Yeah, I agree that replicas are not as nice as new ones. There is something that comes along with building our own car though... I once told a friend that I would rather have a painting that isnt as nice but was made by me, than one made by a famous artist. It comes with a sense of pride. I was inspired when Atendido was making their Parehos, Panthers, Carters, and other local makers were churning out their vehicles. They werent exactly replicas or copies, although they had a lot of similarities with known brands. I appreciated their vehicles a lot and unfortunately, they are no longer being made.

The G-class is really nice, but I am not willing to save money for it. I would rather save my money for more affordable 4x4's such as a Fortuner, or a Pajero than a G-class which costs millions even in the 2nd hand market. I think the engine is also too big and too powerful for my daily use, and that its parts are also expensive to maintain. I chose the word "inspired", because when we try to copy something it just doesnt come out so nice. When we try to innovate on the design, such as what the Japanese did (copy American products then innovate them so that they are something new), the result is usually nicer. The G-class is also my model because despite it being so boxy, like an old car, it is still fashionable and class. I have seen a number of locally made AUV's which are pretty well made too. They are not copies although their designs do have similarities with branded units. I agree na baka maraming sakit ng ulo with it. For starters, rust proofing would be a big problem. Registration too would be a problem and smoke belching emission tests (which is why I would prefer something that can run on LPG). So I do want to have an idea of what Ill be facing if I try something like this. Thank you so much for your inputs, I really appreciate them