Whether they’re new or used cars, these models are simply the top of the bunch!

With the strong car culture in the UAE, drivers have the opportunity to enjoy an excellent selection of vehicles from around the world at a lower cost than in most other regions. Depending on your personal preferences, you may be drawn to an SUV, luxury, or sports car, all of which are plentiful in the UAE. Year after year, Toyota remains the most popular make on the road, with Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, Land Rover, Bentley, and Porsche also holding a fair percentage of market sales. The following are some of the most popular vehicles in the UAE today:

• Toyota Land Cruiser remains incredibly popular in the region due to its off road reliability while providing absolute urban comfort at an excellent value.
• Toyota Fortuner also provides many of the features of its big brother the Land Cruiser, including off road capabilities and comfort on the pavement at a lower price for those seeking a bit more economy in their vehicle.
• Toyota Camry gives drivers an excellent value in a vehicle that provides as much luxury as more expensive makes with all the superb reliability the name Toyota is respected for.
• Nissan Altima has been popular for years due to its roomy, user friendly interior and powerful, smooth running engines. Additionally, Nissan provides excellent after sales service, improving the already excellent value of these vehicles.
• Nissan Patrol provides generous space for both passengers and cargo while driving and handling as well as the upper end SUV models. With an optional 4WD transmission, those of you who enjoy spending time recreating in the great outdoors will find the Patrol takes you everywhere you want to go.
• BMW X Series remain top sellers due to their incredibly sporty handling and powerful engines. These luxury vehicles are known for their absolutely top notch interior and exterior features.
• Mercedes S-Class, E-Class, and C-Class models all give owners the driving experience they have come to expect from Mercedes. With aerodynamic curves on both the interior and exterior to complement power and reliability, these vehicles are known to satisfy the most particular of all UAE drivers.
• Land Rover Range Rover is popular for people who want complete flexibility in their vehicle, from a night on the town with comfort and in style to a rugged outdoor weekend trip. With an optional 4WD transmission, you’ll never have to miss an opportunity to travel anywhere with complete peace of mind.
• Bentley Continental Flying Spur is popular among people seeking an absolutely top of the line vehicle with no holds barred. With power, style, comfort and class, these vehicles truly have it all.
• Porsche 911 is cream of the crop in the world of sports cars. With its sleek style, incredibly powerful engine and smooth as silk ride, driving a 911 may be the highlight of your day.

For those of you in the market for a new or used vehicle, bear in mind the strong UAE used car market offers drivers the opportunity to purchase a used vehicle with a greater value than a brand new one. With low depreciation on many makes and models in general, purchasing a vehicle that is three years old has become the preferred option for many savvy customers.

If you’ve decided that used is for you, consider the benefits of purchasing your vehicle directly from a professional dealer as opposed to a private seller. With great selections, excellent customer service, and no hassle transactions, most people agree that working with a professional is the way to go.

Buying a car as an expat can be a tricky business. Read our guide to the top selling cars for expats in the UAE.

 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a popular location for expatriates (expats) over the years as a result of a high standard of living, which includes top quality vehicles of practically all makes and models at a lower cost than in the United States or the United Kingdom. Toyotas are the top selling cars for expats, but before you decide which make and model is best for you, as well as whether to purchase a new or used vehicle, doing your homework to discover more about the vehicle buying process can help make your transition into the UAE more pleasant.

Benefits of Living in the UAE Include An Excellent Vehicle Selection at a Lower Cost

With the benefit package of living in an oil rich region of the world, the UAE offers expats a selection of practically any vehicle desirable along with inexpensive fuel costs and reasonable maintenance expenses. As a result, you will likely be able to afford a higher end vehicle here due to the reduced overall prices on cars and related expenses.

Luxury Vehicles Are Expat Favorites

Many expats choose to purchase a luxury vehicle from the makes of Toyota, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and more. The Toyota Land Cruiser seems to be particularly popular due to its off-road capabilities while providing an extremely comfortable ride in urban areas. The Audi Q5 provides luxury at its best with a long list of features and an ultra smooth ride. The Mercedes-Benz G550 offers incredible power with total comfort.

More Affordable Options Are Preferred for Some Expats

Buyers who are seeking a quality vehicle at a lower price are likely to be interested in vehicles produced by Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Nissan, and more, as well as more basic models produced by Toyota. The Ford Edge provides roomy comfort with a great ride, while the Chevy Tahoe balances off road abilities with urban economy. Nissan produces the Tiida, popular with expats due to its spaciousness and style.

