Thread: Used cars in Panama

I am thinking of buying a Hyundai Terracan 2005-2007 2.5l turbo diesel.
It is a big SUV that is extremely economical, 9litres for 100 kms.
I was thinking of buying a smaller car, but considering that there are so many crazy drivers in Panama,I'm thinking that the Terracan could probably save your life. And also the fact that the streets are flooded during the rainy season.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by Romeo

I am thinking of buying a Hyundai Terracan 2005-2007 2.5l turbo diesel.
It is a big SUV that is extremely economical, 9litres for 100 kms.
I was thinking of buying a smaller car, but considering that there are so many crazy drivers in Panama,I'm thinking that the Terracan could probably save your life. And also the fact that the streets are flooded during the rainy season.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

just remember that little things like oil changes are not big in this country LOL , in fact you might get to do the first one , nomatter how many miles are on it LOL , buying a used car in panama is a crap shoot as service is something that is done after it breaks . also stay away from any car that has been imported . 2 reasons - getting parts and wheni I drove here I saw many writeoffs being hauled into central america , smashed and flood damaged .
that crap from the states just pours over the border in Brownsville TX

Never buy a car in Panama that does not exist in the US. At least I cannot find a single good reason to.

Originally Posted by Romeo

I am thinking of buying a Hyundai Terracan 2005-2007 2.5l turbo diesel.

Yes the Terracan never existed in the U.S. and Canada. I wish I could know why.

Originally Posted by Romeo

Yes the Terracan never existed in the U.S. and Canada. I wish I could know why.

Obviously cause it is fuel efficient. Americans dont like anything that isnt bad for the enviroment.

Now theyre changing this, but that has nothing to do with the enviroment. Only with the fact that they managed to get oil prices to record highs.

Originally Posted by EdBowers

Never buy a car in Panama that does not exist in the US. At least I cannot find a single good reason to.

Does the prado exist in the US?

Originally Posted by janl

Does the prado exist in the US?

No, the Highlander is similar, but not the same.

Originally Posted by becky7474

No, the Highlander is similar, but not the same.

Ok. I was just wondering about what ed said, cause the prado should be one of the most sold cars down here.

I am really just looking at the convenience of buying replacement and maintenance parts from 200 competing US websites at probably 25-40 % of the price with 25 % of the delivery wait time.

They can sell 20,000 Deawoo refrigerator in Panama - still it will never occur to them to keep replacement ice makers in stock.

Originally Posted by janl

Ok. I was just wondering about what ed said, cause the prado should be one of the most sold cars down here.

A lot of cars here are not sold in the U.S. I went home and tried buying oil filters for my Mitsubishi Nativa (Monterro Sport) and that was a joke. I just stocked up on maintenance parts for my Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Like everyone said above be very wary of used vehicles down here - especially diesel vehicles. Our 4X4 is gasoline and we will never purchase a diesel. Hubby was a diesel mechanic for an International dealer and I was an "engineer" with International - diesels are OK for big trucks, but be careful on SUV's. Big time expenses when something goes wrong for parts and oil changes are double of gasoline vehicles down here.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

I used to own one.
Very good car,BUT.

Impossible to get parts, especially now that its been discontinued.
PLUS, I lost my transmission on a trip To Alto, and later found out that this was a common problem with this model.

Also, it was NOT cheap to run. About $100 to fill out when gas was at $4 plus.

So it looks like the entire panel concurs that it would be inadvisable to buy something that is not properly indexed and available from standard US parts catalogs. With JANL in the thread I was sure that was impossible (as an unrelated matter he did try to blame the non-existence of the Terracan in the US on the EPA though, but I doubt people took notice). I usually check here: Discount Auto Parts Online - Import Auto Parts -- PartsGeek.com to make sure about models and parts.

I guess I'll go for a Toyota Camry again. It will be my fourth one . Very reliable cars.
Special thanks to everbody for their advise.

Originally Posted by janl

Does the prado exist in the US?

Sold as Lexus GS in the US.

I agree - get something that you can easily find parts for and something that the mechanics are familiar with.

Originally Posted by expat747

Sold as Lexus GS in the US.

Isnt lexus gs a sedan?

Originally Posted by EdBowers

So it looks like the entire panel concurs that it would be inadvisable to buy something that is not properly indexed and available from standard US parts catalogs. With JANL in the thread I was sure that was impossible (as an unrelated matter he did try to blame the non-existence of the Terracan in the US on the EPA though, but I doubt people took notice). I usually check here: Discount Auto Parts Online - Import Auto Parts -- PartsGeek.com to make sure about models and parts.

Oh yeah cause when in europe a car breaks down there's no spareparts in stock ..

Originally Posted by janl

Isnt lexus gs a sedan?

Sorry, it is lexus GX.

///

So how do you get the part for a 2008 Prado then?

Originally Posted by expat747

Sorry, it is lexus GX.

Does anybody know if they have the Ford Fusion in Panama?

Originally Posted by Romeo

Does anybody know if they have the Ford Fusion in Panama?

Ive seen it drive around but i am not sure if its sold here or if they are all imported from usa.

is that not what the police are driving now ? if it is they just bought thousands of them

Originally Posted by Romeo

Does anybody know if they have the Ford Fusion in Panama?

Originally Posted by nakedguydb

is that not what the police are driving now ? if it is they just bought thousands of them

Oh yeh i just checked online and at least it looks a lot like it. I was confused with ford edge.

I don't see them on encuentra24. Maybe it's sold in another name in Panama.

Originally Posted by Romeo

I don't see them on encuentra24. Maybe it's sold in another name in Panama.

Not all cars for sale are on encuentra and especially not if theyre very new models.

There is also the Hyundai i10 , maybe the most fuel efficient small car. It does almost 20kms/litre.
I think it's an excellent car for Panama City's heavy traffic and parking.
But with a 1.1 litre engine, can this car be used to drive uphill to areas like El Valle or Boquete?

Originally Posted by Romeo

There is also the Hyundai i10 , maybe the most fuel efficient small car. It does almost 20kms/litre.
I think it's an excellent car for Panama City's heavy traffic and parking.
But with a 1.1 litre engine, can this car be used to drive uphill to areas like El Valle or Boquete?

I think it is a bad choice. You will want a bit of car around you when going at it with these local maniacs and crazy busdrivers! and there are huge potholes in this country that can almost swallow an i10 lol

Originally Posted by janl

I think it is a bad choice. You will want a bit of car around you when going at it with these local maniacs and crazy busdrivers! and there are huge potholes in this country that can almost swallow an i10 lol

I tend to agree. Maybe it's better to sacrifice the fuel efficiency for a bigger car that will protect you better from all those crazy maniac drivers. But 20kms/litre is really impressive, almost half as efficient as a moped.

Originally Posted by Romeo

I tend to agree. Maybe it's better to sacrifice the fuel efficiency for a bigger car that will protect you better from all those crazy maniac drivers. But 20kms/litre is really impressive, almost half as efficient as a moped.

Yes that is impressive. Its too bad those big hybrid suv's are very expensive cause that would also be an option.

Maybe you can get a hyundai tucson (i think called i30 here) or a kia sportage. Thats a bit more car and i dont think they use as much gas as most suv's.