Discussion
Having recently relocated and now in search of a good used SUV deal, what is the consensus on the Al Aweer Auto Market? - snake pit to be avoided or it is possible to pick up a reasonable deal if you are careful?
Over the past weeks my Dubizzle search has been frustrating given the variable quality and whilst I'd rather cut out a dealer I'm running out of time.
Any feedback appreciated.... PM if preferred if there is any specific warnings/recommendations.
Thanks
Over the past weeks my Dubizzle search has been frustrating given the variable quality and whilst I'd rather cut out a dealer I'm running out of time.
Any feedback appreciated.... PM if preferred if there is any specific warnings/recommendations.
Thanks
They are all the same and just like any other Car Stealership in the world - watch what you buy. Be prepared to walk away if they will not come down to what you think is a fair price.
Try and get the car looked over before purchase. Also, make sure they let you take the car out for a proper drive, not just around the Used car complex.
Try and get the car looked over before purchase. Also, make sure they let you take the car out for a proper drive, not just around the Used car complex.
I had a good look around a couple of weeks ago - there is some amazing machinery in somewhat messy dealerships!
Be aware that they shut from 1pm to 4pm, and will not get up off their couch (within view) for a potential customer, so you end up waiting around for them to open.
They certainly like a haggle, and will follow you to your car to get the right deal. I ended up buying a new car from SZR, as I couldn't face going back to do more haggling in the heat, but I am sure you can get some good cars there at decent prices.
While the prices are rarely shown, some of them write it in white pen on the side of the windscreen, so you don't always have to ask them.
Have fun!
Rich
Be aware that they shut from 1pm to 4pm, and will not get up off their couch (within view) for a potential customer, so you end up waiting around for them to open.
They certainly like a haggle, and will follow you to your car to get the right deal. I ended up buying a new car from SZR, as I couldn't face going back to do more haggling in the heat, but I am sure you can get some good cars there at decent prices.
While the prices are rarely shown, some of them write it in white pen on the side of the windscreen, so you don't always have to ask them.
Have fun!
Rich
Thanks for all the feedback. I took a trip up this evening and spent a few hours looking around. It’s a sprawling site with a few exotic gems amongst the usual fare but I think I’ll be persevering with Dubizzle. Still not a bad way to while away a few hours for petrolhead. Lovely Red GT40 with 15k on the clock at 755k was a highlight - not sure how I could explain that one to the wife after saying I was out to buy her a SUV though...
Kieran,
I have been in Dubai for around 9 years and am a massive car fan, have owned loads of cars here and bought both from Dubizzle and Al Awir. Generally speaking I would always recommend you buy a car off of Dubizzle becuase that is where all the expats sell their cars and in short, they always get their cars serviced, keep the stamps and reciepts. One rule you have to go by though is no matter hopw good a car looks ALWAYS pay to get it inspected.
When buying a 4x4 I would take it in to AAA Service Centre in Al Quoz, just off Umm Suquem st and behined the car registration place. They will check it over and give you a good report. If you are planning on getting a sports car then take it to a specialist, I just bought a Vanquish from Al Awir and got it fully insepcted at Aston Martin. For Porkers go to Alex Renner as they tend to better than Porker themselves.
One thing to bear in mind with Al Awir is that 90% of all the cars in the showrooms are on Sale of Return. Which I am sure you know means that they are owned by individuals, but the dealers get approx 5,000aed for selling them on. Many of the high end cars are owned by important people in the UAE and have unrealistic price tags. However, if you are careful then bargains can be found. When it comes to sports cars ber VERY careful as many have been modified which invalidates any warranty and is as we know, a nightmare, as many dont last long and have been ragged.
So, all in all, buy on Dubizzle if you can. The prices are a little inflated on there but only becuase people know they are going to have to drop around 15% as everyone wants a bargain here. I advertised my 2008 Carrera S recently for 210,000 and got 180,000 which I was happy with. So there is much room for negotiation. Also, if you are a cash buyer you can get more money off as many cars have finance and buying a Financed car with Finance is a nightmare here. As such, most people want to sell to cash buyers.
