My nephew going to work in Ribeirao Preto

My nephew is considering accepting a research job in Ribeirao Preto, so I am doing a little advance work for him. Is anyone familiar with the place? I read in an earlier thread that shipping his car to Brazil is not a good option. Is that still correct?
Thanks for whatever advice you have, or can point us to a blogger or expat community in Ribeirao Preto!
-@christianerudd

I live half-time in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, about 2-1/2 hours west by car from Ribeirao Preto. Yes, I have been there as I like to drive, rather a lot, I do not remember anything negative about it. As I recall, it seemed like a rather large city, maybe 3/4 of a million people. If you choose not to fly directly there, It's an easy bus trip from GRU, the major airport in Sao Paulo. You would go from the airport by the Aiport bus to a large bus terminal in Sao Paulo called Barra Funda, then by bus straight up to Ribeirao Preto. I like taking the bus as you get to see the county, flying misses all of it.

https://aeroportogru.com/en/buses/

https://www.buser.com.br/onibus/barra-f … o-preto-sp

No, shipping a vehicle, unless a vintage, is almost impossible, at any cost as Brazil is very protective of its own industries. I have so far owned two cars in Brazil, both made in Brazil

What else can I assist with? Feel free

He might need a car.  Buy one once in town. Don't bring it from overseas.   

As far as going there, you can either fly or take the intercity bus.  It's a good 200 miles out A rental car will do .

City has a hot climate, dry hot. 

Fairly developed.   

USP has a Campus there, the School of Medicine is fairly strong.  Good health care system. 

Not only is it expensive to ship and pay the associated import taxes, but with the dollar to real a little over 5 to 1, he will come out way better to sell the car in the USA. For example my Honda Civic is worth about $17,000 here on the used car market. That’s roughly

$87,000 reais. I’m sure l can find a nice car for less than that and avoid all the headaches of shipping it.

Another problem is repairs.....when you own a car made for the Brazilian markets its a lot easier to find parts and get repairs done anywhere you go......I have a Chevy Montana, 2-seater pickup, front wheel drive, standard transmission, gets almost 40 mpg and I see them everywhere, its easy and cheap to get it cared for .... especially if you are like me and start driving down dirt roads in a swamp 500 miles from home just to see where it goes.....

@rraypo Thank you!

@sprealestatebroker Thank you. Good info.

@KenAquarius Thank you. I agree with you. I lived and worked overseas quite a lot, and it's never a good idea to ship a car a anywhere, even if it is possible! But these responses will help him feel better about it all! :-)

@Inubia Absolutely. I've lived and worked overseas, but this would be the first time for my nephew, and yes, parts and repairs on "foreign" cars and other mechanical things can be a huge problem! I assume that the people he will be working with can be of assistance in finding a car (not to mention visas, etc). And a furnished apartment as well. It will be quite an adventure!

@sprealestatebroker My brother has asked me about leasing a car in Brazil. Do they do that? My nephew's job is for a year at a time (Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto), so I suppose they are trying to find the easiest way to get a car. Although I suppose the public transportation around there would be good, so getting a car later would be the best.

@christianerudd Hey I'm just glad someone was able to find a job! We get so many people on this forum trying to find work in Brazil.

Sadly, we have to tell them that the odds are stacked heavily against them.

@KenAquarius Well, my nephew, who is still mulling over the job, is a PhD research virologist, so not an ordinary job opportunity. Anyway, I think he's trying to decide if he's up for this adventure. I've told him that doing this while he's young and unmarried, is the perfect time! We'll see what he decides!

@sprealestatebroker My brother has asked me about leasing a car in Brazil. Do they do that? My nephew's job is for a year at a time (Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto), so I suppose they are trying to find the easiest way to get a car. Although I suppose the public transportation around there would be good, so getting a car later would be the best.
-@christianerudd

They don't offer leases in Brazil as they did in America. Matter of fact, auto leasing in the US will be on the way out sometime pretty soon.  All the Big Three lost money on loan defaults lately.  Ford Motors, ( Red Carpet Lease ) the pioneer along GMAC accumulated a lot of non performing loans on the books.

Out here, you buy with a large down payment and short term installment payments.   Max 24 months. You do not want a 48-60 month term here.  The interest will kill you.   

Credit Lyonais had opened up a Consumer Lending Financing for auto loans in Brazil and took it to the chin.  They shut down Brazilian operations, way back in the 2012/2013.   Way too many repos e defaults.

Here, if you want a car, you pay, or you do your lay-a-way payments, known as "Consorcio". Consorcio is what most middle class Brazilians do, rich folk here pay cash up front.

@rraypo Thank you!
-@christianerudd

YW, how goes the move? I was there, just driving through, yesterday.

He's been mulling the job offer, and just accepted it! Not sure what the time frame is, but sure it will be fairly soon. I hope I can turn him onto this forum once he moves. He's a brilliant scientist, but a bit shy, so other than work friends, it could be difficult for him to integrate. I hope he has a fantastic time there. I lived in Brazil a few decades ago (with relatives in Recife and Rio), and loved it.