|
|
Post by Texas786 on Sept 3, 2012 11:21:58 GMT
Since the Aramco Classifieds website is not working, is there any place that people in Dhahran camp post used cars for sale? Any bulletin boards around camp? We basically need one camp car, and one SUV or van with a third row. SUV prices are way too high. I have checked the following websites: www.sauditopcars.comwww.eharaj.comwww.expatriates.com2007 Tahoes with 100,000km are listed for 90-100k Riyals!!! Toyota SUV's (Fortuner/Prado) are way underpowered for the rash highway driving. First preference is to buy from expat on-camp, but does anyone know of large good used car lots in Khobar/Dammam area? |
|
MABM
Member
Posts: 40
|
Post by MABM on Sept 5, 2012 16:08:27 GMT
You may also add this site and search with the region "Al Sharqiya" www.saudisale.com/SS_e_mpg.aspxToyota has a showroom for used & company approved cars so does UMA which sells mostly american cars UMA link www.aljomaihauto.com/english/index.phpFor new car prices and reviews the following UAE website is good ref, the price would be almost same as Dirham and Riyal are almost same. www.drivearabia.com/all car manufacturers have local websites, some of them display prices. Google the manufacturer name with saudi and you should be able to see local website in the search result. |
|
|
|
Post by Texas786 on Sept 6, 2012 9:15:13 GMT
Went to the Toyota Dealer by Dhahran Mall. Put my name on a waiting list for a 2012 Fortuner VX1 (6 cylinder) for 126,000 Riyals. The wait time is approx 2 months!!!
Will rent a car for yet another week (this will be my 7th week renting!).
I am going to the Ford/Lincoln dealer on Dammam-Khobar highway today to look for a used Lincoln Navigator. If I can't find one there, will check the used car lots in Dammam at the GPS coordinates (26.424772, 50.071564).
Seems like 2007/2008 Navigators with less than 125,000 kilometers are being listed for around 100,000 riyals.
UPDATE: There were no used car lots at the GPS coordinats listed above. The showroom guy gave me wrong directions. Will list some locations below as I find them.
|
|
MABM
Member
Posts: 40
|
Post by MABM on Sept 6, 2012 17:43:49 GMT
In my opinion go for Nissan Pathfinder SE or LE, Fortuner is based on Hilux Chasis so is Innova, From what i have heard the ride is not that smooth.
Another option would be the all new Ford Explorer...
If you are going for used car, its kinda messy, but my suggestion to go with an SUV with less than 30K on the clock.
|
|
|
|
Post by divenpuff on Sept 6, 2012 20:25:33 GMT
I have a brand new (bought Dec '11) 2012 Ford Explorer Limited w/ AWD. Would it be worth paying it off and then shipping to KSA?
|
|
|
|
Post by Texas786 on Sept 7, 2012 12:17:45 GMT
How much is a new Pathfinder?
I haven't been through the import process, so I can't comment on the hassles/fees/delays involved.
Seems like all the online postings by the used car showrooms don't have any map or location info. You have to call the number listed and try to get the guy (who usually only speaks Arabic) to explain where the showroom is located.
I called one place, and all they said is "Second light, Dammam". lol.
Waiting (desperately) for the Aramco Classifieds website to start working again.
|
|
|
|
Post by halfwaythere on Sept 7, 2012 15:17:16 GMT
Texas786
I don't want to be too nosy but can you share the protocols for obtaining financing for new or used cars- that is if you are financing. I am not too clear, just by hearing from this forum, how the financing works and how high of an interest one can expect there.
I am still in US and waiting for my visa/BI. If financing is too hard or the interest rates are too high, I might just pay off my car and ship it.
Thanks
|
|
MABM
Member
Posts: 40
|
Post by MABM on Sept 7, 2012 16:39:54 GMT
Well,
The best would be buying from Aramcons or if you know a good Arabic speaking friend then that may help you a lot in getting second hand outside the camp, but still i would suggest go for showroom SUV, To get the perfect good car from these exhibitions you need an insider.
