New Upgrades

Over the past few months, the Picanto's received some new upgrades such as these:

SULED LED Side Repeater Arrows (Php 1,500.00)

FIAMM AM80S Horns (Php 1,035.00)

Hyundai-Kia Mobis LED Reflectors (Php 6,000.00)

Special thanks to GCAS Mobis and Roadstar @ Fort Global City.

Lost in Luzon Part 2: Baguio

16 November 2013 - Subic was a breeze with the SCTEX's long, straight roads, but the next road trip was a greater challenge. The journey to Baguio consists of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) northbound, a completed portion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and the MacArthur Highway before climbing the treacherous Kennon Road. Many portions of th MacArthur Highway are under heavy construction, with sections limited to a single lane. Kennon Road is known for its steep uphill climbs and twisty turns. Yet despite its small size and engine, the Picanto was able to reach Baguio Country Club without a hitch, even with the aircon on. The trip computer read a travel distance of 244.3 km, a fuel consumption rate of 5.9 l/100 (16.95 km/l), and a travel time of 5 hours 6 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pHTipZMXuU

After spending the weekend shopping and horseback riding, it was time to go back home. Here's a video of the downhill trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ov9S0VKXfw

Upon returning to Quezon City, the trip computer read a travel distance of 495.3 km, a fuel range of 87 km remaining, a fuel consumption rate of 5.6 l/100 (17.86 km/l), and a total travel time of 10 hours 15 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jybVgSvUCgc

With this trip, the Picanto has achieved a new fuel economy record. Proof that it can hold its own in long distance driving as much as it can in the city.

Where to next? Stay tuned.

Special thanks to Baguio Country Club.

Lost in Luzon Part 1: Subic Freeport Zone

28 October, 2013 - I took a trip from Quezon City to Subic Freeport Zone to test the Picanto's top speed and highway fuel economy. The route to Subic involves the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) northbound and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) southbound. While on SCTEX, I was able to do a top speed of 185 kph. The video below was shot at around 160 kph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV9ETXqHwes

Upon arrival at my hotel, I checked the Picanto's trip computer, which logged in a trip distance of 142.4 km, a fuel consumption rate of 7.1 l/100 (14.08 km/l), and a travel time of 1 hour 34 minutes. Time to drop off the bags and go sightseeing.

I took the trip back to Makati using the same route, but maintaining a maximum speed of 120 kph to improve the fuel economy. Upon my arrival, the trip computer read a total trip distance of 332.7 km, approx fuel range of 162 km, a fuel consumption of 6.2 l/100 (16.13 km/l), and a total travel time of 5 hours 9 minutes. Overall, I'm completely satisfied with the Picanto's performance on long-distance trips.

Next destination: Baguio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8qMYReJoBc

Special thanks to Grand Hoyah Hotel.

More New Toys

This month, I picked up a Sparco Antenna & Wheel Valve Caps set (Php 599.75 @ Blade). 

The black aluminum antenna is significantly shorter than the stock rubber unit.

The set comes with a micro screwdriver and two screw attachments to fit any antenna mount.

The wheel valve caps are equally stunning, with their chrome finish and the 'S' logo on the top. A tiny screw on the side can be adjusted to ensure they don't slip off your tires.

New Picanto Lineup

Kia Motors Philippines has revamped the Picanto lineup. The 1.0 A/T and 1.2 M/T have been discontinued, while the 1.2 A/T will hit showrooms soon. Therefore, the current Picanto will be offered in two variants:

• 1.0 Manual = Php 555,000
• 1.2 Automatic = Php 629,000

The following colors are available on all variants except where noted:

• Signal Red
• Clear White
• Bright Silver (new)
• Titanium Silver
• Cafe Mocha (new)
• Galaxy Black
• Lemon Grass (1.0 M/T only)

In addition, the 1.2 A/T will not come with the options found in the outgoing 1.2 M/T, such as LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, chrome door handles, driver's side airbag, leather steering wheel and shift knob, etc. Instead, it will be similarly equipped as the outgoing 1.0 A/T.

The new Picanto models are now available at your nearest Kia dealer.

Carcam Portable Car Camcorder Demo

Video demo of the Carcam Portable Car Camcorder. Filmed on Metro Manila Skyway southbound.

Notes:
1. Video format for the car camera is .AVI using motion JPEG encoding, which is archaic by modern standards.
2. A Class 4 32GB micro SD card was used to film the video; hence the jittery quality.
3. The camera is not true HD, as the recording format is 1280 x 960 (not 1280 x 720 or 1920 x 1080) and there is no HDMI port.
4. Microphone was disabled in this recording, as it's rubbish. The music you hear is whatever YouTube has on their playlist.

Still shots photographed using a Canon PowerShot SX230 HS. Edited in 720p HD with Camtasia Studio 8.

