+ 3 - 0 | § ¶August Newsletter - and Pictures!
Hey Friends,
most of you get this in the mail, if not...or in email, I have included it here on my site...although I am late in my posting...It's done!
+ 3 - 1 | § ¶The Car...and "It can't be done" in Sale's attitudes
We all know that Purchasing a car can be stressful...more stressful if you don't know what you want, don't have the money for what you want, or if you are under a time crunch, etc. There is also a stress if you need financing and having to figure out if you will get that financing on the spot when you are purchasing your car.
HOWEVER - what if - You know what you want - You can afford what you want - and you have the CASH for what you want - wouldn't you...at least on some level...be EXCITED - and happy to be going car shopping. Plus...you even have some time - around a week (let's say) to do the shopping...and purchasing...sounds like a dream situation -
NOT IN YOUR LIFE...IF YOU ARE IN UKRAINE!
First, if I went into all the details...this blog would be too long to read - Second, rehashing it all - would probably make me angry again - so I will give you the highlights.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFO...
There was a lot of patience on my part to begin with - i.e. I saved money for about 2-3 years...to purchase a car in Ukraine - I lived on less to save support money, I rented way out in nowhere (for less rent), and spent 6 months on long public transportation rides...to save that money - plus, People gave - when I preached at 13 churches this summer in America, I worked Construction and saved a few thousand...(last summer and this) - and I sold my car in America to gain another $3,000. All-in-all - I had about $17,600 saved up...
I researched and researched...many ways to try and get a car cheaper...from shipping my car in the States, to buying in another country, to getting a used piece of junk, etc...all-in-all - I knew I had to get your basic new car in Ukraine (with a warrantee) if I wanted any peace of mind and not risk losing my car in customs, etc.
PURCHASING THE CAR -
I had started a relationship with an English speaking Ukrainian at a Chevy dealership - last fall - and made it a point to stay in contact. (I even didn't want to risk buying a Koran-made Chevy) - but, they are cheap cars...and the sale person named Sergey spoke English - which was nice. However, when I finally came to buy the car (after he told me to wait some time and this and that) - he wouldn't let me test-drive the 86 horse power Chevy, Aveo. Note two things about Ukrainian Sale people - 1. they don't want to sell you a car - because they have limited inventory - I don't think they get commission - and it just more paper work for them. 2. They don't want to waste their valuable smoking time - by standing and talking with you about details (either buy it or don't) - therefore, the classic TEST DRIVE - (which I value highly when dropping even $1,000 on a car) - is out of the question.
So - I moved on - no test drive - no purchase...that became a little motto of mine - and so dealership after dealership - I went - until finally - a Renault/Nissan dealership agreed to a test drive of about 1/4 of a mile.
Ok - this blog is long already - and I haven't even begun...I will try and make it quickly through the rest.
The Renault that I drove - was a dog - and the sale's person said (when I got the Tec just about 3,000 RPMS) - "please don't press on the gas" - oh my word...so, I couldn't even see if the dog...1.4 liter car could get up to 40 km per hour. I dropped it.
The Nissan Dealer - So - I found the absolute BEST car...it had everything I wanted...automatic transmission - power windows, radio (which is so rare in a car here actually) and blah...blah...blah - 1.8 liter engine, etc. - THE THING IS - although there are plenty on the LOT...and in the show room...THEY HAVE NO CARS FOR SALE - right??? So, I couldn't get it. If I wanted this car...I would have to wait a MINIMUM of 3 to 4 months...and possibly much longer.
However, he said he had one of these cars, the Nissan, Almera - with manual transmission, 2 power windows, and no radio - ($600 less than the other one) - but other people wanted it - so I would have buy it NOW...I test drove it - and I liked it - although not what I wanted...3-4 months of waiting didn't appeal at all.
Now's when it gets hard - and I will summarize...(I had to have a translator with me at all times - My Neighbor who tried very hard to understand all the strange car language, like liability insurance, etc...she did a good job - but it was frustrating for her and I) - I paid them $80 to register it - and they said it could be done - except I didn't have a piece of paper (a piece of paper that I CAN NEVER GET - because my landlord won't report that he's renting this apartment to me) - SO, IT CAN'T BE DONE.
Next, Insurance - after 1 hour 30 minutes - of horrible explanations - and a horrible insurance company - they ask for my registration - (which can't be done) - so...all that time wasted - because I CAN'T buy insurance.
Then, I got an insurance company that WILL insure without registration - and after about 2 days of work - they say, I can have it, but NOT THEFT INSURANCE - which is vital! So, again...even after paying $900...for full-coverage...It can't be done...I have to do about another week of work - with lawyers and putting a Ukrainian on my car papers...to get it.
Next, registration - can it be done??? Maybe...every other missionary has it...and they don't have the "Precious piece of paper" - so...I am in a long process of getting registered. Which, of course, will cost me $720 more dollars...when I was told it would probably only be about $200. The jury is still out on this one.
So - radio - don't think I can afford it.
As to this process...it made what I thought would be an exciting time - into "why in the world did I even want to buy a car" feelings.
Not to mention - I believe a lot of what happened was lost in translation (culturally and the Russian langauge)- all I know is...for now - there is a car (that I have to park about 1/2 mile away or more from my home for $3 a day to keep it safe) can be driven for another 7 days on my temporary plates:)
(update - after 10 days of trying - I got a 3-month registration - which means I have to do it all over again...funny thing is - it expires on the day I fly back to America for 6 weeks or so - what will I do? I don't know...but, it is either sell the car...or dream of doing this whole thing over again...and maybe get another 3 months registration:))
+ 2 - 1 | § ¶
This just a test to see if I know how to do my blog on my new site. I went to the south of Ukraine with my Friend from Sweden...in the middle of August...so here's one of those photos...
