First timer in the Malinta auction! Pointers please...

[choycontreras]

Its gonna be on the 1st wk of December and I'd like to get myself a converted Liteace/Estima diesel-fed either Mt or AT. Auction on an is as-is, where-is basis and only stationary testing can be made.

How can I be at least relatively secure about my potential purchase? I think I can manage well on the van's exteriors and suspension, but how do you think I should inspect the engine and the steering conversion?

engine - check out the dipstick, check quality of oil
air filter - check out kung napabayaan or clogged
if it's gas-fed - check out the condition of the spark plugs
AC - ???

I might bring a mechanic along.

Pointers pls!!!

[DSM619]

your best bet is to bring along a trusted mechanic , if not dont forget the flashlight .
check for leak specially in the gaskets.

[FrankDrebin]

IMHO, it is better to buy a secong hand locally assembled car than an auction one.

Why?

Dahil mas malaki ang magagastos mo sa pagpaparepair ng steering, electrical, aircon, "cracking" dashboard, baligtad na wiper at headlight, atbp.

BTW, did you read or know about the guy who met a deadly accident in Muñoz, QC? He was driving a "Auction" LiteAce.

[CZintrclr]

hi frandrebin, i don't own a converted car pero my frend is one of the importers of these converted cars, please elaborate regarding the accident, did investigators find out the cause of the accident?

[superbok]

choy.. basta tignan mo lang ng mabuti. yung exterior wala kang problema dyan. madaling katukin. i would agree with DSM, bring a mechanic. if ur not really an expert in looking at engines bring one.

siyempre it would be better to buy a 2nd hand locally assembled vehicle, as what Frank said, but if youre really careful and lucky you may find a good buy. i see a lot of auctioned vehicles around so i guess pili lang talaga! goodluck. bid low!8)

[superbok]

choy.. basta tignan mo lang ng mabuti. yung exterior wala kang problema dyan. madaling katukin. i would agree with DSM, bring a mechanic. if ur not really an expert in looking at engines bring one.

siyempre it would be better to buy a 2nd hand locally assembled vehicle, as what Frank said, but if youre really careful and lucky you may find a good buy. i see a lot of auctioned vehicles around so i guess pili lang talaga! goodluck. bid low!8)

[wowiesy]

tips before the auction.. that is.. during and after the inspection, but before the bidding:
1. TAKE NOTES... choose about 5 - 6 units that you're interested in... and MAKE NOTES!!
2. bring a trusted and knowledgeable mechanic... sometimes they would know if the engine is still good for a few years just by the sound of the engine when idling...
3. as far as the other components, the best you can do is visual inspection and trying them out (in the case of air con, radio, power windows, etc..)
4. be sensitive to the other people during inspection also... you would have an idea which cars will have more prospective bidders and which ones will have relatively less bidders (this will matter A LOT!!)
5. from the 5 - 6 units of your prospects, rank them accdg to the priority you'll be getting them..
6. YOU DON'T NEED TO REGISTER TO BE ASSISTED DURING INSPECTION. it is good that if after inspection and wala kang makitang gusto mo eh ma re refund mo agad.. but i think right now, they make you come back after a few days for your refund.. hassle ito... so first look around for prospects... if you have prospects, tsaka ka lang mag register.

during registration:
1. make sure you know the dates (schedule of auction, last day of payment, first day of pull out, last day of pull out, etc. )
2. bring along an ID, they'll need this for your registration.
3. pay the deposit

once you have the bid book, do your homework:
1. from the list of prospective vehicles you have made (your own notes) find them in the bid book. note the sequence -> which ones will be bidded out first and around when... and which ones will be bidded out later.
2. it would be better if you can come early (but not too early na you're there at 6am when the vehicles will be bidded out at around 1pm... )... just enough para maabutan mo yung ibang mga vehicles that are in the same class (or same type, etc) as that which one you like.

during the bidding:
1. take note of how much these vehicles are going for and also take note of their condition, kung sa tingin mo they're better or worse than your prospects (this would give you an idea of how much the running price is at the auction).
2. be careful din of the other bidders (some of them are planted by the auction company to jack up prices.. kung sila ang highest bidder, then you'll see the vehicles for auction again the next time around, if iba ang nanalo sa bid, then they get a higher price, either way they win).

[Pj-XTC]

good luck choy.:wink:

[FrankDrebin]

CZintrclr,

Nagkataon na me hinihintay kami sa area na yun so nakiusyoso na ko. Sabi ng mga nakakita, bigla na lang nag-swerve sa kanan dahil sa biglang pagswerve tumaob ito at derederecho sa poste. Duda ko lasing o di kaya'y o nakatulog o di kaya'y naputol yung "streering".

