The perfect car for the Dominican Republic? What would it be for you?

[AlterEgo]

So, we need 4 new tires for our Toyota Venza and were planning on buying in USA and shipping down like WW always did. Are you guys recommending just buying them there? (I should add that we had issues finding our size here, we bought 4 new Michelins before shipping the car down).

 

[Glenn Burke]

So, we need 4 new tires for our Toyota Venza and were planning on buying in USA and shipping down like WW always did. Are you guys recommending just buying them there? (I should add that we had issues finding our size here, we bought 4 new Michelins before shipping the car down).

I recently bought 4 Firestone Destination all terrain tires at Reid in SD cheaper than they were listed on Amazon and other US sites.

I don't see any point to ship tires from US unless it's something really rare like whitewall tires for a classic car.

 

[JD Jones]

It's worth taking a day to visit the places named in this thread. I have bought tires at all of them the years and don't have a complaint about any of them.

If I were doing it today, I'd call each one and ask them what they have in a particular size and if they do, the cost. It may take an hour or two, but I would not drive from place to place like I used to back in the old days.

I agree with Glenn 100%.

Centro Jaquez is mainly Goodyear. My Blazer has Firestone Destination from Hylsa. The tires on my Prado came from Pricesmart, and the set before came from Villa Juana. (most are used from wrecked vehicles but close to 95% new.) I bought Yokohama tires from my Cherokee at CareMax, and the tires for my Montero came from Reid y Cia.

AE, the last time I looked at Michelins they were the most expensive. I think it was Soluciones Automotrices. They have Pirellis too.

 

[johne]

Venta y montura de gomas Gomas Bridgestone, Gomas Pirelli, firestone, Gomas Continental, Gomas Trelleborg, cambio de aceite y filtro, Servicio tecnico, diagnostico de sistema de baterias, Shacman, Hylcon, Cktrans motors, Atlantic tires - Hylsa

Hylsa- Inicio, conocenos, mas sobre nosotros, empresa a Nivel Nacional dedicado a la importación y distribución de neumáticos, baterías y lubricantes,

hylsa.com.do

Thanks JD
Will do tomorrow.

 

[AlterEgo]

It's worth taking a day to visit the places named in this thread. I have bought tires at all of them the years and don't have a complaint about any of them.

If I were doing it today, I'd call each one and ask them what they have in a particular size and if they do, the cost. It may take an hour or two, but I would not drive from place to place like I used to back in the old days.

I agree with Glenn 100%.

Centro Jaquez is mainly Goodyear. My Blazer has Firestone Destination from Hylsa. The tires on my Prado came from Pricesmart, and the set before came from Villa Juana. (most are used from wrecked vehicles but close to 95% new.) I bought Yokohama tires from my Cherokee at CareMax, and the tires for my Montero came from Reid y Cia.

AE, the last time I looked at Michelins they were the most expensive. I think it was Soluciones Automotrices. They have Pirellis too.

They don’t have to be Michelins. We bought top of the line when we shipped the car down, the extreme heat and leaving the car for long periods destroyed the tires, it was a waste of money. I bet we only have 8-9,000 miles on them. If that.

 

[johne]

only during the daylight hours of course.

My wife has the contact who she called. I'll find out tomorrow who it was in the morning

 

[bob saunders]

They don’t have to be Michelins. We bought top of the line when we shipped the car down, the extreme heat and leaving the car for long periods destroyed the tires, it was a waste of money. I bet we only have 8-9,000 miles on them. If that.

Do you put the car on blocks or jackstands when you are gone?

 

[AlterEgo]

Do you put the car on blocks or jackstands when you are gone?

Nope. We just back it into the garage. Too narrow to do either.

 

[JD Jones]

Thanks JD
Will do tomorrow.

They have a special for september:

República Dominicana | Bridgestone

Nuestras llantas están diseñadas para brindarte el mejor desempeño en el momento clave sin importar el tipo de vehículo o camino que recorras.

www.bridgestone.co.cr

 

[VroomDO]

Thank you all very much for your responses! On one hand, I was truly surprised, but on the other hand, I had somewhat expected the situation to play out this way.

It seems that most participants on this forum are expats who have entirely different ideas about the ideal car compared to the majority of tourists. It’s also clear that people live in different parts of the island, each with its own nuances, but I’m surprised that no one has spoken in favor of compact cars.

Based on my experience as a resident of the Dominican Republic, I agree with those who voted for 4x4 vehicles, as they are versatile. While most Dominicans prefer pickups like the Dodge Ram, which can be used on their ranches, I would still choose the Jeep Cherokee. In my opinion, a car should not only have good off-road capabilities but also be comfortable inside. For example, in my Dodge Ram, the back seats are not the most comfortable for passengers, and if I were to buy a pickup again, I’d go with the Toyota Tundra.

From our experience as a car rental company, I can say that more than 80% of rentals are for small, compact cars. I can also say from personal experience that for living in Punta Cana and Bavaro, a compact car (like Kia Picanto) is the best choice if you need to make frequent trips throughout the day. As a tourist, I’ve tried to rent a Jeep Wrangler several times, but for some reason, the prices for them are sky-high. So if I’m traveling somewhere towards Samaná or Barahona, I try to rent something with good ground clearance, ideally a Jeep Cherokee, but possibly another SUV.

