Cars - buy it here or move it here

DUH, answer to #1 - they have a dealerhsip on STX, never mind that one. Still curious about adviseabilty of buying on the island vs shipping in your own car?

Hello Dennis,

The mark up in some cases is higher.

There are a number of people on the board that have shipped and/or bought cars on island perhaps they might give an opinion; Onika, Teresa, Linda & Ric, Steve... what are your opinions toward your decision to ship or buy on island?

--Islander

On my house hunting visit I looked at purchasing a vehicle on island. For me the numbers did not pencil to purchase here. The type vehicle I have on avg hada 7-10K markup on island. I have discovered that the sticker price listed here on island has a lot more room for negotiation than in the states but is still on considerably higher than stateside. Shipping ran me about $3000 for everything including taxes and fees. In my case I still saved money bringing my car.
I had a friend with a similar situation in he was looking at purchasing a Honda Element. At the dealership here on STT the sticker price was 28k. In Florida he purchased the same car for 19k and the price to ship it here with everything included was $2400. The caveat to this is if you are looking to purchase a used vehicle, than the numbers might make more sense to purchase on island.

Eric, thanks for your posting. We too where wondering the same. We are in the market for a new car as our Saturn is outgrowing our family. We where debating to try and wait till we move and buy or buy a new car now and ship. We like the idea of the new SUV which are also hybirds. Several makers will be coming out with them the end of this year.

One more question when you buy a car on the island you would pay taxes on top of the sticker price correct? How much would that be if I can ask?

Iris

I can't speak to new car buying, but used car buying on-island is an exercise in wasteful spending. Cars are more abused than their stateside equals, yet are priced at 20-40% more. We bought a used car at Metro Motors, returned it, and eventually purchased one at Caribbean Auto Mart. And while Caribbean Auto Mart, in my opinion, is more honorable, we still paid too much for our Blazer. Our next car will be purchased in Miami and shipped in. Hint: you can save on import charges by buying an American-made vehicle.

We spent about $4,000 total to ship our Ford Explorer here from West Palm, FL. That is including taxes and licensing. Looking at the prices of the same vehicle here on STT, we saved ourselves at least $6,000. Plus buying it on STT used would mean it had more wear and tear. The markup is around $9,000 or more for new 4WD Fords. Bringing in a foreign vehicle costs more in taxes, but I don't know comparison to buying it here on island.

Also, think about repair on your vehicle. If it is an exotic or foreign vehicle - you may have a hard time finding a place to have it repaired properly. This island tends to be pretty hard on vehicles.

Our two cents is to ship your vehicle here, but if you plan on short term just buy here and sell here. My environmental voice says to buy here and not add to the pile of junk cars around the island, but sometimes that is just unaffordable. Maybe we can find a way to recycle junk cars? Okay, another topic another time... 😉

Teresa

Thay could make manufacturer take the junk cars back. That is what they now have to do in Germany. Not a bad idea. The same goes with product packaging. Boy is packinging less bulky sinse the new law was applied.

Iris

All of the vehicles I have had here in the last 7 years I have purchased used on island. It's been my experience that there is always an ex-pat that shipped everything down with the expectation of staying here forever and now must move back to the mainland for whatever reason. They usually sell their cars at a great rate, just cuz they need the cash and can't justify shipping it back. I just bought a 2002 Jeep Wrangler Sport, automatic, six cyl, hard AND soft top, A/C, and all the rest of the goodies, including bigger wheels and tires and the nice CD stereo w/ soundbar, and, on the Kelly Bluebook web site, with the same vehicle and 22K miles on it, Kelley said it should be $16,035. I bought it here for $14K cuz someone had to leave. And it's got a bumper to bumper warranty for the next 6 years. Not a bad deal, I thought.

So, my advice would be to find someone moving off island and buy their car cheap. It won't be brand new, but cars are built well enough nowadays that that shouldn't be a factor in a car that's only a couple years old.

Hello everyone,

I've been reading the board for the last couple of weeks and am amazed at all the great info I've been able to digest! This is actually my first time to post.

I'm pondering the same question, whether to ship or buy on the island. I do drive an older vehilce but at least I know all the things I've replaced in the last couple of years. It's almost had and extreme makeover! What I'd like most to know is if my make of car would be sufficient for St. John? I drive a Chrysler Sebring convertible but I just realized today that it does have automatic overdrive, whatever that means! I do realize that most ot the vehicles I've driven on the island in the past were more jeep-like and rugged, but I'll just be tearing whatever I drive up with the roads there and all so I can't see buying new for that reason. Will this type of vehicle be ok if I keep out of the more rugged rocky mountainous areas? Any help from all of ya'll would be greatly appreciated.

Lawrence

Onika,
I have a Toyota Sequoia, but it was assembled in the US, Ohio I think. Would I have to pay the taxes for a foreign car? I know that the parts were probably imported, but so are the majority of the parts for American cars. Just wondering if you knew. Thanks BB

Barefoot Bubba,

Check the VIN number. From what I understand, if it starts with a 1,2,3, or 4 then it is an American made car and they don't charge the foreign tax. That is what Tropical went by with our Ford (obvious to us that it is American made...but the VIN started with a 1) There was one other letter or number (fuzzy memory) that it could start with I think. Anyway, you might want to check that or ask Tropical about it.

Lawrence,

I am not so sure about your car on St. John. You can get around on the main roads, but it all depends on where you live as to whether or not you have a nice driveway to get up and down. I say that, but our neighbor drives a little car and has no problem. So maybe we need someone else's opinion.

Teresa

Your Sebring will be just fine. My friend had one and he loved it here. Just avoid any dirt roads until you are familiar with them, as some of them turn into mighty rugged two-track trails with no warning.

Thank ya'll so much for your opinions. I am currently researching shipping and it seems around2k. Somehow I feel better about having a familiar older car than one that I don't know much about, where it's been, and what' "not" been replaced. Your advice is greatly appreciated!
Lawrence