Episode Summary
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller explores several key topics related to expat life in Latin America and generational differences. The episode begins with a discussion on the generational divide between baby boomers and younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z. Johnny highlights how boomers, having grown up with limited resources, often try to provide their children with a better life by avoiding the hardships they faced. However, this approach can lead to unintended consequences, such as children lacking essential life skills. He also addresses criticism from a listener named Blake, who argues that boomers are not solely responsible for societal issues like social media's impact and global warming. Blake shares his perspective on how younger generations rely heavily on technology and are less prepared for real-world challenges, while also expressing skepticism about the severity of climate change. The segment ends with Blake expressing interest in attending one of Johnny's seminars, albeit with some reservations about the use of technology during the sessions.
The podcast segment then transitions into a discussion about buying and driving cars in Latin America. Johnny notes that many expats and gringles (expatriates from the U.S.) eventually acquire a car, often after six months of living in the region. He highlights cities like Lake Atitlan and Antigua, where car ownership is less necessary due to the availability of alternative transportation. Johnny shares his personal experience of owning a car for most of his 30+ years in Latin America and mentions the common questions expats have about car ownership, such as insurance, maintenance, and resale value. He then shifts focus to how to destroy the resale value of a car in 10 easy steps, listing common mistakes like choosing fabric upholstery, installing unnecessary spoilers, adding excessive bumper stickers, and using cheap window tinting. Johnny also comments on the cultural phenomenon of gringos adding university logos and stencils to their cars, which is seen as a form of 'gringo wannabe' behavior by locals.
In another segment, Johnny provides a list of 10 (plus bonus) ways to destroy the resale value of a car in Latin America. He highlights practices like leaving the car in the sun, adding aftermarket junk, not cleaning the car, naming the car, and not maintaining the engine. He also touches on cultural observations, such as the naming of chicken buses and the lack of female drivers or workers in certain trades. Johnny also discusses the automotive industry in Mexico and Brazil, noting that while they produce cars with similar designs to those in the U.S. and Europe, the safety features differ based on the car's intended market.
The episode continues with a discussion on the issue of higher auto-related fatalities and crashes in Latin America compared to the first world, attributing this not to car manufacturers but to the drivers. Johnny argues that cars in Latin America are often equipped with fewer safety features due to lower costs and the inability of local workers to afford more expensive models. He also criticizes the media for blaming car manufacturers instead of highlighting the reckless driving behavior prevalent in the region. Johnny emphasizes that the root cause of the problem lies in the drivers, not the vehicles themselves.
Finally, Johnny discusses the issues of car safety and affordability in Latin America. He criticizes the lack of safety regulations and enforcement, pointing out that many countries lack even basic safety standards like three-point seat belts. He also highlights the high cost of cars in Caribbean islands and parts of South America due to corrupt governments and heavy taxation, which makes imported goods significantly more expensive. In contrast, he notes that car prices in Central America are comparable to the U.S., with used cars often being cheaper. He also provides an example of a 1987 Jeep for sale in Ecuador at an exorbitant price, suggesting that the market is rife with misinformation and inflated prices.
Episode Notes
In this episode of The Expat Files, Johnny Mueller dives into the generational divide between baby boomers and younger generations, discussing how boomers' efforts to shield their children from hardship may lead to a lack of life skills. He also shares insights on car ownership in Latin America, including tips on how to reduce a car's resale value and the cultural quirks surrounding vehicle ownership. The episode wraps up with a discussion on road safety and the factors contributing to higher auto fatalities in the region.
