weasel decentral

Now that you say it, that makes sense about the tires and arches.

You have a 370z? Is this the equivalent of coming out of the closet through the medium of car ownership?

DXBtoDOH

Don't confuse it with the Wrangler.

Millhouse

I only use it when I do my part time hairdressing job.

weasel decentral

You should tow the FJ behind it, quell the rumours

scrubbedexpat141

How many cars have you got?

I upset someone recently when I said there was little point in owning a sporty car here. All the roads are straight, boring and have millions of speed cameras.

Bahtatboy

You'll never own an FJ anywhere else. 3/4 vision is pants, but they've got to be one of the coolest cars around. Plus practical, bullet-proof, made in Japan and suitable for both road and off-road.

Millhouse

Two. And you are correct - it's pointless. The only benefit is that I can get through two sets of traffic lights in one turn in business bay, whereas everyone else gets caught at the second set.

Not forgetting low depreciation and cheap to maintain etc. Bit hungry on fuel though.

scrubbedexpat141

That alone quashes my thinking.

I'm trading in the Exploder for something sporty.

CeeBee

I had a Patrol Safari and it's hands down the best car I've ever owned. After 3 years I sold it for 70% of what I paid for it brand new. Forget the new shape. There's a reason why the UN and locals love them.

It never got stuck and was absolutely bombproof. They also look significantly cooler than the landcruisers.

Only two downsides. 1) service intervals were short at 4k kms from memory 2) it didn't like to stop quickly

Millhouse

I've had a Patrol Safari in my time - absolutely brilliant. So much torque I could change up-gear going up the dune.

IKnowNothing

Speaking of car ownership, the guy last week who "Paid" AED31million for a number plate saying how much he was honoured to help the UAE blah blah blah has now been arrested cos his cheque bounced and he admitted he bought it to flip it but didn't have the cash to pay for it up front.

Says a lot i think.

Gulf News

Bahtatboy

I really enjoyed my VW R36 in UAE. More-or-less as quick as a 330i, comfortable, reliable, relatively cheap, 4WD (road-going 4WD, that is), and juvenilely-good at suprising mid-range Porsches and the like.

dominoman

Ok, So my new shortlist is:

Ford Explorer
Ford Exhibition (too big?)
Nissan Patrol
Toyota FJ cruiser
Mitsubishi Pajero

All on the basis that there's no point having a sports car here (and I've always had one in the UK so would like a change). If I'm going to get a gas guzzling giant at some point in my life, Abu Dhabi is the place to do it.

How do I avoid buying one that has been dune bashing and has it's parts full of sand?

Millhouse

You can safely assume that all Patrols and most FJs have seen the sand.

Inselaffen

Thought about something like an FJ when i changed car earlier in the. No point though as I had no interest in going off road. Settled on a Jag XF. Not likely to be able to afford to run one if I move back to UK/Europe