The joys of buying a car in Uruguay

Instant gratification through consumption is not something of a national trait in Uruguay. It's hard to tell which is the hen and which is the egg here: is the lack of interest in consumption as sport the reason why virtually every manufactured item is deemed a "luxury good" and taxed through the heavens, or is the high taxation the reason why we resort to other, less material pleasures? Probably the former.

In any case, once we come to terms with the high cost of a vehicle, which believe me, in relative terms is more expensive than in most developed countries, considering our per capita GDP, we happily proceed to the fantasy portion of the process. What can we afford? If price is not an issue, or after establishing a price range, which are the relative pros and cons of the likely candidates? This is the brief, happy part. 

But no longer have you narrowed down or made your choice than the disappointments or frustrations begin. Because basically, nothing is available for immediate delivery, and whatever is available is nowhere near what you had in mind.

Say you want a white car with full features, then the only thing available is in royal blue and with no radio, aircon or airbags. "Standard" as they say here, rather than "Full".

"But if you wait one more month, we're receiving our new shipment, and there is just one in exactly the color and with the features you want. If you leave a downpayment today, though, because there's no guarantee that it will last two more days."

Fine, you give in, after all, the more you delay, the more months you will have to wait. You pay the downpayment, and wait. The date comes with no car or dealership calling you. Any calls you make get you the answers "it's shipped already, will be arriving at port in a couple of days" or "it's coming out of customs in a couple of days." Etc. This "couple of days" period is actually shorthand for "a couple of weeks or months" so finally, one, two or three months late, you find yourself in possession of your car.

Hence, the advice is, grab whatever you find for immediate delivery, unless you are in no rush whatsoever, and be prepared to wait up to 10x what they tell you it will take to get the vehicle.