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Topics
Generational differences, Baby boomers, Millennials and Gen Z, Social media impact, Global warming skepticism, Technology reliance, Expat Files seminars, Car ownership in Latin America, Resale value of cars, Cultural differences in car ownership, Expatriate experiences in Latin America, Cultural observations about chicken buses and naming conventions
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:00:32 Boom Generation and Their Impact on Society 00:02:01 Blake's Perspective on Boomers and Technology 00:04:56 Skepticism About Climate Change and Generational Preparedness 00:05:54 Cell Phone Use During Lectures and Goodbye from Blake 00:06:10 Upcoming Seminar in Latin America 00:06:28 Discussion on Buying and Driving Cars in Latin America 00:08:23 How to Destroy the Resale Value of Your Car 00:11:23 The Hidden Danger of Leaving Your Car in the Sun 00:11:41 The Impact of UV Rays on Car Resale Value 00:12:52 Cultural Observations on Chicken Bus Naming Conventions 00:16:00 The Automotive Industry in Mexico and Brazil 00:16:58 Two Versions of the Same Car 00:17:13 Blaming Car Manufacturers for Accidents 00:17:38 Data on Higher Fatality Rates in Latin America 00:18:04 Safety Features in Popular Models 00:18:20 Outdated Models and Low Safety Standards 00:19:05 Low Wages in Latin American Manufacturing 00:20:29 350% More Accidents in Latin America 00:20:36 Johnny's Criticism of 'First World Fake News' 00:22:30 Critique of Car Safety and Enforcement in Latin America 00:23:18 Car Prices in Central America vs. the U.S. 00:24:05 High Car Prices in Caribbean Islands and South America
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:00] South of the border down Mexico way That's where I fell in love when the stars above came out to play and now as I wonder Hello there all you ex-pad wannabes. I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the expat files living in Latin America The show that tells you just what it's like to live work play and or retire down here in Latin America It's a mix of the good the bad the ugly and the great and it's all right here. So let's get started Hey, you know in the last couple of shows I've been talking about boomers, you know, baby boomers because they've been writing a lot of emails to me lately In fact a good percentage of people who get the hell out of dodge You know get that plan B going our boomers because they got the money to do it Well, some of them anyway and their kids are all out of the house, of course
[00:49] So they've got no hangers on no baggage. No people in support Well, I take that back. Some of them still have a 35 year old kid living in the basement. Hmm. How'd that happen? I Know I know how that happened. I've got some boomer friends who have this certain kind of refrain. They keep telling themselves I remember hearing it myself quite a bit when I was in my 20s and my friends were starting to get married and have kids They'd say, you know Johnny. I'm gonna do things a lot differently than my parents did I'm not gonna make my kids suffer like I did while growing up I'm not gonna make them go out get a paper route or work at McDonald's or have an after-school job I don't want them begging for quarters cutting other people's grass shovel and snow or washing cars I did all that and I don't want that for my kids. My parents didn't have any dough. So I had to do that
[01:37] It was tough for me growing up. I'm not gonna put them through what I went through going to school full-time working at night job around weekends I want my kids to have fun and concentrate on their studies No distractions like work so they can have time to focus on school in a career Make it easier for him to get that law or medical degree Hmm. Yeah, right. We see how that turned out which Coincidentally brings us this email from Blake. He says Johnny. I'm Blake from Seattle the rancidly woke capital of the world He says you've spoken about boomers lately. I think you're giving him a bad rap I think the world's two biggest problems our government and social media and the boomers. Yes They're part of the government. So they are part of the problem, but they got nothing to do with social media Anyway, Johnny, I'm 70 years old and I do remember a time when we didn't let our government do the thinking for us
[02:28] He says the wife and I were on Facebook when it first came out She thought it was so cute to connect with the kids and grandkids But eventually I was the first of us to understand the extensive damage Facebook has done to the culture That's no fault of the boomers. The Millennials invented that Twitter is even worse and forget tick tock That's just a convenient way for China to farm personal information about us US citizens It's a tragedy how idiot adolescents have been sucked into that one these days He says I'm laughed at for my flip phone, but I want my freedom everybody. I know what smartphones lives on them Then he says I find it both comical and troubling that my 24 year old grandson doesn't know how to get anywhere without using Google Maps He can't make change without a calculator and can't change a tire
