Buying a Car in the Middle East

iraghava · 19th July 2006, 12:51

Lexus would be pretty good but it's a car based SUV and would not be as tough as the Prado/Pajero. But it is a decent drive and has good reliability and great service from Lexus.

karthik247 · 19th July 2006, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaid

the cadillac escalade is i think for apprx 40 lakhs (converted INR)

cheers

Is that off budget?? Cuz that would have been one helluva ride.

spdfreak · 21st July 2006, 13:41

How about the toyota fortuner or the mistibuishi nativa - they are cheaper options and capable offroaders too. The gmc envoy is great too. the new cadillac escalade looks better than the old model.

Steeroid · 21st July 2006, 13:52

Unless I'm mistaken, Chevy Tahoe = GMS Envoy = Cadillac Escalade = Hummer H2.

All on the same platform. The Tahoe and the Envoy share the same engine, interiors (except for some fake wood) and all other features, but the Envoy is costlier because it has a couple of airbags more plus ABS - about 20% costlier.

Look at all three (not including the Hummer) and you will see that the overall bodyshape is the same. Even the internals are the same except for leather and a DVD in the Escalade. The Escalade comes with a 6 litre engine while the Tahoe and the Envoy have a 5.7. Still good enough.

Of the lot, the Tahoe Z71 is the most VFM. If you want to look upmarket, dont go beyond the Envoy - everyone knows you've paid more , even if it was for the same ***. That is what makes it upmarket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaid

the cadillac escalade is i think for apprx 40 lakhs (converted INR)

cheers

If you're buying it in the middle east, the Escalade cant be more than the equivalant of INR 25 lakhs. I think its less than that - the Tahoe is approx Rs.14 lakhs and the Envoy is about 16-18.

Mpower · 24th July 2006, 04:05

GM Truck platforms (North America)

Tahoe=Escalade=Suburban=HummerH2
Envoy=Trailblazer=Olds Bravada=Saab SUV
Colorado=Canyon=Hummer H3

cheap_deal · 24th July 2006, 05:46

sorry for being

but anyone has any idea when the infiniti M35/45 is gonna come out in the Middle East??

mxx · 24th July 2006, 20:13

Go for Prado. Or Fortuner if you need a cheaper option.
I had a test drive of these vehicles last october when i was abroad.
The engines and overall package of Prado and fortuner are much better than Pajero. All 3 are good off-roaders too.

Please, Dont fall for those american soft-roaders, most of them are lousy off-road or not efficient vehicles as the toyotas.

avkurian · 25th July 2006, 10:47

Hey, must add my two-bit with an interesting new vehicle that would technically be in the same class as Nativa/Fortuner. The Hummer H3..

One of our off-road club members has picked one up, and there's no shortage of capability off-road. Add to that the sheer joy of being in a Hummer, and the feeling of making heads turn. Personally love the black H3.

Prices start at AED 115k, from what i've seen.

The Fortuner is another good performer off-road, and a comfortable car for the city. But for this, i would recommend that you go with the 4.0L engine, as the 2.7L makes the car a bit too sluggish.

Drop me a line when you're here, and come offroading with us.. the gurus in the clubs can give you an even better idea of which 4x4 to go for.

I would agree to stay away from Chevys, GMCs, Caddy's and the like, as the value drops faster than Monica Bellucci's clothes!

Enjoy..

Steeroid · 25th July 2006, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

GM Truck platforms (North America)

Tahoe=Escalade=Suburban=HummerH2
Envoy=Trailblazer=Olds Bravada=Saab SUV
Colorado=Canyon=Hummer H3

Thanks Mpower - I mentioned Envoy where I should've mentioned YUKON.

spdfreak · 26th July 2006, 00:55

Is the FJ Cruiser officially launched in the middle east? Have see a couple of these here in qatar. It stands out from the current crop of SUVs. It might be priced between the fortuner and the prado

http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/inde...ASH_FJ_CRUISER

Steeroid · 26th July 2006, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdfreak

Is the FJ Cruiser officially launched in the middle east? Have see a couple of these here in qatar. It stands out from the current crop of SUVs. It might be priced between the fortuner and the prado

http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/inde...ASH_FJ_CRUISER

Launched and seen on the roads.

avkurian · 30th July 2006, 11:07

The FJ Cruiser is not officially launched here, as in the dealers are not selling it. The ones you see here are imported by others, and are sold as brand new but without warranty.

For the price you can pick up a LandCruiser VXR! I thought it would be between the Prado & LC in terms of pricing, but I checked in Dubai, and the prices vary from Dhs.160k to Dhs.180k.

Definitely not worth that much!

Jeeves · 30th July 2006, 20:15

A friend who moved to Dubai recently also looked at the VW Touareg which I thought was awesome when I saw it last year...but he eventually bought a Prado.

vivaid · 14th September 2006, 02:47

Hey guys.. am back.. have moved in to the ME and the car hunt has started here all over again...

While I had kinda made up my mind on the Prado and am currently waiting for the 2007 model to be launched here... the Lexus R350 also seems quite interestng. Infact i quite liked the vehicle...

An expert views on the RX350.. please do post

cheers

Su-47 · 14th September 2006, 10:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivaid

Hey guys.. am back.. have moved in to the ME and the car hunt has started here all over again...

While I had kinda made up my mind on the Prado and am currently waiting for the 2007 model to be launched here... the Lexus R350 also seems quite interestng. Infact i quite liked the vehicle...

An expert views on the RX350.. please do post

cheers

Go for prado man! I remember a line from an ad I saw long back and it is somehow etched into my mind "Before the trend, before the SUV, before the hype, the landcruiser was there".

19th July 2006, 12:51	#16
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Lexus would be pretty good but it's a car based SUV and would not be as tough as the Prado/Pajero. But it is a decent drive and has good reliability and great service from Lexus.
	() Thanks

21st July 2006, 13:41	#18
spdfreak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Trichur, presently in Qatar Posts: 121 Thanked: Once View My Garage	How about the toyota fortuner or the mistibuishi nativa - they are cheaper options and capable offroaders too. The gmc envoy is great too. the new cadillac escalade looks better than the old model.
	() Thanks

24th July 2006, 04:05	#20
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	GM Truck platforms (North America) Tahoe=Escalade=Suburban=HummerH2 Envoy=Trailblazer=Olds Bravada=Saab SUV Colorado=Canyon=Hummer H3
	() Thanks

24th July 2006, 05:46	#21
cheap_deal BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: unknown Posts: 465 Thanked: 8 Times	sorry for being but anyone has any idea when the infiniti M35/45 is gonna come out in the Middle East??
	() Thanks

24th July 2006, 20:13	#22
mxx BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 761 Thanked: 271 Times	Go for Prado. Or Fortuner if you need a cheaper option. I had a test drive of these vehicles last october when i was abroad. The engines and overall package of Prado and fortuner are much better than Pajero. All 3 are good off-roaders too. Please, Dont fall for those american soft-roaders, most of them are lousy off-road or not efficient vehicles as the toyotas.
	() Thanks

25th July 2006, 10:47	#23
avkurian BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 59 Thanked: 28 Times	Hey, must add my two-bit with an interesting new vehicle that would technically be in the same class as Nativa/Fortuner. The Hummer H3.. One of our off-road club members has picked one up, and there's no shortage of capability off-road. Add to that the sheer joy of being in a Hummer, and the feeling of making heads turn. Personally love the black H3. Prices start at AED 115k, from what i've seen. The Fortuner is another good performer off-road, and a comfortable car for the city. But for this, i would recommend that you go with the 4.0L engine, as the 2.7L makes the car a bit too sluggish. Drop me a line when you're here, and come offroading with us.. the gurus in the clubs can give you an even better idea of which 4x4 to go for. I would agree to stay away from Chevys, GMCs, Caddy's and the like, as the value drops faster than Monica Bellucci's clothes! Enjoy..
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 00:55	#25
spdfreak BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Trichur, presently in Qatar Posts: 121 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Is the FJ Cruiser officially launched in the middle east? Have see a couple of these here in qatar. It stands out from the current crop of SUVs. It might be priced between the fortuner and the prado http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/inde...ASH_FJ_CRUISER
	() Thanks

30th July 2006, 11:07	#27
avkurian BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 59 Thanked: 28 Times	The FJ Cruiser is not officially launched here, as in the dealers are not selling it. The ones you see here are imported by others, and are sold as brand new but without warranty. For the price you can pick up a LandCruiser VXR! I thought it would be between the Prado & LC in terms of pricing, but I checked in Dubai, and the prices vary from Dhs.160k to Dhs.180k. Definitely not worth that much!
	() Thanks

30th July 2006, 20:15	#28
Jeeves BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 28 Thanked: 0 Times	A friend who moved to Dubai recently also looked at the VW Touareg which I thought was awesome when I saw it last year...but he eventually bought a Prado.
	() Thanks

14th September 2006, 02:47	#29
vivaid BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 71 Thanked: 3 Times	Prado/Pajero or the Lexus RX350 in the Middle East Hey guys.. am back.. have moved in to the ME and the car hunt has started here all over again... While I had kinda made up my mind on the Prado and am currently waiting for the 2007 model to be launched here... the Lexus R350 also seems quite interestng. Infact i quite liked the vehicle... An expert views on the RX350.. please do post cheers
	() Thanks