Middle East spotted thread
Discussion
Asterix said:
Stand out car seen recently for me was one of these on the SZR. It was white and was beautiful. So classy compared to all the modern stuff.
Time to put your hand in your pocket Asterix...http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/mer...gte=&price__gte=&year__gte=1920&body_type=357&year__lte=2011&kilometers__lte=&keywords=&is_basic_search_widget=0&pricelte=
Hitch78 said:
Asterix said:
Stand out car seen recently for me was one of these on the SZR. It was white and was beautiful. So classy compared to all the modern stuff.
Time to put your hand in your pocket Asterix...http://dubai.dubizzle.com/classified/autos4x4s/mer...gte=&price__gte=&year__gte=1920&body_type=357&year__lte=2011&kilometers__lte=&keywords=&is_basic_search_widget=0&pricelte=
d!Thought I'd bring this one back to life as yesterday, on one of my painfully frequent tips to Al Ain, I spotted some Mercs doing hot weather testing. I didn't get any picks but there was what appeared to be a new ML following a very very heavily classified SL. Given that both of these must be due for replacement in the next year or so it makes sense.
I have seen a Range Rover Evoque testing here too - though that was during Ramadan so it might have been the hunger making me see things!
I have seen a Range Rover Evoque testing here too - though that was during Ramadan so it might have been the hunger making me see things!
shirt said:
range rover classic . . . has now got me 
This was my original first choice for Dubai. I've always loved them but back in the UK they were too thirsty, too full of rust and too expensive (for a decent one).I looked at a couple over here but they were both compete sheds. They do exist but I think they are a getting a bit few and far between and I was fed up of not having any wheels.
I'm following your forum posts with interest! I went through a similar thought process myself when I arrived here - I've always gone for slightly unusual or older cars because I think there's something unspeakably cool about having something classic or different. In the end, I convinced myself that Dubai wasn't the place to be running something that needed loads of care and attention. It's just too much hassle worrying about availability of parts, breaking down in the middle of nowhere (in the middle of summer) or some idiot damaging it on a car park somewhere.
I can't believe I'm going to say this 'out loud' on PistonHeads, but I just don't see much point in having a sports car in Dubai. The roads are straight and boring, the traffic is a disaster there are way too many idiots on the road. Sorry for all the negativity; I'm not a troll and I'm not trying to influence your decision, just letting you know how my own thought processes evolved into the relatively bland but perfectly capable Tahoe that I bought this year.
Good luck! Keep us all posted.
cheers buddy [just replied to your pm btw] - i think!
long winded post alert!
my thought process, like yours, precludes strict performance cars as 90% of the time i'll be driving in the city where 120kph is the max, with the odd weekend trip around the patch hunting interesting roads and the very occasional trackday.
however, i have had so many boring cars in the UK and i'm enjoying a major pay hike here. i'm youngish and single, and with no other major vices i should be hoisting the PH flag in style. i really don't think AED120k is in anyway excessive and there is plenty to go at for this budget.
with performance out, i must admit i would like a dune basher, but since being a very small boy i have yearned for classic metal. the need for aircon is obvious, ergo i need to look at something with a big stateside following for aftermarket support. for a while i was looking at early mustangs which are mechanically simple and enjoys local club support. i believe i have even located a guy who restores them in abu dhabi.
however, porsche enjoys a similar following in the US and so has great parts availability there. for similar money, the choice is a very easy one both aesthetically & performance wise. it's also much more 'me' and is becoming an extremely bloody difficult obsession to shift!
i ran an '82 528i for 20k miles in the UK last year, so have some experience in going against the grain, and i rewired the thing with just the haynes manual to go on. i'm a fairly hands on engineer with access to guys who strip/rebuild twin turbo v12's all day long. i am also going to go find this chris fellow the next time i see his 964 in the car park. the praise for al saluki on here and dubaipetrolheads is encouraging, it really only comes down to finding a good un to begin with, and reliability/spares issues from there on.
as a halfway house, i'm thinking porsche 914 or tuned karmann ghia. just for the cost & hassle of shipping, it's not a lot extra to bring in a strong driving 911.
i'm more indecisive than chilli when it comes to these things, believe me. all the above is subject to change, the value of your home can go up as well as down
long winded post alert!
