Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jondepoer]

Hi folks,

I'm a little desperate to buy a car because my new jobs is super inconvenient via. public transportation. Can anyone recommend a good place in Seoul to buy a car based on first-hand experience?

I've checked Encar, and a couple of American dealers near the Yongsan base, but haven't found what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a subcompact car like a Matiz for 1.5 or less. I've seen loads of these for sale on Craigslist, ESLcafe, etc. for 800,000 and up, but just none at the moment. I feel like I'm getting the "foreigner price" everywhere I go.

I'm not trying to be a cheapass, but just weighing how much I'm going to lose when I go to sell the car at the end of the year.

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

Thanks.

[eamo]

I suspect the low end of the market (under 2mill) is taken care of by classifieds in the free papers and online auction sites.

I've never seen such cheap cars on used car lots.

To get some good options I think you'll need a Korean friend/co-worker to help out. Offer a Korean a certain sum of money to find you a good deal and then help with the transaction. Probably be well worth it.

[12ax7]

Yes, you probably won't find any of the cheaper cars on the lots because they usually export those.

Looking cars up in those free ad newspapers (either the print or the online edition) is probably the best idea, although not the most convenient.

One thing you must do if you go that route, what you must do whenever you buy a car from an individual here in Korea, is check to see if there are any outstanding tickets or taxes that need to be paid. You do this with the owner at the office where you register the car. Don't pay any money for the car before that part of the process is done. Bring a Korean friend along that owns a car to help out if you aren't sure what to do. If you don't have a friend who can go with you, ask someone at the office to help. After all, it's their job.

Oh, and you can haggle at the used car lot. But, yes, you'll find the cheaper cars in the classified ads.

[jondepoer]

Thanks everybody. I decided to take a little more risk and check out a non-Encar car (still found it on the Encar website, though). I've been warned against it, but it's a private sale (not a dealer), and the guy speaks pretty good English.

I mean, if I bring it somewhere and get it inspected, it takes away a lot of the risk, right?

[darkjedidave]

Also, make sure there are no outstanding tickets on the vehicle, you will be required to pay them if you purchase the car

[Swampfox10mm]

It's scary, isn't it?

Dealers will also pose as private invididuals to unload something they can't sell. With used dealers, you should EXPECT to be screwed. Non-accident declarations mean nothing in this country. Accident cars are often fixed and not reported. Encar was just featured on TV this week for this very issue.

Honestly, you're going to have a devil of a time finding a reliable car that cheap that doesn't need work... probably at least 300,000 worth. There might be a chance finding an older Matiz like that, though. We're talking something from around the year 2000 or so. At least a Matiz is cheap to fix most things.

Good luck with getting some shop to look at a car and do much to help you. I tried that, and it was kind of a joke. I left not feeling as if they really did anything but kick the tires. What's worse, they knew the guy who was selling it.

Not much other advice for you, but to say good luck.

[Hobophobic]

I bought my 96 Tiburon from www.encar.com for 1.48 million with all the paper work done by them for the local Gu/Dong office...they also showed me the accident history ( the car rear ended someone and the front end was replaced and the car freshly painted)....got to the dealership in Gangseo Gu on a Saturday at 1pm and was driving home at 230pm...you can pick the car model, year and price range all on the site as well as narrow down the specs you want...good luck either way you decide to go...

[Milwaukiedave]

I wouldn't buy from a dealer unless it was a new car. The car I have I bought through a private seller (another foreigner).

[silversurfer8]

Hi, how�s it going?
Are you still looking for a car?
I�m looking to sell my Hyundai Avante- 1.5 (1996) if you�re interested.
My family and I have had it for about 5 years and it runs very well.
I�d ask for 1.2 million.
We�ll be leaving Korea in the near future, so if you would like to consider this car and it�s price, I can reached at the following cell phone number:

010-8804-5178

My E-mail address is: [email protected]

Hope to do business with you!

[1927]

[zappadelta]