Quality cars are expensive here, so....
Discussion
If you found the right niche it might work, but all that it takes is one lemon and you've wiped your profit.
Just worked out that I more or less manage to drive for free by buying cheap and selling on from Dubizzle which is enough for me:
Boxster went for 6k more than I paid after 6 months
Mustang went for 8k more than I paid after a year (and 20k!)
Wrongler went for evens after 2 years and 20k!
LR2 went for 5k more than I paid after a year
Wife's SEAT cost me 10k over two years
Wife's current LR2 is probably evens now but she's keeping it
MX5...well, who knows! Will probably cost me 5 or 10k by the time I sell
Just worked out that I more or less manage to drive for free by buying cheap and selling on from Dubizzle which is enough for me:
Boxster went for 6k more than I paid after 6 months
Mustang went for 8k more than I paid after a year (and 20k!)
Wrongler went for evens after 2 years and 20k!
LR2 went for 5k more than I paid after a year
Wife's SEAT cost me 10k over two years
Wife's current LR2 is probably evens now but she's keeping it
MX5...well, who knows! Will probably cost me 5 or 10k by the time I sell
Edited by Hitch78 on Saturday 28th April 12:13
shirt said:
you need to have a well groomed beard in your marque of choice.
Nice. If someone wants to import me a manual 964 I'll buy it. You'll have to advertise it for a few weeks though and be prepared to be bid in the balls but I'll tell you that it's a 'good price for you sir, best price in market' and add lines like 'my cousin in America, he get me one at half this price but I like you, you are honest man' if it'll make you feel better.
I wish I'd recorded some of the conversations I've had with buyers here...
I can say with absolute certianty that almost all cars are cheaper here....especially when compared to the UK.
THe likes of Porsche, BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes and other high end cars are much cheaper than the UK. Others like Astons are considerably cheaper than elsewhere as very few other than expats buy them, therefore they are togher to sell however. Only cars which tend to be more are brand new ones that are in high demand as dealers charge a premium, the Range Rover Supercharged when it came out, new Camaro etc. Also, the likes of old Pajero's seem to never go beloe 15,000AED (approx 2,800 GBP) as they are always good value and few tend to fall below this.
If you buy a car and look after it, keep the reciepts and stamps and sell it on you can make the same money back or even more. I sold my old Land Cruiser to a dealer for what I bought it for 2 years prior. Did the same with my Porsche, had it 2 years and sold it for what I bought it for.
As mentioned on another thread, dont go by the asking price, everything here is negotiable by at least 15%. I bought a Porsche 2008 Carrera S 2 years ago for 180,000aed...it was advertised at the time for 260,000aed. I just sold it last week for the same price I bought it for.
Cars are a bargain here which means you can get some much more for your money. Instead of a pixy Golf GTi many would end up with a R32 or an M3 for the same cash.
THe likes of Porsche, BMW, Range Rover, Mercedes and other high end cars are much cheaper than the UK. Others like Astons are considerably cheaper than elsewhere as very few other than expats buy them, therefore they are togher to sell however. Only cars which tend to be more are brand new ones that are in high demand as dealers charge a premium, the Range Rover Supercharged when it came out, new Camaro etc. Also, the likes of old Pajero's seem to never go beloe 15,000AED (approx 2,800 GBP) as they are always good value and few tend to fall below this.
If you buy a car and look after it, keep the reciepts and stamps and sell it on you can make the same money back or even more. I sold my old Land Cruiser to a dealer for what I bought it for 2 years prior. Did the same with my Porsche, had it 2 years and sold it for what I bought it for.
As mentioned on another thread, dont go by the asking price, everything here is negotiable by at least 15%. I bought a Porsche 2008 Carrera S 2 years ago for 180,000aed...it was advertised at the time for 260,000aed. I just sold it last week for the same price I bought it for.
Cars are a bargain here which means you can get some much more for your money. Instead of a pixy Golf GTi many would end up with a R32 or an M3 for the same cash.
VanquishDubai said:
I can say with absolute certianty that almost all cars are cheaper here....especially when compared to the UK.
So, therefore I can say with even more absolute certainty that some cars are more expensive??!!I think its madness to suggest that all cars have an availalbe discount of 15%, they don't.
Whilst I bow to your ability to own a nice motor and move it on similar money after a significant period, I've not heard of many people who do this. I know there's one or two on here who have though. May I suggest you move into the Auto trade, seriously, as it seems to be a skill you have there. Or, offer your services to others (like me) who are less able to forge such deals, due to a) being clueless and b) simply unable to offer a reduced price....it almost seems rude!
Interesting though, as I had always assumed that the big motor companies charged what they liked....being local and all that. I'll do a bit more research and see.
Chilli,
I do in fact get cars for mates and check them out. It really depends on what you are buying, if you are a cash buyer etc. But if you inspect it, looks clean, has service history up to date, tyres look good, everything seems to work, then pay to get it tested at something like AAA Service Centre. (If ita a 4x4) based on this you can see if there is anything wrong with the car. If the tyres, brakes etc need doing then there is room for negotation.
Another key area to bear in mind is that most cars over 4 years old are difficult to get car finance on. As such, if you buy a car which is 4 or 5 years old and you have cash then you can negotiate quite a bit off as people know that many buyers dont have 50 or 100,000aed in cash hanging about, not at the moment anyway.
