Quick Signs To Identify a GCC Spec & An Import
GCC cars are gulf region-specific and designed to withstand areas with a harsh climate like the UAE. They are different from imported auto motors (Japanese or American) in terms of interior features, accessories, protection, powertrains, visibility, and performance. Whether you buy a new or pre-owned car, you might overlook these additional features and buy a vehicle without conducting enough research, facing technical issues later.
Differentiating between GCC cars and imported ones can be difficult as there are little to no aesthetic differences. However, there are a few minor differences in specifications that you can use to distinguish between the two.
Let us take a look at them -
Air Conditioning System
AC compressors are one of the many reasons you should not buy an imported car in the UAE. Air conditioning from an imported car tends to function in tropical or cold weather areas like the USA or Canada. It has an ordinary AC compressor that cannot perform well in difficult weather conditions like the UAE and might lead to overheating if you keep running it for many hours. GCC cars have more enhanced and powerful AC compressors that perform well for long journeys and keep the cabin cool despite the hot climate.
Radiators
The role of a radiator is to keep the engine cool when it gets heated while running. Also, the external temperature adds to the engine temperature. If it goes beyond the capacity of an ordinary radiator to control the heat, it can cause the engine to burn. However, GCC cars have radiators with a larger capacity than non-GCC car radiators and adapt to hot weather conditions and deal with overheating the engine.
Corrosion Resistance
The humidity level in the UAE is high because of the surrounding coastal areas. Powerful corrosives like sand, salt or dust adversely affect the exterior of cars and cause the metal parts to rust quickly. Imported vehicles do not have an advanced corrosion-resistant coating that can resist high humidity. On the other hand, GCC cars have improved rust protection to survive in the high humidity in the long run.
High-Quality Material
GCC cars are exposed to extreme weather conditions like hot weather, sand storms, and high humidity. Hence, they are manufactured with high-quality materials and advanced safety features to suit bad environmental conditions. They are made of hard metal like steel or aluminium, polycarbonate plastic, advanced corrosion-resistant material with UV coating, and solar glass or tempered glass with a layer of vinyl to combat environmental changes.
After Sales Service And Maintenance
One of the significant benefits of buying a GCC car in the UAE is that you get quick car maintenance from dealers and specialised technicians. They know about GCC spec and provide efficient repair services. It does not mean they are unable to repair imported cars. They could be less experienced about the parts and functioning of vehicles hence, charge a slightly higher price for servicing imported ones.
Other Signs
There are other ways to identify GCC cars, such as -
- GCC spec cars have Arabic writing on the side mirrors. Non-GCC cars have English writing.
- There are important details like a model year or chassis number on the driver side door of GCC cars.
- GCC cars have safety stickers in Arabic inside the cars, and the verification code starts with W.
The only disadvantage of buying a GCC car is that it is slightly more expensive than non-GCC cars due to its high-quality material, high longevity, advanced UV protection, and powerful performance. They cost around 15% higher than the imported cars but it’s worth the cost, considering the benefits they offer.
To find out more on GCC spec, visit Cars24. You can check the available pre-owned GCC cars on the website. So, what is your best pick? Let us know in the comments!
GCC cars are gulf region-specific and designed to withstand areas with a harsh climate like the UAE. They are different from imported auto motors (Japanese or American) in terms of interior features, accessories, protection, powertrains, visibility, and performance. Whether you buy a new or pre-owned car, you might overlook these additional features and buy a vehicle without conducting enough research, facing technical issues later.
Differentiating between GCC cars and imported ones can be difficult as there are little to no aesthetic differences. However, there are a few minor differences in specifications that you can use to distinguish between the two.
Let us take a look at them -
Air Conditioning System
AC compressors are one of the many reasons you should not buy an imported car in the UAE. Air conditioning from an imported car tends to function in tropical or cold weather areas like the USA or Canada. It has an ordinary AC compressor that cannot perform well in difficult weather conditions like the UAE and might lead to overheating if you keep running it for many hours. GCC cars have more enhanced and powerful AC compressors that perform well for long journeys and keep the cabin cool despite the hot climate.
Radiators
The role of a radiator is to keep the engine cool when it gets heated while running. Also, the external temperature adds to the engine temperature. If it goes beyond the capacity of an ordinary radiator to control the heat, it can cause the engine to burn. However, GCC cars have radiators with a larger capacity than non-GCC car radiators and adapt to hot weather conditions and deal with overheating the engine.
Corrosion Resistance
The humidity level in the UAE is high because of the surrounding coastal areas. Powerful corrosives like sand, salt or dust adversely affect the exterior of cars and cause the metal parts to rust quickly. Imported vehicles do not have an advanced corrosion-resistant coating that can resist high humidity. On the other hand, GCC cars have improved rust protection to survive in the high humidity in the long run.
High-Quality Material
GCC cars are exposed to extreme weather conditions like hot weather, sand storms, and high humidity. Hence, they are manufactured with high-quality materials and advanced safety features to suit bad environmental conditions. They are made of hard metal like steel or aluminium, polycarbonate plastic, advanced corrosion-resistant material with UV coating, and solar glass or tempered glass with a layer of vinyl to combat environmental changes.
After Sales Service And Maintenance
One of the significant benefits of buying a GCC car in the UAE is that you get quick car maintenance from dealers and specialised technicians. They know about GCC spec and provide efficient repair services. It does not mean they are unable to repair imported cars. They could be less experienced about the parts and functioning of vehicles hence, charge a slightly higher price for servicing imported ones.
Other Signs
There are other ways to identify GCC cars, such as -
- GCC spec cars have Arabic writing on the side mirrors. Non-GCC cars have English writing.
- There are important details like a model year or chassis number on the driver side door of GCC cars.
- GCC cars have safety stickers in Arabic inside the cars, and the verification code starts with W.
The only disadvantage of buying a GCC car is that it is slightly more expensive than non-GCC cars due to its high-quality material, high longevity, advanced UV protection, and powerful performance. They cost around 15% higher than the imported cars but it’s worth the cost, considering the benefits they offer.
To find out more on GCC spec, visit Cars24. You can check the available pre-owned GCC cars on the website. So, what is your best pick? Let us know in the comments!
