Ramadan fantasy used car shopping
We trawl through the local classified to see what would tempt us
By Shahzad Sheikh
It’s too hot and humid, and you’re fasting and you really don’t want to be out there traipsing around used car lots looking for your next purchase, right?
Well that’s what everybody’s thinking right now. Which means nobody is shopping for second motors.
But think of all those poor sellers and car dealers who need to make a bit of dosh to make up for the expense of Iftars and the upcoming Eid.
Think of how much you could bargain them down right now!
Besides, as I said, Eid’s coming up, you’ve been good, so it’s probably time to treat yourself.
However if you really can’t bring yourself to go out and hunt down a real used car, there’s always plenty of fun to be had fantasy shopping.
Here’s what I find on Dubizzle today, whilst whiling away the time before Iftar.
Let us know what you’d buy for the budgets in the comment section below.
AED30k
1983 Toyota Celica Supra, AED18,000, Sharjah
It’s a bit shabby, and will need a bit of work. But it’s from the USA, and offers a rare manual transmission to go with the straight-six (not a V) and rear-wheel drive. Bargain it down to around 12, and it’s worth a punt!
1983 Porsche 944, AED7,999, Ajman
It’s got the hideous American bumpers on it, but the colour is nice. The owner is leaving, so he’s desperate for a quick sale. Again it’s a manual and claimed to be ‘Perfect inside and our’. Offering him five, see if he’ll bite at six. Maintenance can be costly, but this was one of the best handling cars of its time.
1979 Mercedes 280SE, AED30,000, Dubai
Sheer class and total gangsta! It would be awesome to cruise down the road in this all-black chrome fest, with that imposing three-pointed star up ahead.
1985 BMW 628 CSI, AED19,500, Abu Dhabi
Another one of my favourites – the shark-nosed classic Beemer coupe. Almost bought one way back. Here’s another chance. This one is claimed to have been imported from Rome four years ago. The seller warns the price is non-negotiable; ‘don’t tell me I found one at 15000 or 16000’ he writes!
AED30-60k
1967 Ford Mustang Fastback, AED55,000, Dubai
I’ve seen this car in the metal some time back. Despite it’s strange paint scheme, it seems clean. Auto though – and it’s a V6.
Willys Jeep, AED31,000, Sharjah
Claims to be a 1965, but looks proper army-spec. It’s advertised as an urgent sale, so get over there if you want to Jeep it like a GI.
1972 Nissan 240Z, AED45,000, Dubai
Don’t miss this one. It’s a beauty. Bargain hard and you drive away with a Japanese automotive icon!
1987 BMW M5, AED49,000, Dubai
Fantastic first generation BMW M5 with a manual gearbox. Bit of a sleeper, and ripe for some, er… improvements. Get that price down.
AED60-100k
1979 Resto-mod Trans Am, AED85,000, Dubai
We know this car very well. It belongs to a mate of ours and it’s one hell of a machine. Sounds thunderous! It’s got Hotchkis suspension, Foose Wheels, Suede interior and an LS1 engine.
1969 Corvette Stingray, AED69,000, Abu Dhabi
There had to be a Stingray in this selection. They’re hugely popular and desirable. This one’s got the nicer metal bumpers. Plus it’s a T-Top so you can pose, and a manual transmission, so you can really drive!
1989 Porsche 928, AED99,000, Dubai
Looks very clean, this was a futuristic looking car when it came out and still looks incredible.
1991 GMC Syclone, AED 75,000, Abu Dhabi
It’s an oddity, but something of a legend, so had to squeeze this one in. And this example does look very clean – beware there are quite a few shabby ones around. Probably still overpriced, but worth a dekho.
Now tell us what you’d buy for the money in the Comments below!
If want to buy a car that is 20 to 25 years of age and wish to drive it on a daily basis while keeping it in mint condition; then I will end up having to spend 2/3 if not double the money I paid to get it from the first place..
I assume I would go for something that is of iconic value and can be appreciated in the future, like a Porsche 930. They are expensive to own (with exception that they might be very cheap in the UAE compared to other parts of the world) but they are also very rewarding to drive so you will not feel the sting of spending money on them. Needless to say there is a vast market for scrap and aftermarket parts for Porsche.
Plus, people love them, they are gaining value each year so you will find somebody who will want to buy it from you and you can sell it off without losing too much.
In other words I always vote on a Porsche if one wants to buy a classic.
The real nightmare of buying such a thing though is that it requires years of research and hunting to ensure you got yourself a car that will enrich your life instead of ruining it.