My Christmas Car Wishlist

It's that time of the year again. Time for Christmas wishlists, and what better wishlist than a list of cars I'd like to own? I'll limit it to the top five cars I wish Santa Claus would give me, and the reasons why I want those cars.

• Diesel Kia Sportage A/T. This would be a good family car for my family and I. It's got decent size, decent space, and it looks great. The LED daytime running lights, the simple yet curvy lines, it just looks amazing. Better than a Hyundai Tucson, if you ask me.
• Subaru Impreza WRX STi Hatchback A/T. Yes, shocking to some of you. I want an automatic transmission for an STi. I have a perfectly good reason for wanting an A/T for these Philippine Streets. I don't have to worry about the clutch in our stop and go traffic. Besides, if ever I do get an STi, I plan on making it my daily driver. Oh, and an STi can still sit my entire family for the weekends.
• Toyota 86 A/T. Again with the automatic transmission? Just see my STi explanation. Yes, I do plan on using an 86 as my daily driver. Sadly this car is a bit too cramped for my family. But still, an 86 as a daily driver.
• Volkswagen Beetle 'Baja Bug.' I think its pretty well known that I've always wanted a Beetle Baja Bug. The Classic Beetle was built to last, and this would be a fun toy car to own.
• Toyota Innova G Diesel A/T. Another family car. Because I'm a family man already, and I don't really drive that fast or recklessly on our streets.

And that's it. The top five cars I wish someone would gift me this Christmas. In order of priority. Yes, I really want a Sportage most. Surprised?

Out.

Fiat: Sexy Cars and Sexy Commercials

While I've always been a fan of BIG cars, there are always those little ones that catch my eye every now and then. Usually they're roadsters like the BMW z8 (ok who DOESN'T love that car?) or the Toyota GT86 (AKA Scion FR-S or Subaru BRZ). But I do have a soft spot for the new Fiat 500s.

Check out the Fiat 500 Abarth!

While when it comes to the old school ones, I would go with the Mr. Bean Austin Mini, as nice as the new Coopers are, the Fiats just look so cool! And as my brother and fellow Petrolhead author, Francis, pointed out to me recently, even Fiat's non 500 models look good.

Buuuuuut, if you're not convinced, well Fiat's got a couple of commercials that just might change your mind. Of course, these sexy commercials feature the equally sexy Fiat 500 Abarth. Check em out and let us know which one you like and if this is enough to make you want a Fiat.

Now if only there was a local dealer...

FIAT 500 Abarth - Seduction - 2012 Super Bowl Contender

New Fiat Abarth 500 Cabrio Ad "Topless"

Racing With Legends

I wasn't around in the 50s, 60s or 70s. And for most of the 80s, I lived abroad. So names like Dodjie Laurel,  Dante Silverio, or Pocholo Ramirez didn't mean much to me growing up. Yet it's on the exploits of men like these - and many more - that Philippine motorsport was built on.

Thanks to this effort by motorsport enthusiasts Martin Galan, Steven Flor and Mark Laccay, the younger generations (and the ignorant like me) will get to see, through the eyes of the legends themselves, what it was like in what the film's producers call "The Golden Age of Philippine racing". "Racing With Legends" is a documentary, in which local racing heroes Paco Ventura, Dante Silverio, Louie Camus, Mandy Eduque and Johnny Angeles take us back to the genesis of our motorsport heritage. The stories these men tell take us on a trip back in time, to the glory days of the Greenhills Grand Prix, the Manila Grand Prix, to the birth of the fabled Cam Wreckers, the tragic death of Dodjie Laurel in the Macau Grand Prix in 1967, and much more. 

Picture taken from the Racing With Legends  Facebook page

Filipino racers are starting to recapture some of the old magic both locally in internationally, with young talents like Marlon Stockinger and Stefano Marcelo (nephew of the late great Jovy Marcelo), but their success was made possible by people like Arthur Tuason, Butch Viola, or Joey Bundalian.

Picture taken from the Racing With Legends  Facebook page

The film recently had its pre-launch in the Manila Auto Salon, with pre-selling activities and promotional appearances by the film's racing legends themselves. Fans can also support this projec tby visiting the "Racing With Legends" artisteconnect page. There, you can pre-order your copy and show your love for our country's racing heritage. When this film comes out in January 2013, it will automatically be a must-see for all true Pinoy Petrolheads.