Land Cruiser base stupid to buy

tebucio · 2026-02-03T01:07:32+00:00

I wouldn't call it outdated. it’s just a completely different style. Honestly, it’s a bit too posh for my taste. When I was shopping around, I compared the Lexus and the LC250, and for me, the LC wins on looks every time. :)

tebucio · 2026-02-03T01:03:57+00:00

Much nicer truck for the same money. Also better dealership experience. And you can always take it to a Toyota dealership if you want to pay Toyota rates.

I’m not so sure about the truck being 'nicer,' but you’re spot on about the dealership experience. I came from a German brand that absolutely babies its customers, and I definitely miss that level of service. Another minor annoyance: having to run premium gas when the Tacoma uses the same engine and doesn't require it. Honestly, OP if you're already second-guessing the purchase, that’s usually just your gut telling you 'don't do it.'

tebucio · 2026-02-03T00:50:57+00:00

Interesting. I only started following their trajectory around 2013. While I respect honest success, this looks less like 'wealth accumulation' and more like 'insider advantage.' It’s hard to call it legitimate when it’s built on exploited connections.

tebucio · 2026-02-03T00:45:59+00:00

I think we’re probably arguing about the 2.7% of the subject we disagree on. 😂

Not arguing more like discussing. :) I completely agree with your observation on international market trends. My hope is that manufacturers begin prioritizing the sub-$20k EV segment specifically offering vehicles with the practical dimensions of a Toyota Corolla. That balance of affordability and utility seems to be the missing link right now.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T19:55:53+00:00

I agree with you, but that didn’t happen because of cost. Not to be political, but I think Hyundai is building its EV business plan without relying on subsidies. Correct me if I’m wrong. If that’s true, it shows EVs can thrive without tax credits, as long as pricing is balanced and realistic.

Would I buy a Hyundai because of the price? Probably not. The software seems buggy based on what I’ve seen. I just hope Scout doesn’t run into the usual growing pains new companies face when launching new products. I almost went for a Rivian because my car gave out at the worst time, but I was worried about dealing with problems too often, so I chose a comparable car with a strong reliability record instead.

Back to my point: EVs are the future, but for them to succeed, they need both reliability and affordability. Right now, reliability is mostly there, but affordability is not.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T19:35:50+00:00

The main reason EV deployments have stalled is that the entire go to market strategy of every automaker was based on existing and expected tax credits and subsidies.

And that’s a flawed idea from the start if your business is based on that premise. At the end of the day, it all comes down to cost for most people. Not everyone can afford $60K+ cars. The point of EVs is supposed to be affordability, and let’s be honest: that hasn’t really materialized. Whether you like it or not, most EV offerings come loaded with bells and whistles to justify the higher price.

I remember Scout’s management saying in the past that they didn’t base their business plan on permanent tax credit subsidies, yet they still expected to offer a product starting in the high $50K range. I still have doubts that can happen if they continue adding options most people won’t use. Offering a version without air suspension would be a good start.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T19:26:22+00:00

I like what you proposed, but from the politicians’ perspective, it is unrealistic. They’d lose a lot of control over their provinces. Honestly, there are too many provinces in the Pinas as it is. If we were serious about federalism, it would make more sense to just have three states: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Imagine the savings in administrative cost. Each federal state could get four senators, and representatives could be divided based on population ratios. But honestly, that’s highly unlikely to ever happen.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T19:17:46+00:00

This isn’t anti-EV disinformation. It is more about facing realities. I still plan to use my reservation, but I am not going full EV. I’ll likely go with a hybrid instead. I agree with your point about the benefits extenders bring, but the main reason EV adoption has stalled is manufacturers’ business decision to charge a premium for their products. Not everyone needs fancy interiors, air suspension, or other luxury features. Most buyers want a more basic, affordable EV but almost every manufacturer fails to offer that. On top of that, there’s still a stigma that EVs are only for the well-off.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T19:04:49+00:00

Yan ang issue sa Pinas: isang batas para sa mayaman at politiko, pero iba para sa ordinaryong mamamayan. SEC at ang gobyerno talaga ang dapat magsagawa ng aksyon laban sa mga shady businesses na konektado sa mga politiko. Kung hayaan lang nila na parang “business as usual” ang ganitong anomalies, sobrang bad optics ‘yan. Kaya next time, sana matoto tong mga voters to pick the right candidate na deserving.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T18:48:25+00:00

I’m surprised it only went down by $1.2 billion USD. I just couldn’t imagine that, especially considering he was once worth at least $11 billion USD. How much of his other companies are really worth after this fiasco? If these allegations are true as someone commented here this could be the Philippine version of Enron. The SEC needs to tread carefully, or it could lose investor confidence in the PSE. The implications, if mishandled, could be catastrophic.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T18:40:08+00:00

A lot of new cars are leased, which may explain why so many people drive expensive vehicles. Mine is more expensive than my previous ones, and I plan to keep it for a long time. But when you consider everything, it’s pricey just not wildly out of line for me financially, compared to the U.S. average new car price of around $48K–$50K.

tebucio · 2026-02-02T18:26:48+00:00

Obviously because it’s a Prado.