Buying a Used Vehicle is Usually Your Best Bet

Regardless of which vehicle make and model you feel best meets your needs, deciding whether to buy new or used will significantly affect the cost of your car. Because of the high depreciation rate in the UAE, purchasing a vehicle that is in excellent used condition is generally considered the best choice for expats, allowing you to obtain the most value for your money.

Professional Dealerships Offer Advantages Over Private Sellers

If you agree that purchasing a used car is the way to go, your next step will be to decide between purchasing through a professional or a private seller. Because of the large number of high quality used cars on the market, the ease of dealing directly with a dealer who will handle the necessary paperwork for you, as well as professional service inspections provided by on-site mechanics, most expats prefer working with professional sellers rather than rolling the dice and dealing with a private seller.

 

If you are looking to buy a car, contact us to speak with one of our advisers.

In celebration of the latest Porsche release and the 50th model of the 911 series.

 

The Porsche 911 – 50th Anniversary Edition is seen by some, as the most beautiful Porsche design to date. The 911’s history dates back to 1963, when the first of its kind was debuted at the Frankfurt IAA Motor Show. It carries an important heritage as its bloodline can be found in every other Porsche on the roads today – yes, they all still have a piece of that 911 DNA.

 

Celebrating 5 decades of glory, Porsche has released its 50th anniversary 911 as a benchmark for future development and a hat-tip to its legendary history. Over 70% of Porsches created since 1963 are still on the road today. That’s a statistic that Porsche is very proud of and would very much like to see continued in the future.

 

The 911 – 50th anniversary edition is reminiscent of the classic design of the ‘63 911 that we all know and love. Borne of the mind of Ferdinand “Butzi” Porsche, the classic 911 emanates class, power, finesse, and a timeless, uniquely identifiable portrait.

 

Retro cues accent the 50, like 20-inch alloys, hound’s-tooth seats and the chrome engine grille. Underneath it all are Carrera S mechanicals, partnered with the wider rear wheel arches of the Carrera 4 models. There is also extra kit available like dynamic headlights, and sporty wing-mirrors. The Geyser Grey Metallic paint is unique to the Porsche 911 50th – but you also have your choice of Graphite Grey or Black body paint.

 

In Dubai, likely more than any other city in the world, we’re lucky enough to be exposed to a plethora of Porsches on a daily basis. Even then, it’s rare to catch the 911- 50th Anniversary Edition out in the wild, probably because only 1,963 were sold globally.

 

Luckily by now, you may be able to find a one of these on the used car market. Incase you’re interested, here are some quick specs:

 

How much?

~ AED 530,986

Engine:

3800cc 24v flat-six cyl, 394bhp @ 7400rpm, 324lb ft @ 5600rpm

Transmission:

Seven-speed manual, rear-wheel drive

Performance:

4.5sec 0-62mph, 186mph, 29.7mpg, 224g/km CO2

How heavy / made of?

1410kg/steel/aluminium

How big (length/width/height in mm)?

4491/1808/1295

 

As with the last-generation 911 GTS, the killer combo of rear-wheel drive and the wider body shell of the Carrera 4’s track makes one of the most thrilling sports cars on the road, even more exciting to drive. It has endless grip, amazing steering, and a chassis that simply gets better the more you learn how to exploit it.

 

With the pedigree of 50 years of research and development behind it and classic racing in its heart and soul, this is a purebred Porsche through and through. This edition marks the peak of Porsche performance. Bread for the race track but outstanding on the roads, we’re simply in love with the 50th.

Avoid being taken for a ride when buying a used car.

 

Once you have gone through the laborious task of finally short-listing the cars you would like to actually see, there is a whole another  process that may be even harder to tackle. Most cars you see advertised are being sold by traders who are selling it for a profit. This may not be such a bad thing until you realize that they make the most profit with women in Dubai because generally, we don’t know a gasket from a cam belt, which is a car dealer’s dream come true!

There are a few steps you should follow when you are buying a car to minimize your losses and hopefully, happily drive away in a good, used car.

