Are Subic/exJDM cars worth buying?

[James5]

I am particularly interested in the hi-lux surf which I think is "suitable" for both men and women unlike most of the macho looking SUVs. However, a mechanic I talked to is strongly against subc veicles citing the many problems he encountered.

Is he comments valid or maybe, as a mechanic, only cars with problems are bought to his "talyer" so this impression.

Anybody who can offer some good advice. I sure like to buy one of these surf. Thanks,

[kmo]

no this is not worth it ... your better of with real 2nd hand cars that was locally released here in the philippines

[niky]

His comments are valid.

Some Subic owners are vastly satisfied with their rides. Some are so digusted that they try to sell them right away. It varies widely from unit to unit and depends on a number of things:

1. The actual age of the unit (not the age on the sales brochure).
1.a. Whether the papers of the said unit actually match, some units have the wrong engine number or VIN number, which means they were actually sourced from carnapped units. Which means that as soon as you go to the LTO, they're impounded.
1.b. Whether the papers are real. If the unit is smuggled and not tax-paid, same case.

2. The length of stay in storage. Suffice to say, the longer in storage and in transit, the more problems a vehicle may have, as oil starts to settle and sludge, items corrode, parts get stuck up, etcetera.

3. The nature of RHD to LHD conversion, whether it's a sloppy cut-and-weld, or a proper conversion using all-original parts. This is the one that causes the most headaches for owners, and can be dangerous. Even with a proper conversion, certain things like side mirrors (bigger one on the left instead of right) and headlights will often be overlooked.

4. And lastly, and most importantly, the honesty of the dealer you talk to, one who will ensure that none of these problems occur.

If you are seriously thinking of buying a "Subic" SUV, try finding versions sold in the Middle East or Taiwan (both LHD markets) to eliminate problem #3. As for the other problems, use your common sense, do research (know all there is to know about the vehicle in question, production years, engines, etcetera), and bring a mechanic along.

Don't put down money until you're sure there are no problems or potential pitfalls. I've had friends who were happy with their imports, and I've had friends who've threatened to beat the importer black and blue (over improper/illegal registration) in disgust or who've almost died from suddenly losing steering on their converted vehicle.

----

The Hilux Surf is a decent vehicle, nothing spectacular. It's rugged, definitely, being basically a Hilux (just as the Alterra and Everest are basically pickups underneath), but it's nowhere near a Landcruiser in terms of prestige and ability. Not a bad car, though I'd prefer a Pajero over it.

Good luck!

[josor30]

Niky Is Right. Some Are Satisfied, Some Are Not. Like Me, Im Using Pajero As Pang Harabas And Im Very Much Satisfied. Wala Me Problema Sa Engine, Aircon Is Excellent. Kumbaga, Naka Tsamba Ako Ng Bili. Wala Na Me Pinaayos Except Nagpalit Lang Me Ng Gulong. Pare, U Better Check Well The Unit And The Dox If Ur Planning To Get A Subic Car.

[space invader]

yup tama ulet sina niky and josor30 based from our experience, may bad experience kami when it comes to subic cars.. bumili kami dati ng mitsubishi rvr, sa una ok lang.. but nung tumagal, lumabas ang problema nito, aircon, ecu, radiator probs, etc.. sakit sa ulo yun, so we decided na ibenta na lang.. mukang hndi kami nka chamba sa subic nun..

[josor30]

IN MY OPINION, OK BUMILI NG SUBIC CARS IF AVAILABLE ANG CARS LOCALLY. LIKE PAJERO, MADAMING LOCAL PAJERO KAYA AVAILABLE MGA PYESA. SA CASE NAMAN NG RVR, TIPONG WALANG LOCAL NA RVR KAYA FOR SURE SAKIT SA ULO TLG. TAKE THE CASE OF DELICA, WALA NAMAN DELICA LOCALLY KAYA DELICA-DO TLG BUMILI NG GANUNG CARS.
BUT STILL, VERIFY AND SCRUTINIZE THE DOX AS WELL AS THE UNIT F U PREFER BUYING SUBIC CARS KC THE RIGHT TERMS I CUD USE IS, TSAMBAHAN ANG PAGBILI NG SUBIC CARS.

