David Car Dealers
Nov 14th, 2005 by Don Ray
Probably the first thing that a person from the US should realize is that cars manufactured for Panama are not the same cars that you would buy and have experience with in the US. I have been told that some people have had trouble with some service on US autos that they brought here because of some of the differences. Cars are one thing that becomes personal preference. I would advise that you check into the reputation of the dealer you choose. It is my personal opinion that the dealer may be more important than the brand.
General Motors, Kia, Subaru Located just off the Inter-American Highway next to Super Baru. I looked at some of the Chevrolets, which I thought would probably be built in Mexico. I was told that all of the cars they had on the showroom floor were from Korea.
Honda (Bahia Motors) While you are now starting to see a lot of Honda’s in David, the dealership is in Panama City. I understand that Honda is serviced by Grupo Tambor in David.
Hyundai (Petroautos, S.A.) Located on the Inter-American Highway
Grupo Q sells Mazda, Chrysler, Jeep, SsangYong and is located just off the Inter-American Highway across from Toyota.
Toyota (Ricardo Perez, S. A.) Located on the Inter-American Highway
Ricardo Perez also carries Daihatsu which isn’t shown on its website. I have had some experience with car and I really liked it for a small car. 35 miles per gallon isn’t too shabby for a 4×4.
Mitsubishi (MMC Panama, S.A.) Located on Calle Miguel Ángel Brenes a block or so from Nissan.
Nissan (Panamotor) Located on Calle Miguel Ángel Brenes next to McDonald’s
Skoda (TESA) Located on Calle Miguel Ángel Brenes close to Super99.
Suzuki and Ford Products (Distribuidora David) Located on the Inter-American Highway right across from KFC in David, Chiriqui.
Is DISTRIBUIDORA DAVID still open in David? In March of this year (2005) when we were in David we stopped at their dealership on The Inter-American Hiway and checked out the latest Latin versions of Fords including a Ford Eco and a 4 door Ranger pickup with a turbo diesel. Both models are made in South America and are not available in the states.
It is still there. I saw the new 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. It is a complete body make over. I thought it was a little pricey however.
Looks like I forgot their photo. I will put it up.
I have a 2005 VW Beetle, diesel. I’ve about decided that I should NOT bring it when I move down in mid-2006. Instead, I hope to buy (in Panama) a used vehicle (4×4 probably) with good gas economy.
Does anyone have an opinion about my decision?
VW has service in Panama City, but I am not sure about other areas. If you are planning on doing any driving off the main highway or out of any city, then a sedan will be challenged. Probably the cheapest and most economical 4×4 is the Daihatsu Terios. It is Japanese and serviced by the Toyota dealer in Panama. The engine in the Terios is a Toyota Yaris engine. It will give you around 34 miles to a gallon. While it is not a heavy-duty 4×4, it will probably get you anywhere you want to go.
I am going to buy a jeep wrangler when I retire and move to panama. I would like to know if there is a jeep dealer there and if I would be better off buying here in Miami and shipping it there.
The Jeep (Chrysler) dealer is also the Mazda dealer. Personally, I would buy here and not in the US, since the models are not the same and service might be more difficult on a car built for the US. However I don’t remember seeing the jeep wrangler in Panama.
Please send me an email that includes an email address for the Nissan and toyota dealers in David.
Thanks,
Dick Mullen
The associated websites have contact email addresses or contact locations. I don’t specifically have them. You can find the URL for the websites in the Link area of Chiriqui Chatter or in the post above.
i NEED EMAIL ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MITSUBISHI PANAMA. PLEASE.
THANK YOU
Here is the contact link.
http://www.mmcpanama.com/mmcweb1/contactenos.htm
[...] in Panama change so fast it is hard to keep up with them. Suzuki used to be sold and serviced by Distribuidora David. That is no longer the case. There is a new Suzuki in Panama and it is Motores [...]
David, Panama is closer for me than San Jose. I was thinking about purchasing a new small to mid size 4X4 of some type or a small double cab truck (which would be more practical for me) of Toyota, Nissan, Great Wall, etc.
I have been moderately successful in several fields of life, but buying a car is not among them! Because I have to leave Costa every 90 days, I was thinking, perhaps, about buying in David, but only if I can have the car serviced there as well.
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Sarah Parker
Playa Zancudo
(506) 2-776-00-06
Hi Sarah,
One of my favorite small 4×4 cars is the Daihatsu Terios. I can get about 34 miles to a gallon and if you can find a good used one, it should satisfy your needs. It is sold and serviced by the Toyota dealer.