- Thread starter s4dlite
- Start date
Just moved to DR and I need a car! Help me out!
"Originally Posted by RacerX
I would drive a Chevrolet Blazer. But thats just me!"
"talk about bad gas mileage!!"
Today I had to change an A6 oil pan because of a speed bump, it will also need the entire suspension which was replaced completely in the end of August. The OE suspension kit - includes the 8 pcs of control arms, outer tie rod ends and sway bar links - without the struts! - a little over US$ 1400.00 plus shipping, plus labor - which is cheap here, only about US$ 220.
You can buy a cheap chinese crap for 450-500, it will last 2-3 months. I didn't even mentioned the POS A/C compressor that they all have.
Now its over US$ 1600 for an 8 month period. It would buy a lots of fuel for RacerX's Blazer.
Audi / VW has the highest oil quality requirements, they have their own standard (see 502.00 - 505.00) so not all the synthetics are good for the motor, the oil price is double here than in the US so maintenance cost are higher. VWs are build up sludge extremely fast even with the high quality oil and regular maintenance - just google vw 1.8T sludge problem.
Looks like you know all the issues, and got the money (don't need to worry about parts) and skills - even my best european tech can't replace the suspension in an hour and believe me, he did many of them. It takes about .4 hrs to R&R the engine cover properly.
It shouldn't be hard to find one, because most of our VW / Audi clients said they will get rid of them quickly and never buy an other money eating poor quality POS like these again, or -since money isn't an issue - I'd just walk into a dealer and buy a new one - beside the warranty - nothing beats a new car smell.
The Hun
I would drive a Chevrolet Blazer. But thats just me!"
"talk about bad gas mileage!!"
Today I had to change an A6 oil pan because of a speed bump, it will also need the entire suspension which was replaced completely in the end of August. The OE suspension kit - includes the 8 pcs of control arms, outer tie rod ends and sway bar links - without the struts! - a little over US$ 1400.00 plus shipping, plus labor - which is cheap here, only about US$ 220.
You can buy a cheap chinese crap for 450-500, it will last 2-3 months. I didn't even mentioned the POS A/C compressor that they all have.
Now its over US$ 1600 for an 8 month period. It would buy a lots of fuel for RacerX's Blazer.
Audi / VW has the highest oil quality requirements, they have their own standard (see 502.00 - 505.00) so not all the synthetics are good for the motor, the oil price is double here than in the US so maintenance cost are higher. VWs are build up sludge extremely fast even with the high quality oil and regular maintenance - just google vw 1.8T sludge problem.
Looks like you know all the issues, and got the money (don't need to worry about parts) and skills - even my best european tech can't replace the suspension in an hour and believe me, he did many of them. It takes about .4 hrs to R&R the engine cover properly.
It shouldn't be hard to find one, because most of our VW / Audi clients said they will get rid of them quickly and never buy an other money eating poor quality POS like these again, or -since money isn't an issue - I'd just walk into a dealer and buy a new one - beside the warranty - nothing beats a new car smell.
The Hun
And................in the 4.3 Chevy Vortec? Any weight motor oil will do thank you. I poured 5.5 quarts Dexron III in it last time.
And you can always get that Isuzu 4 door pickup that the PN use. It is the same thing as the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon with weaker engine options and lamer interior dressing.
And you can always get that Isuzu 4 door pickup that the PN use. It is the same thing as the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon with weaker engine options and lamer interior dressing.
I would say like this:
Very good conditions:
Santo Domingo - San Pedro - La Romana - Higuey - Bavaro (via Macao) roads are in very good condition. there are some stretches between Higuey and Romana with patched potholes, which means some very slight bumps.
Santo Domingo - Santiago road mainly in good condition, some patches
Santo Domingo - Samana road in very good condition
Santo Domingo - San Cristobal - Bani - Azua road in very good condition, some patches
Azua - Barahona road in very good condition
Azua - San Juan de la Maguana - Las Matas de Farfan - road in very good condition (further on towards Elias Pi?a it gets worse).
Santo Domingo - Monte Plata - Savana Grande de Boya - road in very good condition
Monte Plata - Bayaguana - road in good condition, some patches
El Seybo - Hato Mayor - road in very good condition
Maimon - Cotui (last time I traveled it) road in very good condition
Autopista Duarte - San Francisco (last time I traveled ) road in very good condition
Autopista Duarte - Constanza (last time I traveled) some patches, but generally in good condition
Friusa (Bavaro) - Cruce de Coco Loco - very good condition, newly asphalted
Cruce de Macao (Bavaro) - Arena Gorda (Bavaro) - very good condition
Cruce de Coco Loco (Bavaro) - Punta cana Airport - very good condition
Acceptable conditions:
Cruce de Yamasa - Yamasa
Higuey - El Seybo
Higuey - Veron (no potholes but bumps, was being re-asphalted, stopped half-way)
Piedra Blanca - Maimon (some potholes, but avoidable)
Barahona - Duverge
Duverge - Jimani
Duverge - Neyba
Jimani - Neyba
Barahona - Cabral - Polo Magnetico
Now the terrible conditions:
Bayaguana - Guerra
Hato Mayor - Savana de la Mar
Constanza - Jarabacoa
Santiago - Carretera Turistica (Sosua)
Vicente Noble - Neyba
San Pedro - Hato Mayor
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Driving from Santo Domingo to Samana is great until you get to the end of the new highway. Then things get crappy.