[03:15] But he's really good at killing enemies in the video games. He spends hours after hour addicted to Seems kids his age have lost the ability to think and there are a million ways to prove it Starting with the jabs the lockdowns and those crazy pronouns. They readily embrace So then he says am I a pessimist cynically suggesting that pulp culture is the graveyard of intellectual thought? Never in a million years would have considered that wink wink Yep, Johnny us old boomers are handing the world over to a real bunch of winners Like in the old days when the king died and handed the torch over to his 12 year old son that always worked out well Anyhow a few years back. I ditched my smartphone for a flip phone and my favorite part of Twitter is how I don't
[04:05] Use it. Oh Another thing that really irks me is this global warming stuff. There will be no political solution to climate change They'll only screw it up more When has government done anything right? Meanwhile, he says people in undeveloped countries still burn wood and will keep doing so as the price of gas oil and everything else goes up They'll just do what they always do scavenge for branches out in the brush at no cost Just a little manual labor. In fact, there are over a billion people in the world that still cook with wood But you and I can't cut down a sapling in the backyard to make room for a wider driveway Even if we plant ten replacement trees We'll get a pink slip a fine and a criminal record and then there's all those raving
[04:51] Government-connected lunatics saying that global warming will kill off the human race Hell humans got through the great ice age of 12,000 years ago where there were two mile-high Glaciers covering all the way down past, Illinois people just don't understand history Humans lived through periods when the whole world was ten degrees cooler Meanwhile the idiot chicken littles of the world with their bull horns in control of the media Claim the whole human race will toast like a marshmallow If in the next ten years the average world temperature raises by just one degree on a brighter note though Johnny When is your next seminar? I've been stupidly putting off going to your previous ones just for lack of initiative on a side out of mine You know, but every rotten thing that's happening in America is glaringly in sight now
[05:40] So I have no excuse not to sign on to your next one. By the way, Johnny I'm soft-peddling the seminar idea to my 24 year old grandson who's never been out of the country. I Suppose though it would be too much to hope that you won't allow Cell phone use during your seminar lectures. I fear that would be the only way to get my grandson's undivided attention Signing off for now. Hope to see you soon Blake in Seattle Alright Blake. Thanks for that. Hope to see you too at the next seminar By the way, that'll be probably in March 2023 taking place again by popular demand in Guatemala and El Salvador So if you're interested in getting a fire hose treatment coming down for a week with me and my crew Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com and I'll put you on the early bird waiting list
[06:28] All right. Now, let's talk about buying and driving cars here in Latin America The fact is I'd say about from half to three quarters of gringles and expats once they get down here by a car though Not right away Usually after six months or so, of course, there are some cities in town you can live where you won't need a car at all Like for example, if you live on or around Lake Atitlan Guatemala the most beautiful or second most beautiful Lake in the world It's been claimed Depending on what you talk to it always vies for number one or number two with Lake Como in Italy So as far as driving around if you live there since you get around those little towns around the lake by boat Obviously having a car would be overkill Same thing if you live on or near Antigua, Guatemala Yet another great soft landing place for gringles and expats though. I personally wouldn't want to live right smack dab in the city
[07:18] It is kind of filling up with gringles and expats, but right outside the city a great place to live You can get around that place very easily on foot don't need a car But still if you were used to having one up in the States You might just buy one lots of gringles and expats get a car because they're so used to having one But they don't use it much as for me and my 30 plus years down here I'd say I've owned a car about 90% of that time Now I've had people ask me lots and lots of questions about cars here in Latin America For example, what would be the best car to own what kind of insurance coverage 20? What kind of gas should I use? Where should I park it? Do I need a garage? What about mechanics spare parts maintenance? What are some of the good makes and model years to buy what's the minimum amount of dough? I might shell out to get a decent one
