Those of you from the States who recognize the intelligence, veracity, modesty, helpfulness and overall sterling character of US car dealers (in other words you’re deluded) will enjoy finding the same sort of car dealers here. Actually, there is a really big difference: In the States, they really do want to sell you a car, even if they repossess it in a month; whereas in Uruguay, they really don’t give a damn whether you buy one or not. At the prices they are charging they can sell a couple year and make the same relative profit that requires an American car dealer to sell a couple an hour.
My two favorite dealers, based on sheer chutzpah are from Toyota and Renault.
The Toyota dealer had a Hy-lux advertised for $23,000–when we called they wanted $39,000 for it, and then, after we paid them, we would have to wait two months for them to import it. The Renault dealer was better, they didn’t diddle with the price. I wanted a Kangoo; they had exactly 1 in stock, in customs. If I pay for it today I will have it from customs in four or five days; without windows, doors or any interior. Then it will take another week or so to build that up, perhaps even the way I ordered it.
Buying a used car is even more fun. Just like when buying real estate, you need an Escribano to do a title search on your car and make sure there are no unpaid liens, tickets, etc. Of course, if the Escribano misses something you get to pay for it anyway, so it’s worth far less than “title insurance”, but nevertheless, it has to be done. As with any bureaucracy, form is far more important than substance.
I wonder how it works if I buy a boat… maybe they throw in free charts of the Andorbar and Nicoman Islands, or something more useful like the shoals in Guantanamo Bay?
I can hardly wait!
David-
What’s behind this screwed up system? Is it government regulation or just local color?
Steve Bowman
www.coastaluruguay.com
>>The system here is very similar to that in many, or perhaps even most, “Civil Law” countries. Americans are so accustomed to the ease of getting something notarized in the States that they go into shock almost everywhere else. In the US, the notary is simply notarizing your signature, in a civil law country the notary is generally “legalizing” the entire document.
There are certainly other systems, like US car title registration that would be more efficient, but everyone clings to their traditions. Australia has had land title registration for years, but the US still uses an antique method and title insurance. That makes no sense to me either.
The Southron
Left by Steve Bowman on March 29th, 2007