pulling the trigger! Help needed

[bmd]

Hi guys excuse the typing as I am in a hurry and would really appreciate your comments. I am going to do this deal in the next 2 days so in a bit of a hurry.

I am about to buy an american imported dodge charger r/t V8 5.7L 2013, 31,000 miles(50,000 km), very basic spec (no leather sunroof etc, but big touchscreen is there). It is Freshly imported from the US with a minor accident to the front passenger side, It is not repaired yet . I want to use the car personally from home to my place of work for about 2-3 years before I return home to the UK.

NICB came out clean no history of theft or salvage record, and will also do a carfax check later on today.
Price is around 38,000 AED. I was thinking I buy it and repair it myself at a garage as it would be cheaper than buying a GCC spec or repaired american from others.

I have uploaded some photos of the car which I took myself, if more are needed let me know.

Should I go for it or run as far away from this deal as possible? Are there any other checks i need to do to make sure there are no prbolems with the chassis or engine or gearbox. What other things do I need to do/check? My experience in cars is minimal and it has always been my dream to drive american, so please forgive my ignorance.

I would really really appreciate any advice or input.
Thanks guys

Edited by bmd on Tuesday 9th February 14:58

Edited by bmd on Tuesday 9th February 15:08

[MitchmachineUAE]

Run like the plague. Getting hold of parts and finding someone with a half decent reputation to repair it (without costing a small fortune) will be very difficult indeed.

There is a fairly tidy looking 2012 V6 Mustang on Dubizzle for AED 39,000, again a USA import and only with 79,000kms on the clock. I'd sooner salt my money into that and live without the V8. There are quite a few interesting options for under AED 40,000, don't go for something that is bent.

[Pennyroyal Tea]

Yep, as above, this is not worth the hassle, for two reasons:

1. Assuming the car needs more than just a front bumper, you will struggle to find a garage who will repair the car without a police accident report (a legal requirement out here for all accident damaged cars)
2. There are similarly priced straight cars available in country.

Also, be prepared to be significantly 'whelmed' by the Charger experience (IMO).

[shirt]

Repair isn't as issue. The economics of doing so is. I reckon you'll be at 55k ish all up and then could easily be stung for tyres etc. At tasjeel. All for a car which the local market will value around 40-45 with such a low rent spec.

[bmd]

MitchmachineUAE said:

Run like the plague. Getting hold of parts and finding someone with a half decent reputation to repair it (without costing a small fortune) will be very difficult indeed.

There is a fairly tidy looking 2012 V6 Mustang on Dubizzle for AED 39,000, again a USA import and only with 79,000kms on the clock. I'd sooner salt my money into that and live without the V8. There are quite a few interesting options for under AED 40,000, don't go for something that is bent.

The guy I am with (a colleague) who was with me can apparently he says get the car repaired for approximately 3-5k (car only needs front bumper, light and one tyre and maybe other small pieces I think). But this is his estimation and what he thinks it will cost so I am still unsure.

The thing is almost all the american cars are imported with accident like the above, repaired and sold by dealers etc. Most american imports have previous accident history, whether on dubizzle or the new souq al haraj dealers/marketplace behind sharjah tasjeel (also called sharjah new market). This car has least damage, from what we saw out of tens and tens of cars. The inside of engine and around it was not touched and looked clean. But then again as I said - I don't know much about cars. I could really be buying myself into trouble and it could be a huge headache and I will not have time for this.

Pennyroyal Tea said:

Yep, as above, this is not worth the hassle, for two reasons:

1. Assuming the car needs more than just a front bumper, you will struggle to find a garage who will repair the car without a police accident report (a legal requirement out here for all accident damaged cars)
2. There are similarly priced straight cars available in country.

Also, be prepared to be significantly 'whelmed' by the Charger experience (IMO).

1. The car is a freshly imported american, NICB was clean no salvage report, so would I still need the police accident report?
2. I have been looking for a while now, and I found many american imported Challengers/Chargers with accident history but repaired and being sold by dealears and dubizzle for 60k+ (all V8's though and 2012+ and american specs, GCC even more expensive), I couldn't find any cheap ones unless it was older models.

