Excellent point JD. In fact, take a very close looks at the warranty given here. It may include wording that you must return to the dealer for all oil changes and other required service. If you purchase a Toyota in Santo Domingo and live in Sosua, how likely are you to have a valid warranty with such requirements?
My main reason for mentioning Toyota in the first place is that there is normally a supply of parts available locally for Toyota vehicles and most mechanics are familiar with working on them.
Yes, "local" warranty depends on you bringing your vehicle in for SCHEDULED maintenance AT the dealership. Unfair? Well, we know our locals and their tendency to try to make excuses have the value of acts. You can't give warranty on a vehicle which will get it's oil change only "
manana". The service at Delta is very good. But yes, it may be a little more expensive that the back yard guy who was going to do it...
manana.
Coming from Puerto Plata, I purchased my current Hilux at Delta in Santo Domingo. However, Delta in Santiago does all the servicing and is good for the warranty work. That's the day we pick up our bulk stuff at PriceSmart and some of the "finer" items at Nacional... a day out in the city.
Btw. the Hilux (pickup truck) is a typical example of a vehicle which, in the version sold here in the DR, is made for markets like Latin and South America, Asia, Australia BUT NOT the US. It is also available, in a more refined version, in France and Britain. The version sold here, Africa and Asia, is very simple, content with a basic quality diesel fuel and can take the road abuse. Again, many of the vehicles sold in the US may not have been designed for.
US car warranties are only good in the US. No exceptions. Some warranties are even lost once the vehicle has been exported.
CarFax: CarFax is good, but only for vehicles which have been registered (driven) in the US and their history stops when they leave the country.
... J-D.