New Car

by Cindy (and some by Jeff)

Jeff and I were convinced that we would get a SUV once we arrived in Dubai. If you know anything about how they drive over here, the more metal around you the better off you will be. We were so convinced that we drove several SUVs before we left the States so that we could pull the trigger pretty quickly once we arrived.

Once we got over here, we found that the models of cars here are not exactly the same as the models of cars in the USA. Plus, there can be a significant difference in the pricing, depending on the car. We had assumed that things would be cheaper over here - based on what several friends had told us and what we had read online. This wasn't necessarily so.

For instance, we thought that we were interested in getting a Toyota Prado. It's an SUV that isn't sold in the States by Toyota. In the US, it's the Lexus GX. Same vehicle - same frame, styling, options, ride, etc. Everything - same. So we thought, "Wow, the Lexus GX is a great vehicle; the Prado should be about $10K less in the UAE since it has a Toyota badge on it instead of the 'L'." We had pretty much made up our minds about this vehicle before we moved. We just needed to find a dealership and write a check.





Nice, huh? Only there was no discount for buying a Toyota rather than a Lexus. Everybody wants a white SUV over here. And the Prado is more or less at the top of the heap (until you move up to Range Rovers and BMWs).

So at this point, Jeff got anxious about the Prado because of price (same as a Lexus back in the States) and Cindy wasn't crazy about some of the options (What - no keyless entry?). So then Jeff started thinking used, and Cindy started thinking about other SUVs, and our agreement fizzled into argument. [not bad arguments, just mild ones - don't worry, we're fine - this story has a happy ending - keep reading].

Anyhow, after disagreements about options, styling of vehicles, prices, etc., etc., Jeff and I were at an impasse - we could not agree on which SUV to get. So we dropped the SUV altogether and went back to sedans. We liked our car in Lubbock and so we started looking around for similar vehicles.

We landed on a used 2009 Volvo S80. We were fortunate that it only had 10,000 Kms (6,000 miles) on it. It even still smells new. We were totally hooked when we got a whiff of the new car smell. It seems that a British expat owned it and for whatever reason, had to sell it right after s/he bought it. We are happy to be the new owners and while it is not as big or dominating as an SUV, it is safe!







As you can see, it's a steel gray color. It has a tan interior and all of the bells and whistles. We love it. Come visit us, and we will take you for a ride.