Doctor and content creator Erika Rabara just bought her first car and the Internet is celebrating this win with her!
She bought a Toyota Corolla Cross GRS Hybrid, which is a hybrid electric vehicle.
If there is one thing the Internet loves, it is heartwarming success stories that people can relate to and dream about. Just recently, doctor and content creator Erika Rabara was on the receiving end of all this love and support.
She happily shared online how she just made her first big girl purchase, buying her very first car! In an emotional video message she posted on Tiktok, she mentions how this purchase is an accumulation and materialization of everything she’s worked for, being on social media since she was 13. “It’s not just a car, it’s a turning point in my life,” she says, teary-eyed, not forgetting to thank everyone that has helped her get to this point.
@erika.rabara watch me cry and be a baby about this new milestone and achievement. i finally bought my first car. felt so emotional that i just had to sit down to process everything. it’s all thanks to you. i love you all so much!!!! 🥹 #newcar ♬ Snow On The Beach – Taylor Swift
And the Internet is in full support and celebration with Erika on this big milestone! However, there are still some downers in the comments. One of which commented, “Wait mo maintenance at gastos sa gas mas mapapaiyak ka pa” to which Erika gracefully responded in a video, sharing how she bought a Corolla Cross Hybrid, which is actually a very cost-efficient vehicle.
In the video, she shared how she bought the GRS model, which is why her unit is two-toned. Apart from that, she also explained some key features of hybrid electric vehicles like how it uses an internal combustion engine and electric motor that allows the vehicle to use energy that is stored in its batteries.
@erika.rabara Replying to @criz❤️ She a car influencer or whatever 😂😂 no joke though, #corollacrosshybrid the best!! i don’t really know much about the technicalities of a hybrid car so i tried to explain it the best way i could from what i understood but the bottomline is; ang tipid sa gas, promise!!! i can totally vouch for it. worth the price!! #newcar #hybridcar ♬ original sound – Erika Rabara
For those not car-savvy, she reiterated saying, “Basically, para lang siyang mix ng electric car and a car that uses gas.” However, noting that the main difference the hybrid car has from an electric one is that you do not need to plug it in for it to recharge.
“The car actually recharges itself through the braking mechanism,” said Erika, explaining that every time you hit the brake or go over 60km/h, it’s as if you’re pumping the engine, which allows the unit to recharge itself. Allowing the vehicle then, to use the energy you store when you go slow between 0 to 30 km/h.
She then proceeds to swear how hybrid vehicles are not wasteful with gas, sharing that her full tank which cost her P 1,800 lasted her for three weeks and counting because it is part electric. Which is a big difference from her P9,000 gas allowance per month before.
Lastly, she shared that color coding does not apply to hybrid cars, and more importantly, it helps save the environment!
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Experiencing it firsthand
And our team was able to experience Erika’s joy about hybrid cars through Toyota Motor Philippines’ test drive series which allowed us to use a hybrid Toyota Corolla Altis and true enough, Erika was right.
Upon receiving the unit, we immediately drove up to Tagaytay to see how the car would perform in a long drive. Needless to say, we were surprised to see how the gas meter had not at all moved in our drive to and from Tagaytay.
Apart from that, other features about the Toyota Corolla Altis that we noticed were the cruise control, silent drive, proximity warnings, reverse camera, and no-fuss dashboard panel. Features that are helpful for drivers, both pro and new.
There were also air-conditioning vents for the back seats which were perfect for the heat! Not even mentioning the luxe leather seats, and sleek build and design the unit has.
Part of Filipino culture is to worry about the weather as we live in a tropical country that either rains or shines. Debunking some common misconceptions about HEVs, the flood does not cause the unit to get electrocuted.
Having experienced and known that, Toyota HEVs, which are the Toyota Corolla Altis, Corolla Cross, Camry, and RAV-4, are all top-notch which makes them a great first car to invest in!
Congratulations on your unit, Erika!
