Are side airbags vital these days? Kia Sportage...

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Vegetarian

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Please can I have some help chosing a car. The shortlist is...

Kia Sportage 2011 **NEW** full option £13,000
Mitchibushi Shugun 2 door **2nd hand** mid option £10,500
Hyundi Sante Fe 2011 **NEW** mid option £16,000

The car I like best is the Sportage but in UAE where I live it only has two airbags and no side airbags (the sportage did recieve top marks in safty tests but with 6 air bags). both the Shugun and Sante Fe has 6 airbags. The Sante Fe is a little out of my price bracket.

The Shugun feels great and seems a good deal. However, there are quite a few minor scrapes to paint work round the wheels... which makes me think its had some careless driving.
 
Vegetarian said:
Please can I have some help chosing a car. The shortlist is...

Kia Sportage 2011 **NEW** full option £13,000
Mitchibushi Shugun 2 door **2nd hand** mid option £10,500
Hyundi Sante Fe 2011 **NEW** mid option £16,000

The car I like best is the Sportage but in UAE where I live it only has two airbags and no side airbags (the sportage did recieve top marks in safty tests but with 6 air bags). both the Shugun and Sante Fe has 6 airbags. The Sante Fe is a little out of my price bracket.

The Shugun feels great and seems a good deal. However, there are quite a few minor scrapes to paint work round the wheels... which makes me think its had some careless driving.
Click to expand...

I think the Pajero (shogun) is definitely the best out of those 3. I have the 5 door version. It's the best off road, had the best resale and lots of nice features.
I don't think that side airbags are very important in the UAE as there aren't many opportunities for side impacts.
 
Are you sure about this? I looked at the Sportage and Tucson and the low and mid spec models only come with a single airbag in the GCC. You need the 95k Dhs one to get more airbags, and for that price there are several other options (Fully loaded Mitsubishi ASX or Outlander for example)

Do you have kids to transport? I wouldnt be putting my family in one whether it had one or two airbags TBH.

I was also looking at new Qashquais and VW Tiguans a couple of weeks ago when I had a similar requirement and budget. (I made a thread on it recently)

You havent really said what you wanted it for, but if its for offroad forget about the Kia and Hyundai. If not, just find a people mover or something. I am been searching cars in DXB for a long time, so give some more details and I can make some suggestions.

edit: Pajeros are very good, or Prados, rather more pricey but excellent in the desert.

OCUK Dubai meet anyone? ;)
 
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I just want something safe first, and nice to travel in as I will be driving for an hour a day.

I was interested in the Sportage as it recieved 5 stars in safty testing, mind you that was for the 6 airbag standard version that is only in europe and usa.

Some people are telling me to buy new out here - others 2nd hand... a bit confused really.

2 airbag Sportage full option is 74000 for 2x4 and 80000 4x4 in Abu Dhabi.
 
OK, double check that anyway. I think its 1 AB and 74k is the mid-range model, full option is 93k and has 6 airbags. In terms of features and warranty etc its quite attractive for the price, but safety was a concern for me and they didnt have the Full Option models in stock.

As for new and second hand.. almost new will be the best value for money of course, and warranties can be renewed for +/- 1500 aed per year depending on the make.

Just having a look on dubizzle, for 70-80k the following SUVs are looking good and have warranty.

2010 Pajero V6 30k km

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee 39k km

2010 Ford Explorer 50k km or Ford escape 10k km

etc
 
Just been offered New Pajero for 111,000 AED (£18,000) and thats for full option. The showroom has also offered buy back price for 2 years at -25% and 3 years at 35%. Still a lot of money tho.

Nissan offered a new Qusqui for 74,000 (£12k).

Will look at Dubizzle.
 
yeah, Mitsubishi has an interesting offer, in Dubai it was 20% down and 20% per year (in installments) for 2 or 3 years, and get the difference back if you return it.

Interest rates are low at the moment too.. HSBC doing 2.49%
 
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