[08:04] I get questions like those all the time and lots more You know, one of the questions I get quite frequently is how long can I expect a car to last down here? And if I sell it what's the best way to do that? Do they hold their value and what kind of resale value do they have? Well today, let's talk about gringles and expats who have a car and want to sell it and get another one Though let's flip the tables a bit and talk about how to destroy the resale value of your car in 10 easy steps By following the latin american car ownership example So let's turn things around a bit take a different approach In other words The easy way to destroy the resale value of your car is to do what the majority of latin american men do when they buy a car So i've put a little list together for you Now the following does not apply to that very small percentage those children of the rich whose parents bought him a car
[08:55] Because you see the children of the rich have a little more class than the average latino guy And their parents who forked over the dough wouldn't allow him to get away with most of the stuff I'm going to mention on this list anyway, number one on the list guaranteed to lower the resale value of your car is to get fabric upholstery Especially beige and light colored stuff that way every coca-cola and taco bell spill will leave a permanent history on the seats Number two be sure to install a massive aftermarket useless spoiler Not only will it lower the resale value of your car it'll lower the gas mileage too Number three load that car up with cute bumper stickers and neon lights and racing stripes too And don't forget those university logos and stencils on the back window Yep, you know when I first got down here latin america, I used to think that was awful funny
[09:43] It'd be driving behind a car with texas state or university wisconsin stencils on the back window along with their football teams mascot Now as you know hundreds of thousands of cars from up in the u.s Have made it down here to latin america bumper stickers university stencils and all the odd thing is once those cars get down here The latinos never remove those stickers because of that extreme gringo wannabe thing for them It's a coolness factor for us. It's just kind of stupid So next time you pull up to a car that's got the university of wisconsin stencil down the back window in big letters Do not roll your window down and yell go badgers or go packers. They won't know what the hell you're talking about All right. Number four on that list how to instantly lower the resale value of your car Don't forget to get a cheap window tint job that fades peels and bubbles remember
[10:35] As with most every product in this world, there is good better and best In other words cheap average and expensive And since like this show you get what you pay for the expensive window tint jobs last forever They look great and the cheap window treatments that are probably half the price of the expensive ones Will start peeling bubbling and disintegrating within a year or two But still no matter the cheap stuff seems to be the popular choice down here Same thing goes with most things including unfortunately paint We discussed that on a previous show. You know when it comes to paint house paint car paint any kind of paint There's good better and best you get what you pay for not only do latinos buy the cheapest grade of house paint They add water to it too If you don't believe it just ask any gringle Who's observed the process of his house getting painted?
[11:23] Of course, it would never say on the label to add water, but that's what they all do All right. Now we're up to number five on the list of how to destroy the resale value of your car Be sure to leave it parked directly in the sun for long periods of time So much so that the headlights and their plastic enclosures fog over and turn yellow Yep, the sun's uv rays will do that to a car. Is it a good look then? Well, it must be there are millions of cars here in latin america that have that look number six Don't forget to load up the dashboard and driver's area with aftermarket junk like chrome knobs Cup holders glow in the dark stick shift levers Cutesy gas pedal covers and don't forget you should never toss those short-lived aromatic anti-stink trees hanging from the rearview mirror Just keep them piling up for posterity
[12:10] Oh and don't forget to buy one of those chrome muffler extensions Throw a couple of oversized boombox speakers in your trunk too where you're at it Oh and add some cheap chrome hubcap spinners, too That's always a nice touch All right now for number seven on our list of how to destroy the resale value of your car in 10 easy steps Don't ever change or clean those original floor mats Don't spend the 20 bucks necessary to replace them Even when you've got holes worn through them from your heel digging in at the base of the gas and brake pedals Number eight don't forget to actually name your car or vehicle and let the world know it with paint or stick on letters Whether it's selma maria claudia, whatever make sure you've got it in bold letters somewhere inside or outside the car By the way, every chicken bus in latin america is named after someone's wife mother or girlfriend
