Car related questions
Feb 29th 2008, 10:26 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Car related questions
There are used car departments at some of the main deals- Al Futtaim has Automall which is pretty big and has a decent search function on the website while Gargash (Mercedes Benz) and AGMC (BMW) also have approved used departments. Chevy has one too called (I think) Advantage.
I remember advising you on a 3 series BMW about 3 years ago...Back when you were a man...
Feb 29th 2008, 11:51 am
#32
Soupy twist
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,271
Re: Car related questions
Like I said, I thought they punted them straight on to the used car specialists. Many dealers in the UK won't bother to retail part-ex cars over a certain age themselves, they send them straight off to auction.
Feb 29th 2008, 1:17 pm
#33
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: Car related questions
Most cars in KSA are about 10-15 pct cheaper than in Dubai.
Very weak second-hand market here though - partly because new ones are so cheap.
Mid-size 4x4? I've never regretted buying my Hyundai Santa Fe, as I don't give a damn about 'badge snobbery' and it has never let me down (drove here from Dubai in it and it never missed a beat in 12 hours, much of which was through the Empty Quarter).
Also price in Dubai was AED 80,000 (slightly less here in KSA), while the equiv model in the UK is over GBP 25,000.
Very weak second-hand market here though - partly because new ones are so cheap.
Mid-size 4x4? I've never regretted buying my Hyundai Santa Fe, as I don't give a damn about 'badge snobbery' and it has never let me down (drove here from Dubai in it and it never missed a beat in 12 hours, much of which was through the Empty Quarter).
Also price in Dubai was AED 80,000 (slightly less here in KSA), while the equiv model in the UK is over GBP 25,000.
Weak second hand market? Does that mean that its difficult to find the car you want second hand ? Where's the best place to buy - used car dealers or private sellers?
Feb 29th 2008, 1:56 pm
#34
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai
Posts: 888
Re: Car related questions
I wouldn't say the second hand market is weak, it is just different to the UK. The total market is much smaller so if you want something a little bit out of the mainstream it could take a while to find. You don't get as much legal protection here buying from a dealer as you would in the UK (ie none at all
) but you should at least get some sort of warranty which may or may not be worth more than the paper it is printed on. Hot tip- if you don't know much about cars find somebody that does or buy new.
There is no "banger" market here like in the UK so you don't have the option of buying something really cheap to just smoke around in for a year or so until the MoT (what MoT?) expires. All the older stuff (anything past about 6 or 7 years) tends to get exported to somewhere like Africa where it is worth more.
For your first time I would say go to a dealer as they will help you with all the paperwork hassles such as registration and (if you need help with it) insurance.
) but you should at least get some sort of warranty which may or may not be worth more than the paper it is printed on. Hot tip- if you don't know much about cars find somebody that does or buy new.There is no "banger" market here like in the UK so you don't have the option of buying something really cheap to just smoke around in for a year or so until the MoT (what MoT?) expires. All the older stuff (anything past about 6 or 7 years) tends to get exported to somewhere like Africa where it is worth more.
For your first time I would say go to a dealer as they will help you with all the paperwork hassles such as registration and (if you need help with it) insurance.
Feb 29th 2008, 2:04 pm
#35
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: Car related questions
Cheers Border, very helpful. I take it then dealers will be selling used cars too - but only up to a certain age?
Feb 29th 2008, 2:19 pm
#36
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai
Posts: 888
Re: Car related questions
Correct- the dealers won't generally have anything over 3 or 4 years. For anything older you would have to look privately or maybe have a look at the used car complex. I don't have a link for that but a google search should produce one. The also have auctions out there if you are feeling very, very brave.
Feb 29th 2008, 4:53 pm
#38
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: Car related questions
thanks again,will check it out soon. I've been looking at:
Www.expatriates.com
At their used cars,all private sales.
Www.expatriates.com
At their used cars,all private sales.
Feb 29th 2008, 5:43 pm
#39
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Car related questions
The auction scene over here is all about cars that are left behind by defaulting people...Nothing to do with the agencies trying to rid themselves of used stock...
Feb 29th 2008, 5:48 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Car related questions
Truth be told, 2 days ago my friend bought a car from a used car seller in SHJ who brings in cars from Japan...The owner used to buy cars from the Golden Bell auction,but,having burned his finger on more tha 3/10s of the cars he got, he decided to look towards the east for his inspiration...But still, one has to know what he's buying, and at the auction, all is left for luck; you can't inspect the cars, unless you've already bought them...
Feb 29th 2008, 5:52 pm
#42
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Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 3,968
Re: Car related questions
you can't inspect the cars, unless you've already bought them