Qatar’s car buffs are unfazed by meltdown

THOUGH the economic crisis has people worried the world over, Qatar residents, especially Qataris, feel it won’t hit them heavily and are not curbing their spending on luxuries, for instance on premium cars.
A Gulf Times survey of visitors at the recent Privatdrive Supercar Show, Qatar’s first event of its kind, revealed not only that most of the respondents already owned luxury cars but also looked forward to buying new ones.
“I own a Mercedes CL 2007, but I am interested in getting a Bugatti,” declared 21 year-old Mohamed al-Habibi, a Qatari, while eyeing the $1mn plus beauty on show at The Pearl-Qatar’s boardwalk.
Ali al-Salihi, 28, the proud owner of a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Range Rover Sport 2009, was keen on getting his hands on an Aston Martin.
“As a Qatari banker I have some apprehensions about the global financial downturn, but I think Qatar should do fine and we are relatively safe here,” he observed.
The auto lover agreed that cost is a factor when considering a new car. “I am hoping to negotiate a lower price,” he said.
Hamed, 31, who has a new Range Rover and has owned other luxury cars, stated he was on the lookout for ‘more’.
“Cost is an important factor, but I am more interested in the brand, power and quality of a car,” he explained before agreeing that everyone is worried about the financial turmoil.
“I just hope that Qatar and the Gulf are not too badly affected,” Hamed said.
Aboud Hanna, a newcomer to the country, was not buying a premium car now. “But, I have done in the past,” quipped the 41 year-old.
Monitoring the situation at the moment, Hanna, who has lived in Dubai previously, would wait to see how the economic situation affects car prices.
“I don’t want to get burnt by buying one now and to find that prices drop by 10% a month later,” he said.
Adnan al-Qayer, 22, also placed quality ahead of cost when it comes to buying a luxury car.
Owner of a Lexus, he is not interested in getting one right now, but in the near future perhaps.
Working in the financial sector, the Qatari young man observed he has concerns about the unfolding meltdown.
“I think it would affect the Gulf also, but hopefully not too much,” Al-Qayer remarked.
Mohamed al-Shahwani, 18, was all set to buy a Porsche car to complement the Porsche Cayenne GTS 2009 SUV he already has.
“I am aware of the global economic downturn, but that is not going to affect my plan to go for the luxury car now,” the Qatari stated.
Mohamed al-Khayarin, another 18 year-old Qatari, who also owns a Porsche Cayenne 2009, was hoping to acquire another luxury car in the near future. “Yes, I know,” he replied when asked about the financial crisis.
“No, I am not at all concerned about this economic slowdown,” asserted Qatari national Attallah al-Hashmi, 28, owner of a Ferrari, who would be getting another luxury car soon. Cost was not a factor for him.
“I would like to buy my luxury car in a month,” was how Abdullah al-Mullah, a 27 year-old Qatari responded. Cost was not a concern for him either, but the brand name was.
“The global economic uncertainty definitely has an effect on my investments, whether they are in Qatar or abroad,” he said.
Qatari national Hassan al-Shami, 46, who does not own a premium car, would buy one in the future, for his children.
“Luxury would be the main factor deciding my purchase,” he said while adding that he had some concerns about the financial crisis.
Privatdrive The Exclusive Club’s founder and owner Alexis Lallement-Steiner had told Gulf Times ahead of the Supercar Show that over the last two years, Qatar has been figuring in the global top five in the sales of high end luxury car brands.
Alfardan Group Automotive Division’s chief operating officer Roy F Burt had said recently that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha has seen a very positive sales development in Qatar in recent years and this underpins the decision to open an additional Rolls-Royce showroom at The Pearl-Qatar in the first quarter of 2009.(with inputs from Peter Townson and Sarmad Qazi).