RE: PH Blog: Dubai or not Dubai?
Discussion
I was excited when I got to Dubai and was told my hire car would be a Lancer. I immediately conjured up images of an EVO. (stupid but true) You can't imagine my disappointment when I got to the car and was presented with one of the most dumpy, wishy/washy boring saloon cars I have ever had the misfortune of driving. Truly dreadful.
It was limited to 120 km's too. Its nearly impossible to go over that anyway because of all the speed cameras but it did put a downer on the whole trip.
The Japanese saloons reign supreme here. That and Japanese SUV's as said. Some of them are enormous!
It was limited to 120 km's too. Its nearly impossible to go over that anyway because of all the speed cameras but it did put a downer on the whole trip.
The Japanese saloons reign supreme here. That and Japanese SUV's as said. Some of them are enormous!
National day is the funniest time for cars in UAE.
Some of the things you see and the 'decorated' cars driving around are hilarious.
If anyone wants to get to experience the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and drive the Yas Marina F1 circuit and do some quad biking in desert, do Ferrari world etc etc.
Then circuit days are running are an event that I think is mindblowing value for money this year.
I'm all booked up. Will be my 10th time out there. I really like it. I always see truck loads of supercars. Dunno what the OP is talking about!
http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/ade.asp#col2
Some of the things you see and the 'decorated' cars driving around are hilarious.
If anyone wants to get to experience the Dubai, Abu Dhabi and drive the Yas Marina F1 circuit and do some quad biking in desert, do Ferrari world etc etc.
Then circuit days are running are an event that I think is mindblowing value for money this year.
I'm all booked up. Will be my 10th time out there. I really like it. I always see truck loads of supercars. Dunno what the OP is talking about!
http://www.circuit-days.co.uk/ade.asp#col2
Edited by Porkie on Tuesday 15th January 12:53
I dont live in Dubai but have been a regular visitor since my brother moved their 15 years or so ago and was last there for Christmas.
There is in my mind no doubt that the exocitca and SUVs have significantly reduced in proportion on other cars on the road. When I first went about the only non-exocita or SUV were taxis, you'd certainly never see a small hatchback. However now small hatchbacks,, non exocitca or SUVs are common and far exceed the nicer cars.
However still plenty of the nice stuff around.
There is in my mind no doubt that the exocitca and SUVs have significantly reduced in proportion on other cars on the road. When I first went about the only non-exocita or SUV were taxis, you'd certainly never see a small hatchback. However now small hatchbacks,, non exocitca or SUVs are common and far exceed the nicer cars.
However still plenty of the nice stuff around.
Bjam99 said:
I was excited when I got to Dubai and was told my hire car would be a Lancer. I immediately conjured up images of an EVO. (stupid but true) You can't imagine my disappointment when I got to the car and was presented with one of the most dumpy, wishy/washy boring saloon cars I have ever had the misfortune of driving. Truly dreadful.
It was limited to 120 km's too. Its nearly impossible to go over that anyway because of all the speed cameras but it did put a downer on the whole trip.
The Japanese saloons reign supreme here. That and Japanese SUV's as said. Some of them are enormous!
HAHAHAHAHAHA! that is the worst car out here!...1.5L automatic of doom! It was limited to 120 km's too. Its nearly impossible to go over that anyway because of all the speed cameras but it did put a downer on the whole trip.
The Japanese saloons reign supreme here. That and Japanese SUV's as said. Some of them are enormous!
there are many lancers, corollas, yaris's, even dacia logans on dubai's roads. i think a new 1.3l lancer is in the £6-7k ballpark. you have to realise that 80% of the uae's population are not locals or western expats, such cars are the norm.
away from the starter cars, many of the ubiquitous boxy saloons and suvs are not base models. find me a poverty spec. merc in their showroom, you just can't get them. amg sls with all the toys? you can have a 0km one in a range of colours off the showroom floor. i lose count of the amount of amgs i see daily, every bugger has one!
most sterotypical local rich kids will rag the ass off a supercar and if it breaks will have it 'fixed' at the equivalent of a backstreet bradford chopshop. they have zero mechanical sympathy, can't drive a manual, and woe betide being the next owner of that lambo sv or slr 722. only last night i was overtaken by a yellow aventador screaming it's tits off as it put clear air between the sls it was racing against through the marina.
some locals have taste and their collections reflect this. i have been lucky enough to be inside a couple of these and have seen cars i have only ever dreamt about before and an eclectic choice [bmw alpina 2002, skylined 240z, daytona cobra, r129 amg etc] that would have most pher's salivating.
the older generations can still remember dubai of old and are not so ostentatious with their wealth. old money tends towards grander past times - horses, yachts and falconry. its the bulk of the younger mob who give the 'bling' reputation as they clamour for individuality and identity, knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. it is these guys who keep mansory in business.
the local passion is for offroad racing and drag racing, although drifting is gaining popularity. expat petrolheads gravitate towards the track where we can't believe how cheap it is to do a track day [£200 for 2 drivers in the same car - full day on the Yas GP circuit] and drive cars that would look ridiculous back home as it's probably the only chance we'll get to do so. its just unfortunate there is no grass roots racing to get the wannabes on track, although this is improving with the unsanctioned autocross events run by the likes of evolve.ae
in the main though this place is just like everywhere else. some people buy rangerovers or s-classes as status symbols, some buy corvettes and mustangs as they are so cheap to buy and run. most though just treat a car as a white good and end up with a midrange SUV or barge simply because the second hand market is awash with them and they hold their money well.
away from the starter cars, many of the ubiquitous boxy saloons and suvs are not base models. find me a poverty spec. merc in their showroom, you just can't get them. amg sls with all the toys? you can have a 0km one in a range of colours off the showroom floor. i lose count of the amount of amgs i see daily, every bugger has one!
most sterotypical local rich kids will rag the ass off a supercar and if it breaks will have it 'fixed' at the equivalent of a backstreet bradford chopshop. they have zero mechanical sympathy, can't drive a manual, and woe betide being the next owner of that lambo sv or slr 722. only last night i was overtaken by a yellow aventador screaming it's tits off as it put clear air between the sls it was racing against through the marina.
some locals have taste and their collections reflect this. i have been lucky enough to be inside a couple of these and have seen cars i have only ever dreamt about before and an eclectic choice [bmw alpina 2002, skylined 240z, daytona cobra, r129 amg etc] that would have most pher's salivating.
the older generations can still remember dubai of old and are not so ostentatious with their wealth. old money tends towards grander past times - horses, yachts and falconry. its the bulk of the younger mob who give the 'bling' reputation as they clamour for individuality and identity, knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. it is these guys who keep mansory in business.
the local passion is for offroad racing and drag racing, although drifting is gaining popularity. expat petrolheads gravitate towards the track where we can't believe how cheap it is to do a track day [£200 for 2 drivers in the same car - full day on the Yas GP circuit] and drive cars that would look ridiculous back home as it's probably the only chance we'll get to do so. its just unfortunate there is no grass roots racing to get the wannabes on track, although this is improving with the unsanctioned autocross events run by the likes of evolve.ae
in the main though this place is just like everywhere else. some people buy rangerovers or s-classes as status symbols, some buy corvettes and mustangs as they are so cheap to buy and run. most though just treat a car as a white good and end up with a midrange SUV or barge simply because the second hand market is awash with them and they hold their money well.
TobyLaRohne said:
Bjam99 said:
I was excited when I got to Dubai and was told my hire car would be a Lancer. I immediately conjured up images of an EVO. (stupid but true) You can't imagine my disappointment when I got to the car and was presented with one of the most dumpy, wishy/washy boring saloon cars I have ever had the misfortune of driving. Truly dreadful.
It was limited to 120 km's too. Its nearly impossible to go over that anyway because of all the speed cameras but it did put a downer on the whole trip.
The Japanese saloons reign supreme here. That and Japanese SUV's as said. Some of them are enormous!
HAHAHAHAHAHA! that is the worst car out here!...1.5L automatic of doom! It was limited to 120 km's too. Its nearly impossible to go over that anyway because of all the speed cameras but it did put a downer on the whole trip.
The Japanese saloons reign supreme here. That and Japanese SUV's as said. Some of them are enormous!
Gaffer said:
IIRC Shirt has a picture of a tiger cub hanging out of a white Cayenne on JBR.
That particular cub (or not so much cute and cuddly now I suspect) apparently has its own VIP table in clubs.
Claire
yep, i'll dig it out later. there's also a weird younger emirati who always seems to be parked on jbr walk with his yellow new shape vw beetle with 2 persian cats on the roof. very odd. That particular cub (or not so much cute and cuddly now I suspect) apparently has its own VIP table in clubs.
Claire
I even scribbled down a quick email of complaint pointing out the Lancer's many, many faults to Dollar and urged them to think about upgrading their fleet. I was very tempted to take it back until I saw that the only replacement they had was....another Lancer.
It is, of course, my own fault. I should have done my homework and paid for the upgrade. Dammit!