 

[bob saunders]

If I was going to buy used, for a pickup I would buy a Nisan Frontier, strong engines and frames, comfortable seats and good suspension, and medium gas milage. For used SUV, I would buy a Honda CRV. Lots of them around, mechanics here know how to fix them, and they are pretty reliable and have a nice ride and good ground clearance.
Small car Toyota Vitz

 

[JD Jones]

Thank you all very much for your responses! On one hand, I was truly surprised, but on the other hand, I had somewhat expected the situation to play out this way.

It seems that most participants on this forum are expats who have entirely different ideas about the ideal car compared to the majority of tourists. It’s also clear that people live in different parts of the island, each with its own nuances, but I’m surprised that no one has spoken in favor of compact cars.

Based on my experience as a resident of the Dominican Republic, I agree with those who voted for 4x4 vehicles, as they are versatile. While most Dominicans prefer pickups like the Dodge Ram, which can be used on their ranches, I would still choose the Jeep Cherokee. In my opinion, a car should not only have good off-road capabilities but also be comfortable inside. For example, in my Dodge Ram, the back seats are not the most comfortable for passengers, and if I were to buy a pickup again, I’d go with the Toyota Tundra.

From our experience as a car rental company, I can say that more than 80% of rentals are for small, compact cars. I can also say from personal experience that for living in Punta Cana and Bavaro, a compact car (like Kia Picanto) is the best choice if you need to make frequent trips throughout the day. As a tourist, I’ve tried to rent a Jeep Wrangler several times, but for some reason, the prices for them are sky-high. So if I’m traveling somewhere towards Samaná or Barahona, I try to rent something with good ground clearance, ideally a Jeep Cherokee, but possibly another SUV.

Small = Cheap. Understand your market.

 

[drstock]

While most Dominicans prefer pickups like the Dodge Ram, which can be used on their ranches,

I don't think most Dominicans have ranches!

 

[VroomDO]

I don't think most Dominicans have ranches!

Just like not many Dominicans can afford a Dodge Ram. But those who have a ranch will definitely have a pickup, most likely an old Toyota Hilux.

 

[josh2203]

Small = Cheap. Understand your market.

Exactly, plus: I would say quite a few things are different compared to if you're a tourist in an AI in Punta Cana or a "regular" expat. A compact car for me in the DR would be utterly useless, as there are plenty of streets in bad condition, there is a mountain region in the NC/POP, we go the campo, which a tourist would normally not do etc etc.

Example: We knew an elderly European expat who then unfortunately passed, who lived in POP. Once he had to participate a funeral in the campo and he had a "very" compact car, a Chevy Confort, which looked like a toy car to me (no offense, but I had never seen anything like it). So off he went and turned out that he had to park his car miles from the spot as there was no way his car would have survived with the roads. We, on the other hand, traveled with a Mitsubishi 4x4 and obviously had no issues. It was the first time I had to actually use full 4x4 in a mud and it was fun...

The OP mentions Jeep, which I think is a rather expensive, but there are many other SUVs that are much more economical. Our old neighbor has a Kia and Ford, we know someone who has a very nice Volkswagen and my BIL used to have a very nice Isuzu. You could not beat that going to the campo in a pouring rain...

 

[josh2203]

For used SUV, I would buy a Honda CRV. Lots of them around, mechanics here know how to fix them, and they are pretty reliable and have a nice ride and good ground clearance.

Fully agree, those are one of the best and they have smaller engines too. Unfortunately, the purchase price is usually in the upper end for the same reason. They do last forever though, even the ones from two generations back...

 

[singletravel]

Just bright a new car, and am 100% thrilled, a luxury small SUV that easy to park and I see and sit perfect. I'm single and not to tall and not a taxi for friends ,jijiji Car is not for everyone but for me perfect.

Lexus LBX

It's about 170.00 inches length but rides, drives, and feels like a Lexus. So easy to park and today from Cabarate to SeaHorse got 66 mpg (really).

as said not everyone but for me perfect. Now I still have my Infinity 2022 QX50 for sale. Was just too big (ya Il ove cars). It has 5,000 miles and also amazing car. Looking for a great car thats almost new and a great price (was $65,600.00 new) contact me.

 

[M4kintosh]

I don't think most Dominicans have ranches!

The ones who have ranches (which is a important population) instead of investing it in a Dodge RAM or a King Ranch, they heavily invest in these, my friend:

It has 3x-10x more return of investment than a Ram or any premium truck.

 

[JD Jones]

I owned a truck here once and loved it. Also a 15 passenger van. I ended up getting rid of both because I got tired of the non-stop "Hey, can I borrow your vehicle?

That was back in the days when I was still developing my "Just say no" skills.

 

[RustyT]

If I was going to buy used, for a pickup I would buy a Nisan Frontier, strong engines and frames, comfortable seats and good suspension, and medium gas milage. For used SUV, I would buy a Honda CRV. Lots of them around, mechanics here know how to fix them, and they are pretty reliable and have a nice ride and good ground clearance.
Small car Toyota Vitz

How do Toyota RAV4s compare?