Chapter 15: Buying the Cars

Timothy sat at his desk inside the container office, the hum of the electric fan stirring the warm Tondo air. His laptop screen glowed in the dim light, Facebook Marketplace stretched open across the tabs. He leaned forward, fingers drumming against the desk as he typed in keywords:"Second-hand car, as is where is."

"Flooded unit."

"Engine problem, negotiable."

Within seconds, the listings poured in. Sedans, SUVs, vans—all marked down to rock-bottom prices because the owners were desperate to get rid of them. To Timothy’s eyes, these weren’t junk. They were stepping stones.

He muttered to himself. "Alright. Two million capital. Spread it out wisely. Mix of sedans for quick flips, SUVs for bigger profit."

The first listing caught his attention immediately:

2012 Toyota Vios, ₱45,000

Condition: Flooded during Habagat, engine won’t start, interior smells of mold.

Timothy grinned faintly. "Perfect entry point."

He called the number, voice steady. Within minutes, he had negotiated the seller down to ₱40,000, cash on the spot. The owner, a man in his fifties, sounded almost relieved.

The next day, a flatbed tow truck rumbled into the Tondo lot carrying the muddy, waterlogged Vios. Its paint was dull, headlights fogged, and the upholstery inside looked like it had hosted a swamp. Neighbors peeked again from across the alley, whispering, but Timothy waved them off.

He ran his hand across the hood. "₱40,000 in. Let’s see how much out."

But not yet. He wanted to stockpile first.

His next target was bigger.

2014 Toyota Fortuner, ₱120,000

Condition: Transmission failure, needs overhaul.

Normally, a transmission repair alone would scare away any buyer, since it could cost up to ₱200,000 at the casa. For Timothy, it was nothing. A single reconstruction would erase the issue and more.

He called the seller, a young man who admitted he couldn’t afford the repairs. "If you can bring cash this week, it’s yours," the man said.

Timothy didn’t even haggle. ₱120,000 for a Fortuner was already a steal.

Three days later, another tow truck delivered the hulking black SUV into his lot.

Scrolling through again, Timothy found a different type of listing:

2010 Hyundai Starex, ₱95,000

Condition: Engine overheats, radiator leaks, A/C busted.

He tapped his chin. A Starex was valuable—not just for family use, but as a shuttle van for companies. If he could reconstruct it into perfect condition, it would easily fetch half a million pesos.

"On my list," he muttered, sending a message. After a bit of back-and-forth, the seller agreed to ₱90,000.

By the end of the week, his lot was beginning to fill. The Vios, the Fortuner, and now the Starex lined up under the half-built scaffolding. Each still looked battered, dents and mud visible, but Timothy’s eyes saw only future cash.

He wasn’t done.

2015 Honda Civic, ₱180,000

Condition: Flood-damaged, engine won’t crank, interior soaked.

The seller sounded frustrated on the phone. "Are you even going to buy? All those who inquired backed out the moment they learned it’s a flood unit."

"Cash. Tomorrow. ₱170,000."

A pause. Then a sigh. "Deal."

When the Civic arrived, Timothy couldn’t hide his excitement. Its sleek red body, even with scratches, looked promising. Under reconstruction, it would shine again like it rolled fresh from the dealership.

One more. He wanted at least five models in his opening lineup.

2013 Honda CR-V, ₱150,000

Condition: Transmission slipping, check engine light on, rough idle.

Most buyers would run. Timothy leaned back in his chair, calculating. After reconstruction, this SUV could command ₱600,000 or more.

He met the seller in Quezon City, bringing cash in a discreet envelope. The man was shocked at how fast Timothy agreed. "Most people just look and disappear," the seller muttered, shaking his head. "Well... your problem now, boss."

Over the next two weeks, tow trucks became a common sight outside Flawless Auto Resale. One after another, the battered vehicles rolled in, stacking neatly inside the gated lot.