It is, of course, my own fault. I should have done my homework and paid for the upgrade. Dammit!
Agree with Alex on this, but I think it was that my preconceptions were way off. I thought I was going to go out there and be surrounded by the sound of screaming engines and instead say Toyotas everywhere.
Don't get me wrong though, there are some lovely machinery out there, it just seems to be all or nothing with what's on the road.... You see Corollas next to Ferraris, but there is very little in between.
I've been told that all the wealth has moved to Abu Dhabi- so I wouldn't mind seeing if it's different there.
Don't get me wrong though, there are some lovely machinery out there, it just seems to be all or nothing with what's on the road.... You see Corollas next to Ferraris, but there is very little in between.
I've been told that all the wealth has moved to Abu Dhabi- so I wouldn't mind seeing if it's different there.
I've lived out in the Middle East for 6 years, the supposed awesome cars and amazing sights are all very much over inflated. Like any modern city in a developed country you will see some Ferrari, Aston, Lamborghini and plenty of Porsche. If you go to London you will see these. The cities of the Middle East are the same, in some parts the smaller cities it appears their is more as you have a higher chance of spotting them. Like Doha in Qatar, it's easy to spot a few SLS that go around, it's not that their is more, it's just your in a smaller pond so you see the bigger fish easily.
Driving manners out here mean it is not very pleasant to drive anything too nice, with poor road manners from other drivers its not possible to be precious of your car and supermarket bashes and nudging in heavy traffic are not good for super or hyper cars. So a Toyota is a good choice, cheap and easy to service, import parts and reliable. Cheap fuel means people will go for 6 or more cylinders. As the roads improve more saloons are appearing, the need for a SUV to clear the pot holes and often diversions over dirt while a road is being constructed are not so common as infrastructure improves, so saloons and even hatch backs are more popular- culturally we seem to be going for the strange idea that size matters, often a ford focus with a boot or anything with a boot shoved on rather than a hatch back is perceived as better and more car for the money, a strange mentality but seems to be the way.
Once fuel prices rise expect the region to go the same as Europe, already Kia and Hyundai have carved out a large market share and Dacia, branded Renault here will be sure to become a common sight.
Driving manners out here mean it is not very pleasant to drive anything too nice, with poor road manners from other drivers its not possible to be precious of your car and supermarket bashes and nudging in heavy traffic are not good for super or hyper cars. So a Toyota is a good choice, cheap and easy to service, import parts and reliable. Cheap fuel means people will go for 6 or more cylinders. As the roads improve more saloons are appearing, the need for a SUV to clear the pot holes and often diversions over dirt while a road is being constructed are not so common as infrastructure improves, so saloons and even hatch backs are more popular- culturally we seem to be going for the strange idea that size matters, often a ford focus with a boot or anything with a boot shoved on rather than a hatch back is perceived as better and more car for the money, a strange mentality but seems to be the way.
Once fuel prices rise expect the region to go the same as Europe, already Kia and Hyundai have carved out a large market share and Dacia, branded Renault here will be sure to become a common sight.
"...than you might find were you to spend an evening walking around the West End..."
Uh...the west end is nuts for cars, it is like a car show. Endless Rolls, Bentley, Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, AMG etc, etc.
The article uses the benchmark of West London as though it is a fairly conserative place!!!!! If you have any idea what goes on there you will realise that is one of the most decadent places on earth....why do you think oil money loves it so much!
Uh...the west end is nuts for cars, it is like a car show. Endless Rolls, Bentley, Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, AMG etc, etc.
The article uses the benchmark of West London as though it is a fairly conserative place!!!!! If you have any idea what goes on there you will realise that is one of the most decadent places on earth....why do you think oil money loves it so much!
Greg_D said:
So in short, the whole article is a crock of sh*t?
Well that's one way to put it. When I read it, I just thought it was way off the mark! There's a lot of money in the UAE and they still do love their cars.
Classics have some way to go, but I am sure there is a classics show out in Dubai or somewhere in the region that is gaining in popularity.
Dr Imran T said:
Well that's one way to put it. When I read it, I just thought it was way off the mark!
There's a lot of money in the UAE and they still do love their cars.
Classics have some way to go, but I am sure there is a classics show out in Dubai or somewhere in the region that is gaining in popularity.
There is, an annual one that happens at the bottom of Burj Khalifa.There's a lot of money in the UAE and they still do love their cars.
Classics have some way to go, but I am sure there is a classics show out in Dubai or somewhere in the region that is gaining in popularity.
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