anything to look out for when buying from PI?

• casshern

  1 May 06, 12:22

  my friend getting a car from a PI. but somehow comments on PI are like rather negative. went down to some and had quite a good experience with some friendly PI SEs.
  
  the thing is if he decides to get the car from a PI, den warranty will be agent or manufacturer? also servicing?
  
  any other thing need to take note of or not ?
• Ponders

  7 May 06, 22:58

  your friend or you?
  
  Usually warranty is by PI company.
  
  PI Company usually have designated mechanic to look after your car.
  
  You can bring back to official dealer but face expensive charges
  
  one very important thing is MAKE SURE you get what you paid for.
  
  Don't pay good money for a japanese branded car but end up getting a Thai made one.
  
  Models you should look out for, Camry, Cefiro, Odyssey.... a few others.
  
  You can find this out from your VIN.
  
  Usually they might try to register your car without your knowledge. But in any case, do make in EXPLICIT in the contract that you ask for a JAPANESE make car.
  
• Tayysj

  7 May 06, 23:00

  whats a VIN
• Ponders

  8 May 06, 23:55

  Originally posted by Tayysj:

  whats a VIN

  VIN is Vehicle Identification Number. Can say it's your car's serial number.
  
  its a 16 digit number that you can decode. Note that vehicles meant fro Japanese market do not follow this system. Other than that, the world mostly stick to 16 digit.
  
  But North America's 16 digit will contain different info than other parts of the world 16 digit.
  
  first digit/alphabet (some cases 2) is the Country it is made. Numerals 1 to 5 are reserved for North America, generally, 1 = USA, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico. 4 and 5 are shared between these countries
  
  J = japan, A = australia. W = Germany, most asian countries start with P or M and are usually 2 alphabets.
  
  So if you ordered a supposed Japanese Camry, but your VIN is MHXXXXXXX
  it means you just got a Thai Camry.
  
  
• siaokao

  9 May 06, 01:01

  Best.. bring a lawyer along.
  
  Write everything down.. to the very last detail.
  
  Not kidding bro..
• monoslayer

  9 May 06, 01:04

  is it cheaper to buy from PI??
• siaokao

  9 May 06, 01:07

  Originally posted by monoslayer:

  is it cheaper to buy from PI??

  Depends on how u define "cheaper".
• monoslayer

  9 May 06, 01:12

  Originally posted by siaokao:

  Depends on how u define "cheaper".

  means the price of the car lah.. if not cheaper den might as well buy from the authorised distributors...
• mr sunray

  9 May 06, 15:21

  I have yet to buy cars from PI.
  
  One good point of PI is that it offers a wider range of cars. Price wise, should be slightly cheaper than AD.
  
  Maintenance should not be a problem since PI now has its own authorised workshop but repair wise in the event of accident, that may give a bit of problem.