the 'what car' musings thread

[GreatPretender]

Hi folks. Thought it was about time I dusted off the old PH login again.

I'm a fellow resident of the Sandpit, having moved out in Aug last year to Qatar (and went through hell there for 7 months) and latterly, I am delighted to say, now the UAE (Abu Dhabi).

I'm on the lookout for a motor, but not sure what direction to take.

I owned a GT3 before I moved out to this part of the world and would have another in a heartbeat, but family pressures mean that I'm erring towards practicality () this time and with a small dog which we love taking for walks at the beach, a sports car looks likely to be a liability.

Had things not have gone down the pan in Qatar, I would have ordered a new Golf R. It's fabulous VFM in my opinion and a great steer (I owned an R32 not so long ago also). However, I'm not sure it would cope with anything more than flat, hard packed sand, which could lead to problems when taking pooch for a stroll in the desert here in the UAE. Which means that I'm looking at... SUVs.

Now, budget is a major consideration. Relocating twice in the space of 8 months is not kind on the wallet and so a limit of AED150k is about where I'm at.

Somewhat worryingly, I have developed a bit of a thing for the Wrangler. I rented one in Hawaii last year and ended up being sorry to hand the keys back. It was largely terrible by car standards, but it oozed charm and was surprisingly pokey (2012+ Pentastar V6). That I can walk into my friendly local dealer and order a manual version is also a big attraction. Plus, I happen to think they look cool with a lift kit and some 30" + tyres (i.e. just the right side of gay).

Otherwise I'm looking at the used market, but this brings its own problems. I'd love a Cayenne Turbo, but I think we all know that the chances of finding one that hasn't been thrashed mercilessly since the day it left the dealership are very slim. Given that I'm still getting settled, I don't want a liability car (been there, done that and most definitely got all the t-shirts).

I'm sticking to my guns with off-road capability. If I must have a 4x4 I want it to actually 4x4 and not wilt as soon as I leave the tarmac. Hence most the of the American and German stuff (Wrangler/Cayenne/Touareg excepted) is out. On that last point, the Touareg is also a good bet (being cheap and capable off road and less likely to have been raped to death) but a little bit underwhelming in the performance dept.

The Japanese offerings seem to fit the 4x4 bill better, but, well, I needn't say any more; the LandCruiser/Patrol are just horrendous places to be and anything else is either horrendous to drive, awful to sit in, not good enough off road, too slow or all of the above (I'm currently renting a Pajero BTW).

A Range Rover Supercharged (L322) would be hilarious, but I wouldn't trust one as far as I could push it. Ditto its smaller brother.

A G-wagon would of course be the dream, but I'm sad to report that even starship mileage examples stubbornly refuse to lose value (and also see Cayenne Turbo above in respect to treatment).

So, what have I missed? Must haves are:

- Reliability
- Room for the dog/small family
- The capability to deal with the odd excursion off the beaten track
- Some performance

If I am to be swayed into the second hand market, which vendors should I be looking at? Is buying privately worth the risk (ex-pats notwithstanding)?

I'm also after a Sports Bike, but I'll save that for another thread.

Cheers

[shirt]

really depends what kind of offloading you want to do and the mix of on/off road driving.

i had a 2005 wrangler 4.0l with 6 speed manual. 3" lift, bilstein racing shocks and 33" tyres. was unstoppable on the dunes, bouncy as fk on trails, wobbled your fillings free in the wadis and couldn't top 130kph on road whilst roaring like a jet with all the road noise. i loved it and still have a soft spot for the old bus [sold to a colleague] but wouldn't go there again.

not sure why you think the patrol isn't good off road. its the king of the desert and has the strongest drivetrain and axles. totally tuneable up to 750bhp on largely stock internals. also the super safari has a fridge and the previous gen. can still be had new as a grey import for 120k.

cayenne and RR also decent off road, just need smaller rims to allow larger tyres. a colleague has a supercharged v6 land rover LR4 on 16" wheels which is hugely capable and a lovely place to it. key is tyre choice, MT's make a ton of noise, you want AT's or even sand tyres [de rigeur on a lifted patrol]. you'd be surprised just what can be driven in the sand [once saw a quashquai on top of fossil rock] once you learn how. the off road driving course run by the emirates motorsport federation will help here.

are you going to be bashing virgin dunes? if not your list of mods can be much shorter. dune bashing is fun but if your mates can't follow you there's not much point. the social side of offloading is all about driving trails, smaller dunes, wadis, camping etc. for this you can be virtually stock and donut even need a manual as long as you can lock the diffs and gear selection.

defender is in budget, there's a very tidy v8 double cab on sale for 80k at al awir. g wagen sadly out of range. what do raptors fetch second hand? total beast off road and on, well mannered, comfy and a huge v8. also the toyota tundra is cheap, moddable via the TRD parts bin and has an equally huge v8. i think a lifted tundra would be the way to go as you could stick the bike in the back for track days, go off road, camping, tow space shuttles, etc.


