| Purchasing a used car is usually a memorable | | | | parking lot that was close to my mechanic. We |
| experience. There are oftentimes unexpected | | | | had resorted to looking online after educating |
| twists and turns even in a straightforward deal. | | | | ourselves on the prices in the newspaper. Online |
| My used car purchase in Costa Rica was | | | | ads offered the benefit of multiple color pictures |
| something I will always remember. After moving | | | | and it was easier for me to read Spanish than |
| my wife and infant son to Costa Rica to start a | | | | speak it over the phone. This 4Runner was |
| new business, a car purchase was at the top of | | | | supposed to be cherry with only 85,000 miles |
| my to do list. We were staying with a friend while | | | | (137,000 kilometers) The pictures in the ad were |
| we were setting up shop and were soon tired of | | | | of a spotlessly pristine body and even had a shot |
| buses and taxis. We had planned on finding a | | | | of a really clean engine. Well, either the car in the |
| Costa Rican Holiday house first, but soon realized | | | | ad photos was a completely different vehicle, or |
| the incredible inconvenience of meeting | | | | this car had just been wrecked. The seller was |
| appointments with landlords with no car. With the | | | | very nonapologetic, and said if the car looked like |
| house hunting on hold, we began our search for | | | | the one in the pictures; it would cost 10 million |
| the perfect vehicle. | | | | colones (20,000 dollars) instead of 7.5 mil. |
| We first had to get over the shock of having to | | | | ($15,000) His mom or aunt was with him, and we |
| pay an extra 40-50% due to import taxes. | | | | could see she didn't share his business verve. She |
| There are no cars made in Costa Rica, so this | | | | gave us some sliced mango in lemon juice, and |
| applies to every make and model. A car in the | | | | we just walked away shaking our heads. |
| states that is worth $10,000 cost $14 or $15,000 | | | | The next three cars we liked were all sold by the |
| down here. We spent the first 2 days educating | | | | time we got there. Finally, the car I really wanted |
| ourselves by pouring over the want ads. It was | | | | ( a deep green Mitsubishi Montero Sport 1999) |
| soon obvious that we would get a better deal by | | | | was available for 6.9 mil.($13,800) Itwas in my |
| looking in La Nacion for our car instead of the | | | | price range, had only 85,000 miles on it, just came |
| English paper called the Tico Times. Not only were | | | | in from North Carolina so it hadn't had to endure |
| there many more choices, but the prices seemed | | | | the potholes; and I was the first inquirer. After |
| lower for the same vehicle. We had decided on | | | | grilling the guy three times about whether or not |
| some sort of four wheeled drive SUV for the | | | | the pictures were accurate, we arranged to meet |
| safety factor. The roads contain many potholes | | | | at my mechanics. I got there early to fill my |
| and often run out of pavement suddenly. Since | | | | mechanic, Rodrigo, in on what I wanted checked |
| our business led us on many expeditions, it | | | | out. Sure enough, right on time, my future car |
| seemed a sound choice. Factor in the basic | | | | drove in. |
| lawlessness of the roads due to very little | | | | There is something about the color of deep |
| enforcement, and a strong car that sets up high | | | | hunter green that has always given such a |
| is even a more obvious choice for a family with | | | | euphoric feeling to my senses. I think that half the |
| an infant. | | | | reason I moved to Costa Rica is because of the |
| In Costa Rica, a lot of the business you due is | | | | deep green vegetation that is everywhere. But as |
| done through your attorney. Litigation is rare, and | | | | MY car wheeled to a stop, this 17 or 18 year old |
| the attorneys handle most all contract paperwork | | | | kid jumps out. Clean cut, snappy dresser, he just |
| including submitting paperwork for your | | | | looked like a player. We start going through the |
| registration. On a previous trip, I had secured an | | | | "car purchase dance." We used broken Spanish |
| attorney who spoke English. When I called him | | | | and broken English and a lot of miming. After he |
| about the "used car purchase in Costa Rica he | | | | showed me the elaborate 3 stage alarm system, |
| walked me through it. Find the car you want, take | | | | (seriously, there are 3 levels including a hidden |
| it to a mechanic (supplied by him) and check it | | | | switch that just cuts off all the electrical to the |
| out, if it's good bring the seller and car to my | | | | engine, and another that kills the car 30 seconds |
| office and I'll handle it. This was starting to actually | | | | after you start driving if you don't hit another |
| sound easy. | | | | hidden switch under the seat) I knew he was a |
| Our first car we looked at was a '96 Toyota | | | | player. But, man, I loved this car. It just looked |
| 4Runner. We met the gentleman at a casino | | | | like my car. |