Happy hunting mate. Out of interest, what car you looking for?
Luke
I have been in Dubai for around 9 years and am a massive car fan, have owned loads of cars here and bought both from Dubizzle and Al Awir. Generally speaking I would always recommend you buy a car off of Dubizzle becuase that is where all the expats sell their cars and in short, they always get their cars serviced, keep the stamps and reciepts. One rule you have to go by though is no matter hopw good a car looks ALWAYS pay to get it inspected.
When buying a 4x4 I would take it in to AAA Service Centre in Al Quoz, just off Umm Suquem st and behined the car registration place. They will check it over and give you a good report. If you are planning on getting a sports car then take it to a specialist, I just bought a Vanquish from Al Awir and got it fully insepcted at Aston Martin. For Porkers go to Alex Renner as they tend to better than Porker themselves.
One thing to bear in mind with Al Awir is that 90% of all the cars in the showrooms are on Sale of Return. Which I am sure you know means that they are owned by individuals, but the dealers get approx 5,000aed for selling them on. Many of the high end cars are owned by important people in the UAE and have unrealistic price tags. However, if you are careful then bargains can be found. When it comes to sports cars ber VERY careful as many have been modified which invalidates any warranty and is as we know, a nightmare, as many dont last long and have been ragged.
So, all in all, buy on Dubizzle if you can. The prices are a little inflated on there but only becuase people know they are going to have to drop around 15% as everyone wants a bargain here. I advertised my 2008 Carrera S recently for 210,000 and got 180,000 which I was happy with. So there is much room for negotiation. Also, if you are a cash buyer you can get more money off as many cars have finance and buying a Financed car with Finance is a nightmare here. As such, most people want to sell to cash buyers.
Happy hunting mate. Out of interest, what car you looking for?
Luke
VanquishDubai said:
...Great advice...
Thanks Luke, that is excellent info. Was not aware most of the stock was SOR and after my visit I think I had decided that Dubizzle was the best bet. Again, thanks for the headsup on the sources for car inspection.I have yet to start looking for my toy, though a few cunning plans are hatching, firstly I need the SUV for wife and 2 year old. I thought I could have a little fun there with maybe an SRT or similarly endowed examples of cubic capacity excess but the wife has curtailed choice; (1) must have iosfix/latch (anchor points for baby seats to those who have that joy to come) and (2) not American but for some reason Jeep is OK. Ideally 2/3 years old to take the depreciation hit. The predictable Pajero would have been the perfect choice but isofix bizarrely not fitted in the Gulf. Currently shortlisted to LR3's.
Always loved the look of the Vanquish, enjoy,
Kieran
Keiran,
If you want a decent 4x4 with Isofix at a reasonable price then I would recommend the Toyota Prado. (Or Land Cruiser, but it is more) There are loads out there and good value, plus they will go on forever, are cheap to service and are solid cars. I got one for my wife which is a 2008 VXR (There is the GXR but personally the VXR has much more punch and is comparable to the Range Rover we had previously) You can also sell a Toyota here everyday of the week, locals and expats all love em. I picked up a 2008 one last year with about 30,000kms on it, VXR limited, cream leather, blue, for around 105,000AED. Excellent value.
I am in agreement on the American 4x4's, they are a nightmare. I told everyone I have ever known not to buy American and then as the wife had a rangey and I wanted the supercharged rangey at the time I thought it would look a bit footballers wives to have 2 rangeys. As such, I bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. What a nightmare, nothing but problems. American cars are cheap for a reason and that is that they fall apart..fast. The only time they ar e good value is if you buy a really old Wrangler and spank it in the desrt, great fun and cheap. However if you buy a 2 year old one it will be worth half the value in a few years. So..I would buy Toyota, Nissan etc Cheaper still and excellent value are the new Kia Sportage. The new ones look excellent I think and to buy new they are like 70,000AED. Bargain. Not sure if they have isofix but I would imagine they do.