2012 Toyota Vios – ₱40,000

2014 Toyota Fortuner – ₱120,000

2010 Hyundai Starex – ₱90,000

2015 Honda Civic – ₱170,000

2013 Honda CR-V – ₱150,000

Timothy kept a ledger in his office, writing every transaction by hand.

Total spent so far: ₱570,000.

But he wasn’t done. With ₱1,354,000 in the bank, he planned to use almost everything.

"Okay, let’s go for a higher year model," Timothy said, scouring the market again.

Timothy scrolled deeper into the listings, filtering for "2016–2020." His pulse quickened. Newer units meant higher resale margins once reconstructed, and the market loved seeing "latest" year models at prices well below dealership rates.

2017 Toyota Innova, ₱280,000

Condition: Diesel engine knocking, white smoke, needs overhaul.

Timothy’s lips curled into a grin. "₱280,000? That’s practically giving it away." He tapped the seller’s number.

"Boss, I’ll be honest," the man on the other end sighed, "the engine overhaul alone could run you ₱300,000. I just don’t want the headache anymore."

Timothy leaned back in his chair, voice casual. "How about ₱260,000, cash this week?"

Silence. Then a resigned chuckle. "Fine. Just get it out of my driveway."

Two days later, another tow truck rolled into Tondo, this time hauling a silver Innova that looked perfectly fine from the outside. Its problem was hidden in the heart—but Timothy knew the System would erase that with a single flicker of blue light.

Next, he aimed higher.

2018 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, ₱420,000

Condition: Flooded last typhoon, interiors stink, transmission issues.

He whistled low. "Flooded Montero... owners must be crying inside. Retail value’s still near ₱1.3 million."

This time, he arranged to meet the seller in person. A weary-looking man in his forties stood by the gate of a Pasig subdivision, arms crossed. The Montero sat on the curb, still damp-smelling, its once-proud chrome grille dulled.

"Cash?" the man asked, skeptical.

Timothy held up the envelope. "₱400,000. No haggling. I’ll tow it today."

The man blinked. "Everyone else just wanted to lowball me at ₱300,000. You’re serious?"

Timothy simply nodded. He had no reason to bargain harder—because once reconstructed, this SUV could double its value instantly.

His lot was filling up faster than he thought possible. By the second week, the Vios, Fortuner, Starex, Civic, CR-V, Innova, and Montero were lined like fallen soldiers waiting for resurrection.

Still, he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted variety—something premium to attract the upper-class market, those who wanted "luxury for less."

Scrolling again, one listing stood out:

2016 BMW 3 Series, ₱600,000

Condition: Check engine light, electrical system glitching, ABS fault.

Timothy’s heart skipped. Luxury cars were rare in his world, but this was the chance. If he could reconstruct it to pristine condition, sell it for ₱1.5 to ₱1.7 million, his reputation would soar overnight.

He dialed the number. The seller, a frustrated expat about to leave the country, sounded eager. "If you take it this week, I’ll drop it to ₱580,000. I just need it gone."

"Done," Timothy said without hesitation.

Purchases so far:

2012 Toyota Vios 1.3 E (Silver Metallic) – ₱40,000

2014 Toyota Fortuner 2.5 G Diesel (Black) – ₱120,000

2010 Hyundai Starex Gold CRDi (White Pearl) – ₱90,000

2015 Honda Civic 1.8 E (Crimson Red) – ₱170,000

2013 Honda CR-V 2.0 V (Urban Titanium Gray) – ₱150,000

2017 Toyota Innova 2.8 G Diesel (Luxury Beige Metallic) – ₱260,000

2018 Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS 2.4 Diesel (Cool Silver) – ₱400,000

2016 BMW 3 Series 318i (Alpine White) – ₱580,000

Remaining capital: ~₱154,000

He tapped his pen on the desk, calculating margins. If each reconstruction pushed resale values to even 60–70% of market price, he stood to rake in ₱10–12 million easily.

"Okay, time to reconstruct this fuckers," Timothy cursed.