Ok ... So What Happened To Your Little Car You Ask ....

[Mike S]

And even if you don't ask or even want to know I'm gonna tell you anyway ..... :hystery:

The garage finished with our car on Wed afternoon .... I had been to check on it a couple of times just to see how everything is going .... the name of the place is called Cebu Textar - Auto Supply and Repair Shop and owned and operated by Jason Uy ..... they are located on N. Bacalso Ave under the Mambaling Flyover ..... phone number ..... 261-0523 & 511-7102 .... we have used their services 3 times now for various repairs and I have found them to be very knowledgeable and honest ..... their prices are very reasonable (of course not as cheap as the shade tree mechanics :mocking: ) they will give you a written estimate and itemized bills when finished plus they doesn't use junk parts (either new or used) unless none are available ..... and they also offer a guarantee on their work (not on parts) ......

Anyway as you may remember in the last episode the wheel was just hanging around ..... it seems that the auto-locking hub on the 4 wheel drive broke and with nothing to hold the wheel on except a wing and a prayer in managed to eat up the bearing x2 ...... the right axle ..... axle spindle and shatter the locking mechanism .... and a few more parts ..... we tried to find some manual locking hubs instead of the auto ones but none were available .....

So what to do .... some parts were not available new so Jason picked up parts from a surplus unit .... and they called and told me the price would be p9800 ..... I told them go ahead .... when I went by the next day to check on how things were going he showed me the surplus parts ..... are you sitting down ..... they had cut the front end off (minus the fenders and other sheet metal) and sold him (or rather me) the whole thing ..... 4x4 transfer case .... both axles .... rotors complete .... springs ... shocks and all the other steering parts ...... plus all the stuff we needed to fix mine ..... all for p9800 ...

Now I told you he was honest .... he could have just told me all the parts to fix mine was p9800 and kept all the rest of the stuff for himself but he didn't ..... total bill came to p11250 ...... oh and I had to have a tailpipe bracket and clamp put on too ..... :hystery: ....... hummmmmm ...... did I tell you they replaced BOTH SIDES while they were at it ...... minus the left side axle .... it was OK .... now I just gotta figure out what to do with a extra Kia Sportage front end ...... :hystery: :hystery: :hystery: :hystery:

There are some good business here ..... you just gotta find them ..... I found 2 excellent ones ..... A1 towing and Cebu Textar ...... but as the old saying goes ...... your mileage maybe different ..... :thumbsup: .... :cheersty:

[OnMyWay]

The car would have been a total loss if you had to do a repair like that in the US! Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:

[MikeB]

Cars can be real money pits. One of the factors that went into my decision to spend more and buy a newer, hopefully, more reliable car was that I live in the province where tow trucks are pretty much nonexistent. Even if they can get to you the chances of them having the part you need are next to none. Everything comes from Cebu City. Even if I could get it to the town mechanic he would have to go to the city for parts, he doesn't even stock oil. It would be interesting to factor in the repair bills a year from now added to the initial cost of the vehicle to see where you stand.

[i am bob]

I still like the 4x4s that come with a manual hub... Those I have torn down and fixed myself but the automatics? I"ll need the whole unit, thank you!

[joeatmanila]

I still like the 4x4s that come with a manual hub... Those I have torn down and fixed myself but the automatics? I"ll need the whole unit, thank you!

Then when in Philippines (or anywhere in the world) buy a suzuki samurai at ANY CONDITION and start fidling with it. THE BEST inexpensive car for a real 4x4 adventure...it can become very expensive if you turn it to a real monster though...

I have a vitara 4x4 as my toy car here, since wife does not like manual...(filipina wife rules here hehehe) and i just LOVE IT. A piece of crap was when i bought it, costed me by now double the price i bought it, i project another 5000$ on it in the next 2-3 years but the outcome will be a real monster.

[OnMyWay]

I still like the 4x4s that come with a manual hub... Those I have torn down and fixed myself but the automatics? I"ll need the whole unit, thank you!

Then when in Philippines (or anywhere in the world) buy a suzuki samurai at ANY CONDITION and start fidling with it. THE BEST inexpensive car for a real 4x4 adventure...it can become very expensive if you turn it to a real monster though...

