Is Pentagon Car Sales the same as the AAFES car dealership on base?

And are you talking purchasing a car before you leave, or a car that you'll have to drive while you're here?


If you're talking about buying a car and driving it here in Korea, then you're on your own to get it home..

-HOWEVER- if you want to buy a car here for use at home, we just talked to them last night, you can order/purchase your car before you get ready to leave, and they ship it anywhere in the US for you... *even if you're on the 1 year unaccompanied tour*! Utilization of the AAFES dealership is like utilization of the BX, it doesn't matter *what* the status of your tour is, if you're authorized to use it in the states, you're authorized to use it in Korea.
Command-sponsorship doesn't make any difference at all.

The only bad thing I've heard about buying through the AAFES dealership (and this, I freely admit is 2nd hand information) is that when you pick up your car and do registration for it, you end up paying state taxes for wherever you have it sent to, so make preparations for that amount in your financial figures.

They've got some good deals, and I would highly recommend C.J. Butts (Yes, that's his real name, I kind of cracked up about it too!) if you want to talk to someone about the details/possibilities, he's one of the few salesmen we've met there that wasn't pushy or too "car salesman"-ish. :)

Dee :)

I don't believe it's addressed here ~ but only E-9 CSMs and O-5 (and above) in command can have POVs in Area 1. There are quite a few Army personnel assigned to Area 1, so this is important to take note of.

A lot of command sponsored people assigned in Area 1 are authorized to ship POVs, but the POV must remain with the family ~ the vast majority of whom are located in Yongsan. I've never seen this rule stringently enforced, however. For a year and a half, I (quietly) drove home from CRC to Yongsan every night (except during big exercises) and I never once had a problem.

How long does it take to ship POVs to ROK from the states?

Where do we pick them up at?

It used to be you had to pickup/drop off vehicles at the pier in Pusan (an all day trip for most people).

However, in the last several years, they've changed it and have pickup/drop off points located at major installations, to include Yongsan.

As far as shipping times, it all depends on the location from which you you ship your vehicle. Of course, shipping from the west coast takes the least amount of time. However, even when shipping from the west coast you're looking at something like six weeks transit time.

I've read on the RAO website that its very difficult to obtain non-Korean cars parts in ROK.
Having read that, should I bring oil filters for my VW Passat?
Will I have any problems getting my oil changed or an air filter, or is that information dated as I suspect?

If it's convenient to bring some filters, then by all means, do so.

But unless you have something really exotic, it's no longer difficult acquiring parts for foreign made cars in Korea. However, the prices can be a little steep at the off-base shops, and AAFES might not carry it. And from my experience, if AAFES has to order the part for you, it can be extraordinarily expensive. AAFES didn't carry the air filter I needed for my Toyota Corolla (hardly an exotic model). The clerk said he would have to "special order" it for me ~ at $36 a piece, not including shipping. I went on the internet and found a guy selling the exact filter that AAFES was going to order for me (Fram) for $3 and change. I ordered six of them - and the total cost including shipping was less than what AAFES was going to charge me for one.

Volkswagen's Korean website (all in Korean) shows that they sell the Passat in Korea, so the parts are available. http://www.vwasia.com/publish/vwasia/korea/kr.html

Here's the page at the website that shows where the service center is located:
http://www.vwasia.com/publish/vwasia...ce_center.html

I can't read Korean, I guess I can just call the number to get directions or use a GPS to get there once I arrive. Thanks for the heads up!!

If you're just looking to grab a filter, it would be a lot easier and less stressful to just jump on the subway. This service center in located in Kang Nam, which is one of the newer, high-rent areas of Seoul. I'm sure there is a subway stop near it.

Have a question about Car Insurance.

I called USAA today about their rates, and they were pretty resonable.

Does anyone have any suggestions on other companies that might offer discounted car insurance?

Just had a friend do local insurance....$250 a year for a hooptie, that is basic insurance nothing special through a local company.

I have mine through USAA at $10 a month for a 96 Hyundia,

__________________
CH-47 SI

They must find it difficult...

Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority. --Gerald Massey