[12:58] Apparently there are no gay chicken bus drivers because they're all named after women Oh, and the fact is i've never seen a female chicken bus driver So I guess there's a lot of lag time in fact in that department, too It'll come it'll come Then again, i've never seen a female plumber cement contractor painter auto mechanic roofer glazer Electrician or females in any of the skilled trades you hear that all you wokesters and militant feminists up in the first world I guess we'll have to completely cancel latin america, huh? All right now number nine on that list never clean the engine compartment or change the oil for that matter No matter how black it gets oh and forget about cleaning or changing the air filter, too Hmm what senor johnny you mean cars have air filters. Come on. You're pulling my leg
[13:45] All right now number 10 on the list Don't pay attention to the fruit salad of idiot lights Continuously blinking on your instrument panel. Don't think to get them checked out to see why they remain lit They kind of look cool break up the dashboard but not me all colorful and blinking like a christmas tree Oh, wait a minute We have a number 11 and number 12 as bonus points on the list Here's bonus tip number 11 Make sure you don't have a spare tire And if you have one make sure it's flat and never check to see if your jack actually works And you've got all the parts to it And finally bonus point number 12 be sure to deck out your car with jesus symbols figurines and biblical sayings That way you're sure to have some divine guidance when you have a flat tire and discover your spares flat, too
[14:35] Hey, don't laugh. I think over the last couple of years I've been in cars like ubers and taxis and latino friends cars Where there's been a flat and three of those times the spare was flat And the fourth time when I was in a taxi and had a flat He went into the trunk and there was no spare at all One of those times the guy had a decent spare but the jack was bent and didn't work Yep, be prepared. Remember that boy scout model? Well, there's no boy scouts down here Which reminds me of something really strange, you know Once I was driving around in santo domingo the minnequin republic and I hit a road in the big city called kaye cub scouts Cub scout road i'm not kidding and it led right into another road Called girl scout road kaye girl scouts Which unbelievably turned into a road called kaye boy scouts
[15:23] Yet there wasn't a single boy scout girl scout or cub scout office anywhere around in the moment I thought looking at the street signs. This is crazy Especially since i've never met a single latin american boy or girl who's ever been in the cub scouts boy scouts or girl scouts But I guess they exist and I would imagine with the requisite number of pervert boy scout and cub scout leaders, too They ought to string those guys up by their weblos But I digress man. Did I digress anyway? Since we're talking about cars and vehicles here in latin america. Here's some more interesting info Food for thought that just might scare you a bit turns out Mexico and brazil are some of the two biggest auto manufacturing centers in the world Of course china beats everyone but aside from china mexico and brazil produced billions of cars a year with brand names
[16:11] We're all familiar with but here's what you didn't know the cars rolling off Those assembly lines look identical to the models you see up in the states or in europe But they're not really even if they look exactly the same how safe they actually are depends on where they're headed Turns out vehicles destined to stay in brazil or mexico or stay in the rest of latin america Carry a code signifying. There's no need for anti-lock braking Things like electronic stability control or more than two airbags if any However for the line of cars they export to the states or europe They have to meet much more stringent safety laws including six airbags at least and an abs system Automatic brake and stability controls to compensate for slippery roads, etc
[16:58] So basically what you've got is two versions of the same car That are priced pretty much the same and look exactly the same from the outside But here's the thing just lately articles have been coming out in the first world press blaming High rate of auto related fatalities in mexico and the rest of latin america on the car manufacturers themselves They're calling out latin american car manufacturers by saying that they purposely and knowingly install Less safety devices than cars destined for the first world In fact according to the data from a group called global new car assessment. That's Gncap a group that collects and analyzes crash and test data Their data shows that vehicle fatalities in latin america are 3.5 times greater than that of the u.s
[17:45] That's 350 percent more same thing goes with crashes and fender benders in general in latin america There are 3.5 times as many Which again they blame on the fact there are fewer safety items installed in vehicles for latin america By the way just for reference here in latin america nissan's most popular models The versa and the centra are packaged with just two airbags and an anti-lock braking system Which is more than required by the mexican or most latin american governments whereas those two basic models The nissan versa and centra up in the states are required to have a minimum of six airbags By the way one of nissan's cheapest and most popular models in mexico is called a tusuru. It's so outdated It's got only lap seat belts in the back seat and some versions have no airbags at all and that's legal
