Benz 1.11 million won, BMW 1.99 million won… Imported car cheaper than iPhone, is it really okay?[세상만車]

▲ BMW 5 Series and Volkswagen New Beetle for sale at 1 million won [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

Kim Jin-ho (pseudonym, 27), who got a job this year, is a holder of a ‘closet license’. He got his driver’s license when he was in college, but has little real driving experience. He gave up trying to buy a new car for a weekend trip that he had previously refrained from due to the COVID-19 outbreak. He had to wait more than a year due to the shipment crisis.

Instead, I bought a cheap used car and changed my mind to use it for a weekend trip for a year or two. Instead of using expensive installments when buying a new car later, it is to reduce the burden of purchasing by pouring savings in the meantime, and to get used to driving.

▲ Imported used car inspection scene [사진출처=케이카]

A car is for most people the second most expensive property after a house. If you want to buy a domestic small SUV or semi-mid-size sedan preferred by beginners, you have to pay 20 million won or more.

To purchase a domestic semi-mid-size SUV or mid-size sedan, you need to have 30 million won. Even when purchasing the cheapest compact car among new cars, you must have at least 10 million won.

If you add convenience and safety specifications to eliminate the shortcomings of a compact car that it is small, unstable and inconvenient, more than 15 million won is required.

Is a used car cheaper than a smartphone worth using?

▲ Used car inspection and sales [사진출처=엔카닷컴, 케이카]

For a used car of 10 million won, you can buy a larger and more expensive semi-medium or mid-size car than a compact car. For 30 million won, you can purchase premium imported cars such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, as well as Porsche and Jaguar Land Rover. You can also save on taxes and insurance compared to a new car.

You can find a used car with high cost-effectiveness (quality-to-price ratio) that you can drive for several years without any inconvenience even for 5 million won.

It looks old because of the signs of time, but it can be used for riding. Domestic cars as well as imported cars can be purchased.

▲ Used car diagnosis [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

Furthermore, there are many used cars under 2 million won that can be purchased with the money to buy smartphones and laptops such as iPhones and Galaxy.

It has been out of the box for a long time and there are many parts that have been replaced or replaced due to large and small accidents, but it is enough to use for the first car in life or for driving practice for about a year.

Used cars tend to depreciate after 10 years or more. Since the price has already fallen enough, even if it is resold as a used car, there is little loss.

Most of the cars under 2 million won are depreciated by less than 500,000 won from the purchase price even if they are sold for a year. Even if you scrap a car, you can get 200,000 to 500,000 won for scrap metal.

On the other hand, even if you sell a used car worth 20 million won or more as soon as you buy it, there is a high possibility of losing 1.5 million to 2 million won. This is because there are financial costs, acquisition costs, taxes, and fees.

There are many BMWs, Audis, and Volkswagens in the 1 million won range.

▲ BMW 320i priced at 1.95 million won [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

As of 10 am on the 7th, there are 900 used cars under 2 million won on Encar.com, the largest automobile trading platform in Korea. A wide variety of imported cars as well as domestic cars are available.

In the case of imported cars, popular models such as BMW 5 Series and 3 Series, Audi A4, Volkswagen Jetta and Beetle, and Volvo S80 were sold for less than 2 million won.

The 2006 BMW 523i costs 1.99 million won. The mileage is 160,000 km, which is relatively short for its model year. The 2006 BMW 320i was also on sale for 1.99 million won. The mileage is 220,000 km.

There is no accident or repair history in the used car performance and condition inspection record published by the seller. The mileage is 180,000 km.

Volvo S80 2.0T 2005 model is 2 million won. Repaired the front fenders and rear doors. The mileage is 170,000 km.

▲ Audi A4 Cabriolet is on sale for 1.5 million won [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

Imported convertible cars can also be purchased for less than 2 million won. Audi A4 2.4 Cabriolet 2003 model is 1.5 million won.

The 2003 Volkswagen Beetle with a clean exterior was priced at 1.9 million won. It has driven 160,000 km. In the performance check record, it was stated that the side sill panel was repaired and other parts were in good condition. The New Beetle is an imported car that is popular with women because of its cute appearance that resembles a beetle.

The popular Volkswagen Jetta as the first car in their 20s and 30s is priced between 1.8 million and 1.99 million won. The 2007 Jetta 2.0 TDI is 1.8 million won. As a result of Enka’s diagnosis, there is no accident. The mileage is 150,000 km, which is short compared to the model year.

