I genuinely don't know what car to buy (yes a what car)

I genuinely don't know what car to buy (yes a what car)

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dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

173 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
So I am slowly dying a death in a rented Ford Figo...

The Mustang in my profile served me very very well for 7 years and over 100k kms, that was an Al Tayer car that I bought from Ras al Khor at 1 year old, so had the balance of a 3 year/60k kms service pack and warranty.

By and large cost me buttons to run aside from tyres and batteries, had some gearbox issues in December, upon investigation it would have cost circa 50-60% of the value of the car to fix properly, I asked the garage if they fancied making me an offer on it (they'd previously done the same on the other half's Kia) and we shook hands on the deal there and then.

I am now completely stumped as to what to replace it with.

Recent Dubizzle search histories include

F150 (It's an itch that wants to be scratched)
Merc SL (AMG variant, massive bork potential)
Cayman (would need to chat to the Pork section about all these IMS/RMS/Bore scoring issues)
Caddy CTS (the Vette engined one)
Corvette
Cherokee SRT

Budget is around 150 (there is probably another 30 there for man maths)..

I'd like something with some kind of OEM warranty still on it if possible, I live in JVT and work in the Greens so commute is tiny, only distances I drive are to the golf courses of the UAE.

Mate threw in that Hyundai Genesis thing as something new and left field, it has the right kind of ingredients on paper plus they are cheap (about 100k iirc) but I am worried it'd still feel like I was driving a taxi...

Test drove a Focus ST when the missus picked up her Edge, horrible thing, never appreciated what an issue torque steer is until then.

Ideally needs to be able to fit a full size golf bag in the bag as well.

HELP!




IanUAE

2,930 posts

164 months

Monday 4th April 2016
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Mate has one of these > Cherokee SRT. Lovely motor just don't wear the pads down to low and thus need new discs......

shirt

22,569 posts

201 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
m3?

sam's evora is for sale for 150k. not sure if warranty is left but he hasn't had any issues with it other than the clutch [factory recall]. cracking car, cheap to service [toyota running gear] and looks the nuts. http://tnydu.biz/DOsVur

suv wise you should try a cayenne gts. easy to hate the looks but driving one is a different matter entirely. the new cherokee is also a great car [huuuge step over the last gen] with all the toys. a friend is selling her fully specced overland at a bargain price as she's taken a job in the uk - http://tnydu.biz/DOssvQ

new mustangs are in budget as well. new one seems a step up in terms of chassis and certainly looks a lot better.

re: cayman you can take your pick at that money. as long as you buy an 09 model onwards the driveline was redesigned so doesn't have the IMS problem. at your budget you could be in a 911.

given you're used to a lazy v8 gt type of car, perhaps a jag xk / xkr would suit?

still, an evora though…… [2% commission please sam]

Edited by shirt on Monday 4th April 11:24

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

173 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
shirt said:
m3?

sam's evora is for sale for 150k. not sure if warranty is left but he hasn't had any issues with it other than the clutch [factory recall]. cracking car, cheap to service [toyota running gear] and looks the nuts. http://tnydu.biz/DOsVur

suv wise you should try a cayenne gts. easy to hate the looks but driving one is a different matter entirely. the new cherokee is also a great car [huuuge step over the last gen] with all the toys. a friend is selling her fully specced overland at a bargain price as she's taken a job in the uk - http://tnydu.biz/DOssvQ

new mustangs are in budget as well. new one seems a step up in terms of chassis and certainly looks a lot better.

re: cayman you can take your pick at that money. as long as you buy an 09 model onwards the driveline was redesigned so doesn't have the IMS problem. at your budget you could be in a 911.

given you're used to a lazy v8 gt type of car, perhaps a jag xk / xkr would suit?

still, an evora though…… [2% commission please sam]

Edited by shirt on Monday 4th April 11:24
Hmmm, that's exactly the kind of thing I'd hoped I would get thrown at me, I'd never even thought of a Lotus.

Think I've done the Mustang thing, it'd feel like cheating on my first love.

Two mates had horrific experiences with M3s, it's somewhat put me off them (and I'd rather a C63 anyway).

Will refine Pork searches to 2010 onwards and see what that brings and give some thought to that Evora.

XKR again not a bad shout, people we share dogsitting duties with have one, I'll chat to him about the experience.

Just seen another Raptor on way back from lunch which isn't helping (Chris, talk me out of it!)


shirt

22,569 posts

201 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
i saw sams evora at the weekend. they look so much better in the metal, i was trying to persuade him not to sell it! he's coming up to dubai thursday-saturday as well if you wanted a look/chat.

lotus community is tiny here but does include a few superstars. pretty sure someone on here works at the dealership too. i usually look on seloc [uk site] for technical issues and lotus talk [US] for creature comforts. although the evora doesn't need anywhere near the fettling the elise does to cope out here.

Fats25

6,260 posts

229 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
Someone on here maybe selling his Cayman soon.

No idea of price, and no idea if still selling, but I will point him in direction of this thread when he returns from UK today (or perhaps tomorrow).

I know nothing of Caymans, other than his looks beautiful, and he is proper OCD about his cars! wink

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

173 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
shirt said:
i saw sams evora at the weekend. they look so much better in the metal, i was trying to persuade him not to sell it! he's coming up to dubai thursday-saturday as well if you wanted a look/chat.

lotus community is tiny here but does include a few superstars. pretty sure someone on here works at the dealership too. i usually look on seloc [uk site] for technical issues and lotus talk [US] for creature comforts. although the evora doesn't need anywhere near the fettling the elise does to cope out here.
I've lost your number, ping me a text if you still have mine, I might have time to come see it Friday afternoon if the stars align

Fats25 said:
Someone on here maybe selling his Cayman soon.

No idea of price, and no idea if still selling, but I will point him in direction of this thread when he returns from UK today (or perhaps tomorrow).

I know nothing of Caymans, other than his looks beautiful, and he is proper OCD about his cars! wink
Talk to me about the Raptor...

Fats25

6,260 posts

229 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
dxbtiger said:
Talk to me about the Raptor...
Just about to tee off for 9 holes. Will respond tomorrow with some of my ownership experience - let me know if you want to know anything specific:

TNW

536 posts

202 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
I had a Gen 1 boggo 2.7 Cayman for a year when I first moved here. It had an OPC warranty so I didn't have to worry too much about the engine letting go, not that I really needed it for anything. It had a pretty hard life with plenty of time on the track and yet it never missed a beat. The interior is miles better than a 997 of the same age with nowhere near the wear rate. Only other thing to really check apart from the engine seals is a recall for the oil/fuel separator (I think) which results an huge cloud of white smoke when it goes. Pretty worrying a the time, but doesn't do any damage. They also tend to give off a bit of blue smoke now and then when they start from cold (mine only did it in the "winter") - apparently this is normal!

If you want a warranty car, get one with a Porsche one on already. Otherwise it will have to go through the 111 point check first and I'm pretty sure they will dream up something expensive that's wrong with it + to pass the check it has to be 100% standard (even the battery needs to be OEM!) and either without any repaired accident damage or to have been fixed at the Porsche body shop. The cover can be extended yearly up to 10 years in total and is not too expensive here.

It's also worth checking the wheel / tyre sizes on the car. There's lots of different options and some of the tyre sizes are really hard to get hold of here, esp if it's got the smaller sizes.

As for driving, it's a much better handling car than a 997 if you want something with a neutral balance, but less of an event / challenge. Each have their good points but the Cayman is a lot more predictable & easier to extract the best from.

It's also amazing how much stuff you can fit in the front truck and rear hatch, filled it up with half an apartment of stuff from ikea once!




Edited by TNW on Monday 4th April 14:22

samnorthy

288 posts

207 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
As shirt said I can be in DXB this weekend with the Evora if you want a look around it, also sold my raptor in October so am able to share some pointers on that experience also!

Funnily enough was thinking about an M3 should the lotus sell so would be interested in your mates experience there too.

Sam

Rich_AR

1,960 posts

204 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
Fats25 said:
Someone on here maybe selling his Cayman soon.

No idea of price, and no idea if still selling, but I will point him in direction of this thread when he returns from UK today (or perhaps tomorrow).

I know nothing of Caymans, other than his looks beautiful, and he is proper OCD about his cars! wink
Cheers Fats25! Yes it's for sale (well, will be going up for sale in a week or so). I hardly use it enough to warrant owning it.

It's a 2015 Cayman GTS. Lots of options and less than 10k on the clock and still well in OPC warranty.

Yes I am a tad anal about it, I don't even like parking it in the sun and never use it for work either! Personally hand washed once a week and covered in a dust cover when not used! The paint work is mint as is the rest of the car!


Quick pic:



Drop me a message if you're interested smile

6th Gear

3,563 posts

194 months

Monday 4th April 2016
quotequote all
^^^ That's a lovely looking Cayman.

What about the Audi S6?

Twin Turbo Charged V8, it's a Rocket!


dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

173 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Fats25 said:
Just about to tee off for 9 holes. Will respond tomorrow with some of my ownership experience - let me know if you want to know anything specific:
Just what they are like to live with day to day really!

Even the lifted FX4s have a strange appeal if it isn't the Raptor.

TNW said:
I had a Gen 1 boggo 2.7 Cayman for a year when I first moved here. It had an OPC warranty so I didn't have to worry too much about the engine letting go, not that I really needed it for anything. It had a pretty hard life with plenty of time on the track and yet it never missed a beat. The interior is miles better than a 997 of the same age with nowhere near the wear rate. Only other thing to really check apart from the engine seals is a recall for the oil/fuel separator (I think) which results an huge cloud of white smoke when it goes. Pretty worrying a the time, but doesn't do any damage. They also tend to give off a bit of blue smoke now and then when they start from cold (mine only did it in the "winter") - apparently this is normal!

If you want a warranty car, get one with a Porsche one on already. Otherwise it will have to go through the 111 point check first and I'm pretty sure they will dream up something expensive that's wrong with it + to pass the check it has to be 100% standard (even the battery needs to be OEM!) and either without any repaired accident damage or to have been fixed at the Porsche body shop. The cover can be extended yearly up to 10 years in total and is not too expensive here.

It's also worth checking the wheel / tyre sizes on the car. There's lots of different options and some of the tyre sizes are really hard to get hold of here, esp if it's got the smaller sizes.

As for driving, it's a much better handling car than a 997 if you want something with a neutral balance, but less of an event / challenge. Each have their good points but the Cayman is a lot more predictable & easier to extract the best from.

It's also amazing how much stuff you can fit in the front truck and rear hatch, filled it up with half an apartment of stuff from ikea once!




Edited by TNW on Monday 4th April 14:22
Good info cheers

samnorthy said:
As shirt said I can be in DXB this weekend with the Evora if you want a look around it, also sold my raptor in October so am able to share some pointers on that experience also!

Funnily enough was thinking about an M3 should the lotus sell so would be interested in your mates experience there too.

Sam
I've first round of Club Championships Friday morning then some leaving do in the afternoon/evening, need to check with SWMBO what time that starts.

I assume the Raptor was the daily?

How was it?

Many issues (I have deep seated distrust of Al Tayer's service dept)?

Both were E46s, both had pretty catastrophic gearbox (SMG/DCT?) issues, one I could assume was down to a less than regular maintenance regime, the other looked after it very well.

Rich_AR said:
Cheers Fats25! Yes it's for sale (well, will be going up for sale in a week or so). I hardly use it enough to warrant owning it.

It's a 2015 Cayman GTS. Lots of options and less than 10k on the clock and still well in OPC warranty.

Yes I am a tad anal about it, I don't even like parking it in the sun and never use it for work either! Personally hand washed once a week and covered in a dust cover when not used! The paint work is mint as is the rest of the car!


Quick pic:



Drop me a message if you're interested smile
That's lovely, although I guess would need some considerable budget creep even above the 180 figure?

6th Gear said:
^^^ That's a lovely looking Cayman.

What about the Audi S6?

Twin Turbo Charged V8, it's a Rocket!

Sure it's quick, feels more like the car I'd get after this one though.

Neighbour has the 5 litre S5, that's a lovely looking thing.

Fats25

6,260 posts

229 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Ok - so here is my everyday Raptor Experience.

Firstly I use as my everyday car, I drive it from JI to DIFC everyday, and comfortably park it in the underground car park. I am yet to find a car park I cannot get the Raptor into in Dubai for height. There are a couple that are tight on the width where the entrance winds down to a car park, but with caution I have not been defeated yet. The Hi-Ride FX4's do struggle - some of them are approx 10cm taller than the Raptor, and that makes a big difference. My aerial is approx 2cm taller than the roof, so that is always my guide. Nice thing about the Raptor is that most peoples car doors bang into the steps, so they don't mark your doors when being inconsiderate.

Mine is a 2012 model (Sam's was a 2013 I think), registered in 2013. Mine is the Supercrew full 4 doors. I think Sams was the smaller half rear doors. The main change in the models from what I can tell is a revised center console, different Sat Nav (mine is MS Sync, and later is Fords own model), and it has a front camera. Note the front camera cannot be used for parking - it is used for rock crawling - so is a bit redundant I would think. Parking forwards is a challenge, but parking backwards with the reverse camera is easier in the Raptor than it is in the Camaro.

Coming from the Mustang to the Raptor it will feel slow. Every time I get from Camaro to Raptor it feels slow. That being said it will cruise at 160 happily. I average 18.1L per 100Km, and I drive it foot to the floor. It handles surprisingly well, the steering circle is much better than you expect, and if you give it some power you can slide the back round on tight U-Turns. Mine has done 48k KM and is still on original tyres, and they have not yet reached the replace indicator. That being said they are starting to chunk up a bit now, and they are extremely slidey in the damp like we have had recently. Best tyre price I have found is 1100AED per corner fitted.

Mine has 5 year warranty (to March 2018) and just past the 3 year maintenance package. The only thing I have paid for in the 18 months/32k KM I have driven it is a replacement wheel cap which got lost somehow, some grease for the leaf springs (excessive jetwashing caused this when clearing the concrete off!), and A/C service. Everything else has been included (at Al Tayer) as part of maintanance package. So I cannot advise on service cost. Brake pads were replaced last service I know that - but not sure if done before that or not.

Driving in the desert it is good. You need to give some power to get up the Dunes, it is not like a Jeep due to the long wheel base. However I run out of ability a long time before the truck does. I have used the truck for transporting stuff, and the extenders on the rear have a been a lifesaver a couple of times when I have underestimated the size of something I have collected or dropped off.

I did have Ford Focus RS drive into the side of me. I felt like I had ran over a piece of plastic in the road. I had - but it was a Ford Focus RS that had the entire front grille destroyed. The Raptor had a 3inch scrape on the side step.

Only issues I have seen on mine is that the Sat Nav intermittently does not come on. Restart of the engine, and it solves it. I also had it stall on the first day I got it. No idea how an automatic stalled, but as soon as it happened the dash illuminated all sorts of low oil warnings, and scary messages. I st a brick - but it has never ever happened again.

I can't think of anything else to add. I have been looking at other cars recently, but I don't think I can sell the Raptor, and I cannot justify 3 cars, we don't use 2 cars enough. Is so much car for the money, is practical, safe, fun, cheap to run, and a V8 truck called a Raptor - what else is there that can beat it for ownership?!

I have even been looking into details of how I would get it home to UK when my time here is up. Not as an everyday car, but I just don't think I would want to be without it.

XB70

2,482 posts

196 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Nice write up! You are making me want to buy one!

The wife is keen to move to an SUV (one of the other parents got t-boned in her Durango and really rattled her. Some massive damage to the Durango in the cabin but all occupants were ok - I think a sedan would have been totalled). My little boy would love the Raptor - he is fascinated with a huge blue one a few doors down from us.