[18:32] But not in the states of europe By the way more than 300 000 of these tusuros have been sold in mexico in the past six years had about 10 grand apiece That's why they're so popular They're dirt cheap in another example volkswagen for one began adding two airbags to its classical model The thing is that same model sells in europe and the us as the jetta comes standard with six Not two airbags. Oh and here's something else you didn't know the average car manufacturing worker in mexico Or brazil for example a gm worker gets paid 100 a week. That's about two dollars and 50 cents an hour Whereas his counterpart in the states or europe gets 1500 bucks a week. That's 15 times more and still americans wonder why big companies move their plants to the third world
[19:21] Anyway, when you think about it, remember henry ford He was criticized by the press back in the 1920s for paying his workers too much and his answer was an excellent one He said why not? I have to pay him enough so they can afford to buy my cars. Don't I? Anyway, if a gm worker in mexico or brazil gets paid a hundred bucks a week That means he can't afford to buy a car that's fully loaded with safety features He's either got to buy a used car or have others in the family chip in from to buy even the cheapest gm Car at 10 grand because look if you do the numbers the average car in the united states I think costs around 45 grand now about a year's salary for the average american And if a gm worker in mexico makes 100 bucks a week, that's around 5200 bucks a year So if he's gonna drive it all he's got no choice than to buy a low-end car with absolutely no frills like airbags and abs breaking
[20:11] So now let's just say for a minute You're an american and you never lived in latin america and you read all about this stuff How vehicles produced and manufactured in latin america even the ones that have names you're very familiar with are basically lacking in many safety features And that's why vehicle accidents and fatalities are 350% more than they are in the states and that makes sense, right? Well to a person like me who's been down here 30 plus years This is the perfect definition of first world fake news and spin Because the truth is if you drive for any length of time here in latin america You'll find out it's not so much that the cars themselves are dangerous Well, some of them are of course because they don't maintain them But it's the fact that latin america is the home to the shittiest most thought list under educated most careless lunatic drivers in the world
[21:00] So i'm calling out bs on this story At least to the bs the conclusion points to that that 350 increase in fatalities and crashes is due To the lack of mandated safety measures like they've got up in the first world That is pure bs the people here just don't know how to f***ing drive In my opinion in the opinion of almost every gringo and expat who's ever driven here latin america It's the drivers that are much more dangerous in every respect than the cars they're driving No matter how bruised and dented they look you've heard me tell the stories For example at half the motorcyclists don't even have licenses or they're expired That only about 10 of latin americans carry car insurance even though it's mandated by law that drinking and driving is so ubiquitous It's practically normal with people driving around with open beer and booze in the car
[21:48] Even at 10 in the morning the cops even tolerate it Most of them are drinkers themselves then you got all those latin american drivers probably 95 of them that don't even know the basic rules of the road. They pass on curves They don't know what the lane center lines signify. They don't know to give pedestrians to ride away They routinely run red lights and stop signs Think nothing of driving the wrong way down a one-way street hog lanes stop anywhere They feel like it drive with cracked and broken windshields and burnt out lights And yet these articles come out in the first world blaming latin american accidents and fatalities on the car manufacturers How ridiculous is that without a single mention of the huge quantity of shit for brains drivers? Talk about first world spin and fake news. I'm calling bs on all of it
[22:34] Now i'm not saying latin american manufacturers shouldn't put abs systems and six airbags at least in every car But that does not do a thing to cure the underlying problem Shit for brains drivers and cops that don't enforce the traffic laws because they don't even know them themselves That's even considering that throughout latin america including mexico They have no other car safety norms other than general seat belt requirements and the cops don't even enforce those They don't even have laws yet for three-point shoulder belts necessary to secure child safety seats. Just saying A pretty sticky wicket as the brits might say Now i've said about that. Well almost enough one more thing about cars remember in a past show or two I mentioned that when you're in mexico in central america The price of cars is pretty much the same as it is up in the states whether you're talking about new or used cars