What is it you are looking to buy? Happy to give you a little advice. If its a Rangey, Porsche etc as mentionted then there are literally hundreds...the more there are the more you can negotate as there are others. As to your bartering....just have a little fun eh. When most people are confronted with hardcore folding cash for their car they drop the price pretty fast becuase selling a car here can be a nightmare. So many time wasters, so, if you are serious and dont mess about most people will be only too happy to do a deal. Dealers are a law unto themselves, so I personally dont buy from any. I did once from Gargash and it was a nightmare, ended up being Mohammed Ben Sulayem's 550bhp beast...nice...but it broke down in 3 weeks. Not what you expect from a dealer.
I do in fact get cars for mates and check them out. It really depends on what you are buying, if you are a cash buyer etc. But if you inspect it, looks clean, has service history up to date, tyres look good, everything seems to work, then pay to get it tested at something like AAA Service Centre. (If ita a 4x4) based on this you can see if there is anything wrong with the car. If the tyres, brakes etc need doing then there is room for negotation.
Another key area to bear in mind is that most cars over 4 years old are difficult to get car finance on. As such, if you buy a car which is 4 or 5 years old and you have cash then you can negotiate quite a bit off as people know that many buyers dont have 50 or 100,000aed in cash hanging about, not at the moment anyway.
What is it you are looking to buy? Happy to give you a little advice. If its a Rangey, Porsche etc as mentionted then there are literally hundreds...the more there are the more you can negotate as there are others. As to your bartering....just have a little fun eh. When most people are confronted with hardcore folding cash for their car they drop the price pretty fast becuase selling a car here can be a nightmare. So many time wasters, so, if you are serious and dont mess about most people will be only too happy to do a deal. Dealers are a law unto themselves, so I personally dont buy from any. I did once from Gargash and it was a nightmare, ended up being Mohammed Ben Sulayem's 550bhp beast...nice...but it broke down in 3 weeks. Not what you expect from a dealer.
The only cars more expensive here than in the UK are:
Brand new cars which are in limited demand...such as brand new range rovers as stocks are limited.
Some classic cars are priced incorrecly. Many dealers thing that just because its a old that its a "Classic". Many are in very bad state of repair, so when it comes to buying a classic here unless you are buying from an expat enthusiast with loads of reciepts, stay clear.
All other day to day cars, sports cars and 90% of the rest of the market are cheaper by far when compared to Europe. The gap is smaller between UAE and USA cars for the simple fact that people in the USA need cash...so many cars are pretty cheap there at the mo, especially classics.
Brand new cars which are in limited demand...such as brand new range rovers as stocks are limited.
Some classic cars are priced incorrecly. Many dealers thing that just because its a old that its a "Classic". Many are in very bad state of repair, so when it comes to buying a classic here unless you are buying from an expat enthusiast with loads of reciepts, stay clear.
All other day to day cars, sports cars and 90% of the rest of the market are cheaper by far when compared to Europe. The gap is smaller between UAE and USA cars for the simple fact that people in the USA need cash...so many cars are pretty cheap there at the mo, especially classics.
VanquishDubai said:
The only cars more expensive here than in the UK are:
Brand new cars which are in limited demand...such as brand new range rovers as stocks are limited.
Some classic cars are priced incorrecly. Many dealers thing that just because its a old that its a "Classic". Many are in very bad state of repair, so when it comes to buying a classic here unless you are buying from an expat enthusiast with loads of reciepts, stay clear.
All other day to day cars, sports cars and 90% of the rest of the market are cheaper by far when compared to Europe. The gap is smaller between UAE and USA cars for the simple fact that people in the USA need cash...so many cars are pretty cheap there at the mo, especially classics.
Actually, the US was where I was looking, given they are all left-hand drive.Brand new cars which are in limited demand...such as brand new range rovers as stocks are limited.
Some classic cars are priced incorrecly. Many dealers thing that just because its a old that its a "Classic". Many are in very bad state of repair, so when it comes to buying a classic here unless you are buying from an expat enthusiast with loads of reciepts, stay clear.
All other day to day cars, sports cars and 90% of the rest of the market are cheaper by far when compared to Europe. The gap is smaller between UAE and USA cars for the simple fact that people in the USA need cash...so many cars are pretty cheap there at the mo, especially classics.
http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/
This is very cheap place for Classics in the USA. Although many need work. I tend to opt for the European cars in the USA, so there are less, however there are bargains if you look. I got my 73RS in Canada for a steal.
Have a look at the above, 1987 Testarossa with like 3,800 miles on it for 44kUSD. Bargain. (Although the rubber work might need doing and its costly) Loads of other sites.
I have visted this chap and he does some sh#t hot American muscle cars. You could literally eat your dinner off of the engine blocks. Reasonable prices too and many have pro street blocks in. Better than all those other shonky places which look like disney land with balloons everywhere.
http://www.universalautosalesandclassiccars.com/
This is very cheap place for Classics in the USA. Although many need work. I tend to opt for the European cars in the USA, so there are less, however there are bargains if you look. I got my 73RS in Canada for a steal.
Have a look at the above, 1987 Testarossa with like 3,800 miles on it for 44kUSD. Bargain. (Although the rubber work might need doing and its costly) Loads of other sites.
I have visted this chap and he does some sh#t hot American muscle cars. You could literally eat your dinner off of the engine blocks. Reasonable prices too and many have pro street blocks in. Better than all those other shonky places which look like disney land with balloons everywhere.
http://www.universalautosalesandclassiccars.com/
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