my thought process, like yours, precludes strict performance cars as 90% of the time i'll be driving in the city where 120kph is the max, with the odd weekend trip around the patch hunting interesting roads and the very occasional trackday.
however, i have had so many boring cars in the UK and i'm enjoying a major pay hike here. i'm youngish and single, and with no other major vices i should be hoisting the PH flag in style. i really don't think AED120k is in anyway excessive and there is plenty to go at for this budget.
with performance out, i must admit i would like a dune basher, but since being a very small boy i have yearned for classic metal. the need for aircon is obvious, ergo i need to look at something with a big stateside following for aftermarket support. for a while i was looking at early mustangs which are mechanically simple and enjoys local club support. i believe i have even located a guy who restores them in abu dhabi.
however, porsche enjoys a similar following in the US and so has great parts availability there. for similar money, the choice is a very easy one both aesthetically & performance wise. it's also much more 'me' and is becoming an extremely bloody difficult obsession to shift!
i ran an '82 528i for 20k miles in the UK last year, so have some experience in going against the grain, and i rewired the thing with just the haynes manual to go on. i'm a fairly hands on engineer with access to guys who strip/rebuild twin turbo v12's all day long. i am also going to go find this chris fellow the next time i see his 964 in the car park. the praise for al saluki on here and dubaipetrolheads is encouraging, it really only comes down to finding a good un to begin with, and reliability/spares issues from there on.
as a halfway house, i'm thinking porsche 914 or tuned karmann ghia. just for the cost & hassle of shipping, it's not a lot extra to bring in a strong driving 911.
i'm more indecisive than chilli when it comes to these things, believe me. all the above is subject to change, the value of your home can go up as well as down
Gentleman Geoff said:
I can't believe I'm going to say this 'out loud' on PistonHeads, but I just don't see much point in having a sports car in Dubai. The roads are straight and boring, the traffic is a disaster there are way too many idiots on the road.
Interestingly Geoff, I felt the complete opposite. Every summer when I go back to see the folks in the UK, I am appalled at the annual drop in driving standards, increase in congestion and the fascist approach to speed enforcement. A sports car seems (to me) utterly pointless in the UK. On the other hand, a short distance out of Dubai, one can discover some pretty decent (and empty) driving roads and the Autodrome is only a 20 minute drive away wherever you are in the city. Plus no-one envies a nice car out here and car crime is very low.On the subject of classic Range Rovers, shirt - you'd best get over to A2B and ask Gareth for his view on these. He sees a fair few of these. In short, don't do it. They simply cannot cope with the harsh climate and you may spend more money on annual maintenance than the value of the car.
I understand your point though Shirt; I had a Boxster S which I loved dearly but I hated watching the kms roll up as I drove along endless stretches of boring highway. On and off ramps became dangerous for me as I was forever trying to beat my speed and prolongue the drift!
Where are the 'great drivers roads' of the UAE? Only ones I know are miles away: the road to Khassab, the one in Liwa into the desert and Jebel Hafeet.
Where are the 'great drivers roads' of the UAE? Only ones I know are miles away: the road to Khassab, the one in Liwa into the desert and Jebel Hafeet.
shirt said:
this. very refreshing it is too.
i've slept since seeing the RR. car choices have all changed again
Brilliant. We'd be great going car shopping together....I was looking at an XKR yesterday, but I still have this annoying urge to go and get the new Durango....with it's cooled seats & remote starting, given that I have to park all day in the Sun!i've slept since seeing the RR. car choices have all changed again
There is a Karmann Ghia just down the road form me for sale.
Spotted an orange/silver Veyron on SZR by the Marina on the way home from work a couple of days ago.
I think he saw me swerving all over the road while I fumbled for the camera and decided it would be better to be a very long way from me. His foot went down and the world imploded as it litterally bent time and space while accellerating to renta-car type speeds.
Then a speed camera flashed him
Spotted an orange/silver Veyron on SZR by the Marina on the way home from work a couple of days ago.
I think he saw me swerving all over the road while I fumbled for the camera and decided it would be better to be a very long way from me. His foot went down and the world imploded as it litterally bent time and space while accellerating to renta-car type speeds.
Then a speed camera flashed him
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