desertdude

The all too haunting problems with a XJ come rushing back after reading this like a bad nightmare. I also did the mistake of lifting my XJ. Then you adjust one thing because the lift effected it, then that one thing messes with another, so that needs to be upgraded so on and so forth. Never seen a 4x4 so sensitive to a liftjob,most you can get away with a 2" lift with any issues, but not the XJ. