Doha Roll Call

Author
Discussion

jinkster

2,235 posts

155 months

Thursday 13th November 2014
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Took a 2004 Jag XJ8 for a spin earlier! Just arrived so still testing the market!

GreatPretender

Original Poster:

26,140 posts

213 months

Thursday 13th November 2014
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Good man. Have you got your Qatar licence? Where was the Jag being sold?

Vanya

2,058 posts

243 months

Saturday 15th November 2014
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Moved to the Intercon City yesterday.

I've been to City Centre a couple of times, local sim etc.
Anyone else not able to sms UK after switching to a local (Vodafone QA) sim? hehe

I think I've also found somwhere to hire a Jeep Wrangler.

Anywhere good to go or see in the area?


jinkster

2,235 posts

155 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
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Qatar Licence, no - still waiting for RP (Medical is next week). Saw the car on Qatar Sale. Is that the best website to search for a car? I'm only after something fairly old as I don't think it would last too long out here anyway with the driving style!

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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I'd be reluctant to buy a car in the first few months, just to make sure you like it here, it can be a hard place to settle after the shine of coming to a new and foreign land has worn off and having to flog a car when you're moving can be a headache, whereas returning a rental is pretty easy. smile

jinkster

2,235 posts

155 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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I'm at QA so won't be here 24/7 !

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
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Orite you lot, next race is 19 - 20 December, is anyone around who fancies doing a bit of light work on the car in return for a pass for the weekend, nothing complicated, just helping out with bits and bobs.

IanUAE

2,927 posts

163 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
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Got my lad signed up for a media pass for the season. I will point your car out to him.

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
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IanUAE said:
Got my lad signed up for a media pass for the season. I will point your car out to him.
Thats should be easy enough it'll be the one at the front hehe

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Thursday 11th December 2014
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Schedule for the weekend posted

Vanya

2,058 posts

243 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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TobyLaRohne said:
Orite you lot, next race is 19 - 20 December, is anyone around who fancies doing a bit of light work on the car in return for a pass for the weekend, nothing complicated, just helping out with bits and bobs.

I'm up for some of this... not sure how helpful I'd be, always willing though!

paperbag

hehe


jinkster

2,235 posts

155 months

Saturday 13th December 2014
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Toby id come along too but flat out with the course at the moment. Hopefully in the New Year.

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Sunday 14th December 2014
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Vanya said:
TobyLaRohne said:
Orite you lot, next race is 19 - 20 December, is anyone around who fancies doing a bit of light work on the car in return for a pass for the weekend, nothing complicated, just helping out with bits and bobs.

I'm up for some of this... not sure how helpful I'd be, always willing though!

paperbag

hehe
Well if you can tighten wheelnuts with a torque wrench and check hood pins and help me get strapped into the car and help with fuelling you'll do perfectly! Nothing incredibly taxing.

schedule above for the weekend. Help would be mostly appreciated on the Saturday if you can swing it.

Vanya

2,058 posts

243 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
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Yes sure I'll give that a go.

PM incoming...

IanUAE

2,927 posts

163 months

Sunday 21st December 2014
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Well done Mark for the weekend. Lets just say we had a nightmare event.

TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
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Cheers chaps, another win under the belt! biggrin

Stevie D

2 posts

110 months

Friday 9th January 2015
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Morning Guys

I have just moved to Doha and the wife and kids will follow in April. Looking to get a Villa in the Al Waab area does anyone live there or know anyone that does?

Car wise the wife is wanting an older Range Rover Sport and im still unsure if i want to go down the car route or jeep/truck route what would you guys recommend?

Im interested in getting a track toy but nothing to expensive iv trawled qatarsale and semsar looking for anything already spec'd but cant find a thing? Is there another site thats more track day / race friendly?

Also is there much of a car detailing seen over here?

Cheers

Steve

Tannedbaldhead

2,952 posts

131 months

Saturday 10th January 2015
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johnfm said:
Watching with interest..I have an interview for a role in Doha this week.
Are you me is disguise? Am in exactly the same boat. smile


TobyLaRohne

5,713 posts

205 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Stevie D said:
Morning Guys

I have just moved to Doha and the wife and kids will follow in April. Looking to get a Villa in the Al Waab area does anyone live there or know anyone that does?

Car wise the wife is wanting an older Range Rover Sport and im still unsure if i want to go down the car route or jeep/truck route what would you guys recommend?

Im interested in getting a track toy but nothing to expensive iv trawled qatarsale and semsar looking for anything already spec'd but cant find a thing? Is there another site thats more track day / race friendly?

Also is there much of a car detailing seen over here?

Cheers

Steve
Hey Steve,

Sorry I can't help you with Al Waab, I've only lived in West Bay and the Pearl. I'd say find out where your office is and look close to there. There is plenty of accomodation in every area so as long as you get on it when you arrive you should be able to find somewhere that you like in whatever area you settle.

I know a couple of guys with Rangies and the reason they are affordable when used here is because the service and reliability is shocking for the most part. Both the guys I know with them have had issues both mechanically and electrically such as the suspension leaking air and it sitting on the bumpstops, the local dealer wanted to replace the whole shebang but my friend knew a guy in the UK at LR and he sent out a valve that fixed the issue for a few quid!..incompetent is the word I'd use!
Since their initial electrical issues and mechanical issues that were resolved propperly and outside of the LR dealer they've both been reliable actually! I think the problem is that the cars are not maintained propperly here (even if you take them to the dealer) so a few years can take its toll and when they do go wrong they dont have the ability to diagnose faults so they just replace whatever is broken...which at Land Rover rates is eyewateringly expensive!...so buy at your own risk!

All the track spec cars are sold within the community, as it happens I'm part of that community so I can help, I race in the local touring car series here, there are usually 2-3 cars for sale at any given time, all specc'd to run in the Qatar Challenge. They'd be perfect as a track slag or if you so wished you could grab a helmet,HANS, and some overalls and go racing for 500quid outlay to enter the championship! We (the drivers) also offer support to newbies with regards to helping with paperwork for race licenses etc and it is a friendly enough group so you'll be well cared for if you do choose to get stuck in.

Currently we have a newly built Clio 172 (Caged and running in the championship) that is going for something like 30-40k QAR
There is a Honda CRX going for about the same (faster but a bit more beat up and worn out)
Finally there is a Lotus Exige that has had the supercharger removed that is also ready to rock in the championship, it's had some reliability issues and its very expensive in my opinion at 140k QAR...but it has alot of spares (like engines).

As for detailing, one of my sponsors for Banzai (my race car) is a car Detailing company. Frankly they're the dogs bks in Qatar and if a sheikh has something nice he wants detailing or wrapping, he goes to these guys.

If there is anything else you want to know, just mention it on here, this now seems to be the Qatar Expat thread.

IanUAE

2,927 posts

163 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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and next weekend is the next race day. Should be there if SWMBO gives the green pass (spent all last week at the Dubai 24hr).