Has anyone driven in Guam, and would you ship a 2000 Q45T there?

[Victor]

My daughter just graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and is now a 2LT.Her first assignment is two years in Guam, and the government will ship her 2000 Q45T to Guam or store it for her. From the little info we can get it sounds like Guam will tear up a car, with pot holed roads, a lot of them made out of crushed coral, frequent typhoons, salt air, high humidity and it rains almost everyday, really bad drivers, etc. Also the max speed limit is 45 mph, so there is not really any need for a high speed cruiser.On the plus side reasons for shipping would be if she puts it in storage it will depreciate anyway, and be worth probably only three fourths of what it is worth now even if it is not driven. Due to lack of competition, new cars are very expensive there, dealers typically add $4000 onto the MSRP. So possibly she could drive it there for two years and sell it there when ready to leave for more than she paid for it. But a negative is there is only one Infinity dealer on the island, so if it ever needed repairs I am sure the charges would be higher than even the rip off prices dealers charge in the States.One idea we had was that I would trade my 94 J30T to her for her 2000 Q45T. Since this is a family transfer there would be no sales tax. When she comes back I would trade vehicles back, or I would just give it back to her if the J30T didn't survive the two years in Guam or she decided to sell it. The benefit to me would I can drive a newer, more valuable car for two years. However the J30T with 194,400 miles on it would be more likely the break down on her and she wouldn't be able to fix simple things like I could.So, has anyone ever driven their own car in Guam, and did it survive?

[TBrack]

I wouldn't ship a nice car to Guam but that's just me. Send it to my house, I'll take good care of her

[dzznuts671]

WOW!! first off where did you get your information from?!I am from Guam. The roads are not as bad as you make it sound.Yes there are some pot holes and yes some of the older roads are made of crushed coral but it isnt any worse than other places in the mainland. Pot holes just dont run rampant everywhere! There are major cities in the US that have far worse roads than Guam. Second there are really bad drivers anywhere you go. Yes the max speed is 45mph but DO YOU follow the speed limit exactly where you live? No it doesnt rain everyday. But in any tropical climate including Hawaii there are usually two seasons. Dry and wet. The salt air plus the humidity WILL eat at any car if not maintained properly. It would be wise to wash your car at least once a week to rinse off any salt that may have accumulated on the car. Just as you would if you lived in the north east where they salt the roads during winter. You are correct that since there is not that much competition the dealer prices for repairs will be a little higher. However if she is only going to be on Guam for two years then she should be alright. All she would need to do is the regular maintenance: change oil, air filter, etc. I will say she should get good insurance (full coverage) because of the unexpected typhoons that might happen. Other than that Guam is basically just like Hawaii only alot smaller. The people are really friendly and open. I hope she enjoys what the island has to offer. I would def recommend diving or snorkeling.

[Victor]

dzznuts, thanks for the information. Maybe her car would survive there. Right now its a California car which means absolutely no rust (actually spent 15 months in Colorado, where they do salt the roads, but my daughter was careful to wash the car frequently including the under carriage). Do most homes and apartments have garages or carports to protect a car from the sun and rain and condensation?

[maxnix]

Congratulations to your daughter!

With a 2000 MY car, depreciation is the last thing about which I would worry. Occasional use would be best, and of course, continued rehabilitation.

Haven't been to Guam, but islands usually demand a smaller vehicle for practical purposes as long distance cruises are not an option.

[dzznuts671]

yes the homes on Guam have garages. but they don't have garage doors. they are open air. basically just a roof over your car. Gas prices can be rather expensive on Guam. Probably around $4 for premium. maybe even more. I haven't been home for about 4 years. 87 octane was about $3.75 last time i was there. But i don't know now that the price of oil has gone up. I would def make sure the a/c is in working order. It is very hot and humid on Guam.

[Victor]

dzznuts, from what I was able to find out new cars in Guam sell for more than manufacturers suggested list price. Do used cars generally sell for more than the same model car with the same mileage would sell for in the U.S.? What about a used car that was brought from California with absolutely no rust on it, would it sell above what the market value would be in the continental U.S. and be in high demand in Guam? If the answer is yes maybe my daughter should sell her Q45T in Guam instead of shipping it back when it comes time to return to the U.S.

[aces805]

Having visited Guam once, I would take the Q because of the powerful AC. The heat and humidity are considerable. Also, it would just be cool to enjoy cruising an island tropical paradise in a big, powerful rear-drive V8, blasting the AC behind smoked windows and with a fat grin...because you can.

The roads are no more treacherous (pot holes, etc...) than those here in the Los Angeles area. California roads are rough in some spots you gotta admit. Crazy drivers? I saw some, but it was far worse in Manila, Philippines or Mexico City. She should be okay with her Q in Guam.

Also, it would be tough to put a lot of miles on a car driving on one island. You'd have to drive a lot. So her car maintenance schedule might go according to time instead of mileage while there.

BTW, very cool people in Guam! Super friendly!

[dzznuts671]

yes used cars do sell for a little bit more on Guam than in the US. But the economy would be the biggest factor right now. I dont think alot of people are in the market for a big V8 sedan. If they get a V8 its usually a truck or SUV. I personally want to take my Q back home when the time comes. Only because its diff. Not alot of Q's rolling around.(i love my car) Lexus is a little bit more popular.

aces805-- Good to hear you had a good time on Guam. Man i miss home!!