I have a vitara 4x4 as my toy car here, since wife does not like manual...(filipina wife rules here hehehe) and i just LOVE IT. A piece of crap was when i bought it, costed me by now double the price i bought it, i project another 5000$ on it in the next 2-3 years but the outcome will be a real monster.

Tell us more about what you have done to it and what more you plan to do with it! :thumbsup:

I have mixed feeling about buying new or used when the time comes to buy. I may splurge and buy new, and plan to keep the car forever, knowing that I will know exactly how the car was maintained.

[joeatmanila]

I still like the 4x4s that come with a manual hub... Those I have torn down and fixed myself but the automatics? I"ll need the whole unit, thank you!

Then when in Philippines (or anywhere in the world) buy a suzuki samurai at ANY CONDITION and start fidling with it. THE BEST inexpensive car for a real 4x4 adventure...it can become very expensive if you turn it to a real monster though...

I have a vitara 4x4 as my toy car here, since wife does not like manual...(filipina wife rules here hehehe) and i just LOVE IT. A piece of crap was when i bought it, costed me by now double the price i bought it, i project another 5000$ on it in the next 2-3 years but the outcome will be a real monster.

Tell us more about what you have done to it and what more you plan to do with it! :thumbsup:

I have mixed feeling about buying new or used when the time comes to buy. I may splurge and buy new, and plan to keep the car forever, knowing that I will know exactly how the car was maintained.

First i changed 4 tires to offroad type ones, 30k pesos, then i burned the engine on a trail due to a temprature indicator not working, another engine 30K with labor included, Some bits and pieces here and there another 20k, bought a smittybuild X2O winch another 400$ (that was purchased in US and shipped to manila, other wise triple the price), raised it 3" and changed the rear shock absorbers another 12K. In the next 3 months change the rear bumper to a steal 5mm custom made one (the front one was already as such), 20k, next year or when my budget allows calmini suspension system 100k then 5 huge offroad tires and rims another 150-200k, then....something will have pop up by then!!!

If this car was my only car...poor me!!! it is a toy car, for hobby only and that is why i do not complain on all the money i put on it.

My normal car, NEVER A SECOND HAND. first i had a civic vtec used, so many troubles, up to change engine, i sold it bargain price and bought a brand new Honda City, kept it 6 years did not spend a dime on it other than the regular oil change and when it started asking maintenance i sold it half the price i bought it. Now i have a mitsubishi strada brand new and really happy from it, a real tough car and full of muscle power.

[Jake]

Hello Joe,

I have always enjoy reading about your road trips on FB. Those hills up the mountain of San Mateo (NE of Manila)

look pretty challenging. But your Vitara 4X4 is one tough cookie! I'm sure other members would enjoy seeing your

little toy.

I am very grateful that Mike S started this thread. I believe there are quite a few of us that are shade tree mechanics

and would love to share mistakes and achievements. I know for a fact that NorCal MIke is a professional restorer of

vintage cars (hot rods and classic), a formal moonshine runner by night and a NASCAR driver by day. His advice over

the phone about bleeding air bubbles from the brake system was spot on!

Once again Joe, thank you. By the way, nice suspension system:

Respectfully -- Jake

Edited November 17, 2012 by Jake
spill cheek

[OnMyWay]

it is a toy car, for hobby only and that is why i do not complain on all the money i put on it.

OK, now I understand! You are into some serious off roading! I just want to make it down the road that Mike S did not! :hystery: I think a 4 X 4 with good solid suspension is a good choice here.

[joeatmanila]

it is a toy car, for hobby only and that is why i do not complain on all the money i put on it.

OK, now I understand! You are into some serious off roading! I just want to make it down the road that Mike S did not! :hystery: I think a 4 X 4 with good solid suspension is a good choice here.

Then buy a samurai, you will not regret it. if you want some comforts and a bit more speed the a nissan xtrail is a good buy but do not abuse it in the non paved roads, will not last as the samurai...

For a good condition samurai give around 120-160k and for a good xtrail 300-400k, you budget your choice but if you want it to have 4x4 capabilities do not go for crv or kia or rav4 they are 4x4 only on the sticker...put them in the mud and you'll find out that their differential does not support the task. xtrail will be fine in the mud but does not take much of abuse.