I don’t know how anyone here can afford a car. Any new car costs double the price we’d pay in the UK, primarily due to the high tax rate.
But even old bangers are completely out of reach. A battered 1998 Renault 12 will still set you back nearly £8K.
In the UK, you could get a ten year old Nissan Qashqai with low mileage for substantially less. The same car in Turkey costs at least £20K.
The UK’s most affordable hybrid mini SUV, the Toyota Yaris Cross, can be purchased new for around £25K. In Turkey it costs closer to £40K.
Nevertheless, some families are clearly very wealthy — or else have mammoth debts — driving around in the latest Toyota Hilux, complete with alloys and metallic orange paint.
That’s £55K, which is more than the price of a petrol BMW X5 in the UK. The Toyota costs £30K in the UK brand new.
In short, car ownership here is impossible for people like us. You would need a minimum of £25K for anything even remotely decent, not to mention suitable for these roads.
We will have to think of something else. A moped perhaps, or maybe a donkey. The nearest I’ll get to a car in Turkey is our lad’s cool bed.
Last modified: 21 September 2024