Type of car? How much are repayments?

just how you feel about not wanting to drive a 4 x 4 for the enviroment im just the same. I currencly drive a chevrolet aveo which is a 1.4 and half the time im the one overtaking everyone on the roads, you dont need a big juicy engine out here which is great!

so my car suits me perfect!

However i must admit when my lease is up ( i hire so not a good idea) im going to bite the bullet and buy a old 4 x 4 it kills me to do so as i know how bad it is for the enviroment but its so much safer and i dont feel safe in my avvy! as someone pointed out on here you will be driving a lot less that you would in your home country my milegage use to be sky high! thats the only way to look at it! Just think of it as you will be safer which means you can teach people to care for the enviroment which is way more beneficial!

I bought a honda city last Oct. 2006 full option. 6oookm mileage now. Qr 1,300/per month. It is for sale. I got a 2007 CRV.

DON'T THROW IT AWAY. TAKE IT HOME AND PUT IT IN THE BIN!

Good Morning,

I can agree that one will need 4x4 in doha (some time), but the question will be ... do we really needed. I drive normal car, and I think it is better at least in three things: 1) parking 2) smooth drive on the corners and round abouts 3) fuel consumption.I know fuel here is not a problem, but what after you want to sell the car, ask your self who will want to buy an old car, even 4x4 ... people who buy old cars do care about not to spend much on fuel ...

Any way, ask yourself, and maybe your freinds, How many times in the year one go off road ..... after all is their ant one by a car by 150000 QR and will go off road with it ... are u crazzy ... I ask my self?

from my experince one should go for Japaness cars, but not Mitsubichi ... its maintainince is very very expensive, and dealer here "sorry to say it" know nothing only " ask for your money" ... no service after selling. Simple example ... the new Pajero full option cost in Dubai 124000 Drham (126000 QR), they sell it here in Doha for (155000 QR) ... WHY ???

I think you can try the Avelon-Toyota , you know they even have a air bag for your legs !!! ... if you want 4x4 go for Prado

Nissan do have some trust questions, Honda: give u more promises than they can do.

my last advise keep away from Sherokee, and if you want to hear by your self I advise you go to reowned cars market, their u will know really which car you want.

Yes, you're right. I even feel bad about having to have a car at all, although it seems I must in Doha. I presently live in the city centre back home and so everywhere is within walking distance; the public transport system is okay if I need it; plus I can get an occasional taxi home when I need to carry my groceries home from the supermarket.

The Swift you refer to; is that the Suzuki Swift? I'm not familiar with that model so just Googled it, it looks okay to me. Ease of parking sounds good, although I've always been of the opinion that that's what the bumpers are there for. Once you bump into something, that's when you know you've gone too far and you should stop! ;) As you said, though, I'd have to check out the cooling as I wouldn't want to be stuck in a traffic jam with no or inefficient a/c. I guess crash protection/safety is going to be an important factor too, given what everyone says about driving in Doha. It looks like a good solution though.

I'll look into the others too, thanks for the suggestions jackmohan. The fuel efficiency of those 4x4 SUVs is shocking!

Does anyone know, roughly speaking, what the monthly repayments would be on a car loan for any of those models? Swift/Corolla/Civic/Tiida/Accord?

Thanks

You are one man really concerned about the earth you will be leaving for your children & their children.

I too think on the same terms.....So Let me try...

A really small car like Swift has 2 advantages - Ease of parking (you can park even horizontally) & ease of zig-zaging through the roundabouts.

As for the speed - if you drive inside Doha you might be driving under 100. So on that count also a small car will suffice.

It has to have a good cooling capacity (especially for the hot climate). That is the only disadvantage for a small car. I dont know about Swift's cooling capacity.

Crash protection of Swift is also very good especially inside the cabin.Fuel econ is 14kms/ltr

If you want to go a rung higher then comes Corolla / Civic /Tida. Either choose Corolla or Civic both give 14kms/ltr while Tida gives 12kms/ltr. 4x4SUVs give about 3-6km/ltr. The Look of Civic is damn Hot....But the best deal is the Accord. But with these long cars parking is definately a problem in Doha.

I would say go for Swift.

My sis got a hatchback tida n its quite cool pretty impressive for a small car might set u back like 1200 or so for 4 yrs... not 2 sure... I drive an altima n i think the car is great for around 75000 its great value for money and the car itself is spacious and hardly guzzels up much gas... and its really comfy... I also drive a pathfinder but i would recommend a saloon or hatchback for city driving ... makes it easier when u spend longer hrs in d car.....

aviduser

I'm in the market for a car such as your Pathfinder. Are you leaving soon? Let me know.

okay, so if I bought something like a Nissan Tiida, how much would the monthly repayments be?

I'm trying to work out my budget.

Nissan has some special offers on their 2006 models. It was in the Gulf Times this week. They offer good deals.

No recycling, or any other sort of environmental protection here.

Forget about the environment here. It really hurts every time I chuck away glass bottles paper etc but there is no where to take it I doubt it has ever even occurred to the Qataris to do anything about it.

Although it would be good if they did because they could set up a new environmental department and instantly create 10,000 jobs for the locals.

And of course another 10,000 jobs for Indians and other expats to do all the work.

I agree with aviduser. We bought a Kia Sorento 4x4 after renting for a month or so. Have had it almost 3 years without needing major repairs.Living close to your workplace would minimize driving and help the environment. I try to be environmentally aware because that is what we do in Canada, but in general that is not much of a concern here They should be more concerned because if the sea levels rise most of this country will be under water. If you go out in the desert there is garbage everywhere. There is garbage and broken glass next to the road. There are no official attempts at recycling. I digress and ramble. Bye now.

When I arrived everyone had different budgets, we all were given car allowances and some were determined to spend below this.

Many people did, but they have ended up with false economies. Let me exlplain.

I brought a Nissan Pathfinder, (soon to be available for sale) this cost me 95,000 but after two years will still be worth 75,000 so over two years has only cost me 25,000.

Now colleagues brought small cars for 60,000 but after two years these will be worth less than half of their original value as only poorer expats will be interested in them. Indians and Filipinos on lower wages buy smaller cars and are interested in smaller cheaper cars.

So you buy a small saloon, for 60K and you are lucky to see 25K after two years plus in that two years you had to drive a small under powered car. My friend has a Mitsubishi Lancer and hates it because its so slow.

Go for size, buy Japanese, Nissan Toyota and Mitsubishi. They have the best warranties servicing and after market values.

Fuel is very cheap so running expenses are never an issue.

Its probably a good idea to live here for a while and drive a rental before buying. You will get a better idea of what kind of car you would feel comfortable in. I would check out the crash test ratings on different models as well. Safety is a major issue because of the aggressive reckless driving style which is so common here.

You should buy a 4x4. S##ew enviroment, think about your own safety. I was thinking like you when I came here, two months of renting a small car and driving around every day thought me a lesson - in a small car you are nobody, invisible, cannon fodder. With a big car the kamikaze are at least worried that their 4x4 pet might get damaged in the collision too. :(

http://www.7days.ae/en/2007/03/07/dubai-cop-jailed-for-killer-smash.html

This is from a Dubai newspaper, but stuff like that happens here too...