Being an expat in Dubai from Europe meant I had a lot of adjusting to do before I could get adequately comfortable in my day to day activities within the city. However, once I adjusted enough, I figured it was time to take the next big step; buying a car. Before the decision was made, I was constantly taking taxis, buses, metros and the occasional car rental in Dubai.
The Search for A Car
Needless to say, all the above listed modes of transportation were not the most convenient. I always had to schedule my time around their time in order to be able to make it in time. Not my idea of fun.
After I settled on my decision to buy my own car, I began to ask myself “What do I need in a car?” The answer was pretty simple. I needed something that was modern, affordable, fuel efficient, and still stylish. Knowing what I wanted, you’d think I’d have the perfect vehicle in mind already. But choosing the ideal car is harder than you’d think.
After speaking to my friends and colleagues, I was able to narrow it all down to three choices: Toyota Yaris, Hyundai elantra and Mazda 3.
Testing Them Out
A car is an incredibly long-term commitment and I didn’t think that a single test drive around the block would do Justice to my choice. I needed to live with these cars for a while to find out how well we do together. Since I couldn’t buy all three of them, I decided to rent each car for 2 weeks at a time through the OneClickDrive car rental app.
I made use of other car rental companies in the past, but OneClickDrive stood out for a multitude of reasons. The app was easy to use and I was able to view multiple cars at the same time while comparing prices. They also offer incredibly flexible plans and all these at really great prices. That practically sealed the deal for me.
Testing out the Toyota Yaris
This car is the most compact of the lot. Its small size made maneuvering and parking within the city ten times better, while its fuel efficiency helped me save a ton on my daily drives to and from the hospital. The downside was that it was just too small. It was practical, but not stylish enough for my taste.
Trying out the Hyundai Elantra
After the first 2 weeks were up, I seamlessly returned the yaris and picked up the elantra for the next 2 weeks. On my first drive, I could immediately tell that this car was a step up from the Yaris with regards to comfort and Style. Driving it was also smoother than the Yaris, but I still felt something was missing, so, decided to give the third car a try.
Trying out the Mazda 3
I will waste no time in saying this car truly is perfect for me! It provided everything I needed and after my first drive, I was irrevocably hooked. It was fun to drive, fuel efficient and so sleek. And don’t even get me started on the interior. I guess I unwittingly saved the best for last!
Final Thoughts
After the 2 week rental period with my Mazda 3 was up, I practically ran to a dealership to buy my very own car. In all this, my appreciation goes to OneClickDrive for helping me find the perfect car. Their ease of use, flexibility and awesome prices were the reason I was able to find my dream car through trial and error.
