Driving in Korea, domestic car or foreign
Many affluent people living in Korea can afford to buy any car they want, no matter the price. In the neighborhoods of Apgujeong in southern Seoul, and Jeongja and other parts of Bundang, it’s not unusual to see people driving Bentleys, Beemers, Mercedes-Benzes, Volvos, Jags, Porsches and Ferraris, Lexuses and Infinitis, Ford Mustangs, Chevy Corvettes, Buicks and Cadillacs.
The wisest of the financially fortunate in Korea, though, tend to drive Korean cars such as the Equus, Chairman, Grandeur, the very cool Genesis (especially the Genesis Coupe for the young, adventurous and well paid), and the Renault Samsung SM7. The quality, features and performance of top-of-the-line Korean cars are the equal of any European or American car but at much better — that is, lower — prices, especially here in Korea.
Aside from the better prices, it’s a lot more convenient and doesn’t cost near as much to keep a Korean car in good repair and operating safely, for no matter how fine the car, if its owner is going to drive it at all, he or she will have to drive it to the repair shop sooner or later.
Sensible people the world over tend to keep their cars for a decade or longer so they can get the full value from their purchase and the relationships they develop with their mechanics become like the relationships people have with their doctors, for every car needs maintenance and care if its owner wants it to be safe to drive and to last.
Repair shops servicing the luxury imports in Seoul tend to be concentrated in neighborhoods south of the Han River. By contrast, shops servicing domestic cars can be found in every neighborhood in Korea, both factory-authorized shops and the small independently owned repair shops (or “garages” as many people call them).
Car owners in Korea will tell you that many of the independents do better work than the factory shops and at better prices too. The mechanics at the independent garages tend to be older with years of experience and deeper knowledge about cars the mechanics at the factory shops can seldom match. They tend to own their garages too, so their reputation is how they make their living, which for people who value integrity (and who doesn’t?), is more solid than a legally binding warranty from a manufacturer — for a mechanic who stands behind his work with all his being is the best warranty anyone can get.
Auto parts for foreign cars are expensive and are not always in stock, so it might take a couple of days, a few weeks or maybe even longer for the shop to get the part they need to fix your car. As well, mechanics who work on the luxury imports charge high prices for their labor, even though it doesn’t require any more skill and knowhow to fix a Bentley or a Jaguar than it does to fix a Hyundai Sonata — not really. The basics of engines, electronics, transmissions and suspensions are the same on all cars, just more fancy and costly on the expensive imports.
A car by itself isn’t worth much if a dependable distribution and supply system of parts for that particular car isn’t in place. Without parts and mechanics who can work on the car, even the buyer of a new Mercedes-Benz won’t drive it long. This is why for a car manufacturer to succeed in another country, it must first establish an extensive dis- tribution network of parts and repair shops before it can even sell a car. As this goes, Korean manufacturers have a big advantage here in their own country.
There is another option, though. Buying a reliable used car is by far the most economical way to drive. Used cars of all makes and models are not nearly as expensive as new cars, and if their owners take care of them, they still have a lot of mileage left in them. Reputable used car dealers are always glad to let your mechanic look at the car you’re interested in buying. For a fair price the mechanic will inspect the car and provide you with his or her informed opinion about the worthiness of the car, which is the smart thing to do for anybody considering buying a used car.
While for many, owning a reliable car is a necessity, for others driving on the open road is a pleasure and it makes sense for these drivers to buy a car they enjoy and can afford. Whatever reasons a person has for buying a car, it will be one of the most expensive manufactured products he or she will buy.