The 2005 Saab 9-3, which is treated as a classic car, costs 1.99 million won. There is no accident/repair history in the performance check record book. The mileage is 130,000 km, which is very short for its model year.

Mercedes-Benz C200 2012, Mercedes-Benz E300 4Matic 2010, Mercedes-Benz S500L 2019 models were on sale for 1.11 million won on the 6th. It was deleted after checking again on the 7th day. It is possible that it is an unusual item.

Morning as well as Grandeur can be purchased at the price of 1 million won.

▲ Forte Coop appeared for sale at 990,000 won [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

There are about 870 domestic cars for sale under 2 million won. There are many compact cars such as Kia Morning and Chevrolet Matiz for less than 1 million won. Most of the cars were released in 2004-2008. Renault Korea (formerly Renault Samsung) SM5 2007-2008 models are also often released.

Morning 2004 model is 1 million won. The mileage is only 100,000 km. Instead, the bonnet, fenders and doors were repaired.

Renault Korea (formerly Renault Samsung) SM5 2007 model is also 1 million won. Although the mileage is 220,000 km, there is no history of accidents or repairs due to the performance check record.

The 2011 Kia Forte Coupe 1.6 is priced at 990,000 won. The front fender has been repaired. The mileage is only 90,000 km.

There are also compact cars with shorter models, as well as mid-size cars, semi-large cars, SUVs, and vans for sale in the range of 1,110,000 to 2 million won.

▲ SM5 sold for 1 million won [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

In the case of Hyundai, there are Avante, Sonata, Grandeur, and Starex. Kia models have relatively many loche.

Chevrolet’s Lacetti, Cruze and Winstorm are sold in this price range. Renault Korea often comes out with SM3, SM5, and SM7.

In the case of semi-mid-size models, the 2011 Cruise 1.6 model was 1.59 million won, the 2005 Avante was 1.98 million won, and the 2010 SM3 was 1.99 million won.

Avante, which is popular not only in the new car market but also in the used car market, is being sold at a higher price than its model year.

In the mid-size car model, the Roche Advanced LPG costs 1.69 million won, the 2011 SM5 1.9 million won, and the 2005 Sonata 2 million won. The Sonata, which is also in high demand, is priced higher than its competitors.

The 2007 Grandeur, a semi-large sedan, costs 2 million won, and the SM7 2005 model costs 1.29 million won. The 2007 Winstorm 7-seater SUV is priced at 1.99 million won, and the 2002 Starex van is priced at 1.99 million won.

Beware of fake and bait scammers

▲ Volkswagen Beetle priced at 1.9 million won [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

You can’t buy any car just because it’s cheaper than the iPhone 14 (1.25 million to 2.5 million won). Of course, there are no cheap and good cars. Instead, there are cars with a high value for money (price-performance ratio).

Cars under 2 million won are mainly purchased for novice drivers to use for 6 months to 1 year for driving practice before purchasing a better car. When you are a beginner driver, it is better to have a car with a small burden even if it is scratched or crushed.

Because the price is low, the burden is small, and the tax and car insurance premium are low. If you do not purchase your own vehicle damage insurance, you can save about 40% of your insurance premium.

However, since it was shipped more than 10 years ago, the exterior is not clean and has a relatively large number of accidents. Because the profit is small, the dealer who is the seller sometimes sells the used car without commercializing it, such as removing scratches or polishing it.

▲ Used car inspection scene [사진출처=엔카닷컴]

When choosing a car, it is better to look for defects in the body or functions rather than the appearance. In addition to the purchase cost, a separate cost is set aside to inspect tires, oil, and brake parts. It’s okay to use cheap, used parts to fix it.

If you are a novice driver, it is good to choose a compact car, small car, or semi-compact car that has low maintenance and repair costs and is easy to drive.

If the car is worth 1 million won, you can get more than half the price when you resell it. If you buy it for 2 million won and ride it for 2-3 years without any major accidents, you get 1 million won.

If you buy it for less than 1 million won, you can get 200,000 to 300,000 won for scrap metal, even if the car is scrapped after 1 to 2 years of use. If it is possible to export used cars, there is a possibility of receiving a higher price.

When buying a used car for less than 2 million won, you should be careful about false sales or bait sales. If the price is too low compared to the model year, there is a high possibility that it is a fake or bait sale to cheat or rip off.

In the case of imported cars, the repair cost is higher than the car price, so they appear in the used car market at a low price. It is better to receive a diagnosis and inspection service at a cost or use a service accompanied by a used car expert.

[최기성 매경닷컴 기자]

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