Hello!
So, I need help. I'm looking to buy a car within 10-12 lakhs. I'm in Karachi, but without a car right now so unfortunately can't really go around looking at 20 cars a day (bloody rickshaws will kill my back!).
I've been looking at getting a 2012-2013 Passo. I think that's a decent idea because it's an automatic, so I won't be physically destroyed everyday from driving in Karachi! But it's also a bit expensive, and not exactly a car you'd be looking to keep for more than 5 years.
An alternative is getting a Suzuki Swift. 2010-2011. It'll be a manual, but it'll at least be 1.3.
Another option is going for a 2010-2011 (if i'm lucky) Toyota Corolla. I'm hoping maybe I can stumble upon a GLi or a VVTi within the price range (I seriously don't know how Toyota get away with manufacturing a bloody XLi - I MEAN HOW CAN YOU NOT HAVE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ANYMORE?!?!). Pros of getting a Corolla is that it's a freakin' Corolla, and can last till the apocalypse. It'll also have good resale value, if I want to get rid of it in a few years.
Now here's the thing, I've just moved to Karachi from Islamabad 8 months ago, so I don't really know any dealers etc or anyone in the city I trust fully in terms of checking a car out. I also am slightly hesitant in buying a Passo from Karachi because it would mean getting it registered in Karachi, and considering how Excise and Taxation guys aren't handing out license plates that easily anymore it can be really frustrating cause Sindh Police will keep stopping you and being a nuisance.
Another thing that complicates matters is that the car will be financed - for four months. My sister is getting married in January, so when she leaves our Corolla at home will be sold and the remaining payment on whatever car I buy will be paid off. So, because it'll be financed, it also can't be more than 3-4 years old!
As you can see, this is a bit of a complicated problem with multiple moving parts, so I'm not entirely sure what to do/how to go about things! What do you guys recommend - not just in terms of what car I should buy, but whether it also makes more sense to get the car from Islamabad so it can have a number plate from there?