Dubai Forums Dubai Tech Discussions Dubai Auto

Hiya,

I've now got my residence visa and UAE licence (not bad, considering I'm only in my 2nd week here) - which means I can shop for cars!! Woo hoo

We will eventually need 2 cars, but we've narrowed down our search to a Toyota Prado. Boys being boys, I want the top of the range with all the toys. I walked into a showroom yesterday evening (after dinner) and walked out 45mins later with one on order.. however nothing is signed yet, still need to sort out paper work etc.

I've also been looking at the Gulf News Classifieds for some used cars... but I want to get a reliable car for the wife, so the first car needs to be new or nearly new. She doesn't want to drive immediately, so the current plan is to get the new Prado, then shop around. I'm missing my BMW 5 series, and am now considering going for this as our second car...

(I guess I'm experiencing what you girls must feel when you walk into a shoe shop??? )

Anyway - I'm sure I'm being ruled by my heart at the moment and not my head.. if any of you guys come across a good bargain 4x4 that is nearly new and not driven by a local, let me know.. oh and tell me if I'm being really stupid in going for the new car..

Arnie - I'm on the lookout for a bargain like your Jeep..

[My name is Shafique and I'm being sucked in to the bling lifestyle??]



Cheers,
Shafique

Do you want to go to the desert for dune bashing with the car?

If not, I highly recommend Nissan Murano and Lexus 330 for your wife to drive. They aren't as bulky as other SUV's, are more fuel efficient, beautiful, and smooth and fun cars to drive with really awesome features inside. Plus, these cars have at least 6 air bags covering front and back passengers, which many other SUV's don't have.

Car shopping is such a pain in the tush We did some research first, but spent about two full days visiting all the used and new car dealerships to test drive and compare models and prices. (We bought a Murano.)

Thanks Kanelli - I'd like to do some Dune bashing - but my wife isn't in a position to do the same, not for a few months and even after, we'll have a baby in tow!

The Murano looks good from the outside and we like the look of it. I'll try and arrange a viewing and compare it with the Prado. The Prado we are going for has full airbags in the front, including curtain side-airbags, but no airbags in the rear (I didn't know that cars came with these now).

Do you think the Murano gives the same level of protection as a Prado? It is a little less bulky, as you say. Where did you buy it from?

My wife is a little concerned about driving a larger car, but I am more concerned about safety.

Cheers,
Shafique

Hi again Shaf,

2006 Nissan Murano crash test stats -
http://www.autobuyguide.com/2006/12-aut ... index.html

2006 Toyota Prado (also known as Landcruiser Colorado in other countries) crash test stats -
None!

I went here to do a search and I could find Murano's stats, but couldn't find Toyota Landcruiser stats between the year 2002 - 2006. http://www.safercar.gov/Index.cfm

Here are links to other crash test sites - http://www.safercar.gov/pages/ResourcesLinksOCTS.htm


If you want to do dune bashing, the Prado is the way to go, even a Nissan Patrol.

I'm getting my driver's licence here and we were choosing between Murano and Lexus 330 because they are very female friendly large vehicles The Lexus 330 even has a camera for reversing - you can see everything behind you on the screen, so no hitting things or people I wanted an environmentally friendly car, and both the Murano and Lexus 330 were on my green cars list for mid-sized SUV class. (Actually, Murano was on the 2005 sample list, but I see it isn't on this short sample of 2006 models - if they had a longer list in the sample it would be there.) http://www.greenercars.com/byclass4.html#UTM

We bought our car from Arabian Automotives, off of Sheihk Zayed road.

Arabian Automobiles Co.
P.O. Box 2128
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Tel No. 04-2952222, 04-2699770
Fax No. 04-2952828
E-Mail : aaco@al-rostamani.co.ae
Website : www.arabianautomobiles.com

Thanks Kanelli - I've put in a request already for a quote from Arabian Automobiles.. waiting for an e-mail/phone call.

I may also wander down to their Deira showroom - I saw it on my wander down to the Toyota showroom last night.

I'm hiring a car tomorrow for the weekend.. so fingers crossed on my first venture out on the roads of Dubai! I couldn't get a 4x4 so will be getting a new Toyota Camry or Honda Accord from Hertz.

Cheers,
Shafique

Hertz grumble grumble - we are still dealing with those people over an issue.

We survived two months in a Ford Focus, so you should be okay Just be vigilant when on the road, especially when driving on the weekend in downtown Dubai.

Shaf

Try the Car City at Al Aweer, its about 20 mins from where you live, thats where i got my Jeep. I jave got the guys business card here in UK, sorry.

Its a mixture of the usual car bandits and some real nice upmarket stuff. If you can imagine an industial estate in the UK with about 200 car dealers ranging from "Reg and Ron's Used Cars to Bentley Showrooms in Central London that would describe Al Aweer Used Car Complex.

Good luck mate.

Kanelli - I went with Hertz after reading the 'car leasing' thread here!

Arnie - we'll have a look at the Al Awir car lots..

Picking up the car at lunchtime. The traffic was exceptionally clear this morning (prob. because it is Thursday). Here's hoping it will remain clear for my first time on Dubai roads behind the wheel!!

Cheers,
Shafique

Good luck and enjoy Shafique!

Just picked up the car - nice new Camry - and have ventured onto the roads.