[23:24] In fact, sometimes you'll find used cars are a lot less expensive than the same model and year in the states Because there's an oversupply of them too many have been driven down Most of them were bought at auctions and were rex or crashed then brought down and repaired because it's so cheap to do it You've heard the story. So there always seems to be an oversupply of used vehicles So with a supply greater than the demand there is a lot of room to dicker So that's the situation in central america However, when you're talking about the caribbean islands since we talk about latin america Let's talk about latin american caribbean islands to dominican republic and porta rico skip cuba There's no car market there. Anyway in any caribbean island country You'll pay a third more to double the price of the cars in the states or central america because there are rotten
[24:12] Mismanaged governments have a monopoly on extracting import taxes out of everything into the country Though that's to be expected if you've ever been on vacation in let's say the bahamas jamaica The caimans turks and caicos virgin islands any one of them You'll find everything that's imported more expensive than you pay for it up in the states That includes pretty much everything except some foodstuffs Even worse is the extremely high price of electricity in any island country And you should know and i'm gonna repeat this i've said this before if you're in south america, you know below panama You'll routinely pay twice as much for the very same car You can get up in the states or in the mainland of central america even though brazil has huge car manufacturing facilities producing Lots of well-known makes and models and you have to wonder how does that make sense when they've got the same kind of facilities
[24:59] In mexico and the price of cars is about the same as in the states But in brazil or anywhere in south america you're paying around double Well again, it's those wickedly corrupt blood-second government parasites who simply bleed legit industries for taxes And there is a reason why it's because the average person pays no taxes There are so many people off the books and since tax evasion is the national sport in land america Right behind soccer and marital infidelity One of the only ways for governments to tap the wealth of the masses Is to tax the hell out of legit industries like car manufacturers and of course that creates a domino effect for the used car business, too For example, i'm looking at quenca equator's biggest newspaper right now checking out the classified ads i'm seeing a jeep
[25:44] Wagoneer for sale a 1987 you heard me right 87 four by four automatic Condition nitido, that means tip-top condition though They never really are but everyone's ad says nitido in every used car or used anything classified Nitido means great shape. However, just think about it. We're talking about a 1987 jeep How can that thing being in latin america for so long ever be in tip-top condition? Anyway, the ad says Description immaculate condition. Yeah, right limited edition and they've got pictures here It doesn't look like it's in any great shape at all, but it's not falling apart either. Come on Do you have anything that's 35 years old and still works like new including yourself? Oh, yeah, right. And when you buy it try getting parts for it. Remember it's 35 years old
[26:34] And what does the owner want for this gym? Try? 9500 bucks. Yeah, you heard me right 9500 bucks for a 35 year old jeep we're talking about one of those ugly wagoners looks like a station wagon with fake wood Panel on the side, you know that synthetic metal wood boy 80s car stylings were for crap, huh? Anyway, we're not even talking about a classic jeep that might have antique value like a willies In the stage you could pick up one for around 4 000 less than half Funny thing too. The seller didn't dare put in the mileage on that thing Probably been spun around a couple times already Anyway, just to let you know another reason I don't quite like south america as much as I like central america The government's got you buy the balls on anything that's imported It just tacks the hell out of you and for proof you need to look no farther than the ridiculous car prices
[27:23] Anyway, if you have any doubts as to what i'm saying here send me an email the expat files at gmail.com And i'll send you a copy of this ad with the photos. You won't believe it You've been listening to the expat files living in latin america If you need some help with your own plan b we can schedule a one-on-one phone or skype consult Just send me an email the expat files at gmail.com And if you want to get on the waiting list for my next week long expat insider seminar in central america Where you're guaranteed to get a two to five year head start on your plan b Send me an email the expat files at gmail.com