Don't get landed with a lemon
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Buying luxury Completely Built Up (CBU) cars has become a trend for affluent Indonesians, especially those who live in the big cities like Jakarta. What you drive reflects who you are, so they say.
But beware, you may buy a pig in a poke.
Andre, not his real name, was tempted by a car importer for a cheaper European car, compared to the one sold at the authorized sole agent. With the difference in price nearly Rp 100 million (around US$10,680), the young executive thought he had saved some money.
The fact shows differently. Andre was shocked after finding out that he had to pay more than Rp 100 million for maintenance and a change of spare parts.
Andre's experience has become a main concern for CBU sole agent who provide after sales service.
"We have always encouraged our customers to buy cars at the sole agent or authorized dealers because each car is provided with after sales service," said Karl-Heinz Wigger, deputy director of after sales at the PT DaimlerChrysler Distribution Indonesia which distributes Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler and Jeep.
Tryfena Sri Rahayoe, the marketing communication specialist of PT Grandauto Dinamika echoed Wigger's opinion. The company is the sole agent of British-manufactured Jaguar, Bentley and Rolls Royce.
"People may have thought that they have saved some money when buying cars at importers. They just don't realize that they have to spend more money after the purchase," she said.
Both Wigger and Tryfena declined that they have rejected cars bought at importers to be repaired in the authorized garages.
"Our eight garages in the city have equipment which suits our cars that have been adjusted to the conditions of Indonesia. If the car has American or European specifications, only our workshop in Ciputat can handle that," Wigger said, referring to the DaimlerChrysler workshop on Jl. R.E. Martadinata, Ciputat, Tangerang.
"With only one workshop and a long queue of customers waiting to be served, our company looks reluctant to provide after sales service to cars bought at importers. That's not true. We also have limited mechanics and equipment at the workshop, which has a capacity between 10 and 12 cars per day."
Richard Tampubolon, the DaimlerChrysler manager for dealer development and customer care department, said that the company has never requested compensation for the service of cars bought from importers.
But he admitted that DaimlerChrysler prioritized to the customers who bought the unit at the sole agent.
Richard said mechanics at the workshop are able to transmit, download and flash the required software from Germany, should any cars have problems that have never be detected before.
"If any garages claim they have the Mercedes Benz equipment in solving the technical problem, they may only have the hardware. While most important, is the licensed software which is owned by us," he said.
While the only Jaguar garage on Jl. Letjen. S. Parman, West Jakarta, can only handle around 10 cars each day for routine maintenance.
"Most Jaguars bought at importers usually have problems with their radio codes as the importers don't have the facilities to save the radio code data," Tryfena said.
"The Jaguar garage has the Worldwide Diagnostic System which enables our mechanics access to the Jaguar Principal in London to solve the trouble."
However, Tryfena said that Jaguar owners, who bought units at importers, could join the Jaguar Membership Club for Rp 33 million (including tax).
"But the figure doesn't cover the service charge, the three- year warranty, which will cost the owner another Rp 50 million, and also spare parts," she said.
To avoid spending more in the end, just like Andre, make sure that you buy your dream car at the designated places that have an after sales service after the purchase.