Also what do you mean that I will be "whelmed" by the charger experience?

shirt said:

Repair isn't as issue. The economics of doing so is. I reckon you'll be at 55k ish all up and then could easily be stung for tyres etc. At tasjeel. All for a car which the local market will value around 40-45 with such a low rent spec.

The car is in sharjah industrial, they bring american imported cars(usually accident involved). I think they might take 35k for it, do you think the repairs will really be that high as from what I saw it was only the front bumper, and maybe one tyre needed to be changed and other small bits and pieces?


Thanks for taking the time to respond and comment guys. I am still really confused and still having second thoughts before I do any kind of deal and part way with my hard earned cash.

Edited by bmd on Wednesday 10th February 17:24

Edited by bmd on Wednesday 10th February 17:25

[shirt]

reading this and your last what car thread i would strongly suggest you walk away from this yet somehow don't think you will.

don't take this the wrong way but even with such a poor post count its clear my old mum would be better entrusted going to buy a car from sharjah! its bad enough being an enthusiast out here and taking a punt on a project, let alone having 'my mate from work' types advise you and it goes sour. rent for a while longer or put 15k into an easily saleable yaris/figo, then save a little while extra for a car with no tales to tell. IMHO it's too much of a gamble for a casual bystander and just not worth it for a run of the mill poverty spec car. btw 'whelmed' = 'meh' in modern parlance.


however, as i do think you're either buying it or have done the deal already:

i reckon the dealer has maybe 20-25k in that so for a start you should be bidding him in the nuts not £500 off. no idea how much the parts cost but say your mates 5k rings true. a decent garage charges out at 200-250dhs/hr so for fitting/fettling and a proper paint job blended in and colour polished i think you'll pay the same again if not more. for sure the garage in sharjah will charge less but the paint job will be done by stevie wonder. i could also relay a good tale of a mate's cayman which was "repaired" by his insurance company only for him to discover they'd simply reskinned the bumper leaving the rest of the damage untouched underneath.

if you are very lucky the parts and paint is your final bill. however that bumper doesn't appear to have any crash structure in front of the wheel so who's to say the suspension isn't bent? think about it long and hard. this deal is not a bargain in any way shape or form. plenty of other opportunities will come along, do some research and then jump on one of them.

[IanUAE]

Does your "mate" or yourself know where to buy the needed repalcement parts from? Are you planning on scouring the Sharjah scrap yards or ordering from the stealership? If it is the later, don't expect them to have everything you need in stock.....

As shirt says > there is the door, close it behind you as you walk away.

Edited by IanUAE on Thursday 11th February 06:27

[oilydan]

I say buy it.

What could possibly go wrong.

Maybe your friend could park it outside a new off-plan villa in Dubai's newest and very popular development 'Trailer Park City'. Ready 2035. I'll have the paperwork drawn up.

[XB70]

Good god no.

Agree with all of the above. It is hard enough getting parts and work done for a standard car with no issues than for something like that. So much more trouble that it is worth.

We are not raining on your parade but I can see people trying to fleece you at every turn.

[Pennyroyal Tea]

oilydan said:

I say buy it.

What could possibly go wrong.

Maybe your friend could park it outside a new off-plan villa in Dubai's newest and very popular development 'Trailer Park City'. Ready 2035. I'll have the paperwork drawn up.

This. Definitely this.

I hear the developer is offering free magic beans in exchange for unwanted Dirhams.

[steano]

No - for 2 reasons.

1) 99% chance its been clocked even accident damaged cars are clocked to make more money on the deal
2) a lot of these cars are 'semi repaired' few parts replaced to make them not look as bad as they are , again to increase the profit margin. It could be hiding further damage

and tbh - why bother ? finance is cheap enough here your 35k is a 20% deposit on a 150-200k new car with warranty. Then spend a couple of k per month on repayments instead of a couple of k per month fixing some old piece of junk and enjoy some peace of mind and actually get out and drive.

I can sell you a Lotus elise for the terms listed above , let alone the hundreds of more mundane options that are avaliable and still fun. You could probably even own a new charger for that kind of a deal (a new one is 140kish ???!!)

J

[shirt]

for 50k you could be in this:

http://www.dubaipetrolheads.com/cars-for-salewante...