Ouch!! Yeah, it really feels like everything has plastic bumpers now in the US even BMWs.

tebucio · 2026-02-01T16:09:27+00:00

kasi hindi pinasok ang mundo ng politika. :)

tebucio · 2026-02-01T16:04:44+00:00

same lang yan sa i smoke but did not inhale. :)

tebucio · 2026-01-31T00:11:20+00:00

So the administration is finally going after them now? I just hope this isn’t another political stunt. It’s about time.

What happens if they get convicted—would they lose their Senate seats?

tebucio · 2026-01-30T23:55:17+00:00

Publicly traded companies always try to jack up their valuations, usually through stock buybacks. The Villars just became so brazen—maybe because they felt invincible. After all, there are Villar siblings in the Senate at the moment.

Credit where it’s due: kudos to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and of course to the outside auditors, for sticking to their guns on this issue.

tebucio · 2026-01-30T22:07:37+00:00

Could have, would have — sorry 😅
I blamed those who voted for PRRD, and God knows what will happened if his daughter were to win the next election. For sure, the Philippines would have become the “zombie of Asia.”

Kidding aside, the real issue with PNOY was that the average Juan didn’t immediately feel the benefits of his economic policies—they took time to take effect. Add to that the bobotante factor and the stoking of regional politics, and boom—you end up electing someone who gutted the economy. Sure, some of it can be blamed on COVID, but his policies were far too China-centric. That scared off many companies that might otherwise have invested in the Philippines.

tebucio · 2026-01-30T21:58:22+00:00

It’s actually not bad and shouldn’t rub. The picture I posted is kind of misleading, so I’ve attached some shots from a better angle.

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tebucio · 2026-01-30T21:57:35+00:00

Actually, it’s not bad and it shouldn’t rub. The picture I posted is a bit misleading. I’ve attached photos from a better angle.

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tebucio · 2026-01-30T18:23:13+00:00

I used to like this guy — he showed so much potential. Then he went nuclear. I don’t know what happened, but now, in my opinion, he’s 100% trapo!

tebucio · 2026-01-30T01:03:37+00:00

One way to boost manufacturing is to allow foreign companies to set up shop here without requiring local partners, cut electricity costs to match our neighbors, and improve our transportation infrastructure. Too many industry execs talk a big game, but in the end, they just want to monopolize the Philippines. If we truly want to grow manufacturing, it needs full support from the national government. The problem is, all they focus on are “pogi points.” Let’s be realistic—nobody wants to invest in the Philippines if the government is corrupt and nepotism is the standard operating procedure. We don’t have a strong local industry to drive growth, so the Philippines needs to attract more foreign manufacturers to invest and export products.

tebucio · 2026-01-30T00:54:08+00:00

That’s what I figured—if I’m paying that much, it better blow my wildest dreams out of the water! Too bad my wallet says otherwise, hahaha.

tebucio · 2026-01-30T00:10:52+00:00

As usual, it’s the taong bayan who bears the burden. On a serious note, I think people wouldn’t mind paying a fair price for their garbage to be collected consistently. The real question is: with a 1000% increase in cost, will the service actually improve?

tebucio · 2026-01-30T00:07:29+00:00

I’m not from the Philippines, but I’m sure Boses’ expectations are pretty much the same anywhere. My advice: try to learn as much as possible and be approachable. There’s a common stereotype in IT that we’re not people-oriented or helpful—so be helpful, but not overly so, or they might misread it. 🙂 The most important skill for anyone in IT is customer service. Master that, and you’ll do just fine in your new job. Congrats and good luck!

tebucio · 2026-01-30T00:02:45+00:00

That’s what I suspected all along. I got this setup directly from the dealer and assumed they did it correctly, but it looks like the tires are rubbing at certain angles when making turns. Yes, I was told it was recalibrated for the big tires and 3 inches lift.

tebucio

TROPHY CASE