Korean Job Discussion Forums

[no_tofu_speed]

Hey, just curious, does anyone know what the major website is for used car classifieds in Korea?
I'm sure there is a few or at least one... every country has one.
Some help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[zappadelta]

Encar is the best. Make sure you click the tab to buy directly from them (엔카직영차량) or 보증차량 - which are cars that have been inspected and guaranteed by encar. Also, you can click on the 개인 tab to buy from a personal seller.

If you don't use one of these three, you will be wasting your time, because everything else on there is a bait and switch of some sort.

[denverdeath]

http://search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=%EC%A4%91%EA%B3%A0%EC%9E%90%EB%8F%99%EC%B0%A8&sm=top_sug.pre&fbm=1&ie=utf8

never used any of 'em, so can't say whether they're any good.

[jamesd]

I found that almost all used car sales websites post bogus prices to lure you in so that they can rip you off.

Me: Hello, can I see the car that I saw on the website?
Dealer: Sorry, that car's been sold an hour ago. Let me show (rip you off) you another car.

I heard www.encar.com is decent though

[no_tofu_speed]

Hey!!! Thanks so much guys!!!!!

[Swampfox10mm]

I should write a book on this:

1. Most Korean websites (including Encar) are littered with fakes that are meant to draw you into that specific dealership. It's just the way it is. You'll have to pound the pavement, just like you are looking for an apartment. They'll tell you they have the car, then an hour later after you arrive, it will magically have been sold.

2. The massive car lot shown in the USFK forum ad is simply the entire lot at Janhanpyeong station. Don't get your hopes up... CRAP cars. Pure crap with really, really poor paintjobs/quick fixes covering up problems. I actually saw several models with drill holes in the metal, for pulling-out dents, which were poorly puttied-up and spray painted by hand with spray cans. Yes, THAT terrible. Every dealer surrounding the lot claims the entire lot as their own in pics, as is the case with the USFK ad people.

3. I have gotten the best deals out of town in Suwon, for example.

4. The gov't inspection piece of paper certifying if the car has been in a wreck or not is often bogus. It is often the case that wrecked cars are sold directly to shops without an accident report. Those cars are fixed and sold as never been in an accident. They will lie through their teeth to you about this. You have to know what to look for to avoid the wrecks, but nearly every car for sale has had some problem like that, so good luck.

5. Whatever you purchase, always keep about 350,000 to 500,000 set aside to repair whatever needs to be done that hasn't been done. Most Koreans seem to hold onto a car until it's either in a wreck or got some major problem that needs to be fixed. The problems are often covered-up by bandaid solutions so they can dump the vehicle off. Just expect that your used car will have such a problem (or expensive service need such as timing chain replacement, etc.) and budget for it.

6. I'd be scared as heck to buy a used car now, because of the number of cars that were flooded-out this past summer around parts of town. Water-damaged cars can be dried-out and cleaned, but electrical problems always seem to show up 6 months later when things start to corrode.

Best thing you can do is stay away from buying your used car in Seoul, unless it's from another expat. That's just my experience. Small-town cars are often in much better shape for the money, but you may need some extra time to do the paperwork in 2 locations (there and near home) if you buy from an individual.

[zappadelta]