PF range is between 110K and 150K i guess, you can call Nissan before going to the showroom.
|
|
|
|
Post by Texas786 on Sept 9, 2012 18:29:21 GMT
I have discovered used car heaven!!! A colleague told me about the used car auction/market along highway 95 in the Bhahadriya district. It is at the GPS coordinates 26.403402, 50.015044 There are literaly hundreds of used car showrooms next to each other, one row after the other. There must be atleast 100 showrooms with over 75 cars each. It would take me months to go visit each and every one. They are open from 9am-12(noon prayer time) and then 4pm-9pm (with breaks for Maghrib and Isha prayer). Closed from 12-4pm. Not worth going after sunset because alot of shops are closed and you can't see the cars very well at night. I visited about 10 showrooms/lots in the past 2 days and was able to find 7 Lincoln Navigators. I got the VIN numbers (Chassis Number) and checked the history on AutoCheck.com. Was surprised to find 2-3 of them had accident histories. 2007/2008 Navigators with 70-80k miles have asking prices of 85-105k Riyals. There are also shops near the gas station that will check and inspect the car for 200 Riyals. I am so glad that I found this place. If you are looking for a used vehicle, it's definitely worth the trip(s). One thing to keep in mind is that some of these guys post ads on classifieds websites, but that's less than 1% of what is really out there in the lots. Just because it isn't on a website doesn't mean that good cars are not available in the market. Happy Hunting  |
|
|
|
Post by Texas786 on Sept 16, 2012 18:00:51 GMT
I finalized a car found at the MAS Car Showroom. There are about 5 used car showrooms on the feeder of the Dammam-Khobar highway at GPS coordinates 26.343614, 50.197134 www.mascars.net/The car was listed on www.saudisale.comFor future reference on car prices, here are the specs: 2009 Jeep SRT8 67,000 km Gulf Spec (not imported from USA) 117,000 Riyals (115,000 goes to private owner of car, 2,000 goes to showroom) We chose to get the Jeep plus a minivan instead of a big Lincoln Navigator or Ford Expedition. All the Lincolns imported from USA had either accident history or odometer was rolled back. 2012 Expedition, brand new from Ford dealer was (in Riyals) XL: 110k, XLT: 122k, Limited: 154k. XL and XLT were not 4x4 (4WD). |
|
|
|
Post by halfwaythere on Sept 17, 2012 15:00:47 GMT
Congratulations Texas786
Can you shed some light on how did you check the accidents and roll back information on used cars imported from Gulf?
Thanks
halfwaythere
|
|
|
|
Post by Texas786 on Sept 18, 2012 9:34:40 GMT
Took it to the Jeep dealer. They wanted to keep the car for atleast 3 days to do a "40-Point" check. This process would have taken 2 hours max in the US. I said no thanks and the used car showroom guy took me to a Jeep mechanic in Thoqbah area of Khobar.
He hooked up a big touchscreen device to the Jeep's computer and ran atleast 10-12 checks including: fault codes, engine timing, injector pulse width, O2 sensors, etc. He checked the body and undercarriage for signs of damage/repair and said the car was in very good condition. Charged me 150 SR and gave me printouts of the tests.
The other indication of good maintenance and accurate mileage (kms) was the receipt in the glove compartment for the 60k km service done at the dealership in Qatar a few months ago. I also drove the car atleast 3 times on 3 seperate days before making the payment. In short, there is no test or official way to know accident history or mileage rollback once the car is in the Middle East. You have to rely on a good mechanic to know what to look for. The showroom guy didn't mind that we drove all the way to the other side of town. "Maafi Mushkil" (no problem) as they say here.
|
|
|
|
Post by Texas on Sept 21, 2012 17:58:11 GMT
I highly advise against buying used cars in Saudi especially when paying >100K SARs. Cars in Saudi are very abused and for that amount of money, you should be buying a new car which should last you at least 6-7 years without major maintenance. In those 6-7 years you will be able to make decision to either get new car for the final stretch of your career at Aramco or do the major maintenance and keep the car until you leave Saudi - keep a peace of mind at all times.
With used cars, you never know what is going to happen next.
From experience, used cars with mileage over 50K km require major maintenance such as tires and shocks, brakes, low/hi pressure a/c hoses change, water pumps, tune-ups, engine mounts, drive belts, radiator leaks, etc. Remember, we live a harsh environment and car maintenance, usually the big ones, tend to sneak up on you very fast.
|
|
|
|
Post by Key West on Sept 28, 2012 14:28:23 GMT
I agree with Texas. Generally, don't buy used unless possibly from an expat who imported their car and has low miles. Sorry if that offends anyone but that is my opinion. So it comes down to a choice of buying new locally or importing your car. Some people have no choice. They may have purchased a vehicle in their home town prior to the interview process and don't want to take that financial hit. So they import. Really a tough call. Flip a coin. There is a risk of loss when shipping. Also, your warranty may be invalid. Buying locally usually comes with a warranty.
|
|
|
|
Post by vpainter on Oct 4, 2012 5:28:06 GMT
But the difference in shipping a car that is paid off versus buying a new car in KSA is a lot. Much cheaper to ship your car. I have friends who all shipped their vehicles and only one had minor damage, a mirror was broken. So the risk is probably worth it. I would think one would hear of any major damage someone suffered over 10+ years.
|
|
