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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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 Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject: Question to car owners |
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Hello,
I am looking to buy a car in the near future. I think probably it would be a new one since I need a reliable one for long daily commutes. However, I am worried about regular maintenance, etc. because I do not speak Korean and I guess most mechanics do not speak English.
Do you guys have any opinion or suggestions regarding car ownership, etc. ? Thanx. |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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Used Korean cars are cheap and really good value. I never understood why a working person would buy a new car. Mechanics here are cheap, and, in my limited experience, quite honest. I deal with my mechanic with my very few words of Korean, hand signals and pointing, and, when necessary, a Korean friend or student on the other end of my hand phone doing some translating.
People here often complain about Koreans asking for help with their English, but I find that my Korean students, colleagues and friends are more than gracious when I need a Korean translator.
Oh, and another reason not to be afraid of a used car is that your car insurance will come with emergency repair and towing services. I had a flat and the insurance company sent out a mechanic who changed the tire and there was no charge. (Of course, the call was made with the help of a student.) |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Like anywhere, I think you have to shop around a little to find a good mechanic you can trust. A handy-dandy note and some miming are all it takes to get repairs done. That isn't the big worry. The big worry with a car is having access to good hair dye to cover the gray that comes from driving on the roads with the maniacs. |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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Firstly, although I drive over 100 km a day with no problem, if I could do without a car I would. At least I do not have the cost as it is company provided. I sold my personal car a few months ago: it was always serviced and maintained by the same guy in Itaewon, near the Capitol Hotel - he's quite good, as good as any other country I have been in.
Maintenance need not be a problem for a Korean car as the parts are easily available. |
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eamo
Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Maintenance need not be a problem for a Korean car as the parts are easily available. |
It's one good thing about there being so few imported cars here. Nearly all the cars on the roads are made in Korea so parts are cheap and easy to get.
A word of warning about the quick-service type service stations (I'm talking about Speedmate here). They are not so much mechanics as salesmen. They will try to sell you a new exhaust, tyres, oil, brakes etc every time you visit them.
My car has a lot of tread left on the tyres yet they argued I needed new tyres because they were 3 years old. I explained (through my wife) that the car isn't used much so the treads are still good. Still he insisted that we should change all the tyres because they were 3 years old. I refused. He went huffy because I had questioned his expertise.
Anyway, apart from Seoul congestion, and driving skills that will make you totally re-evaluate what a bad driver is, driving is very do-able here. |
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Pyongshin Sangja
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Buy the way, how much is insurance for a small, 4-cyl car for a year in Seoul? |
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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Pyongshin Sangja wrote: |
| Buy the way, how much is insurance for a small, 4-cyl car for a year in Seoul? |
depending on which company you use.. around 500.000 a year
europe2seoul.
how much are you looking at spending on you car?
what size car? |
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europe2seoul
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| itaewonguy wrote: |
europe2seoul.
how much are you looking at spending on you car?
what size car? |
Well, if I buy new then I would go for a sub-compact or compact (Kalos, Verna and the like). I would like to get an SUV but they cost too much. So, whatever its current price is, most probably by financing.
As for used ones - I had some bad experiences in other countries I lived in but there I at least spoke the language so I can explain/call/etc.
And, yeah - I can't do work without a car since I need to travel a lot to visit customer's sites in various cities around Korea - a part of my job over here in Korea. I get reimbursment for gas & other travel expenses which is nice. Actually, I wish I do not have to get it due to driving style over here and traffic jams, but...
The thing is I would need a car to take me from point A to point B reliably. So, that's why I asked if I get some 4-5 years old car I do not want to be stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere being broken down. And then the question is - who are the people to call in that case for towing/repair service and can they speak at least some English ? Also, in case of some accident, since I do not speak the language and the other guy does I am worried he/she might blame it on me - any experiences ? |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 8:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Also, in case of some accident, since I do not speak the language and the other guy does I am worried he/she might blame it on me - any experiences ? |
That will happen anyway: the logic is that had you not been there, the accident could not have occurred.
You can get breakdown insurance but again the hard part is being able to direct the truck to where you are. There are almost no street names here - have you noticed how long it takes to give directions in Korean? "No 175, Tehran Street" is easy. Otherwise it's go to Hang-gang dae-gyo, tyrn right till the third lights, then turn left ..... over the railway bridge, and just opposite KFC. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Wangja wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Also, in case of some accident, since I do not speak the language and the other guy does I am worried he/she might blame it on me - any experiences ? |
That will happen anyway: the logic is that had you not been there, the accident could not have occurred. |
That's Saudi logic (if not Saudi law) as well. |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Indeed it is JG, but at least here you don;t automatically get ALL the blame whatever the circumstances. It seems that bumped from behind, you get 10%. |
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JongnoGuru
Joined: 25 May 2004
Location: peeing on your doorstep
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Wangja wrote: |
| Indeed it is JG, but at least here you don;t automatically get ALL the blame whatever the circumstances. It seems that bumped from behind, you get 10%. |
So do what I do: Get a motorcycle. You can park anywhere, drive carelessly, cause accidents and even ram into pedestrians, safe in the knowledge that you'll (nearly) never be held accountable.  |
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desultude
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: Dangling my toes in the Persian Gulf
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:52 pm Post subject: |
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| europe2seoul wrote: |
| itaewonguy wrote: |
europe2seoul.
how much are you looking at spending on you car?
what size car? |
Well, if I buy new then I would go for a sub-compact or compact (Kalos, Verna and the like). I would like to get an SUV but they cost too much. So, whatever its current price is, most probably by financing.
As for used ones - I had some bad experiences in other countries I lived in but there I at least spoke the language so I can explain/call/etc.
And, yeah - I can't do work without a car since I need to travel a lot to visit customer's sites in various cities around Korea - a part of my job over here in Korea. I get reimbursment for gas & other travel expenses which is nice. Actually, I wish I do not have to get it due to driving style over here and traffic jams, but...
The thing is I would need a car to take me from point A to point B reliably. So, that's why I asked if I get some 4-5 years old car I do not want to be stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere being broken down. And then the question is - who are the people to call in that case for towing/repair service and can they speak at least some English ? Also, in case of some accident, since I do not speak the language and the other guy does I am worried he/she might blame it on me - any experiences ? |
Last things first- I understand that Koreans often carry a camera in their car to help in the case of accidents and liability.
I am not sure about the towing question. I have numbers for a lot of my students and friends on my cell phone, and for similar situations, I call on them for help.
I know that the cost of used cars here is really low compared to other countries- the vanity thing, of course. I would imagine that one even a couple of years old would be a bargain compared to a new one, but if you have the money, knock yourself out. Just remember- it will also cost more to insure and also in annual taxes, which aren't cheap.
Also, you could afford something bigger, and safer, than a subcompact if you went used. SUV's are a plague against humanity, and are especially bad in Korea where roads and parking lots, not to mention drivers  , aren't designed for them. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 1:41 am Post subject: |
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| Get a GPS. |
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BigBlackEquus
Joined: 05 Jul 2005
Location: Lotte controls Asia with bad chocolate!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| desultude wrote: |
| Used Korean cars are cheap and really good value. I never understood why a working person would buy a new car. |
That's like gospel. I don't get it, either. I've bought 2 new cars in the past. The only reason to do it is if there is great financing, which I think ain't that great here. And even then, it's only worth it if you plan to drive the car forever. As soon as you sell, you take it up the ying-yang.
Used cars are good here. Insurance can suck, depending on your situation. Check out www.encar.co.kr |
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