If you’re looking to invest in a new car, there’s no time like the present. All of the big brands offer attractive deals during the Holy Month, luring customers with the promise of discounts, free gifts, attractive finance and insurance rates, extended warranties and souped-up service packages.
Here the team from Souqalmal.com, the region's leading price comparison website, roundup of some of the latest deals on the market this month:
Mercedes Benz
Gargash Enterprises is offering a host of special offers this Ramadan, extending across a number of its Mercedes Benz models. If you buy a new C-Class or E-Class, you’ll get complimentary services for the first two years of ownership. With a Mercedes Benz S-Class or GL Grand edition, you’ll receive one year’s free insurance, a five-year or 105,000 kilometre complimentary integrated service package and a three-year warranty.
Existing Mercedes owners can take advantage of special maintenance offers, with an AC inspection starting from Dh249 and brake fluid checks at Dh350. As an added bonus, customers servicing their car at Gargash Enterprises over the month of Ramadan will receive complimentary 24-hour roadside assistance for one year.
Lexus
Al-Futtaim Motors’ Ramadan Rewards package includes the opportunity to purchase a Lexus at 0 per cent financing for three years. They’ll also throw in a ‘special Ramadan gift’ on delivery. The offer is available across the 2013 Lexus range on all vehicles that are invoiced and delivered before August 10, however, this does not extend to pre-owned models.
Volkswagen
Al Nabooda Automobiles is marking the Holy Month by offering its customers five year's worth or 75,000km-worth of servicing free of charge, a five-year warranty with unlimited mileage, five year’s free roadside assistance and one year of free insurance. The starting price for a Volkswagen Jetta is currently Dh69,900, while the Passat starts at Dh83,900, the Tiguan at Dh99,900 and the Touareg at Dh157,900.
Kia
There’s a host of fancy gifts up for grabs when you buy a new car from Kia this month, including a 42-inch LED LG television, an iPad 4 and a Galaxy S4. You’ll also get free insurance and registration, free roadside assistance and a five-year/100,000km warranty. The company is also promising attractive finance rates and your first installment won’t need to be paid for 120 days.
Cadillac
You’ll be entitled to a complimentary “premium care programme” if you choose to invest in a new Cadillac during Ramadan. This will include service and maintenance for four years or 100,000km, guaranteed resale value, regional roadside assistance for four years and a four-year or 1000,000km warranty, with complimentary transportation if required. Prices start from Dh129,000.
Audi
If you buy an Audi before August 7, expect to get five year’s free maintenance and services, a five-year warranty, free roadside assistance for five years and one year’s worth of free insurance.
Honda
Honda is currently offering cash savings, free insurance, free servicing up to 20,000km and a gift worth Dh1,500 across all its models.
How about deals of car financing?
There are also plenty of attractive car financing offers around this month so if you do decide to invest in a new motor, make sure to ferret out a good deal.
Al Hilal Bank, for example, is offering a starting flat rate of 1.99 per cent on new car finance and 2.49% on used car finance until August 25. HSBC is offering a starting rate of 2.25 per cent before August 31 on new car loans and Emirates NBD is offering a flat rate of 2.35 per cent.
Tips for used car buyers
- Choose cars with GCC specifications
- Get a service history for cars less than five years old
- Don’t go cheap on the inspection
- Check for oil leaks
- Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
- Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
- Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
- Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
- If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell
Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now