Or someone in the DR that does not want to pay the increased exorbitant import taxes for the privilege. Sales are won/lost there depending on the number of cylinders.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
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An Ideal Vehicle for All DR
Or someone in the DR that does not want to pay the increased exorbitant import taxes for the privilege. Sales are won/lost there depending on the number of cylinders.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
There isn't the appreciation by those that don't live here how much vehicles cost here due to taxes.
The cost of some of the larger makes quoted would make their eyes water.
That was the reason I started this thread and it has made me look more closely at the DR market.
And gasoline. With regular costing $4.30 gallon I can afford to drive a Yukon. I think most or down size some or keep a small sedan for most of the running around. I hate watch the pesos fly out of my pocket for a tankful of gas every week.
I am doing the Santo Domingo to Cabarete and return once or twice a week. And drive in the city, autopistas, awful town traffic (Moca), over the hills with potholes and bends and few places to overtake, then the madness between Sabanete to just east of Sosua. Costs me about 2300rd round trip in my Suzuki Grand Vitara, but would be double or more that with some of the models mentioned. That is all relevant when it comes to understanding an ideal car for all DR.
Good idea and I meant to say I can't afford a Yukon. Last time I was in a Grand Vitara it seemed a bit small for my uses, but that was about 6 years ago - maybe they are more luxurious now
From a client database updated every Monday. The following appear to meet the OP's wants/needs of a small(er) SUV.
Top 5 (tie for 4th) in order of estimated overall quality, safety and resale for the week of 9/18/17;
1. Subaru Forester;
2. Toyota Rav 4;
3. Hyundai Tucson;
4. Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue (tie);
5. Honda CR-V
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
Top 5 (tie for 4th) in order of estimated overall quality, safety and resale for the week of 9/18/17;
1. Subaru Forester;
2. Toyota Rav 4;
3. Hyundai Tucson;
4. Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue (tie);
5. Honda CR-V
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
You ignore price in DR.
If one goes to supercarros one could list all the mentioned models priced new in DR and that would almost certainly put the 4wd Hyundai Tuscon as a clear leader.
Toyotas and Hondas are very pricey in comparison and the Forrester is also and no dealership. Kias and Nissans come into play.
Right now the Tuscon seems miles ahead of the competition and it looks good too and better than the Toyota and Honda equivalent for much less. As I said you can have two modern looking 4wd drive Tuscons for an older looking design new Prado. No brainer the way the vehicle look trends are going. Forget ego, look to buy the best value and performer and cost is a huge factor here.
Not surprising they are all around but guess not so many are 4wd.
I have a friend that travels the DR constantly...she has had her Suzuki vitara for11-12 years and it still looks great and goes great. She still has no problems with it.
People who have driven the tough Suzuki Grand Vitaras in tough driving conditions and know how reliable and tough they are will want to look at the new Grand Vitara when it is released. If it looks like the new Vitara it should be good
Sounds like your mind is already made up.
As indicated, one of my clients is a Suzuki dealer in the DR. While Suzuki does have a following, they are overall a second tier vehicle in their class segment. The slight price differential between the Suzuki and the top tier vehicles so equipped is not enough for some to trade down.
The Grand Vitara is a redesign this year and the old adage is to never buy the first model year of a redesign, as invariably they all have "bugs" that need to be worked out.
In the end however, your choice is still a personal one.
Goood luck.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
I was basing the list, my preferences, on the amount of miles I have seen those cars do(usually 200-300,000) and the ease of repair(if you are good with your hands).
Those fuel prices are similar to California and every place in the US isnt as paved as Washington, DC. You think if a car was able to make it on the Al-Can, or the old washed-out Route 66 or those craggy roads in central Montana it is a suitable car for DR.
Supercarros is crazy, besides many of the luxury SUVs arent really that adaptable in even the mildest offroad conditions. Those soft suspensions and thinner side wall tires on large alloy wheels are a serious detraction.
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Yes and I never thought of this model when I started this thread.
That the current version Hyundai Tucson 4wd is clearly the best new vehicle for all of DR when all factors including looks, price, servicing and exceptional warranty and all the points you mentioned are considered. It was in your top three but you missed the cost and servicing factors.
It will be several months before I do make the change and I will be awaiting to see how the Grand Vitara looks if it is indeed released in that period and I will also look more closely at some of the other models we discussed that we don't always consider such as Kia and Nissan too.
My mind is not made up what I will go for when I change, yet.
It will be several month before.
As always your input has been excellent along with the gorgon, so many thanks. I think this thread still has legs if it focuses on what is available in DR and good in DR.
Answer to OP: New Hyundai 4wd Tucson going at about 38k here.
https://www.supercarros.com/buscar/...000000&YearFrom=1975&YearTo=2018&Traction=802
For those in the car market....
Take this list and add prices to each one...
that points you to the road....literally and figuratively.
Do a budget, make the shopping list and see which one you can afford
FYI.
That list, updated weekly to my clients, is from the proprietary software of a Canadian company that is one the largest automotive leasing companies in the world.
It is used to manage large fleets of leased vehicles, both new and used on the buy and sell side.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
To be fair you could add the Toyota Rav4 4wd on par with Tucsan at same price.
https://www.supercarros.com/carros/jeepeta/toyota/rav4/Detalle/766270/
But new Forresters don't come easily in DR without a dealer.
In the end it comes down to choice.
For those that like Prados the new prices can be seen here:
https://www.supercarros.com/buscar/...000000&YearFrom=1975&YearTo=2018&Traction=802
The other factor not mentioned is the last and so the expected next design change and where the car was made. I see mention that the Tucsan is made in Korea only for this market.
It all comes down to a matter of personal choice in the end including me but the question was worth floating.
I suppose one could always 'go it alone' and import....
The paperwork might be onerous but the selection & choices go way up
The paperwork might be onerous but the selection & choices go way up
The first character in a VIN (vehicle identification number) may be either a letter or number and tells you the geographic area of origin.
This is where the car was actually made, and it may be different from where the manufacturer is located.
•A – H means Africa
•J – R (except O and Q) means Asia (J is Japan)
•S – Z means Europe
•1 – 5 means North America (1,4,5 is US)
•6 or 7 means New Zealand or Australia
•8 or 9 is for South America
Just look at the first letter or number of the VIN. The easiest place to find the VIN is either on a plate inside the lower right corner of the windshield if you are looking at the vehicle from the front, or on a plate/sticker either on the inside of the drivers door jam or on the frame the door closes into;
http://www.vinetching.com/images/where_vin.png?crc=4255919634
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
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So do the hassles operational wise.
If you toddle around your tourist zone or it is your showpiece, maybe not a bad idea.
If you rack up several hundred to a thousand kilometres a week on both business and travel all over the country you want a good maintenance back up and an understanding of your vehicle type so you stay mobile all the time, that maybe not so smart.
And for many because of both budget and mileage undertaken, second hand is the option. and perhaps we can widen the thread scope by asking that question specifically best all round second hand car for all of DR or could be another thread.