AUGUST 2009: KIA FORTE KOUP HEADLINES “THE BUY ISSUE”!
Kia is on a roll! The Korean carmaker is set to launch a handful of exciting new vehicles in the Philippine market. Heading the list is the ultra-cool two-door Forte Koup, driven and photographed by editor Vernon B. Sarne in South Korea. Also driven in Korea and featured in this issue is another new Kia product, the brilliantly redesigned Sorento SUV. The Forte Koup and the Sorento mark a new chapter in Kia’s history in which buyers are now considering its offerings not because they have good value for money but because they’re extremely desirable.
Top Gear further examines the science behind car-buying by making this The Buy Issue—the goal being to help readers make that long overdue car purchase. Associate editor Paulo Subido writes about the “10 things you need to know before you buy a car (but the salesman wouldn’t tell you).” He interviews one former car salesman and one top-selling Toyota marketing professional, and serves the dish on the most common tricks of the trade. Read this first before going to a car dealership.
And then Features editor Dinzo Tabamo attempts to answer the question: “Is cheap always better?” As car buyers, we’re always conscious about the pricing. But should that really be the deciding factor when getting a new car? Dinzo asks industry experts to settle the issue once and for all.
BPI Family Savings Bank’s David Sarmiento, meanwhile, makes a case for availing of financing when buying a car. We also have Honda’s prettiest salesperson as this month’s Traffic Stopper.
Also in this issue are cars that will surely make you want to pull out the checkbook: the face-lifted Mitsubishi Galant; the Ford Everest; the Lexus GS; the Foton MP-X; the Honda Civic 1.8 S; and the Suzuki Celerio and the Hyundai i10 battling each other in a head-to-head comparo.
Grab Top Gear’s August issue now at leading bookshops, magazine stands, convenience stores, fuel stations and car-accessories shops. Still at P150 a copy.
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