When you visit Pakistan for an extended period, say from 3-6 months. Do you rent a car on per-need basis? Just buy one, and then sell it when returning, or use public transportation?
I personally find travel a part of everyday itinerary when going back from visiting and meeting relatives, to just sightseeing, So renting with driver can become expensive. Renting without driver, I heard comes with tales of horror and caution from those who say that you end up paying for issues that you should not be liable for.
So what is your tried, and tested mode of transportation?
Renting without a driver is definitely not suggested. So far i've visited for 3-4 weeks periods and for that i always rent a car with driver. For extended stay i'd break it in two parts. First i'll try to take help of my closeby friends or relatives and get piggybacked on their rides (#Cheapshot) and then for last month or so will rent a car as routine so that i can drive my own schedule.
For extended stay you can always bargain with the car dealers and get a good deal as well.
My relatives might disown me if I decide to piggyback because I travel erratically. Other suggestions are feasible and nice. Perhaps need for another thread, but is it a complicated process to buy a car? As compared to here/U.S.
If you are going to Lahore then you can rely on the public transport in the main city but elsewhere its public transport for the sake of it.
Check out an app called 'Savaree'. You can use it to find a ride to your destination. The have a facebook page and a website as well.
The rent a car option can be expensive but not recommended without driver.
I don't have idea about buying a car outside Pakistan but back there you can expect anything. Buying a new car is straightforward. For used cars, nowadays there are many Japanese imports (I called them sushi cars) of all size and shapes. From small 660cc Alto to Prius. The good thing with sushi cars is that they are fully loaded and have same luxurious components as western cars. The downside is that most imports are damaged and repaired in Pakistan. The meters are reversed and accidented cars parts are bolted together in most of the cars. So finding a good 'piece' requires good hunting skills.
The local assembled cars are good option, but they lack important features like immobilizer, ABS, airbags, etc. So there are compromises everywhere.
There is a good forum of Pakistani cars. I can share its name here (if admins are okay with it). There you can find ads/details/pics of the cars people are selling. There is a wealth of information about local car market, I'll recommend you to visit that forum.
Never been an issue as my family has couple of cars but now as the family is growing and we are visiting Pakistan more and more we are also facing the dilemma. Our problem is that even adding 1 or 2 more cars will not solve the problem as we are MA 7 siblings most of them having families so thinking of renting a bigger van for next vacation.
Due to similar vacation schedules everybody ends up visiting Pakistan at the same time.
Other suggestions are feasible and nice. Perhaps need for another thread, but is it a complicated process to buy a car? As compared to here/U.S.