1. Ask before you view if there are any faults with the car. Chances are, if there are problems that haven’t been advertised, the owner will tell you when you asked directly. If the owner says there are minor problems, you will have the time to research the cost and severity of these and then re-assess your desire for that car. (When you go to see the car you must ask this question again. If additional problems arise, it might be worth contemplating if that seller is trustworthy enough for you to buy a car from)

2. Google the Chassis number and make sure the car has not been written off. This commonly happens and is extremely dangerous and potentially fatal. Be aware of American imports as this seems to be the trend amongst car traders to import write-offs into the UAE and sell to unwitting customers that are none the wiser, that end up driving a time bomb that is worth no more than the Sales Agreement paper it’s written on.

 

3. Conduct research on the car you wish to purchase in Dubai. Google the car’s common faults and key features.  Also, see what people say about the car in forums. This will give you a little context on the car. It will be good for your knowledge and will also show the seller that you have above average familiarity with cars and deter any temptation for the seller to cheat you.

 

 

4. When you go to see the car, bring someone knowledgable about cars with you.

 

5. Ask the seller the reason for selling the car. A lot of people have a genuine reason for selling, however, there is a minority that is selling to get rid of a liability and you would not want to pay for something that’s bound to cause you problems and with very little, if not without, any resale value.

 

6. Ask for the car’s full service history. Every car should be serviced every 6 months and big gaps in the history are never a good sign. If the owner doesn’t have it and says it has been fully serviced by the manufacturer, they can get another one from them. Never part with your money on a car that you don’t know much about. Check through the mileage of the car, if the car has been clocked back, you will often be able to easily spot this on the recorded mileage. (A car’s mileage is important as it usually determines how much life is left in the car).

7. Always test drive the car. The feel and drive of a car are very important and if you are not satisfied, think about whether you can get used to it or not.

 

To make sure that you always get a fair price and simple, honest service, evaluate your car with us today.

Spotting a dodgy car dealer in Dubai can be a tricky business.

In the past, when someone decided to purchase a vehicle, their only solution was to visit the dreaded car dealership. Today, consumers have more options when it comes to purchasing a vehicle through the Internet. As a result, you no longer have to fall for the gimmicks and tricks commonly practiced by car dealers at dealerships around the world. In the event you do choose to purchase from the dealership, beware of the following gimmicks and tricks.

Wasting Your Time

Dealerships operate on one premise: the longer you stay, the more likely you will be to make a purchase. Even more so, the longer you stay, the higher the dealership’s profit will be. As a result, car dealers literally are trained to wear you down. It all starts before you go on the mandatory test drive with sales professional spending arduous amounts of time explaining features of the vehicle that has no benefit to you. After the test drive, the real circus truly begins. While your intentions may be to purchase a vehicle and leave, their intentions are to keep you there as long as possible.

Devalue Your Trade

Undoubtedly, dealerships are there to make money because of the sales salaries and drastic overhead it costs to run a dealership. As a result, dealerships use several tactics to increase their profit margin in addition to making a profit on the sale of a vehicle. One of those tactics is to purchase your trade-in for as cheap as possible, regardless of your financial well being. To achieve this, they will commonly devalue your trade. As the sales professional looks at your trade in vehicle, they will point out as many problems as possible with your trade-in vehicle to lower your expectations. They may even remind you of the repairs they will have to make to get the vehicle “showroom ready.” By the end of the negotiations, they will justifiably discount the price of what they will “give” you for your vehicle by a fourth of its value.

The Mandatory Fee for the Fee

While the dealership obviously has to keep the lights on, you shouldn’t have to foot the bill alone. Another way the dealership makes extra money is through arduous titling fees, delivery charges, and random closing costs. While these extra charges are legal, they are not necessary. These charges represent the dealership’s way of covering their arduous overhead costs. However, these fees can and will have a significant impact on the overall price of the vehicle. You should be very cautious about the many dealership fees.

Bait and Switch Technique

If you are like the majority of consumers, you start the car-buying process through search engines. You see an advertisement for the vehicle you have been considering at an amazing price, and you decide to make the purchase. However, when you get to the dealership showroom, the salesperson tells you that the vehicle is no longer available. Instead, they will show you a stripped-down version of the vehicle you want, but it has none of the features you envisioned. The sales professional is sympathetic and promises to give you a great deal on a similar vehicle you saw in the ad, which seems like the perfect solution.  In the end, you go for the better-equipped vehicle and pay significantly more than you imagined. The overall goal from the start was to get you into the dealership and sell you a much more expensive vehicle than you originally wanted.

To see how you can get the best deal on selling your car, get in touch with us today!