Economy of driving
Whether you’re based in an older area such as Deira or a more recently established locale like Discovery Gardens, traffic jams are a fact of daily life in the UAE for many. The more time and distance spent on the road for a daily commute, the more important fuel economy becomes. It’s not just time being wasted as you crawl under Shaikh Zayed Road’s first interchange on a weekday evening – your engine could be consuming as much as 80 per cent extra fuel to cover the same distance in slow traffic.
If your route is laden with traffic lights, it might be wise to invest in a car with a start-stop engine. Regenerative braking is a feature common to newer BMW and Volkswagen engines, where kinetic energy from braking is converted into power and stored in a battery.
Mileage for thought
Have you always dreamed of rolling out of one of the UAE’s many large, glitzy car showrooms in a zero-mileage ride? Are you purchasing a vehicle as an asset, or a tool to cheaply get you from A to B? While the allure of a brand-new car is undoubted, for many potential buyers, some of the gloss may wear off after they realise the new vehicle has lost about 15-20 per cent of its value within its first year of purchase.
The good news is that the depreciation rate drops to 10-15 per cent a year after the first, so it may be better value to opt for a 2015 model that’s travelled 10,000km further than its equivalent 2016 successor. In terms of holding their value over time, Japanese brands Nissan and Toyota rule the roost in the UAE, according to a report by Carswitch.com.
Get under the hood
If you’re buying second-hand, it’s a good idea to get the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a trusted mechanic. Al Quoz is home to a large number of car workshops that can carry out a quick, thorough 145-point check of a vehicle. It’s not too expensive and – in most cases – no scrupulous seller should have an issue with this if you ask them to accompany you to the garage.
Every major dealer also has a pre-owned vehicles section in the showroom. This combines the convenience of showroom service with the savings that come when someone else has taken the initial depreciation hit.
The cost of comfort
Stepping into an enclosed metal box when it’s 45 C degrees out can be a horrible thing to look forward to. Remote start lets you start the vehicle – and its air conditioning – from a safe distance. After leisurely flying down the E311 with active cruise control automatically maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, the seat tilts with the curve of the exit.
When you’ve arrived at your destination, just press a button and the vehicle will use its sensors and cameras to manoeuvre into an inch-perfect parallel parking while you enjoy 23 speakers pumping Meridian Signature Audio that transports you to a Dubai Opera-esque sound stage. Alternatively, an aux cable and standard six-speaker set-up might suffice. You may consider the idea of massage seats utter madness.
Crunch the numbers
Most car dealers have an onsite banking representative with whom you can discuss financing options for a new vehicle. Auto loans in the UAE repayable over 12 to 48 months may be easy to secure, but they tend to be offered at higher rates of interest than a conventional personal loan for the same amount.
That said, auto financing offers incentives such as extended service and warranty, deferment of monthly instalments for up to a year, or even zero down payment. If you don’t need a loan and have the required dosh handy, dealers will offer a hefty discount on cash purchases.
