Choosing my second car

Barely 4 months after picking up my Trailblazer, the school we enroll our two youngest children in moved campuses, which means we have three kids going to three different schools, all at the same time. So we had no choice but to get another car.

So as early as April, I started looking, test-driving, researching, and weighing out options, features, prices, benefits, etc. Yes, motoring journalists are not exempt to buying jitters and fears. It’s different when it’s your own money.

So after almost three months of diligence, I finally picked up a lease on a brand new car today. And despite the extra expense, it was one of the best feelings ever. So I did what anyone else would do and hurried on to my Facebook wall and shared the wonderful news with my family and friends.

There were hundreds of well-wishes and cyber pats on the back, but there was one message from a reader that asked quite genuinely, “With all the cars you drive, do you really still get excited picking up a new car?”

The answer is yes. Because to me, it is not just an object, but an achievement; a milestone; a mechanical expression of who you are. So yes, to me, it is a big deal. And that’s why it takes me months and months to choose a car. Because I’m looking for more than just good value, great features and performance; what I’m really buying into is an experience; a feeling, if you will.

Don’t get me wrong, it has to have all the above, but it also has to have so much more.

So why the Ford Escape? Well, I’ve always loved the Ford Kuga. So when they brought it here for the Manila International Auto Show last April under the name plate Escape, that’s when the stalking began.

Because for me, before anything, a car has to look good. Sorry to be so superficial, but come on. No matter how good something drives, it’s hard to get excited about something that fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. And I think most people would agree, the Escape is a head-turner. Just look at it.

Second, I’m power hungry. I got a taste of best-in-class power with the Ranger, then the Trailblazer, so when I found out that they brought in the 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine (which is the bigger brother of the Fiesta’s 1-liter, 3-time Engine of the Year award winner) that kicks out a whopping 240hp and 366Nm of torque, it was the perfect fast food for me.

Third, I like having something not everyone has. It started with the Wildtrak; I was one of only three in the country to get one a full year before they started selling them in showrooms, so when I knew that there were only two Escapes brought into the country and the other one would be the personal car of the president of Ford Philippines, I made an offer.

It took this long for them to agree, but you know what they say about those who wait.

Then there’s the connectivity. Most of my world happens online now, and I carry one gadget after another, so having them all sync seamlessly is extremely important to me. And nobody does connectivity better than Ford. Seriously, it’s nuts. You can ask it to text people for you, read out your text messages, play songs by certain artists, call anyone in your phone book all by voice command––and all without the need for an unreliable 3G or 4G data connection. And it’s pretty damn accurate, too. As I was playing around with it, some guy cut me off and I instinctively yelled “Freaking jerk!” Three seconds later, Microsoft SYNC said, “Playing songs by Justin Bieber.” (I thought I saw him on your playlist.- Ed.)

Jokes aside, if you’ve tried a new Ford’s connectivity, you will get frustrated with everything else.

Then there’s the remote engine starting to cool your car down before you get in, the keyless entry with automatic tailgate that allows you to just wave your foot under the bumper for it to open––very handy when you’re carrying bags in both hands––plus that massive panoramic sunroof.

So yes, in a nutshell, a car needs to be more than a car to me. It is a private sanctuary that needs to be an extension of me and a tool that compliments my lifestyle, because at the end of the day, it is more about freedom than transportation, and when I need to get away from it all, this is the perfect Escape.

For a full review, including video and complete pictures, log onto the author’s website on www.jamesdeakin.ph.