Re the Pajero's, they are good but personally I think they are dead slow so after driving one my wife didnt want one. The pearlesent white ones are nice, LWB of course.
Other than that the Nissan Pathfinders and Patrols have very basic interiors and dont come up to par in all honestly. Lexus is too pricey for what you get. The BMW X5 is double dollar as are the Mercs and Audis'....although if you have the money they are nice.
All in all, if money isnt a massive issue then I would go for a 2 year old Range Rover (HSE - Supercharged) The best 4 x 4 x far as they say. Nothing comes close to driving a range rover. Yes, you will lose money and it will cost you the best part of 5,000-7,000aed every time you service it, but hey, its a rangey.
Anyway, best of luck finding one mate.
If you want a decent 4x4 with Isofix at a reasonable price then I would recommend the Toyota Prado. (Or Land Cruiser, but it is more) There are loads out there and good value, plus they will go on forever, are cheap to service and are solid cars. I got one for my wife which is a 2008 VXR (There is the GXR but personally the VXR has much more punch and is comparable to the Range Rover we had previously) You can also sell a Toyota here everyday of the week, locals and expats all love em. I picked up a 2008 one last year with about 30,000kms on it, VXR limited, cream leather, blue, for around 105,000AED. Excellent value.
I am in agreement on the American 4x4's, they are a nightmare. I told everyone I have ever known not to buy American and then as the wife had a rangey and I wanted the supercharged rangey at the time I thought it would look a bit footballers wives to have 2 rangeys. As such, I bought a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. What a nightmare, nothing but problems. American cars are cheap for a reason and that is that they fall apart..fast. The only time they ar e good value is if you buy a really old Wrangler and spank it in the desrt, great fun and cheap. However if you buy a 2 year old one it will be worth half the value in a few years. So..I would buy Toyota, Nissan etc Cheaper still and excellent value are the new Kia Sportage. The new ones look excellent I think and to buy new they are like 70,000AED. Bargain. Not sure if they have isofix but I would imagine they do.
Re the Pajero's, they are good but personally I think they are dead slow so after driving one my wife didnt want one. The pearlesent white ones are nice, LWB of course.
Other than that the Nissan Pathfinders and Patrols have very basic interiors and dont come up to par in all honestly. Lexus is too pricey for what you get. The BMW X5 is double dollar as are the Mercs and Audis'....although if you have the money they are nice.
All in all, if money isnt a massive issue then I would go for a 2 year old Range Rover (HSE - Supercharged) The best 4 x 4 x far as they say. Nothing comes close to driving a range rover. Yes, you will lose money and it will cost you the best part of 5,000-7,000aed every time you service it, but hey, its a rangey.
Anyway, best of luck finding one mate.
One more thing, the LR3's dont sell very easily so be aware. Many people just go for the rangey and so there is not much of an after market for them. They are very heavy and therefore need a little more punch under the bonnet to get them going.Its one of them love em or hate em things I think with them. On the plus side you can get one cheap as not many people like em, but then again you have to sell it sometime so it gets you back.
Decent Prados for around 100,000Aed. (Which is what I assume your budget is if you are looking at a 2010 LR3) - Gor for the VX. (Def not the TXL..its dead slow and the GXR is ok)
http://abudhabi.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/...
http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/toy...
http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/toy...
http://abudhabi.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/...
http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/toy...
http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/toy...
Luke, if anything happens to the day job you have an alternative career in car locating services! - I would have happily paid for someone to source a car for me a month ago rather than plough the depths of Dubizzle.
Had overlooked the Prado's thinking they would be over priced but the examples you provided certainly give food for thought if there is room for negotiation - much appreciated.
The Kia does look fantastic value and worth a look - I will see if it passes with the boss.
Thanks for the links & advice, your commission will be a beer when our paths cross...
Kieran
Had overlooked the Prado's thinking they would be over priced but the examples you provided certainly give food for thought if there is room for negotiation - much appreciated.
The Kia does look fantastic value and worth a look - I will see if it passes with the boss.
Thanks for the links & advice, your commission will be a beer when our paths cross...
Kieran
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