Many turn to used cars to evade rising crime wave

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): There has been a trend toward purchasing second- hand cars since belts first began to be tightened in response to the rupiah's dramatic plunge in value against the U.S. dollar in the middle of last year.

Now there is another reason in addition to value for money which is pushing people toward this choice: a rising wave of crime and street demonstrations which many fear could trigger a new wave of unrest.

Many believe the streets of Jakarta and other major cities are no longer safe since the crisis exacerbated many social problems that have been dogging the country in recent years. Theft of (luxury) car parts and accessories has now become common, making the country's embattled rich reluctant to drive their fancy cars.

Wina Andriati, a marketing executive, is one such person. She now leaves her parents' fancy BMW and Great Corrola sedan behind her in the garage as she speeds away in her 1992 Toyota Kijang.

She bought the Kijang van from a used car dealer after hearing the tale of a friend whose car was stolen from in front of a bank in Blok M commercial district, South Jakarta.

"I won't take the risk of getting my parents' car stolen. Those sedans are not insured under my name," said Wina, who bought the van for Rp 25 million in February.

She feels more secure driving in the old Kijang because, she said, it is not conspicuous and unlikely to attract the attention of thugs in search of spare parts and accessories.

"Once I saw two children rip the wing mirrors of a sedan right before my eyes. I could do nothing to stop them," Wina said. Other motorists turned a similar blind eye to the crime.

To her surprise, the children went about the business calmly, even stopping to survey other cars afterwards.

"The children just passed my car... they had no interest in it at all," sighed Wina in relief. "I made the right decision (to ride a modest used car)," she said.

Jakarta Police data shows a rise in reported car thefts between July and September this year.

Three hundred and forty car thefts were reported in July, 320 in August and a further 351 in September.

Car theft is not the only reason why people now drive less ostentatious cars. Street protests are a veritable terror for the drivers of fancy cars.

One Dutch citizen who works as a government consultant in July took the courageous decision to sell his new Mercedes sedan and instead take the wheel behind a second-hand 1997 Kijang priced at Rp 60 million.

"At that time, I was so confused. Rumors had it there would be more riots, worse than those in May. So I didn't want to take a risk of harming myself by driving a fancy sedan if the rumors turned out true," said the man, who declined to be named.

The rumors did not come true. "But I don't regret selling my sedan, I think the situation is not really normal yet. Nobody wants to be the target of an angry mob," he said.

Buying a used car can be a headache for those who know very little about cars. Engine problems not spotted before the purchase are the most common problem afflicting the new owners of second-hand cars.

For some people, where to start looking for a second-hand car also poses a problem.

Lukman, the owner of 1993 Corona Absolute 2.0 sedan, suggests: "Just read the classified ads section in newspapers. You might get the car you wanted at an attractive price."

That was exactly what he did before buying his second-hand car last year.

"I couldn't afford to buy a new car, it was too expensive for me," said the state bank employee who saved for almost five years to buy a car.

"Whenever I was interested in a car offered in the ad section, I would call the owner and make an appointment to see the car. I always brought along a friend who has a knowledge of cars to help me check its condition, and I also insisted on having a test drive," Lukman said.

He was happy with his choice and got a good bargain, buying his car for Rp 45 million. Used car dealers commonly sell the same model for Rp 70 million.

"The previous owner of my car sold it at a much lower price because he was badly in need of cash at the time," recalled Lukman, who lives in the city's southern outskirts at Lenteng Agung.

But not everybody is as lucky as Lukman. Kartono did not know that the second-hand Toyota Starlet sedan he bought earlier this year was in poor shape.

After just a handful of spins, the car was in a service center in need of repairs.

"I was horrified when the mechanic told me the car was once involved in a serious accident which had affected its engine," Kartono, a pharmacist, said.

He blamed himself for not being careful enough in his choice.

"The previous owner didn't tell me about the accident and it never crossed my mind to ask; the car ran very smoothly," he said.

Hardja Suparna, a second-hand car dealer, advised those searching for a used car not to make price their sole consideration in choosing which one to buy.

"Buyers should make a thorough check of the car. If it's possible, take the car to a service center before buying it. If you can't take the car to a service center, hire a mechanic to come with you to inspect the car," said the 47-year-old man who has been in the business for 15 years.

He also advised prospective buyers to check the engine serial number matches the number in the vehicle's documents.

"And don't forget to take the car for a test drive to learn more about it," said Hardja, whose business depends heavily on classified ads.

He also suggested prospective buyers stay away from cars more than five years old.

"The car's age can be estimated by reading its odometer," he said, adding that under normal use, a car would drive around 15,000 kilometers a year.

Prospective buyers who want to know if the car has been involved in a major accident can examine the car's body for signs of repair, he added.