C O V E R     S T O R Y

As the UAAP season dies down, with the Ateneo Blue Eagles triumphing over the De La Salle Green Archers—college nostalgia is back once again.  Don’t you just miss the good old college days?  Admittedly, even if you didn’t go to either of the schools mentioned, part of you surely misses the parking lot antics (not the kinky kind, mind you) and the well-timed cuts.  

Though for me, college breezed by quickly and painlessly (I once attended a class only nine times in a semester), nothing is more vivid or memorable as learning to drive for the first time.  Like many, my first set of training wheels was a Toyota—a 16-valve GL circa 1990—a car without power door locks, much less power steering. 

We’ve come a long way from the age of carburetors and thirteen-inch alloys.  In fact, in today’s highly contested 1.6-liter segment, not having an in-dash CD player may be enough to convince a buyer to walk out the showroom door. 

Now, realistically, a college student can’t afford a dreamy BMW Z3 or even a Ford F150 as his first car.  These vehicles have sky high price tags and large displacement engines that will be a financial challenge especially with regards to running costs (i.e. gasoline, tire wear, motor oil and other accessories). 

So, down to earth then…what’s a good first car?  Well, for those who care going through the new car route as compared to the second-hand one, a 1.6-liter sedan with a manual box strikes a perfect balance: it’s sporty and maneuverable, not to mention comfortable and versatile.  It also provides some important points for any condescending college student’s first date. 

These three provide enough umph and instantaneous feedback that work well for the young-at-heart.  In addition, they provide the best bang-for-the-buck  exhilaration.  With a budget of P 750,000 the top choices are: Ford Lynx GSi (P 660,000), Honda Civic VTi (P 745,000) and Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6J (P 692,000). 

Performance 

A good 0-100 km/h time can make a great conversation piece, especially during break time, so it’s quite interesting to note that all of these three do the straight line stuff quite well.  However, their respective powerplants and transmission systems behave differently from each other, especially when pushed to their limits.  If you cared to listen to your physics professor at least once, you’ll know that good acceleration is influenced by several factors, with torque playing the leading role. 

Mechanically the newest of the bunch, the Altis 1.6J, though having the least power derived from its VVTi powerplant (116 bhp at 6,000 rpm), has 160 Nm of torque—10 Nm more than its nearest rival.  Combined with the featherweight 1060-kilogram curb weight, it gives the Toyota appreciable acceleration.

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