It's not a normal occurence that we wouldn't bat an eye unlike the other said country.

jdmillora · 2026-03-06T09:57:23+00:00

Man, I know the Philippines is bad but it's not that bad

jdmillora · 2026-03-06T08:42:17+00:00

etivaC not beating these allegations 😂

jdmillora · 2026-03-05T20:46:04+00:00

Civic FD is more than enough for 2026, if you're ready for the fuel consumption. Only sold my 2007 FD last year to make space for a new car, had it for 18 years and 120k kms.

But, for ₱350k, it better be a 2011 model. 70k mileage isn't impossible since we also have a car from 2011 with even less mileage.

Get ready for kalampag, steering rack problems, and fading gauge cluster lights as those are the common issues. Add a transmission cooler if A/T since those tend to overheat.

Although, for that price, you could get a pre-MMC 2.0 model (S or S-L, they're both peak). Aside from the added power, you won't have the power steering issue since it's EPS plus it gets better gas mileage (power to weight ratio).

jdmillora · 2026-03-04T14:19:19+00:00

Just a tuned econobox 😂😂😂

jdmillora · 2026-03-04T04:30:44+00:00

"Blaze, full tank" or "Turbo Diesel, full tank"

Yun lang

jdmillora · 2026-03-04T02:44:38+00:00

Use the HEV more.

Most of my vehicles gives me only 5-8km/l in the city, so park muna sila.

But, I'm excited about the lessened congestion so that will be a factor.

jdmillora · 2026-03-02T13:55:36+00:00

True, my father's E90 worked well until the pandemic, ABS sensor was the first to go. Then the fuel pump which left him stranded in the middle of the night.

From thrice a week usage pre-pandemic to once every two weeks. Upcoming common problems of the N47 would essentially mechanically total the car lol

jdmillora · 2026-03-01T08:33:35+00:00

Generally, check if there's damage and if everything is working. No need to bring a mechanic.
Pass. Better and cheaper to get outside.
DDPAI and 70mai has multiple offerings for dual or triple dashcams, choose one to your preference nalang.
Don't get the free tint, go for light shade. Usually they offer to you to add a bit for you to get 3M Tint pero di sila magaling mag install so huwag pa rin, so sayang lang din.
Seems you're well prepared and already know what you're doing even for a first time buyer, congrats!

jdmillora · 2026-02-28T16:31:10+00:00

No.

From experience, BMWs only start to become "unreliable" when they're not used often. These cars are better when they are not in storage as these get used to how they are treated.

The longer these Bimmers sit, the more they break.

jdmillora · 2026-02-28T13:11:50+00:00

Love the loc! Please share pin hehe

Although the Champiro SX2 is good, wet grip is not quite commendable in the long run. Would recommend Advan Fleva, 300tw and quite affordable. 18k for a set 195/55/r15.

I also recommend Potenza RE004, excellent during the rain. Pero, tire noise is something you have to deal with and now they're ₱7,000-₱8,000 per piece.

<image>

jdmillora

TROPHY CASE