D R I V E N

I’m twenty-four, single, and I’m glad that unlike others in my age group, I have picky criteria for the ideal woman.  Besides being sexy, she must be smart, simple, sophisticated and, above all, a turn-on.  And before anyone would start sending me solicitations, I have already found her in the 2004 Honda City.

Having endured peanuts for lunch and a rather rough flight, I thought nothing could make me laugh, let alone smile on landing. However, all negative thoughts melted away at sight of four brightly colored Honda Citys parked near Kalibo’s airport entrance gate, a piece of land, which, oddly enough, doubles as a basketball court.

As I was here on Honda Cars Philippines’ ‘City Power Drive’, I’m happy to report that I was genuinely impressed with the car’s power.  The diminutive City gained muscle in the form of a 1.5-liter VTEC engine, an alternative to the fuel-sipping 1.3-liter i-DSI power plant.  Mated to either a conventional 5-speed manual or the ultra high-tech CVT with seven virtual gears and steering-wheel mounted controls, the City delivers an even more spirited performance.

Being the youngest participant, I opted to exercise my hand and foot coordination with the 5-speed ‘box.  Of course, since Aklan isn’t crowded compared to Manila, there’s no better way to feel the additional 26 horsepower (from 82 to 108).

Slotting the shifter to first, it’s apparent that the City has Honda’s remarkably slick gearbox: a good sign, I thought.  As I roared off in the Purple Mica (an exclusive 1.5-liter color), the City quickly gained pace—90, 100, 120, soon I was doing 140 km/h.  If a slow-moving truck or tricycle prevented progress, I would simple shift down, allowing the engine to exploit its power band before cutting off at 6,500 rpm. It’s more than raw power too, as the VTEC in full song is an aural delight.

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