Car Advice: for me and the Mrs

Jude13

I am moving to Dubai (nearly 100% at present) and am looking at the following cars for me and the OH. Reliability and resale are the big thing for me.

Toyota Prado (4l engine) second hand, reliable and holds it resale. Option 2, Pajero.

MX 5 new model, alternatives??

We have had a 4x4 and smaller car for the last few years. The 4x4 for camping and the smaller car for my OH to get to work, short commute. We have/had an LR 3 (Discovery) which had the rear seat fold flat which was awesome for camping. The maintenance bill on this thing in 4 years has been north of 8k euro and although I love it I am going to sell it so what you guys think of the Prado/pajero?

The second car we had was an old 95 SL (now sold) and we are looking at a fun reliable new car for the OH. So I was thinking MX5?

Atlantic Dawn

Your primary concern driving over there will be air conditioning and how good it is in the car you buy, put this at the top of your list. For the MX5 will the roof deteriorate with exposure to sand and extreme heat from the sun? If it was me going my car would be a 2nd hand Lexus LS or a BMW 7 Series.

Jude13

Cheers, I get the AC thing, I have lived in the middle east for 6 years.

The MX 5 has a hard folding roof, you can get the soft top too but I am hoping that this hard top will help. Plus the OH is off for the summer as she is a teacher so usually heads traveling.

I really want a reliable car so BMW here is a no go.

ianobrien

The brother lives in UAE and worked in the desert in the past. For him, for reliability, its Prado, Landcruiser or Patrol. He doesn't rate the Pajero for reliability in the desert, or any Land Rover or Range Rover for desert work.

If it was up to me, it would be a Prado/Land cruiser or V6 4Runner. Nissan 4x4's are also on the list or anything Japanese. Given the quality of driving over there, I'd be getting a big car for the safety.

Renegade Mechanic

The 4 litre toyotas wrenched the Australian market away from Land Rover. They're more reliable than the Pajero but they're more expensive too. If you can get one under a hundred thousand miles, youll have a decent jeep. It might be expensive during servicing but you will not have trouble between services. The Land Cruiser Prados are a tank. Theyre lighter duty than the Land Cruiser Amazon but still a formidable suv. What years are you looking at? If you're going back a good few, the Amazon might prove more reliable. Loads of 4 litre Patrols out there too.

RandomAccess

With regard to resale, I can't say I'm that familiar with the wants of the used car market in Dubai.

I take it you want another 4x4, so I guess you could try find out if there's any V8 Volvo XC90's out there.

nc19

ianobrien wrote:

He doesn't rate the Pajero for reliability in the desert

Pairs-Dakar rally anyone............

colm_mcm

nc19 wrote: »

Pairs-Dakar rally anyone............

Winners include Mini, Citroen ZX, peugeot 205 and 405.
Cars are a long way from standard.

Jude13

The Mrs loves the Volvo alright but she is getting her car so I want to choose mine

It would defo be the Prado not the land cruiser due to budget. Looking at getting something with under 50k km in it and hopefully not beeen rallied around the desert. I will miss my v8 though but certainly not the sick feeling every time I had to visit land rover for a service. I had a look at Nisans and the pathfinder I looked didnt seem great, the xteria looked great on the outside and would be an animal off road but the inside was plastic.

Had a look at the prado and pajero and really impressed with both with the pajero being allot cheaper.

The mx 5 with its hard top looks to be the only option? I will look like a tool if I have to drive it wont I

RandomAccess

Jude13 wrote: »

The mx 5 with its hard top looks to be the only option? I will look like a tool if I have to drive it wont I

You'll be stoned to death for flagrant display of homosexual tendencies!

Or nobody will notice, it's just you will feel self conscious.

Would importing a V8 land cruiser from Ireland or UK be unworkable? I guess they would be cheaper to buy here than in Dubai..
Whats a good website for figuring out car prices in Dubai? What's the local auto trader/done deal equivalent.

Jude13

I think its a bit more chilled out than you think

www.dubizzle.com seems to be the go too.

My pals keep saying get a V8 xyz, and M5!! or something exotic. So to make things realistic max budget for main car AED150k

Renegade Mechanic

Forgive my ignorance here, but will your Mrs be allowed to drive there?

Edit: Dubai is in the Emirates, yer good. I was thinking of Saudi Arabia, never mind..

Jude13

Ha, yeah she will be allowed. She has commandered my LR3 and now I am in a Chevy spark. This needs to change