Special thanks to:
Blade Auto Center

Video © 2013 Area Seven Productions

Picanto 1.2 EX Discontinued in PH

Bad News: According to Kia Motors Global City, the Picanto 1.2 EX has been discontinued in the Philippine market. This is due to slow sales in comparison to the 1.0 manual and automatic models. Picanto 1.2 EX models are a rare sight; I've only seen six (not including mine) on the road over the past year.

And so, as a tribute to the 1.2, here's my latest slideshow:

First Service

According to the warranty booklet, the Picanto should be serviced every 7,500 kms. On the other hand, Kia dealers recommend 7,500 kms or 4 months, whichever comes first. It's actually been 11 months since I picked up my Picanto; and with 6,323 kms on the odometer, I'm a bit overdue.

So I dropped by Kia Motors Global City to have the Picanto take its first Preventive Maintenance Service. The old oil and filter went out, and in came a new oil filter and three quarts of ZIC A+ 5W20 fully synthetic motor oil. All of this and a complimentary car wash totaled to Php 2,045.94.

Next service is at the 15,000 km mark or six months, whichever comes first.

Let There Be Light

One of the many nifty features of the Kia Picanto 1.2 EX is its automatic lighting system. When the headlights are set to "Auto", a sensor in the front center of the dashboard detects sunlight and automatically activates the headlights and taillights at night or inside a carpark. The system can also be used to activate the headlights when the car is remotely unlocked for easier location in a parking lot.

Complementing this feature are the Picanto's LED headlights and taillights. Each headlight has six small but powerful LED bulbs clustered below the main lamp. The taillights are designed to emit a hot neon effect.

Kia Picanto Southeast Asia

For all Kia Picanto owners in Southeast Asia, here's the Facebook fan page for you:

Kia Picanto Southeast Asia

The Scent of Squash

We all love the smell of a brand-new car, but inevitably, that wonderful scent disappears over time. This gives us the opportunity to choose the way we keep our cars fresh-smelling. After two months, it was time for me to pull out an air freshener for the Picanto. And just with my previous cars, I use Air Spencer.

I've been a fan of the squash scent for over a decade, and of all the different types of scents, Marine Squash (#059019) is my personal favorite. It's a very pleasant scent that's not overpowering - even with the vent fully open. The ceramic powder form provides zero leakage and the ability to be positioned anywhere in the cabin, as well as coverage that lasts over a month.

Also recommended are Clear Squash (#059024 - a bit on the powdery side) and Sazan Squash (#059028 - a little sweeter scent).

Air Spencer is available at Concorde and Blade branches for Php 299.75. Beware of the Php 100.00 knockoff "Aspen Air" cans at Blade, though.

Air Spencer

For those in the U.S., you can order your Air Spencer at Squash Air. Aside from the Marine Squash can, I highly recommend the compact CS-X3 model.

Rainy Day Pics

Here are some new pics I took on a rainy Sunday morning in Silang, Cavite. Enjoy!

Fuel Economy Report

Over the weekend, I drove from Quezon City to Tagaytay via C-5 and Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX). On the way back, I took SLEX and EDSA to QC before returning home in Makati via C-5. And just to prove the skeptics wrong, here's a pic of my mileage.

The whole trip was 172.7 km long, and the Picanto attained a fuel economy rating of 5.7 liters per 100 km. This equals to 17.54 km/liter. Now this is very impressive, as it's exceeded my expectations in the Picanto's fuel economy.

Why Picanto?

I'm often asked by others why I chose the Kia Picanto as my current car, given that my previous ride was a 2007 Hyundai Getz. Well, there are a few reasons:

First of all, while the Getz is a very dependable car, I had bought it second-hand, and a lot of wear-and-tear from the first owner had started to take its toll. The windshield wiper motor was actually broken before I purchased it, the rear shocks have already given in, and the paint on the trunk frame had started to peel off. Sure, I could have spent some money on getting all of these fixed, but the running costs would continue to pile up on a car that was just discontinued. And because it's no longer being produced, the Getz ended up with a trade-in value of Php 170,000 (and even lower on most other dealers).

Second, having a smaller car makes city life much easier. The Picanto is easier to park anywhere (especially in the very tight garage of my pad) and a breeze to maneuver through traffic due to its light steering and small turning radius. Plus, its light weight and efficient motor results in excellent fuel economy. Sure, I lose luggage space compared to the Getz, but I hardly ever carry anything or anyone with me.

Of course, I've considered other small cars that are significantly cheaper than the Picanto, but after going through several dealerships, here's what I found:

• Hyundai i10: Technically the same car as the Picanto, but not as good-looking and somewhat sparse in amenities.
• Hyundai Eon: While this is a great bargain, I don't think the 814 cc engine can take the daily torture of climbing the garage.
• Chevrolet Spark: Simply ugly with quirky ergonomics and GM's somewhat spotty reputation.
• Suzuki Celerio: The lack of a glove compartment is already enough to turn it down.
• Chana Benni: After seeing Chery fizzle out of the market, I'd never consider a Chinese car as an option.

