I just got a sticker for my Philippine Hyundai Getz, Gina. It’s obscenely large - I overestimated the size of the letters - but it does make a statement, doesn’t it?

If you see us in the streets, honk, and we’ll honk back! *grin*

I’m now on Plurk. Come and join the fun; Gina-related posts come often.

I took my Hyundai Getz, Gina, to Hyundai Global City, the Fort Bonifacio Hyundai center, for her 20,000km checkup. If you recall, Gina’s 15,000km checkup cost PHP2,900. This time around, however, the estimate was much higher: PHP8,816.00. I asked why this was so, and was told that the 20,000km checkup is a significant milestone in the Hyundai Getz’s history, and parts replacements would be necessary to keep your Hyundai Getz in tiptop shape.

Of course, you don’t compromise quality for your car. You scrimp on your Hyundai Getz, it’ll come back to haunt you. So I said, okay, please do what you need to do. The total amount of work it takes to run through a Hyundai Getz for 20,000km is 6.7 hours, which means you should bring your Hyundai Getz in early to ensure it’s ready for you by 5PM. (In my case, I don’t mind, since I brought her in coded; she’ll be out by 7PM, and the cashier at Hyundai Global City will wait until 10 for you if she has to. Don’t make her, though.)

Click after the jump to see what happens during a 20,000km Hyundai Getz checkup. Read more

Some Philippine Hyundai Getz owners have sent me email this past week expressing their concern about Hyundai Getz fuel consumption. One gentleman who is not a Getz owner has indicated that he wanted to buy a Hyundai Getz but changed his mind when he read about the Getz fuel consumption on Life With Gina, so I think it’s time we make an update on fuel consumption of our Hyundai Getz, and some of the best ways by which we can measure Hyundai Getz fuel consumption.

According to this article on Wikipedia, the two most common ways to measure fuel consumption are to measure the amount of fuel used per unit distance (how many liters of gasoline it takes to travel a certain number of kilometers; the higher the number, the less fuel efficient your car) or the distance traveled per unit of fuel used (how far do you travel per liter of gasoline; the more kilometers, the more fuel efficient your car). On Life With Gina, I use the latter method.

When measuring your Hyundai Getz’s fuel efficiency, it is vitally important to start with a full tank. From what I’ve been told by the folks at Hyundai Fort Bonifacio, the 1.1 Hyundai Getz has a 45-liter tank, with the fuel warning light going off when the tank hits five liters left. So when you’re going to measure your fuel efficiency, ensure first of all that your tank is as full as possible.

(For instance, at my most recent refuelling, the gasoline tank of the Petron station where I gassed up my Hyundai Getz hit 34 liters. I asked the gasoline station attendant to fill it to the brim - isagad in the local vernacular - and it eventually ended at close to 38 liters. If you’re computing for your fuel efficiency and you lose three to five liters, that’s anywhere from 30 to 75 kilometers lost in your computation, leading you to an inaccurate figure that makes your Hyundai Getz look less efficient than it actually is.)

Once your Hyundai Getz tank is full, set your odometer measure A to 0 and drive at will until you come close to empty. Once your fuel warning light goes on, get the total number of kilometers you’ve travelled and divide it by 40 (the theoretical number of liters it takes before the fuel warning light goes off), and that’ll give you a pretty good idea of the fuel economy of your Hyundai Getz.

Having said that, I started a new measurement this week, and I’ll post the results most likely by Friday. Right now, Gina is at around 130km and it hasn’t come close to the 3/4 mark, so I’m liking what I’m seeing.

If you’re looking for some tips on how to increase your Hyundai Getz’s fuel efficiency, this Wikipedia article has some pretty good ideas. My preferred ways of increasing fuel efficiency include optimal tire pressure and wheel alignment, coasting, and reducing the amount of stuff in my Hyundai Getz so that there’s less drag. (It’s hard enough when the driver weighs more than 210 lbs.)

What are some ways you try to increase the fuel efficiency of your car?

Update: My latest round of measuring reveals virtual 12km/L. Gina registered 479km at the 40L mark, when my fuel indicator light lit up, which brings her fuel efficiency to 11.975. For city driving that has you stuck in traffic from Taft Avenue to Quiapo to A. Bonifacio, that’s pretty good. Remember: fuel efficiency depends on traffic conditions, driving style, car maintenance, and a whole bunch of other factors.

My Hyundai Getz, Gina, has been pouting a bit since I told her about an email conversation I had with a fellow named RL, in which he shared that his Kia Pride Andy has a first-aid kit for himself. First aid, not for RL, but for Andy. Tacky car notwithstanding - kidding, RL! I’m just kidding! I’m glad you’re buying a Hyundai Getz! - I think that’s a brilliant idea, don’t you all?

Having a first-aid kit for your car is a very good idea because it helps you stay secure and safe on the road. Some of the items in Andy include:

• A standard fuel container with airtight cover and small spout. This is just absolutely sensible, in cases where you’re running low on gas and there isn’t a gas station in sight or you don’t have enough money at a particular time. Gas is up to PHP60 now, can you imagine?
• Instant vulcanizing kit. This is an aerosol can that fills the tire with air and vulcanizes it. Sounds like a must-have to me.
• A cigarette lighter powered car air pump for tires. I didn’t even know these things were available! I must get one of these. RL says there’s a type with a flashing warning light.
• Work gloves. “No point in getting your hands dirty if you’re on the way to the office,” he says. It can also come in handy just in case you need to take off the radiator cap.” Smart. Not necessary with a Getz, but smart.
• Garbage bags. “You’ll never know when you may need to load something messy into your car, like something really muddy,” he says. He’s right; if you need to change a flat and it’s raining, that’s gonna wreak real damage on your trunk floor, so this is just common sense. Get yourself a couple of large bags, or maybe even a few small ones.
• Barf bags. “For alcohol discomfort or motion sickness,” he says. Not a bad idea, although luckily, my family has tummies of steel.
• Mineral water. “1L - either for passenger consumption or overheating.” I’d put it there for the overheating, but I wouldn’t drink mineral water kept in the car too long; the heat’s reaction to the plastic may render the water impotable.
• Rubbing compound. To rid your Hyundai Getz of little scratches. He said I probably knew this. He is wrong. *grin*
• Spare fan belt. Not for me, but for you older car models, not such a bad idea.
• Rags. Essential!

I’d add to this list:

• A Jingle Bag. In case you really need to go.
• A few packs of Rebisco Super Thin Saltines. In case you’re really hungry.

Thanks for the list, RL, and for dropping by Life With Gina!

What about the rest of you? Do you have essentials in your own Hyundai Getz first aid kits?