Safest vehicle to buy?

Thinking about the thread started by busybee2... We will be buying a vehicle (I call it "vehicle" because we haven't decided on a car, 4x4, people carrier, or what...). We have a budget of up to 125,000 dirhams -new or used but no more than this. Can I get your opinion of the safest vehicle for us? We have a 4 yo strapped to kiddie seat on the back. Any ideas? Preferably a vehicle with decent resale value in case we have to go back home before the loan is paid in full. I have heard all sorts of things from being high up off the ground to keep kid safe from taxis, to dangling a rabbit's foot from the rear view mirror as everything else is just theory. What are your thought? Safest vehicle to buy? right it will depend on budget and whats on the market at the time. safest cars are volvos but quite expensive, if you can wait until ramadan then all dealers usually give out much better deals or especially when they are upgrading their models and wanting rid of old ones. 4x4s are much higher and much tougher, but then they are more expensive and the cost of insurance is usually 4% for a car and 5% for a 4x4 of the cost. 4x4s are more expensive to run in petrol and service. if you are buying a car always buy with a boot, ie if you get hit from behind there is more car before the person sitting in the back, this was proven when i first arrived here and had 5 cars rear end me, being pregnant and also had a toddler strapped in the back, i was driving a honda civic and all that happened to the car was the bumper had come off a little. i would always buy new if you can especially with 4x4s you do not know what they have been through. look under the car for the colour of sand if its orange its been driving in the desert if its yellow then its been near to the sea. i have had cars, 4x4s and mini vans. we had a seat alhambra brilliant car especially with babies and kids, very functional used as school bus, van you name it very good. had jeeps but long time ago, wasnt very good, but we have looked at the new ones now and they are really nice. had nissan patrol still have it 7 years later 210k miles on the clock. got a ford flex, lovely car inside, got all the bells and whistles, very economic and lovely and comfortable, but a bit odd to look at. out of all the service garages ford seem to be the best, nissan quite often do their best to upset you by insisting that you need to change most of the engine!!! you will need to think of resale value. i can easily sell my patrol as been flagged down many times, have a mustang again popular car so easy to sell. honda civics easy to sell especially if you get the sporty models. any toyota easier to sell. the good thing with the patrol is it has 2 tanks, whereby dont think apart from landcruisers anywhere else does.

Firstly, buy a new car if you can. There is no way to tell if a 2nd hand car has been in an accident (if it has been repaired well) and the structure could be weakened. Secondly, go for a big 4wd. There is less chance that you will be intimidated on the road and in the case of an accident, the car should be structually stonger than a smaller one. Look for the number of airbags and crumple zones etc.. Hope this helps This is an aussie site and not entirely relevant (diff road condtions etc) but I found it useful on my search. http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/ If the Ford territory is the same as a ford explorer, I'd look at that as a possibility ps: can't believe I said that as I'm selling my Prado.... <em>edited by Kid Vs Kat on 14/04/2011</em>