Buyers of new cars in the United Arab Emirates often tend to get rid of their vehicles once they get near or cross over the 200,000-kilometre mark on the odometer.
Most people in the UAE do not appear to understand that modern vehicles, particularly those manufactured in Japan, can go more than 400,000 kilometres without problems provided that they are given basic maintenance on a regular basis.
This means that those looking for an inexpensive yet still reliable second-hand vehicle in the UAE should not be put off by the mileage.
If a car is purchased for less than Dh10,000 with a mileage of 220,000 kilometres and it has had regular maintenance, then the customer would be getting a vehicle that has half of its life still remaining, for barely a seventh or even a 10th of its original cost.
There are a number of used vehicles available in the UAE that can easily reach 400,000 kilometres on the odometer with the correct treatment and maintenance.
One such car is the Toyota Camry (1999 to 2006).
Reliability has long been part of Toyota’s reputation, and used Camrys from this time period that have just over 200,000 kilometres on the odometer are available in the country for around Dh10,000.
Customers should only ever look for vehicles that come with full service records.
Another good used vehicle that can often be found in the UAE is the Toyota Corolla (1999 to 2005).
The Toyota Corolla is possibly the best basic motor vehicle ever made, with 45m cars sold in over 50 years, making it the highest-selling model of all time.
The engine is known for its reliability, new and used spare parts are easy to find when needed, gas mileage is terrific, and labour is cheap as mechanics find them to be vehicles that are very simple to work on.
A 1999 to 2005 model can be purchased for less than Dh10,000 in the UAE, and mileage should not be a concern provided that there is a full service history for the vehicle.
These cars are incredibly durable and almost never throw up any big problems for their owners.
A well-maintained Toyota Corolla with 200,000 kilometres on the clock is really just getting started.
Another good used car to look for in the UAE is the Honda Accord (2002 to 2006).
This is an incredibly reliable used vehicle, and is ideal for people on a tight budget.
A well-maintained Honda Accord with 200,000 kilometres on the odometer really is just halfway through its lifespan.
Regular maintenance includes the likes of oil and oil filter changes as well as changes of other fluids such as brake fluid, automatic transmission fluids, coolants and so on.
Although Honda parts are slightly more expensive than Toyota parts, they are very easy to find in the UAE’s used spare parts market.
Another great used car is the Mercedes-Benz E Class (1996 to 2002).
This is a superb luxury vehicle that can be purchased for under Dh10,000 in the UAE.
One of the company’s most reliable recent models, it is ideal for everyday use by families, and used spare parts are widely available and inexpensive in the Sharjah Industrial Area.
Car insurance is a legal necessity for anyone driving in the UAE.