kittycat1

Hi All,

Right I've finally decided to get my finger out my arse and get a car. So went looking at cars at the weekend, so I'm torn, the sensible person inside me is saying get a Yaris or something cheap and affordable, however the shallow cool chic inside of me is very tempted by an Toyota FJ, double the price to a civic but looks fab! My other choice would be a mini...

Whats everyone else done out here- bought sensibly or thrown caution to the wind? And if you've bought extravagantly have you regretted it?

xxx

soukie

The Toyota FJ has a lot of blind spots and you will be a traget for boy racers. Have a look at the VW Tiguan - I love mine.

Madam Medusa

really liked the fj cruiser when they first were out here as there were only one or two...now they are ten a penny and have totally lost all coolness...

mini is good, if you've got a big pocket for servicing...

MM, xx

kittycat1

true- I hadn't really noticed them before but then today I spotted loads of them- I still think they look cool though, not sure if I'm quite gangster enough to drive one though, trying to find one of dubizzle to see resale value but cant find any so far

Soukie, yeah I did wonder about the blind spots was gonna test drive it next weekend hopefully) well as long as I sort my license out this week).

Yeah I'd heard minis where expensive to maintain out here- I do love them though, also a bit concerned about getting squished by a hummer or something...

And how many peopel have bought new compared to secondhand?

Grace O Malley

Having gone for the cool car, I would now say practical. I fell in love with my car the first time i saw it and didn't really think about anything else. I can't fit anything in the boot in my car, which means everything has to go on the back seats. Useless really if your picking someone up at the airport or buying a large item, thats not deliverable.

As MM you gotta keep in mind servicing and maintenance.

MataHari

if you're here to save money and then get out asap, why would you even consider forking out loads of money for a 'cool' car...

Grace O Malley

Yeah, agree, my car is now 7 years old so i have had my moneys worth.
I would not buy a cool or a new car again, not in a country where some wanker, scrapes it and drives off without leaving their number and you have to fork out to pay for the damage , pisses me off.

You are better off to get a leased car.

Cham128

or a tank

Grace O Malley

or a sensor on the car, that rips a part of their car off in the process.

the_red_sheep

That's what I went for. It's probably slightly more expensive then buying, but hassle free i.e. insurance, registration, servicing are all inclusive. And nothing to try and sell if/when you make an exit.

Started with the same cool v's sensible dilemma, but a week of driving a hire car here decided it for me that sensible(ish) was the best option. By sensible(ish) I mean a 2.0l Lancer ELX. Does all it needs to do and has wee bit of poke when you need to get out of the way of a erse in a FJ or a dart across a few lanes to make an unsigned turn off. Ultimately most of the roads here are deadly boring to drive on so a sports coupe (which would have been my 'cool' option) would be largely wasted, as the real joy in them is buzzing round windy b-roads with the stereo on and the windows down on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

the_red_sheep

So what we're saying is leasing a tank is the optimal solution.

Autonomy

don't listen to any of them. they're all boring. you are living the dream in the sun. get a soft top.... can be jeep and tough, can be sleek and SLK, can even be a Frenchie 206 CC... you've come this far, drive around with the top down....

pipe and slippers anyone?

Spugsy

you work hard, you deserve something nice, go for it.

MataHari

errrrrrrrrrrr...I am the last person to want a sensible car...but KC is always posting she is unhappy here, only staying to save money etc etc...hence my advice...

Autonomy

oh and financially - I'll be selling my rubicon wrangler this year - I bought in 2004 for 50K and it was almost brand new, at worst I'll sell it for 35K (it's in good nick) this year = 3,000dhs per year....