The
‘Delala’ Factor
Welcome to this third and last part of the series on the used
car market. This concluding edition is devoted to the perspective
of the 'Delala' the brokers of used cars, and provides 5 great tips
on what to look out for when inspecting a used car you are sweet
on buying.
"We are not stupid animals"
Kebede Mig (name altered) looks fortyish though he swears he is
not a day over 34 (Abyot Sifeneda- new ye-teweledkut). Perhaps its
his sun-scorched and wind burned face that makes him seem much older.
He used to be almost married but claims his 'wife' left him when
the NGO he was working for pulled out six years ago. He thinks she's
in Dubai or Beirut last he heard.
"She is not to blame. I used to earn up to 1500 ETB - a lot
in those days - and I was just a driver. When I couldn't find a
job - I found myself spending time at this café and began
to meet car brokers. I tagged along so to as learn the ropes, getting
only a few hundred for over 2 months work. I couldn't maintain her
on that kind of money so she went off to try seek destiny."
Steering the conversation to the topic of used cars, I asked him,
"What do you know about vehicles?"
You people think that a ‘delala’ is ignorant and only
operates by survival instinct. Well okay all of us are not vehicle
experts but we do know what the market wants and how much a given
model is worth"
How do you estimate the value of a vehicle?
I can say that 75% of a vehicle's worth is found in its resale value.
In fact, my advice to you, because you obviously are not a buyer,
is don’t buy a car that you can't resell for at least 90%
of what you paid for it. If you are really smart, then you could
even get a used car that you can resell for many thousands more
than you spent."
How did you know that I'm not looking to buy a car? What does a
potential buyer look like, anyway?
Sorry if I have offended you but we ‘delalas’ have a
nose for this sort of thing. Plus, you are not wearing a ring -
that's the first sign of a non-buyer. You see, most of our successful
sales involve married buyers (and also sellers). In fact, when we
see a newly wed man - better still - with his new wife along, our
hopes go up. The most probable potential buyers are in order, newly
wed men (for themselves or a second car for her), next come young
women and finally, the everyday single guy like you. By the way,
can I interest you in a 1967 Beetle?”
5 TIPS WHEN BUYING A USED CAR
1.Determine whether the vehicle has a reasonable resale value, just
in case.
2.Assure yourself that vital parts are still being made for the
vehicle. You don’t want to junk the car after one breakdown
3.In general, inspect the vehicle with a person who has a mechanical
or automotive background. To be doubly sure, take the vehicle to
a fee charging professional who can spot things amateurs may have
missed
4.Rust is to a car what cancer is to humans so be extra vigilant
for rust areas. Rust traps include: interior of side panels, undercarriage,
exhaust system, engine mounts and spark plug points. The exterior
sheet metal may have weathered with seawater spray or age and, rust
may be craftily concealed from the buyer by a skillfull body shop!
Be extra vigilant.
5.Nothing like taking the vehicle for a test drive (a long one).
It is easy to check a relatively new car with just a short spin
around the block but older cars only open up when warmed up after
a sustained 30 minute or so workout. So give it a good go.
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