Firstly he would have to answer a few questions such as:
- what make and model?
- new or used?
- what is my budget?
Once these problems have been solved, Fred then starts on his his homework. This usually consists of spending his precious weekends visiting main dealer showrooms, possibly a test-drive or two, maybe a soft beverage offered whilst discussing the added extras available, like the decal on the wing-mirrors or the colour of the upholstery. Next, Fred moves on to the second hand car sales-rooms, enduring the Del-boy techniques adopted by the slimy salesman in the camel coat "Part ex and finance is available guvnor". Poor Fred then suffers days of flicking through the Thames Valley Trader, Daltons weekly and the like, whilst the long evenings are spent searching through Ebay, making a bid here, retracting there, another bad report suffered. Still nothing. So Fred trawls the Classified in his local rag, - "Oh look a puppy for sale, no wait, what about a 10 foot snake, a shelving unit, or even better some alloy wheels" - still looking for that hidden bargain, that dream machine, his very own 'Greased Light'ning'!
Eventually though a bargain is found. A decision is made. Oh, but wait a minute, what about those additional costs, those exciting elements called insurance, road tax, fuel consumption? All these things need to be accounted for, priced into the budget. The search continues a while longer.
To be honest, I am sure this is a world-wide phenomena; families across the world spend weekends traipsing from show room to show room, dreaming of owning a new car, but often in reality the budget only allows for second hand. In Costa Rica, in our case at least, it has been the same: DH has dragged us here there and everywhere, looking at new and used; hours he has spent looking at CR Autos, a bit like Auto Trader, trying to find that elusive motor vehicle - one that is suitable for work but will double as a family car: one that copes with dreadful roads and pot holes (yes believe it or not, there are worse pot holes than those that can be found along Gardeners Hill Road in Farnham!); one that will be able to pull a trailer that he will inevitably need for work. Much as I hate to say it, a 4x4 or a pick-up truck look the obvious vehicle of choice.
However, unlike England, the second hand car market here in Costa Rica is unbelievable. Used vehicles are really expensive, and I mean REALLY EXPENSIVE!! Generally there is only a few thousand dollars between a new vehicle and a six year old one that may have up to 100,000 miles on the clock! Yes just a few thousand dollars!! All of the little runabouts we used to have at the garage would be worth about £10,000 each here!! I think the cheapest second hand car DH found was an old Volvo 340 and it was $4000; it barely had wheels! I suppose its good news when you want to sell a car on; the residual value remains high.
So like 'Fred', DH has found the bargain and the decision has been made. Disgustingly expensive in our opinion, but there is little choice here: to import a vehicle from UK, USA or anywhere in fact, well the taxes that have to be paid make it an unrealistic and even more expensive option. No point searching any longer; time is ticking; the hire car meter is ticking, ticking, ticking and running up a large bill. DH makes that call and arranges to view the vehicle in San Jose.
Having been in the country for just three weeks, over the course of a weekend, as a family unit, we all go to check out the nearly new Nissan Navarra pick up truck; one year old, one previous owner and only 9000 miles on the clock. Family and seller all embark on a test drive, which goes well. Moreover, there's a bonus as a few added extras are thrown in for free, such as the large tool box that fills half of the trunk. DH and kids are all teeth and smiling from ear to ear. So far so good.
Well not really. I don't like the colour. Yes, I know, petty thing, but I really do not like the colour. I have always disliked this colour car since I was a kid; we were lucky enough to have two cars whilst I was growing up, but I thought having two cars of the same hue made us boring. Then as a teenager, all boy racers seemed to drive this shade of vehicle and now it is footballers and their wives). But I am pleased to say that over time, as I have matured and without hours of therapy, I have managed to conquer my aversion to automobiles of this colouration, That is until TOWIE! Need I say more? Unlike Henry Ford's 'Model T', this truck is not black ... it is WHITE!!!!! Please, anything but WHITE.
Nevertheless, I am fairly wise and keep this fact to myself; after all everyone else is thrilled, and if needs be, I do know a paint sprayer.
