Thread: Buying a car

Boring of make our shopping by motorbike we think about to have a car. Running around from one showroom to the next one we decided now to buy a Taruna. How realistic is the pricelist the dealer gives to you? How much discount is realistic? One salesman offered me a discount of 3 juta at least for a car which should cost 157 Juta. Is there any difference if buying by credit/cash? What is your experience?

A couple of points I can make. One is that in our experience, the Kijang is the best value for the money, and their re-sale value is very, very good. Morever, they are very easy to service and parts are inexpensive.

The Kijang is a joint Toyota/Indonesian venture, so the tax base is more favorable than with an import.

The discount you mention sounds about right. We bought our new Kijang on credit for the first year as the credit versus cash price was the same at that time. We also took insurance for the first two years.

We've owned our "new" Kijang for about four years now. Prior to that we were leasing a used Kijang. We have never expeienced any sort of problems or breaddowns with either Kijang. There is a good reason one sees so many Kijangs on the roads of Bali. They are very well built, reliable and a very good value for the money.

Kijang versus Taruna.. intresting. :P I got the Taruna Oxxy CSX instead of a Kijang for several reasons. The Kijang-body is too long compared to the shorter and more slim-linened Taruna. Kijang looks like a box on wheels. We got the CSX for about 155jt with some extras as leather-covered(semi-synthetic) seats. Main office at Jl.Cokrominoto in Denpasar and another sales-office+service/mechanical shop at Jl.bypass Sanur. My fiancee uses the Taruna mostly for work and shopping so I never drive it. I might be getting a second car for 'myself' when we get enough parking-space and that will be something else... possibly not a suv/jeep-style like kijang or taruna. oh yes, cash is usually much cheaper than credit. Taruna is probably a notch cheaper than the old workhorse Kijang. As Roy points out, Kijang has been here for quite a long time and will probably continue to roam the Indonesian roads. A reliable car. Probably best described as the "Indonesian Volvo". :P salam otomotif. :)

Ps. Bert, i've heard many horror-stories about service-costs for Opel Blazer. What made you choose a beefy car like that? :P

Kijang looks like a box on wheels.

I agree the older models lack style. Actually, the oldest ones you can still see in use look like a cross between a 1950's Russian "jeep" and the old Volkswagen "thing."

The newer models are quite stylish, and certainly far more visually appealing than a Volvo.

Before buying anything other than a Kijang, I would look into what the annual samsat, or tax will be on the vehicle. Depending on the model and year, one can be in for a nasty surprise.

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Based on my experience owning and running a car repair shop, Toyotas and Hondas are good and tough. Do scheduled mantenance service as suggested by manufacturer, the car will last over 200K miles (320K km).

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Hi wepro

Maybe you've already bought your new car by now so these short comments might only be useful when and if you want to buy another one.

Whenever anybody buys a new car, they potentially lose money as soon as they drive it out of the show-room. Hopefully they got a good one (of whatever brand) and don't have to keep going back to the dealer for "minor adjustements", or worse.

For example: I buy a brand new Car X...after two days, I decide I don't like it all that much. Then I have to sell it. If it cost me, say, Rp150 million, how much can I sell it for now? (After two days?). A lot less than what I paid for it.

Second-hand or used cars are definitely worth considering. I bought my rather inelegant-looking 1995 model Daihatsu Feroza about six years ago. I know it's just a box on wheels but it it keeps going really well, with some maintenance, naturally. I've driven all across Java in it, several times. At least 2000+ times around Bali. Even on "roads" where others fear to tread (so to speak). Its body has a few bruises these days but a complete fix-up and new paint job costs around Rp 4 million. The worst thing that could happen is the engine dying. Even replacing an engine is relatively cheap. Combine the two, new paint-job and "new" engine is still less than what I would've lost driving my spivvy new Car X out of a showroom. I guess I've fallen in love with my Feroza.

Install a respectable on-board sound system and what more could you want? It does the shopping. It doesn't turn heads (probably a plus). My only "regret" is that I didn't buy the last model (1998) which has independent suspension.

Another excellent "work-horse" is something like a VW Safari. Those things can and do go nearly anywhere, even without 4-wheel drive. A good, refurbished one can be got for between Rp 15-20 million. That's about ten for the price of a brand-new something. And they have a charisma, of sorts.

8)

Another excellent "work-horse" is something like a VW Safari. Those things can and do go nearly anywhere, even without 4-wheel drive.

Phil, we both understand that the OP is from Germany, but give it a break! :shock:

A VW Safari? :D

Please remind me, to remind you, to never go into the used car business in Bali....just as friend to friend.

It's true I was born in Germany, Roy, but I'm actually Lithuanian. Given what my biological (Lithuanian) parents went through during and after WWII, I harbour little love for Nazis. If neurotic (or worse), failed artist Adolf had anything to do with the People's Car (VW), it's the one and only positive thing he actually came up with, apart from killing himself.

Old VW Safaris are quite fun to drive. (They don't make them anymore; but look at the new VW "Beatles" and what a transformation they've gone through.) There are still many people world-wide who love their old Beatles. I saw an amazing one just a few nights ago in Sanur, lovingly restored (modified a bit) and absolutely stunning.

Safaris can still 'rock'. Cheap to buy and cheap to maintain. You can pull out a VW engine in less than an hour with no need for specialised equipment. Beautifully simple but still very functional. Soup one up, give it a new coat of paint, a ballsy sound system and it's like a fashion statement.

I used to drive those things all over Bali in the 1970s. Never had one that failed me. The more I reminisce, the more I want one again.

And don't forget, they're actually quite fun to drive. As you don't drive yourself around Bali, maybe you've forgotten what it feels like.

:shock:

Phil, I had no idea you were born in Germany. When I stated “we both understand that the OP is from Germany” I was referring to the original poster, which is wepro.

You write,

As you don't drive yourself around Bali, maybe you've forgotten what it feels like.

That’s for sure. I have no interest in becoming a contestant on Fear Factor, nor do I desire to participate in the haggles and headaches of being in an accident in Bali.

I prefer relaxing when being driven around Bali, taking in the view and enjoying it. I don’t need the “white knuckle” experience of trying to navigate an incredible piece of junk with a steering system no better than a go cart. But, that’s just me.