(Images from Ford PH)

Owning a dream car for first time buyers who have rose-colored glasses may overlook what it really means to have a car.  One may think of a fantasy where cars are sleek and shiny from day 1 until the end of time. Often, people just look at the price of the vehicle and not the whole cost or budget of owning one. Crucially, a car owner must also look at the price of ensuring the vehicle is on tip-top condition, to extend its performance, and in turn, value, in the long run.

Enter the Ford Territory. Some say it is not a real Ford, as it is not pure American, and it is actually a Chinese-made car, as if that's a bad thing nowadays. What it meant by being Chinese meant the Territory is made more accessible to its potential owners but with all the bells and whistles that often other brands from elsewhere may give one at a steeper price.  This fact, although does not stop Territory owners, and curious and interested onlookers, to blame China again if and when something is wrong with the car. This is why it is also important to look at how easy or difficult it is to maintain the Territory to ensure it is always running smoothly.

In 2018, Ford has released a program where a PMS or preventive maintenance schedule will be reduced for Ford vehicles from four times a year. The new schedule requires the PMS to be done every 6 months or every 10,000 kilometers racked in the odometer, whichever comes first. This is great news for Ford vehicle owners because it seems the price of PMS – money, and of course, time – is reduced in half, without sacrificing the checking up on the performance of Ford vehicles.

For the Ford Territory, a similar scheme is adopted, but as a new vehicle, or to some reports, depending on your Ford agent (so choose your agent wisely), a free PMS of three years is offered to be included already in your Territory purchase. Some reports of owners say that the free PMS may sometimes be equivalent with free PMS labor cost only, meaning you'll pay for the oil and parts and stuff, while some owners say they did not get such an offer, and that the first PMS of their Territory cost them about ten to eleven thousand pesos (estimate).

Two things that we can take from this is, one, the free PMS scheme might be a promo depending on the dealership and the agent, and two, regardless of the first point, Ford's twice a year PMS is a steal.

Make sure your car is always on the right condition by maintaining them, and the price of PMS is never an excuse to let your brand-new car wane in performance. Drive safely!