the 'what car' musings thread

the 'what car' musings thread

Author
Discussion

6th Gear

3,563 posts

194 months

Monday 12th October 2015
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shirt

Original Poster:

22,546 posts

201 months

Thursday 22nd October 2015
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TNW

536 posts

202 months

Wednesday 28th October 2015
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Onetrackmind

813 posts

213 months

Friday 30th October 2015
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dunebuggy

50 posts

115 months

Sunday 1st November 2015
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That GT2 above doesn't look quite standard if it really does have 700bhp...

Glenn Quagmire

26,140 posts

214 months

Sunday 1st November 2015
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dunebuggy said:
That GT2 above doesn't look quite standard if it really does have 700bhp...
It looks positively shagged...

shirt

Original Poster:

22,546 posts

201 months

Thursday 26th November 2015
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quite fancy this:

http://tnydu.biz/DOsG8E

drive it as is whilst obtaining the bits to convert to manual and make it look like this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

or for less cash this minter…..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Porsche-911-911-CARRERA-2-...




Edited by shirt on Thursday 26th November 17:24

Onetrackmind

813 posts

213 months

Friday 27th November 2015
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Would love a 964. Hard to think they were once so unloved considering how good they look now. I had the chance to buy one three years ago at aed 65k. Regret that! I think converting one to manual wouldn't be cheap. That one on Californian plates does look a bargain. Out of interest, how are you getting on with the Elise out here?

Matt

shirt

Original Poster:

22,546 posts

201 months

Monday 30th November 2015
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needs a slight de-barrying session but seems a good buy:

http://tnydu.biz/DOs0V4


re: the 964's yeah i also passed up the opportunity to buy an absolute peach of a car in midnight blue a few years back. jap import, subtle mods, 48k on the clock, utterly mint. went for AED70k and i have kicked myself more than a few times since. however i also passed up on a pre-73 911T for $21k and an 'r' homage for $24k so i have other kicks in there too...

given the current state of the porsche market i am beginning to think a 964 is the best way to go for a hot rod/fun car build. i doubt it'd be much work to do a manual conversion. problem with the use is that there's only really auto available, even though they try and attract manual prices.


re: the elise. well its a great car and a joy to drive, i have become more than a little bit in love with it. whilst the evora is much more suited to dubai the elise is not a bad option by any means and far better than a [non v6] exige. if you're willing go through the upgrade path they can be made pretty bulletproof.

on the road you have to obey the UAE law of 'biggest car has priority'. mirrors aren't the best and there's no visibility over the rear flanks so you get used to lifesaver checks and accelerating into gaps. being small and pretty quiet means its fairly easy for the drone population of drivers to completely miss you. not just in traffic either, i had a bmw 3 series reverse into the side of it as i was stationery in MOE car park as he didn't see me and ignored my horn. thankfully just a small tap and scratches from that one, i have some GRP repairs ongoing at the moment from a slightly more violent encounter...

needless to say the steering/handling is fantastic. i fitted a set of lotus specific yokohama AD007's and had a full set-up by MSW. this alone was 1500chips but got the signature fastidious robbi treatment and now have a car that makes me smile each time i fold myself inside it. it's tons of fun at low speed darting about, but loves to be pushed and really needs it to keep on the 2nd cam when making progress. feels a hell of a lot more stable and composed than i imagined and the ride quality is excellent given the intended purpose. have had it up at 250kph and everything still felt solid. fuel tank is tiny though [40 litres i think] and doesn't last long at all.

mine is originally a canadian market car so is missing the 2nd oil cooler, GCC a/c upgrades etc. although it copes remarkably well with the heat to be fair. longest 'pain ride' was probably dubai>abu dhabi 2 up in 40deg heat. was a bit sweaty but not the sauna we expected.

other cons would include the terrible gearchange, cabin heat soak [stood in traffic with no airflow and things get really uncomfortable!], the numerous clunks and rattles and the pretty wk standard engine map and cam change point. all of these are 'fixable' though. clams aside they're very easy cars to work on and most parts are cheaply/easily available. that said most of my tinkering has been upgrades. i think the only thing that's actually failed has been the passenger window mechanism.

so to summarise - works surprisingly well in the uae even in summer, although you need to have the inclination and facilities to fettle it yourself. i am looking forward to all the bargain exige v6's when they come out of warranty and the locals get fed up with all the quirks of a low volume sports car.

there are times when driving it is a pain and i will never drive it hungover again..... however that's what taxis are for. i don't get to spend much time at 'home' these days and the thought of getting back and taking the elise out for a spin is always a good one to have.



Edited by shirt on Tuesday 1st December 01:32

Mr Tourette

26,140 posts

214 months

Tuesday 1st December 2015
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Good heavens!



http://tnydu.biz/DOsEYe

It certainly gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to know that there is a selection of tasty motors in this part of the world, but the problem for me (in AUH at least) is that I can't find any bugger to look after them!

Rich_AR

1,960 posts

204 months

Monday 21st December 2015
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Onetrackmind

813 posts

213 months

Tuesday 22nd December 2015
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Yep, Mel 2 escort out here is pretty rare! Saw it on gulfpetrolheads where it is also advertised.

Shirt, thanks for the info regarding the Lotus. Only just noticed your reply. With you on the newer v6 model. They'd be tempting if they come down far enough. Noticed 991 gt3's going for under 400k so makes you wonder what a gt4 will be worth in a year or two's time?!

XB70

2,482 posts

196 months

Thursday 21st January 2016
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GCC spec AMG C55

http://tnydu.biz/DOsfSt

Older car with some k's on it (but more believable than the 70,000km cars that all the imports from Japan seem to be!)

Not a bad runaround

6th Gear

3,563 posts

194 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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XB70

2,482 posts

196 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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For anyone looking for a bargain barge

http://tnydu.biz/DOsfJR


TNW

536 posts

202 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
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http://tnydu.biz/DOskTy

Gcc c63, Seems very cheap

Pennyroyal Tea

26,140 posts

214 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
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Speaking of Bargain Barges, what's the bets this was a Yakuza staff car in a previous life?


http://tnydu.biz/DOsCgd

I want it.

samnorthy

288 posts

207 months

Tuesday 9th February 2016
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Gents,

We have further reduce the price of the Evora - looking for offers around 150k

Will happily bring the car to Dubai for viewing should the buyer be serious.

http://tnydu.biz/DOsVur


shirt

Original Poster:

22,546 posts

201 months