3 Reasons Never to Buy a 3rd Hand Ex-Jap in Zimbabwe

When it comes to Japanese vehicles, there are used cars. These are the ones that you buy directly from Japan through the internet or from Musina. You can even get a new one from a garage in Harare, Bulawayo or any other city. The major characteristic of these cars is that they do not yet have number plates, meaning they have not yet been molested by Zimbabwe’s roads. People actually refer to these 5, ten or more year old cars as “new,” because they have not be driven in the country. Here, in any case, is why you should never buy a 3rd hand ex-Jap;Used, used Ex-Japs

Then there are used, used ex-Japs. These are vehicles that were bought a while back and were brought into the country by their loving owners. Then they were driven on Zimbabwe’s roads till all the sheen got eroded from them. These are the cars that you should, in our view, never buy. Here are a few reasons why buying a used, used Japanese car is a bad idea;

1. The major reason why people sell their cars is the fact that they have developed one mechanical fault or the other. Believe me, nothing is as annoying as having to constantly tinker with an unwilling car. The amounts that are spend trying to repair a vehicle can be shocking. As an example, I recently saw someone who had been quoted USD 500 for the suspension on a Vitz. That was notwithstanding the fact that the car in question could only be reasonably expected to be sold for no more than USD 2500. You should, therefore, be wary about buying a used Japanese car that someone else has had field day with.
2. More often than not, you end up paying more than you should when you buy a used Japanese vehicle that has been driven for some years in Zimbabwe. The fact of the matter is that as soon as a vehicle lands in the country, it’s value effectively halves. When buying a car that has been around for some thing, this, therefore, is something that you should seriously take into consideration. Otherwise, you will end up regretting your purchase.
3. Buying a car directly from Japan may cost more at the onset, but you will end up making savings in the long run. That’s because cars that are driven in Japan are usually well maintained and well services. Most of the time, therefore, you will find that a car that you buy through BeForward or some other seller will be mechanically sound.

Okay, I am not saying there are no good used, used Japanese cars in Zimbabwe. Indeed, most of the cars that are running around are in a good enough condition. What you need to do, however, is make sure that you do not pay more than you should when buying one. Whatever you are charged, do your research and don’t be afraid to make a counter offer. Remember if there are repairs that need to be carried out, these can be so expensive as to make the whole purchase not worthwhile.