Happy bunnies, decision is made and a handshake seals the deal while we get the finances and paperwork sorted. However, when you buy a second had car over here, all procedures must be dealt with by a solicitor. It is they who undertake all the financial checks, the HPI checks (or the equivalent), indeed all the administration that needs to be completed. They even have to be present when the exchange of money takes place between the the two parties. All this for a percentage of course! The solicitors' fees can range anything between 3.5 and 5% of the total sale of the vehicle - and we are back to those hidden costs! Of course, like everything else, this process will take some time.
We are now no longer a happy family, but a despondent family.
So we leave all the information with the solicitor and make an arrangement to return in a week.
Eventually though a bargain is found. A decision is made. Oh, but wait a minute, what about those additional costs, those exciting elements called insurance, road tax, fuel consumption? All these things need to be accounted for, priced into the budget. The search continues a while longer.
To be honest, I am sure this is a world-wide phenomena; families across the world spend weekends traipsing from show room to show room, dreaming of owning a new car, but often in reality the budget only allows for second hand. In Costa Rica, in our case at least, it has been the same: DH has dragged us here there and everywhere, looking at new and used; hours he has spent looking at CR Autos, a bit like Auto Trader, trying to find that elusive motor vehicle - one that is suitable for work but will double as a family car: one that copes with dreadful roads and pot holes (yes believe it or not, there are worse pot holes than those that can be found along Gardeners Hill Road in Farnham!); one that will be able to pull a trailer that he will inevitably need for work. Much as I hate to say it, a 4x4 or a pick-up truck look the obvious vehicle of choice.
However, unlike England, the second hand car market here in Costa Rica is unbelievable. Used vehicles are really expensive, and I mean REALLY EXPENSIVE!! Generally there is only a few thousand dollars between a new vehicle and a six year old one that may have up to 100,000 miles on the clock! Yes just a few thousand dollars!! All of the little runabouts we used to have at the garage would be worth about £10,000 each here!! I think the cheapest second hand car DH found was an old Volvo 340 and it was $4000; it barely had wheels! I suppose its good news when you want to sell a car on; the residual value remains high.
So like 'Fred', DH has found the bargain and the decision has been made. Disgustingly expensive in our opinion, but there is little choice here: to import a vehicle from UK, USA or anywhere in fact, well the taxes that have to be paid make it an unrealistic and even more expensive option. No point searching any longer; time is ticking; the hire car meter is ticking, ticking, ticking and running up a large bill. DH makes that call and arranges to view the vehicle in San Jose.
Having been in the country for just three weeks, over the course of a weekend, as a family unit, we all go to check out the nearly new Nissan Navarra pick up truck; one year old, one previous owner and only 9000 miles on the clock. Family and seller all embark on a test drive, which goes well. Moreover, there's a bonus as a few added extras are thrown in for free, such as the large tool box that fills half of the trunk. DH and kids are all teeth and smiling from ear to ear. So far so good.
Well not really. I don't like the colour. Yes, I know, petty thing, but I really do not like the colour. I have always disliked this colour car since I was a kid; we were lucky enough to have two cars whilst I was growing up, but I thought having two cars of the same hue made us boring. Then as a teenager, all boy racers seemed to drive this shade of vehicle and now it is footballers and their wives). But I am pleased to say that over time, as I have matured and without hours of therapy, I have managed to conquer my aversion to automobiles of this colouration, That is until TOWIE! Need I say more? Unlike Henry Ford's 'Model T', this truck is not black ... it is WHITE!!!!! Please, anything but WHITE.
Nevertheless, I am fairly wise and keep this fact to myself; after all everyone else is thrilled, and if needs be, I do know a paint sprayer.
Happy bunnies, decision is made and a handshake seals the deal while we get the finances and paperwork sorted. However, when you buy a second had car over here, all procedures must be dealt with by a solicitor. It is they who undertake all the financial checks, the HPI checks (or the equivalent), indeed all the administration that needs to be completed. They even have to be present when the exchange of money takes place between the the two parties. All this for a percentage of course! The solicitors' fees can range anything between 3.5 and 5% of the total sale of the vehicle - and we are back to those hidden costs! Of course, like everything else, this process will take some time.
We are now no longer a happy family, but a despondent family.
So we leave all the information with the solicitor and make an arrangement to return in a week.
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