I finally bought a car in Santiago, and I want to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and thoughts. It's amazing how right on everyone is, although everyone has a different viewpoint. Because I was buying it more for my girlfriend who is a novice, and I am in NY 90% of the time, I decided to buy a new car - a Diahatsu Terios - so that I would not be dealing with long distance maintenance problems, hopefully.
Firstly, to everyone who said don't buy new because driving in the DR is insane, you'll be happy to know that 1 hour after picking up the car I was side swiped coming out of the La Sirena parking lot. Fortunately, the marks from the other car (and I use the term loosely) washed off.
To Marc, who warned me that the car is underpowered and not the most stable: it is absolutely not the most masculing vehicle I have driven, but for her, it is perfect. Just enough power to pass cars safely, nice ground clearance, good on gas, relatively inexpensive and cute. If it were just for me, I'd go to Moca and buy something used with more power.
I was also warned that parts might be hard to get. Of course the dealer says no, that there is a parts distributer in POP. I was happy to see about 40 Terios in my long weekend in Sosua & POP, including one owned by the police, but I'm going to have to wait to cross that bridge.
I learned about the car by following a thread recommending Skodas which led to JD and his Daihatsu to my buying the car sight unseen from Peravia. Daihatsus are not sold in the US, so I had some trepidation, but when I got to the showroom to pick it up I felt I had done the right think. Now Marisol can drive her son to school and put her baby in the car seat, just like any other suburban mom. But she appreciates it alot more. Boy is she proud! - D
Firstly, to everyone who said don't buy new because driving in the DR is insane, you'll be happy to know that 1 hour after picking up the car I was side swiped coming out of the La Sirena parking lot. Fortunately, the marks from the other car (and I use the term loosely) washed off.
To Marc, who warned me that the car is underpowered and not the most stable: it is absolutely not the most masculing vehicle I have driven, but for her, it is perfect. Just enough power to pass cars safely, nice ground clearance, good on gas, relatively inexpensive and cute. If it were just for me, I'd go to Moca and buy something used with more power.
I was also warned that parts might be hard to get. Of course the dealer says no, that there is a parts distributer in POP. I was happy to see about 40 Terios in my long weekend in Sosua & POP, including one owned by the police, but I'm going to have to wait to cross that bridge.
I learned about the car by following a thread recommending Skodas which led to JD and his Daihatsu to my buying the car sight unseen from Peravia. Daihatsus are not sold in the US, so I had some trepidation, but when I got to the showroom to pick it up I felt I had done the right think. Now Marisol can drive her son to school and put her baby in the car seat, just like any other suburban mom. But she appreciates it alot more. Boy is she proud! - D