Job Discussion Forums

yaramaz · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:44 am Post subject: Buying a car in Oman

I'm starting to look into our (hopefully) upcoming move to Oman next year. I was wondering how much a car might cost--- not fussy, something maybe second hand that can take us camping and save us from cabin fever. My boyfriend spend years in South East Asia and thinks a motorcycle would be just fine- and a lot cheaper. I just can't fathom riding a motorcycle in the blazing Omani sun...and can't quite fathom going off road or through some of those wadis on it. Is a car affordable?

windstar · Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

you can buy a car only after you have received your resident card which comes after two months of your arrival. I would recommend you go for a brand new car with 60-80 rials installments and then you can transfer the car when you decide to leave.

williamh · Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Oman

ditto - motorcycle does not make sense here, very dangerous as cars don't 'see' bikes and cycles, and roads are not built for them

unless you can get a used car from someone you know, buying new is better - cars get abused here and then a quick mechanic's touch-up to make it look new means the used car market is suspect (all the cars which were damaged by hurricane...)

kias are cheap and seem to hold up

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Too danged hot and the roads are way too dangerous for motorcycles IMHO. You can rent for the first period that you are there and do some car hunting. Personally I would only buy a used car from someone I knew and/or only from another expat.

Buying is worthwhile if you think you will stay for a couple contracts. Selling the car when you leave is easy because your fellow expats are always looking. I normally sold my cars the same day I put up the ad. (the key factor is to put "female western expat owned." Cool

)

One problem is that 4WDs are very expensive.

VS

yaramaz · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject:

Thanks everyone. It's kind of what I figured but he wouldn't believe me ('But Thailand is really hot too! And the roads are bad! And the drivers are crazy! And everyone rides a motorcycle there!') After the time I had driving around the UAE and Oman, no way would I want to be on a motorcycle.

007 · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

Well, yaramaz, the bark of Thailand traffic is worse than its bite. Whereas in Oman, the bite of traffic is worse than its bark!
So, if you want not to be barbequed in the traffic of Oman, avoid using motorcycles!

BTW, yaramaz, what happened to dmb? He did not post for a long time!
I hope he still alive.

yaramaz · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:25 am Post subject:

Dmb is alive and well in Istanbul- just busy with things other than forums. I guess getting married gave him other things to think about Very Happy

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I got a little Kia Picanto for about 2,600 rials. It is totally basic--no power steering, power locks, power windows, etc. Cassette player, no CD player. But it gets me around and I haven't had problems with it. I made a down payment of 400, and the monthly payments are just about 100. And it's damn cute, too.

It did take a few months while I was waiting for my residence card, but you can easily rent a car for the first few months.

d

Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

Motorbikes - NO WAY!!!

We had a double deal when My wife got the same Picanto as denise and I have a 2 litre Kia Sportage 4X4. I should have gone for a bigger engine as there is not quite enough power to get up some of the (very) steep roads.

Failing buying from new, then buy second hnd from a western expat, they should be able to give you a full service history.

Duffy Laughing

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

psssst....

the best deals of the year are to be found during ramadhan, and if you are still waiting for your documents then, most dealers will accept a deposit and hold the special ramadhan price for you for a few months.

fof · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 20

Where do expats list their vehicles for sale?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The best place for you to check... assuming that you are going where I think you are... is at the club on the campus. The last time that I sold a car in Oman in 01, I had a friend put the sign up there and came home to 9 phone messages and sold it to number 2 that day. Unfortunately at this time of year, most have already been snatched up.

Second choice is the super market bulletin boards. If you think you will be there for more than 2 years, I'd buy a new car. It is really easy to sell them when you want to leave.

Be careful.. there will be lots of water damaged cars on the market still... Try to 'know' the seller...

VS

millie18 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 185

If you can get a contact at PDO - there are often postings on the bulletin board at the Beach Club (not open to non-PDO employees) and you might find something there.

lotsa · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 68 Location: Oman

On the road to Oman Refinery Company (which is a mess at the moment due to construction) there is a Shell station on the right. I often see vehicles for sale (mostly by expats) in the carpark adjacent to the gas station. Could be worth checking out as there seems to be a variety of "styles" available.

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

The current deals on new cars in Oman are advertised in
"TheWeek" magazine. This magazine is available online at
http://www.theweek.co.om/home.aspx .

Click on the blue e-paper link at the top left-hand corner of this webpage to lauch the online version...

For the purpose of comparison with offerings elsewhere, check out the used car classifieds towards the back of "The Week" c. pp28-32.

I took advantage of one of the deals during Ramadan in Sohar a few years ago.