Buying a car in the Phlis

[RickyR]

We're in the process of buying a car, certain Japanese models are fairly reasonably priced, but you won't get a bargain here. Anything imported is levied a luxury tax on sliding scale from 200% of the cars value, which means that European cars aren't really an option.
The other thing to look for with some of the Japanese imports is that they start of in life as RHD and go through a conversion to LHD, which I personally don't like the idea of. Also with the Japanese imports, is that they will tell you a car is such and such a year, yet this is the year it was important and not built.... Confusing, yes.
Then the paperwork, you have to get the car checked with the LTO, ensuring that you have the proper paperwork with no outstanding finance on the vehicle. There is a good British guy I can give you the details of who for a fee does a lot of this work on your behalf and can arrange people to check cars out.

We are looking for a 5 - 7 year old Rav 4, and expecting to pay 500 - 600,000 php. We have been renting cars here and thats not too bad, have been stopped a few times by the police for white man tax, but tinted windows would put a stop to that!

[subseastu]

We're in the process of buying a car, certain Japanese models are fairly reasonably priced, but you won't get a bargain here. Anything imported is levied a luxury tax on sliding scale from 200% of the cars value, which means that European cars aren't really an option.
The other thing to look for with some of the Japanese imports is that they start of in life as RHD and go through a conversion to LHD, which I personally don't like the idea of. Also with the Japanese imports, is that they will tell you a car is such and such a year, yet this is the year it was important and not built.... Confusing, yes.
Then the paperwork, you have to get the car checked with the LTO, ensuring that you have the proper paperwork with no outstanding finance on the vehicle. There is a good British guy I can give you the details of who for a fee does a lot of this work on your behalf and can arrange people to check cars out.

We are looking for a 5 - 7 year old Rav 4, and expecting to pay 500 - 600,000 php. We have been renting cars here and thats not too bad, have been stopped a few times by the police for white man tax, but tinted windows would put a stop to that!

Didn't think about the paperwork sde of things. Its certainly a minefield this. I've been looking at mitsubishi outlanders myself, seem to tick the boxes required. Big enough to be noticed by other road users and capable enough to deal with the differing road surfaces in the phils, especailly down near the province.