Pagpasensyahan niyo na ako kasi wala lang kasi ako tiwala sa mga auction at converted vehicles. Marami na kasi akong expierence dyan. Remember the Converted RHD Trucks...ah a lot of accident happen due to that "streering convertion".

[fierari]

check for oil leaks pero usually sariwa pa ang mga yan....... convertion ang importante pag may nagustuhan kang auto at nai uwi mo na cguradunhin mong papalitan mo ng mga pang LHD ang mga steering parts para cgurado ka. dont settle for welded parts. :wink:

[OTEP]

Maganda rin ang konting research. Alamin mo how the prospective vehicle originally looks like and ano ang mga equipment niyan when brand new.

Yung iba kasi diyan chop-suey of parts from other vehicles na. Yung ibang Lite Ace hindi mo na makilala kung base model or top of the line dahil napagpalit palit na with other units ang piyesa. Hehehe.

[Andy1]

tsambahan talaga yang mga benta sa auctions. I have friends who got good units. siguro less naman ang accidents kaya medyo ok naman.:mrgreen:

[choycontreras]

Just got some wisdom over the weekend from a mechanic in Midas when I was having my cars oil changed. Told him my budget 200-250T for a second vehicle for my family:
Here's my recollection:

Local L300 (1st gen) diesel - overall no problem,except for some steering brace adjustments, which tend to have a 'floating' steering, umeekis

L300 Exceed - overall OK, corrected the problems of the previous gen (though I think that the localvariant only comes out with a gas engine?)

Hi-ace 2L engine - suspension is very very good, wouldnt have a problem in the long run, (same engine as Hilux, thus probably would last long also)

Urvan / Homy - TD27 - has the Safari engine, overall no problem. Sometimes overheats, needs frequent fan belt change.

Liteace - 5K gas (very underpowered), will get you toyour destination, but dont expect to arrivethere fast)

Liteace 2C (FX engine) - this engine is disposable, madalas kumatok; then you need to have it swapped with a surplus 2nd hand 2C again (chances are you might get a repaired 2nd handwith the same problem)

- The Revo diesel engine is a better engine BTW.

Hyundai Grace is good also as it has a Mitsu 4D56 engine, yung kaha lang is not that handsome.

Kia Pregio has a solid platform, solid suspension, good engine also

On AT - If u are getting 2nd hand, dont go for AT, as these are actually disposable, unless you can get parts. Otherwise, you order from the casa (Then the casa orders it still abroad), and it might cost you an arm and a leg - I guess more than 100T just to have it replaced!

On MT - better, this is repairable by your trusty neighborhood talyer.
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Q1: I dont think I'll be needing 4WD, this causes drag and reduced fuel economy right?

Q2: Got to some websites of Japanese exporters and FOB price of those vans sold at the local auction are actually very low (USD 1500-3000 plus freight and taxes). Do you think this is feasible? Or evenworth the trouble?

[mazdamazda]

dude, IMHO, stay away from those converted units. madami dami nang accident with regards to that, steering related...

just try to get a hold of a LHD besta or pregio... mas ok naman yun... at least it started out as a LHD. if you want i can refer you to a friend of mine, he's selling his besta.

imaginin mo ang van na RHD, yung passenger's door nasa incoming traffic... it (and the whole vehicle) compromises the safety of your passengers.

[20vanda01]

don't be deceived byt the looks (exterior)of the coverted RHD to LHD vehicles, several units wont do you any good. sa safety na lang. one time bababa ang pasahero mo tapos bigla na lang tangayin ng icoming traffic. tsk tsk tsk
pero good luck pa rin in hunting!

[OTEP]

Sayang nabenta na yung Besta ko. Hehehe. Ang ganda pa nun. 1999 Model. Php 220,000.00 lang ata nabenta.

[Boy2]

besta... hmmm why not pregio? sabi nila halos everyweek pinapagwa ang aircon ng besta. cguro malas lang talaga tita ko kaya ganun besta niya. local liteace na lang diba? if your going to inspect sa auction, dont go at night, sigurado wala ka makikita. cguro pag bibili ka dun walang regrets dapat... maganda na sana yung mga unit kaya lang RHD eh...

[choycontreras]

Just to tell you guys that I've visited the auction site over the weekend.
And I didnt actually liked what I saw of the vans available.
Bottomline - I wont buy from the auctions anymore.

Reasons:
Mileages often are around 150T km++
Looks like the vans have been under the sun, unkempt and uncared for for around 6mos. A lot can happen on the innards of the vehicle during this time.
Most are AT's, and I think AT's at these conditions are bound to fail anytime soon.

But if I were to shop for SUV's and motorcyles though, it will be a different story...

Thank you guys for the help!!