[Syuryuken]

Tama "TSAMBAHAN" lang ang pagbili ng Subic cars. Yung kakilala ko bumili ng Bighorn nainlove ang loko sa sasakyan kulang na lang ipagpatayo ng bahay wala kasing lumalabas na problema. Yung barkada naman nya bumili ng Subic Paj after a week gusto na nyang isumpa naglock kasi yung steering nya habang tumatakbo tsk tsk tsk.

Mag-iisang taon ng for sale pala baka gusto nyong bilhin yung Paj hehehe 300K na lang.

[antiglenn]

hindi ko naman sinasabi na wag ka bumili ng cars sa subic pero bigyan lang kita information, sabi kasi ng erpats ko yung mga cars daw na binebenta sa subic eh mga right hand drive dati tapos icoconvert nila to left hand drive tapos ang consequence nun eh mahirap na iloko yung kotse pag pa right smooth yung pag liko tapos pag pa left hehe medyo sablay kaya palala lang bago ka bumili.

[aku]

i personally have no problems with converted japanese imports in general (i drive one... love it...), siguro it's the shadier mass importers lang you should watch out for. but even with those, as long as you know your stuff, there are genuinely good cars there. my dad drives a 96 patrol from subic, took seven people from baguio to cebu and back, no problems at all with it. basta alam mo yung mga mechanical stuff to watch out for, i see no reason why they should be avoided as a whole.

[aargh]

Hindi ba illegal na magbenta sa subic ng private vehicles? I remember the Supreme Court ruled on this. As usual di lang naiimplement. Eto yung nirereklamo ng MVPMAP e. Marami ng naaksidente na suvic cars dahil palpak ung pagkakaconvert.

[aku]

yes, its illegal now, im not sure lang kung kasama yung subic kasi free port yun diba? but whatever the law is, as you said, hindi implemented. araw araw nga may advertisements sa manila bulletin about more auctions.

[drey]

Are Subic cars worth buying?

Well, Im going to tell you my story.

My father is here in Manila wanting to buy a van and he wishes to find Subic or Korean Vans. I told him, I dont recommend you buying one. It has a lot of problems. Then he said, "Ilan ba nakikita mong na-tow na Subic compared sa local?" I told him, "Wala pa."

After a week, he bought a Toyota HiAce 3.0 Super Custom. The name Super Custom is so corny... hehehe... Dami features, I was impressed sa cooler,TEMS etc. I dont like the red interior, makes me feel im inside a hearse. First day of arrival, dami ko na nakita faults like lights in the cabin. Of course madali lang ayusin to.

To tell you the story short, after 1 week of ownership, gusto na nya ibenta kasi andaming sira.

[jpdm]

[quote=aku;860866]yes, its illegal now, im not sure lang kung kasama yung subic kasi free port yun diba? but whatever the law is, as you said, hindi implemented. araw araw nga may advertisements sa manila bulletin about more auctions.[/quote]

All imported vehicles coming from all free ports are prohibited to be used or sold outside the free port area.

So selling these used vehicles from Subic, Clark and other free ports is illegal.

[cardo]

I am particularly interested in the hi-lux surf which I think is "suitable" for both men and women unlike most of the macho looking SUVs. However, a mechanic I talked to is strongly against subc veicles citing the many problems he encountered.

Is he comments valid or maybe, as a mechanic, only cars with problems are bought to his "talyer" so this impression.

Anybody who can offer some good advice. I sure like to buy one of these surf. Thanks,

obtain a car from a dealer who can give you the best protection and will look out for your rights as a consumer. check the warranties, and various support items that he will be givng you.

[Si 06]

You should know your supplier. There are lots of yards there that sell Original LHD cars. I actually went to a yard with original LHD Jags, Range Rovers, Cayennes, and went inside 1 container van while offloading a BMW M5 wagon with a 540i as its partner

[yourman]

i bought a bighorn from subic years ago.. mura kasi compared with local ones.. maganda performance and looks when i got it.. but after only a week of use, the nightmare begun..

instead of enumerating all the problems i encountered with this unit, which will take a long time, i would just tell you that these units are junk in japan and are just refurbished and converted to look good.. but all the problems and all the sira will come out when you start using it na..

puro headaches lang ang ibibigay sayo..