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Have you ever experienced that orgasmic feeling of finding those elusive car spare parts from the surplus shops along Banawe Street in Quezon City? With hundreds of car-parts dealers lined up on that stretch, a day or two wouldn’t be enough to check each one, and you;d just end up being frustrated. Still, old-timers could attest that you would find what you need there. Just be patient.

But if you’re new to the place, it;s probable you will be scared off by the aggressive hawkers, roaming mechanics, and ambulant vendors who quickly surround your car while you’re looking for a parking space. Hang on a little longer and they will guide you to an empty slot to get your attention. In this case, be wary not only of pickpockets, but also of side-mirror and emblem thieves.

Old-timers recall that the car-parts business on Banawe started in the, 1970s, particularly from the corner of E. Rodriguez Avenue down to Kitanlad Street. Parts suppliers for popular brands like Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Honda and Volkswagen, among others, each found a haven in this area, eventually taking over the rest of Banawe stretch and spreading to the streets of Agno and Kaliraya approaching Quezon Avenue.

The boom on Banawe’s surplus business started when buyers of used alternators, wiper motors, and starters found what they needed here. Nowadays, there are hundreds of Banawe-based dealers selling original brand-new parts, OEM or replacement components, and rebuilt units. There are also those who supply alloy wheels and tires, as well as aftermarket accessories like window tints, car horns, and in-car entertainment systems.

These are categorized as coming from three sources: chop-chop items allegedly sources from stolen and abandoned vehicles; parts imported from Japan and Korea; and components from American or European vehicles, which have a very limited market.

According to sources, Banawe is the drop-off point for stolen car parts and used cars for sale Philippines. Of course, not all of the items here are sourced in this manner. Many are also stripped from total wrecks or unserviceable units.

Still, when motor vehicle theft worsened, the Philippine National Police intensified the crackdown against surplus-parts dealers to curb the sale of illegally sourced items. This prompted the dealers to form an organization in order to protect themselves from the mulcting policemen, baranggay officials, and city-hall inspectors.

When Japanese and Korean surplus parts arrived on our shores, the dealers mixed these with the parts from stolen vehicles, making it hard for authorities to determine which was legal and which wasn’t.

“Usually, the specifications of Japanese and Korean parts are not exactly the same as those of local counterparts,” a source reveals. For example, while a locally manufactured or distributed alternator has a power output of 60 amperes, a Japan-made one either has 55 or 70-amps. But Filipino ingenuity has perfected the art of conversion for these parts in order for them to function well on local vehicles.

Source add that some Banawe dealers shifted their business to the importation of Japanese surplus components instead of vending parts from hot cars, to space themselves from headaches, harassment and extortion. Others took to selling brand-new accessories and parts, so they could conduct business with official receipts. Aside from the absence of official receipts, surplus parts don’t have price tags, which makes unsuspecting buyers vulnerable to overpricing.

Now, let’s focus our attention on the so-called ‘freelancers’ – the mechanics, parts vendors and helpers who roam Banawe looking for any-thing that they can profit from. Sources claim most of these freelancers are territorial. To professionalize their existence, there was a time when dealers’ organization required them to wear color-coded T-shirts to identify the specific area on the Banawe row the belong to.

Lastly, have you ever wondered why almost all the sales personnel in Banawe stores always utter, “Opo, meron po kami niyan,” after which they’d pick up the phone to call another shop for the component you need?

In this case, 10 percent is immediately padded to the price as ‘finder’s fee’, and another 10 percent is added for the primary parts supplier. If a freelance is involved in the transaction, that means another burden of 10 percent on your shoulder.

Still, even including these plus-plus-pluses, Banawe prices are still way below those dealerships, other-wise known as casas.

There are now many low-priced used cars being sold in the Philippines today, and choosing the right one can be a grueling task. Below are some suggestions on how to turn this process easier.

Buying Inexpensive Used Cars for Sale

Allocate yourself at least a month to plan and use the period to figure out the price. This refers not just to the price of the vehicle, but the tax, insurance and registration.

Choose a vehicle that you really need, and not just any old car. For instance, do you need a SUV, four-door sedan, etc? When you have determined what you really need, you can begin looking.

You can locate these use cars for sale online, the classified ads, neighborhood dealers or just driving around the local. If you are buying from a dealer, leave behind your contact information so they can notify you if the car you want becomes available.

No matter how old it is, be sure to test drive the car. It won’t harm to bring a mechanic along to examine and scrutinize the car before you buy it. Be sure to check if there is a warranty and it is still under contract. This should be done no matter what the cost is.

Used Car for Sale: How to Negotiate

Check the Kelly blue Book to obtain an idea of the worth of the used car. Or you can go online and check the existing value of that particular model. Knowing how much the auto is being sold for in the general area will help you bargain the cost.

Insist on seeing the repair and service records; these have an effect on the value of the car. When negotiating, begin with a low offer but be agreeable to increase the price. Learn how to negotiate and make counteroffers. Indicate any problems you see in the car; this will bring it easier for the seller to grasp your point of view.Keep on negotiating offers until you both agree on the selling price.

Here is a word of advice: paying some cash up front may lower the cost. Also make sure any liens are checked.

Buying Private Cars for Sale

If you are buying from private sellers (those who own the car), there are a few important things you need not to forget. First you must to set you budget limit. This will allow you not to over spend. It also helps you decide for how much you can bargain.

There must be no reason for the seller not to permit a mechanic to test the car out. Most, if not all, private sellers like better if you pay in cash. Also keep in mind that some dealers have a fixed price. But try to haggle anyway; you have nothing to lose.

Buying cheap used cars for sale requires a lot of research, online and offline. But by haggling the price, you can bring the cost down some more, even with privately sold vehicles.