I made it back to the office in one piece.. but had to consciously drive all the way... remembering that the rear view mirror is on the right and not the left now... urrgh, felt very strange. Fortunately there wasn't much traffic, so when I strayed to the right of the lane I could correct myself without too much trouble. Parking should be fun!

Overall, not as bad as I thought - a bit unnerving, but hopefully I'll get used to driving on the wrong side soon enough.

On the Murano front - the spec is incredible, and the price is good too. I've had a quote for 125k for the top of the range, and a person in the office can get a staff discount on top. However, from May we'll have 3 kids and the extra seating with the Prado may swing it in favour of the Toyota.


Cheers,
Shafique

Shaf,
Good luck man.

Well, i've been out in da wild too, and finally choose the Murano.
Kanelli, got a big influnce in that.

Well, if you are looking for Dune bashing, and i mean reall dune bashing, don't get a murano nor lexus Rx330

The Toyota Prado is a safe option, but i would recommend "if you wanna lead the fleet in the desert" go for the Nissan Patrol super safari, if it is big for you, get the 2 doors version, this what will give you the kick.

Safety... Well, i belive the real 4x4 cars are not very safe in general ( because they flip over easily) , but cross over car are safer than sedan and 4x4.

For your wife.. .will a beemer will do good,but you got to account for service and maintenance as they are horrible for beemers, i mean high cost and will be very regular.

Al Aweer, ....

Take car, alot of scams taking place there, got to be cautious.

Cheers and good luck.

note that the Murano will be very good for your wife.

Yshimy,

Choices, choices!

I am impressed with the options on the Murano and the looks. We will defintely go and test drive one and see whether the fact it has 5 seats only is a real issue.

Dune bashing is something I'm thinking of - my wife won't be able to go for about 3 years (assuming we get baby-sitters then) - as we have 2 year old and another baby on the way.

As safety is the main concern for my wife's car - and transporting 3 kids around, I think we'll have to consider the Murano again. Then again.. the Volvo xc90, whilst more expensive, excels both in safety and does the dune bashing thing as well... hmmmm..

Cheers,
Shafique

Shaf

Check out the Volvo, when i was over a couple of weeks ago they were doing some stonking deals on the Volvo's, the showroom is on the SZR i believe,

Man if you have your heart set on Swedish, go for Saab not volvo, this is a sweeeet ride and would be my choice, the just started selling the 9-7 in Dubai a couple weeks back.

mmmmmmmmmmm that looks good and i bet built like a brick "shithouse" lol

Ohhhh nooooooo! Not more choice.

Looks far too good for the wife...

What about the new Audi Q7? That looks good too.

Anyway, I got a call today, the Prado I had on order is at the port and can be with me at the end of the week, subject to the finance going through... it's not the financial checks, but the bloody pieces of paper that need to be produced with the right stamps, signatures etc!

The extra seating and true off-roading ability has made the Prado the choice over the Murano, and the Prado is cheaper than the Volvo and will lose me less money when it comes to re-sale. The Saab and Audi will just confuse me, so I'm not even going to look at this stage... but for car no2 in a few months... hmmm, who knows??

Whilst I haven't really committed to the Prado yet - I haven't signed anything.. there is a new silver Prado Vx sitting with my name on it that will, inshallah, be in the car park by the weekend. vroom vroom

Cheers,
Shafique

Shaf

If you are considering resale value then it has to be the "prado" - in dubai, the maket is heavilly weighted in favour to the Jap manufacturers.

arnie - I am looking at the total cost of ownership, so the resale value does come into it.

I looked at the price of nearly new Prados and it didn't really make sense to go for these as I wouldn't be saving much. I've therefore decided to buy new and finance over a short period - two years. That way I'm not paying much interest and should have a good residual value after 2 years if I want to upgrade, or have no more payments if we decide to keep it for longer.

Also, they are roomy and comfortable and are true off-roaders.

That said, we'll shop around a bit more when it comes to the second car as there'll be less pressure to actually get a car at that stage.

Cheers,
Shafique

My new Prado is waiting for me to pick up tonight after work..

Was a bit surreal yesterday when I went in to sign all the forms..there were at least 5 different forms and multiple signatures on each, I'm sure I signed away the rights to my first born along the way

Anyway, they've completed all the paperwork etc and I just need to go and pick it up. A pretty smooth, if expensive, service from Al Futtaim, let's hope I don't prang it!

Cheers,
Shafique

Congrats Shafique! Enjoy your new wheels!

Cheers Shaf,

Drive safe and enjoy your car.

congrats for the little shaf

Well, I've been driving for a few days now without incident - observing lane change etiquette like a good boy too!

All going fine - getting used to the high driving position, but still looking for ample parking before trying to park - the car is big!

We were at the Heritage village last night - for a walk and a coffee - and parked next to a recently registered orange Murano!! (Could it be a forum member's car??... I thought ) The prado is definitely a bigger car - but the Murano does look good too.

Anyway - I have to say that so far I've not seen the atrocious driving people have described, certainly lane jumping etc but nothing too bad. But then again I haven't been travelling along Sheikh Zayed road too much - mostly around Deira where the traffic moves quite slowly due to congestion.

Considering now whether to get the windows tinted (already has a light tint - but should I get the film?)

Cheers,
Shafique

Shaf

YES you need black tint very black matey

shaf's sheiky mobil