In short, I chose the Picanto because it's the right car for my current needs.

The Fuel Economy Debacle

For over a year since the new Picanto's debut, there have been debates on the Internet about its fuel economy. Some people have opted not to buy one due to claims of it not being as fuel efficient as advertised. After over a month, I can tell you that the Kia Picanto 1.2 is very fuel efficient under regular traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

From late-August to late-September, my regular commute through Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong City, Greenhills and Quezon City has given me an average of 11.4 km/liter. In comparison, my former car - a 2007 Hyundai Getz 1.4 - did a monthly average of 9.3 km/liter under the same conditions. Should I take the Picanto on highways such as the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) or South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), I predict a rating of at least 13 km/l.

So how does one calculate the fuel economy of their Picanto? There are two ways to get the numbers. Be sure to have a notebook and a calculator handy while refueling.

1. The Picanto has a fuel economy gauge on the trip computer that measures liters per 100 kilometers. Simply divide 100 by the given amount of liters to get the numbers in km/liter. The smaller the number of liters, the more fuel you save. For example, if the gauge reads "8.4 l/100km", you'll have 11.9 km/l.

2. There's the old-fashioned way by calculating the mileage from your trip meter and dividing it by the amount of gasoline filled up to a full tank.

Remember to always reset trip meter A (trip meter B is optional), fuel economy gauge and time log on your trip computer to 0 after every refuel.

Some helpful hints on saving fuel in a Picanto:

1. On manual transmission models, set ECO Mode to "On" and always follow the shift indicator.

2. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Follow the recommended tire pressure rating found on the frame of the driver's side door. Never drive with the tires underinflated - not only does this hurt fuel economy, it increases the risk of a blowout.

3. Do not leave your car idle for five or more minutes. If you're stuck in heavy traffic or in a long queue at the carpark that has not moved for at least five minutes, turn off your engine. Simply turn on your engine when traffic begins to move again. (In some countries, the Picanto comes with the ecoDynamics system, which automatically does this job for you through its stop-start mechanism).

New Toys

After a long delay, my dealership finally got my side window deflectors in stock. In addition, I got my license plates issued, so I had them installed along with matching Deflector license plate covers (Php 1,699.75 at Blade). And last, but not least, I got a car DVR (Php 3,000.00 at Concorde) installed on my windshield.

Better With Leather

 
On 30 August 2012, I received my leather seat cover upgrade from Sure Seats. The Php 6,000.00 seat covers are black with perforated black leather trim. Not only do they add flair to the interior, they also preserve the original upholstery underneath.

Upgrade your car seats to leather at Sure Seats:

Karport Plaza
32nd Street
Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
(02) 384-5247

2019 Pelbel Bldg.
Shaw Blvd.
Pasig City
(02) 466-2502

Motortown Plaza
Alabang Town Center
Muntinlupa City
(02) 384-3029

Introducing: Black Picanto

 
Who am I? I am a 2012 Kia Picanto 1.2 painted Galaxy Black. Unlike the 1.0 model, I come with the following standard equipment:

• 15" Kia "Style D" alloy wheels with Hankook Kinergy Eco 175/50R15 tires
• LED headlights and taillights
• LED third brake light
• Chrome door handles
• Metallic silver inner door handles and handbrake button
• Power door locks with keyless entry system
• Driver's side SRS airbag
• Leather/cloth seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
• Leather door trim
• White trim on dashboard, steering wheel and shift knob
• Vanity mirrors on sun visors with LED lights on driver's side.
• Stainless steel pedals with dead pedal

In addition, my sound system has been upgraded with an OEM system that has the following features:

• AM/FM stereo
• LCD touch-screen
• DVD player with CD and MP3/WMA/AVI playback
• TV with NTSC/PAL/SECAM support
• Bluetooth 2.0 compatibility
• USB/MicroSD/iPod support
• Papago! X8 GPS navigation
• Back-up camera

I was purchased from Kia Motors Global City on 24 August 2012. My first tank of gas was Shell V-Power Nitro+, but subsequent refuels will be exclusively Petron Blaze 100. My car washes are done through DriveBright Auto Wash & Care in Quezon City and I am frequently detailed using the following products:

• Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer
• Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax
• Meguiar's Ultimate Protectant
• Countless amounts of microfiber towels from Blade

Special thanks to the following:

• Kia Motors Global City
• DriveBright Auto Wash & Care
• Sticker Works
• Sure Seats (leather seat covers coming soon!)

This blog chronicles my adventures through Manila traffic and travels through various places in Luzon, so stay tuned for more updates to come!