Jeepney factory, Manila
Discussion
Was in Manila on business last week and had the chance to visit a Jeepney factory. This is the staple for cheap public transport in the country - originally modified from ex WW2 Willey's left behind by the Americans, they nowadays fabricated from new. Saroa was the original converter (though he failed to secure the IP so there are many competitors) and they are handmade over a 4 month period. Engine and gearboxes are reconditioned units shipped from Japan - mainly old Isuzu diesels but Nissan and Toyota are also popular.
The passenger experience is predictably diabolical - terrible ride, no crash protection whatsoever, noisy, no headroom, no performance, fellow passengers basically sitting in your lap, open sides to the choking fumes of rush hour traffic etc etc however a more action packed, adrenalin fuelled journey you could not hope to have. All for pennies.
The factory "tour" is comical. I read on line that it existed so turned up to get a pic or 2 for my young sons. As it transpired I just walked in; no sign in procedure, no H+S check, no guide, no mention of where I could go or not go, nothing!
Note the strict employee health and safety guideline being followed and the hospital surgery like order of the engine shop...
Filling the bench seats with coconut fibres
And finally, one hand built especially for the Pope's visit with bullet proof glass made from a cut 'n shut Nissan Patrol.
The passenger experience is predictably diabolical - terrible ride, no crash protection whatsoever, noisy, no headroom, no performance, fellow passengers basically sitting in your lap, open sides to the choking fumes of rush hour traffic etc etc however a more action packed, adrenalin fuelled journey you could not hope to have. All for pennies.
The factory "tour" is comical. I read on line that it existed so turned up to get a pic or 2 for my young sons. As it transpired I just walked in; no sign in procedure, no H+S check, no guide, no mention of where I could go or not go, nothing!
Note the strict employee health and safety guideline being followed and the hospital surgery like order of the engine shop...
Filling the bench seats with coconut fibres
And finally, one hand built especially for the Pope's visit with bullet proof glass made from a cut 'n shut Nissan Patrol.
Awesome!
I was in Subic around this time last year and was amazed at the stunning paintwork on many of these, essentially utilitarian vehicles. Jeeps stretched to buses. They are almost somewhat sinister / gangsteresque in their design and I feel any petrolhead new to the Philippines would appreciate them.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a Delorean in my hotel car park. Where there are literally no exotica to be seen anywhere, the unmistakable DMC icon in such a remote location remains, as I say, a pleasant surpirise!
I was in Subic around this time last year and was amazed at the stunning paintwork on many of these, essentially utilitarian vehicles. Jeeps stretched to buses. They are almost somewhat sinister / gangsteresque in their design and I feel any petrolhead new to the Philippines would appreciate them.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a Delorean in my hotel car park. Where there are literally no exotica to be seen anywhere, the unmistakable DMC icon in such a remote location remains, as I say, a pleasant surpirise!
Thanks for positing - interesting.The only reason that Jeepneys are still on operation is because of the mafia like union that Jeepney drivers have, keeps the FX buses at bay. Not a fan of Jeepneys, the amount of s**te they put into the atmosphere is ridiculous it's no surprise the Philippines has such poor air quality in the cities.
Crush said:
And this is why the West cannot compete (price-wise)with Eastern manufacturing 
Why not build an offshore island where illegal immigrants can sign up to work for us for free? In return we provide them with food, drink, entertainment, safety and accommodation? Everyone wins, and if anybody commits a serious crime they're deported.Disclaimer:
Very politically incorrect idea and obviously I'm not serious.
Edited by iloveboost on Monday 8th June 11:45
iloveboost said:
Crush said:
And this is why the West cannot compete (price-wise)with Eastern manufacturing
Why not build an offshore island where illegal immigrants can sign up to work for us for free? In return we provide them with food, drink, entertainment, safety and accommodation? Everyone wins, and if anybody commits a serious crime they're deported.Disclaimer:
This is probably the most politically incorrect idea I've ever thought of.
Panthro said:
The only reason that Jeepneys are still on operation is because of the mafia like union that Jeepney drivers have, keeps the FX buses at bay. Not a fan of Jeepneys, the amount of s**te they put into the atmosphere is ridiculous it's no surprise the Philippines has such poor air quality in the cities.
Each area has its own jeepney union. The FX though are very very popular though as they're like a private vehicle with ac. The jeepney drivers don't like fx as the fx have more seating than a cab along with ac, but as they charge more the jeepney drivers they tend to get the arse as an fx driver can earn more. Jeepneys are 8 php a trip and fx 20 php.
I don't agree that jeepneys are the most responsible for the pollution as most of them are privately owned, and the owners actually like to try and stay the right side of the law when it comes to smoke belching.
The buses on the other hand are old and owned by companies that don't give two s
ts about smoke belching maintenance. The drivers of them also do not care as they get paid per passenger they puck up bot a day rate.QROPS said:
Each area has its own jeepney union. The FX though are very very popular though as they're like a private vehicle with ac.
The jeepney drivers don't like fx as the fx have more seating than a cab along with ac, but as they charge more the jeepney drivers they tend to get the arse as an fx driver can earn more. Jeepneys are 8 php a trip and fx 20 php.
I don't agree that jeepneys are the most responsible for the pollution as most of them are privately owned, and the owners actually like to try and stay the right side of the law when it comes to smoke belching.
The buses on the other hand are old and owned by companies that don't give two sts about smoke belching maintenance. The drivers of them also do not care as they get paid per passenger they puck up bot a day rate.
Yeah v true about the buses! I didn't say they were most responsible for the pollution, but they certainly put out more than "should" be allowable. The jeepney drivers don't like fx as the fx have more seating than a cab along with ac, but as they charge more the jeepney drivers they tend to get the arse as an fx driver can earn more. Jeepneys are 8 php a trip and fx 20 php.
I don't agree that jeepneys are the most responsible for the pollution as most of them are privately owned, and the owners actually like to try and stay the right side of the law when it comes to smoke belching.
The buses on the other hand are old and owned by companies that don't give two s
ts about smoke belching maintenance. The drivers of them also do not care as they get paid per passenger they puck up bot a day rate.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff