Which car should I buy?

[JCMach1]

Help me pick a new vehicle...!

These are the cars I am looking to buy... Keep in mind I need

1. Cheap
2. Dependable
3. Big enough for 4 (2 adults, 2 kids)
4. I need some speed and safety for the traffic here

-Also keep in mind the car market in the UAE includes EVERYTHING from around the globe at CHEAP prices.

Note $1 = appx. 4 AED




The 206 (Price 37,000 AED) Cheap as chips but small (6 airbags!!!)


the 307 (Price 45,000 AED) (6 airbags and larger-- still cheap)


Skoda Fabia (Price 45,000 AED) (Very safe, VW parts, highest safety ratings and highest JD Power and ass. ratings)


XTrail (Price 77,000 AED) (Nice Nissan 4x4, the 4cylinder engine makes it fuel efficient.


Sunny (49,000 AED) (Cheap Nissan saloon car-- these last forever)

[JCMach1]

1. Other, Please tell!!

[elfwitch]

2. Get a Toyota Echo

I got a 4 door fully tricked out for under $16,000. Pleanty of head room and leg room. Gets great milage. And the best part is that it is a Toyota.

[gbwarming]

14. I have an Echo too - 2000, 2door. It's been a nice car.

Big trunk, plenty of space for 4 average sized people, great mileage. Pretty zippy - I have a manual transmission with the US standard 1.5L engine.

It's a little squirrly in very gusty winds (I assume because it is light and tall) and my 2000 has only front airbags, don't know about the 2004.

Matrix and Corolla are good choices. Ford Focus has quite good reliability now too.

Edit: http://www.toyotauae.com/international/ The cool base model XA has the 1.5L and manual like my Echo - the UAE Echo is 1.3L

[JCMach1]

15. I see quite a few echos here...

[gbwarming]

17. You have a lot of options there - brands we don't even see

(except on the net or travel)

I'm kind of Comsumer Reports auto issue junkie - Just eyeballing the red dots their surveys seem to show Honda and Toyota brands at the top of the heap for reliability, followed closely by Mazda and Nissan & Subaru. VW is way down. Don't know about Seat, Peugeot

[JCMach1]

18. Can you even buy Peugeot in the U.S. any more?

[Claire Beth]

3. well, I always recommend TOYOTAS!

I have always excellent experiences with them. I'm not familiar with the cars listed above but I would still recommend Toyota.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Why buy anything new ?

.
.
.

One can buy a classic for less than half the price of anything new,

and it will go UP in value

I know

silly idea

:silly:

[JCMach1]

5. 'Used' is problematic here because of POOR upkeep and

extreme heat.

[wellstone_democrat]

6. My husband just bought the Toyota Matrix

2004 model in dark blue (very sharp)

Plenty of room w/ flat folding seats (back and frnt passenger)
nice and high interior, good mileage, great safety rating. Basically, after all his research he went with the Toyota (CUV--crossover utility vehicle they call it: all the bennies of an SUV with economy mileage)

Our last two Toyota Corollas (which is the underlying model for the Matrix) have lasted 12 years+ each with virtually no problems other than replacement of some parts after long hard use). We love the things, were still ready to try something else and ended up back with Toyota. You can't kill 'em.

edit: BTW, it was under 16K and our "home" terrain is desert area (dirt, dust, heat, and misery).

2nd edit: sorry Jerry, I'm the "other" vote at post#1

[elfwitch]

7. I've been thinking about getting one of those next.

Either that or the Scion xA.

[JCMach1]

8. Never been a toyota fan... my favorite Japanese cars

have always been Mazdas...

[JCMach1]

9. Also, you can't find a hybrid here...

highly fuel efficient is the best I can do...

Did I mention gas was $1 per gallon...

Sorry about that :)

[chelsea0011]

10. Is KIA on your list?

Very inexpensive with many more options for other similar cars. Much better reliability these days. Gas milage is problematic. Just got one. The Sedona mini van was fully loaded for $20000. I could have driven a few more miles and got it for $19500. Looking for a sedan? Their high end (name escapes me) is quite nice for low 20's.

And when I say loaded I mean leather, sunroof, tow package, dvd enetrtainment center, ABS, everything!

[JCMach1]

11. Kia, Daewoo and Hyundai are off my list

mainly for the safety and mileage issues...

Anything is possible here-- even Proton, SEAT, Ssangyong... you name the car brand and we have it.

[chelsea0011]

12. Check Consumer Reports...KIA is rated very high for safety

[JCMach1]

13. It's the gas mileage that really eats me

unless KIA has improved that as well...

Our friends have a mini-mpv KIA... didn't like it much.

[Papa]

16. I have a MATRIX and an ECHO.

Echo is great, incredibly well desinged on the inside, spacious, quick on the pickup (cause the car is so light). Only downside is in heavy crosswinds. It can get scary sometimes.

The Matrix is similar but more appealing to the eye, more sporty, not really affected by heavy wind like the Echo. There are 3 versions of the Matrix, Base, XR, and XRS. The XRS is the one that has more horsepower. I bought the base model and If I had to do it over again I'd get the XRS version.

[Harrumph]

19. Speaking of Toyota...

I just bought a Toyota Solara and am in love with it. This is the most comfortable car I've ever owned. I want to be buried in this car.