I am in the midst of looking to change too but so frustrated with the frankly stupid asking prices for cars and the "all options, fully loaded" nonsense that is patently not true. Don't even get me started on some people's perception of a 'full service history'. And breathe!

:-)

I can't figure out the used car market here, both in private sellers but also in dealers. They seem geared to new cars only and their used sections generally just don't seem bothered.

Anyways, back to the OP, my 2 pence/cents/fils would be the CTS-V - great good value for money and hilariously quick. I would buy one but just too cramped in the back for kids in their car seats.

Cannot speak for them reliability wise but my Caddy has (touch wood) been faultless. Some lifed parts need to be replaced (struts and a door solenoid) but has only needed new tires, brakes and a battery. I am staggered at how well put together it is. Will be interesting to see what the new CT6 is like.

Fats25

6,260 posts

229 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
XB70 said:
Nice write up! You are making me want to buy one!

The wife is keen to move to an SUV (
Before I bought mine I spoke with Sam to ask a few questions, and one of the things I said was that the Mrs wouldn't drive it as it is too big. Sam said that was same conversation he had with his Mrs, and she ended up taking it most days! I just couldn't see it as my Mrs had not even driven in Dubai at that time.

He was right. She happily takes it everywhere. She is still a bit concerned by some underground car parks, but if she knows she has option of on street parking and/or off street "in a sand" pit parking, she will happily take the Raptor. Dubai Mall, Marina Mall, MOE no issues. She does not take it to Madinat though as is too tight for her (it does fit though and I drive it there).

They even let her put it on the jacks at the car wash for underneath washing, they don't let me do that!

If you want to take a look around (Mike as well) a Raptor drop me a note and happy to oblige. XB70 you still owe me a beer for (almost) spotting your car!


XB70

2,482 posts

196 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
Fats25 said:
Before I bought mine I spoke with Sam to ask a few questions, and one of the things I said was that the Mrs wouldn't drive it as it is too big. Sam said that was same conversation he had with his Mrs, and she ended up taking it most days! I just couldn't see it as my Mrs had not even driven in Dubai at that time.

He was right. She happily takes it everywhere. She is still a bit concerned by some underground car parks, but if she knows she has option of on street parking and/or off street "in a sand" pit parking, she will happily take the Raptor. Dubai Mall, Marina Mall, MOE no issues. She does not take it to Madinat though as is too tight for her (it does fit though and I drive it there).

They even let her put it on the jacks at the car wash for underneath washing, they don't let me do that!

If you want to take a look around (Mike as well) a Raptor drop me a note and happy to oblige. XB70 you still owe me a beer for (almost) spotting your car!
Ha ha - similar in the sense that it was also from Cadillac and has four wheels! But yes, I do owe you :-)

Would be great to have a look round and we'll get that hops based beverage sorted ASAP too

Onetrackmind

813 posts

213 months

Tuesday 5th April 2016
quotequote all
180k will see you into the following:

2013 Cayman, but pushing it for an S. Hard to ignore!
Nearly new 5.0 Mustang. Coyote engine will be a big step forward from your old Mustang. As said, a much better drivers car than previous.
Mint low miles Jap import C63 and lots of change.
2009+ 997.2 S.
Nearly new M235i.

All sort of meet your criteria. Personally, I love the Cayman. A 5.0 Mustang in that lovely dark green/grey is also tempting.


shirt

22,569 posts

201 months

Wednesday 6th April 2016
quotequote all
non-s cayman will always leave you wishing you'd stretched that little bit further. the gts is the pick of the bunch.

with you on the green/gray mustang, they're pretty much to only yank motor i like. would have to be the gt350 though for that engine note.

dxbtiger

Original Poster:

4,389 posts

173 months

Wednesday 6th April 2016
quotequote all
Thanks to all for the input

This morning I am mainly lusting after this

http://tnydu.biz/DOswFX

Has to be a contender for world's most ridiculous 'coupe'