PS - welcome to the emirates. a few of us are out for beers in AD tomorrow night if you fancy it. Trackday first at Yas and then 10pm is beer o clock.

[shirt]

20k over but 620bhp and perfectly comfortable on tarmac, dirt and sand.

http://dubai.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/ford/f-...

[h_____]

Hi,

I'm also based in Abu Dhabi, and will along tomorrow night, if you fancy joining us?

I bought a second hand cayenne GTS, which does me for mild dune bashing. As stated change of wheels, and be careful with the front and its fine. If you can find and S with an offroad pack then even better. Service can be done out of dealer, through JZMgulf, or other cheap indies in mussaffah, although this may not be your preferred choice. Got ta say a Patrol or something, sounds like a great way to go if you value the offroad piece.

Best part is choosing cars!

cheers

Hugh

[GreatPretender]

Hi fellas, that's most kind of you to offer. What say I ping you both a PM tomorrow and I can meet you at the boozer?

That Raptor is something else eh? Always had a soft spot for them too.

Much thinking to be done. TBH most 4WD stuff would probably fit my needs as I'm not about to start murdering the dunes, but I can't be done with something that isn't up to the job, if that makes sense?

Landcruisers/Patrols massively capable, but I just can't go there.

Cheers,

Simon

[shirt]

this, then 100k left over for a manual cayman s

http://abudhabi.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/suba...

[Onetrackmind]

Bargain, well modded GT86. Would be great fun. Worth what he's asking without the turbo, V3's and Brembo's. Want!

http://tnydu.biz/DOr2tO

Always liked the these. Look good and monster engine.

http://tnydu.biz/DOrZG8

Cheap E46 M3

http://tnydu.biz/DOrTOG

Well prepared E36 Evo

http://tnydu.biz/DOr2gX

Cheap RS4

http://tnydu.biz/DOrZhH

Cool Alpine

http://tnydu.biz/DOrZTs

[After_Shock]

Onetrackmind said:

Bargain, well modded GT86. Would be great fun. Worth what he's asking without the turbo, V3's and Brembo's. Want!

http://tnydu.biz/DOr2tO

That is well done, do like!

[Dusty964]

http://cars.mitula.ae/offer-detalle/65232/76301294...

No idea about this but seriously inderpriced

[shirt]

have you called them?

[Dusty964]

shirt said:

have you called them?

Email Phil. Been off work all week with a bulging disc and currently enduring quite strong Valium to ease the pain.
Surely should be 600000aed given market rates for an early soft window targa.....?
Time will tell

[e21jason]

I Have had a look a lot of under priced classics on that site and not many have Dubai looking photo's

[6th Gear]

Pretty 456 with low miles.

http://dubai.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/ferrari...

[shirt]

LHD noble:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lotus-Other-Base-Convertib...

[h_____]

I know they are great cars but they left me underwhelmed when I drove one. I'm not a great fan of turbos. I think Lotus make a better job.

[tomd1338]

Approx 50k to spend. Open to suggestions and not frightened by mileage or age. Prefer sports cars to SUVs though

[shirt]

bargain pork? albeit in the most boring colour combo available.

996
http://tnydu.biz/DOr4t5

or boxster [plus aftermarket hardtop]
http://tnydu.biz/DOr0Lp

left field mentalist option, how how a non-chavvy twin turbo v6 nissan?
http://tnydu.biz/DOrNRb



double the budget but i would never have thought the words '996' 'targa' and 'nice' would ever go together. liking this:
http://tnydu.biz/DOr4bC

[Dusty964]

Agree with Phil, 996 targa looks good....

Not everyone's cup of tea, but plenty fast enough....



http://tnydu.biz/DOrZG8

[6th Gear]

Cayman GT4

http://dubai.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/porsche...

Lovely!

[shirt]

reckon you could bag this for close to 50k

http://abudhabi.dubizzle.com/motors/used-cars/toyo...