Also, as with most things in life, there are qualifiers.
For example, driving from Santo Domingo east towards Juan Dolio, when you reach the new Ole supermarket near La Caleta there are a couple of suspension wrecking potholes between the outside lane and the second lane. Watch out for people swerving to avoid them!
As always you need to keep your eyes peeled!
Also, as with most things in life, there are qualifiers.
For example, driving from Santo Domingo east towards Juan Dolio, when you reach the new Ole supermarket near La Caleta there are a couple of suspension wrecking potholes between the outside lane and the second lane. Watch out for people swerving to avoid them!
As always you need to keep your eyes peeled!
Buyer Beware if You Don't Buy a Toyota or Honda in the DR
Welcome to the DR, gasoline at over 150 pesos a gallon for regular (the average octane at the refinery is 84, way below most manufacturer's minimum requirements), and you can add 15 pesos to the gallon to get that 90 octane here. This country has huge potholes, long lines of traffic at unpredictable times. Finally, let's talk about the average Dominican's driving skills, which involve a technique of hit the gas first and look later...maybe.
As someone else pointed out, if you want to give control of your bank account to a mechanic, buy whatever you would like. If you want to go around in a beautiful new SUV, as a foreigner, and let all these people know who are looking for a "pendejo" that you have money in the bank, and probably in your car, and that one wrong turn or one bad neighbor, can turn you into a target, go ahead. It will be your quality of life and I have warned you with this message.
If I were in your shoes, I would buy an older easy to fix Honda or Toyota, which will be significantly cheaper, parts will be readily available, and mechanics are more familiar with how to repair these vehicles, and the competition will drive down the cost of repairing it.
Personally, I drive an 86 Toyota Corolla with 140,000 original miles on it that was owned by a little old lady in the barrio, who drove it to the supermarket once a week. She pampered the inside, so the interior looks great. I put a professional propane system in with copper tubing. Had to replace the motor early on, which ran me $ 15,000.0 pesos, including labor!!! I can find parts all day long since this is the common model used in the carro publico circuit.
No one bothers me for money, and I even get a good laugh when people try to flag me down as if I am a carro. If anything breaks my average repair bill is RD$ 2,000.00 to fix anything including parts and labor. My ac works perfectly as do all the electronics on the car, and the beggars pass me over when they see what I'm driving.
Not to say you have to go this far, but I live a very peaceful life this way, and transportation for me and my family is very economical. Just an idea for you to consider. Best of luck.
Welcome to the DR, gasoline at over 150 pesos a gallon for regular (the average octane at the refinery is 84, way below most manufacturer's minimum requirements), and you can add 15 pesos to the gallon to get that 90 octane here. This country has huge potholes, long lines of traffic at unpredictable times. Finally, let's talk about the average Dominican's driving skills, which involve a technique of hit the gas first and look later...maybe.
As someone else pointed out, if you want to give control of your bank account to a mechanic, buy whatever you would like. If you want to go around in a beautiful new SUV, as a foreigner, and let all these people know who are looking for a "pendejo" that you have money in the bank, and probably in your car, and that one wrong turn or one bad neighbor, can turn you into a target, go ahead. It will be your quality of life and I have warned you with this message.
If I were in your shoes, I would buy an older easy to fix Honda or Toyota, which will be significantly cheaper, parts will be readily available, and mechanics are more familiar with how to repair these vehicles, and the competition will drive down the cost of repairing it.
Personally, I drive an 86 Toyota Corolla with 140,000 original miles on it that was owned by a little old lady in the barrio, who drove it to the supermarket once a week. She pampered the inside, so the interior looks great. I put a professional propane system in with copper tubing. Had to replace the motor early on, which ran me $ 15,000.0 pesos, including labor!!! I can find parts all day long since this is the common model used in the carro publico circuit.
No one bothers me for money, and I even get a good laugh when people try to flag me down as if I am a carro. If anything breaks my average repair bill is RD$ 2,000.00 to fix anything including parts and labor. My ac works perfectly as do all the electronics on the car, and the beggars pass me over when they see what I'm driving.
Not to say you have to go this far, but I live a very peaceful life this way, and transportation for me and my family is very economical. Just an idea for you to consider. Best of luck.
mrp,
a 1986 Toyota Corolla? - Pimp stylin' dude!
The blue-book value varies depending on how full the tank is.
a 1986 Toyota Corolla? - Pimp stylin' dude!
The blue-book value varies depending on how full the tank is.
What Blue Book Value
FYI,
I traded in a 2003 Daewoo Lanos for my 86 Corolla. I get an average of 5 people a month who ask me if I want to sell my car, when they see what good condition it's in. There are no blue books here, just supply and demand, believe it or not, the Corolla is worth more than many cars here that are 2000 and newer.:squareeye
FYI,
I traded in a 2003 Daewoo Lanos for my 86 Corolla. I get an average of 5 people a month who ask me if I want to sell my car, when they see what good condition it's in. There are no blue books here, just supply and demand, believe it or not, the Corolla is worth more than many cars here that are 2000 and newer.:squareeye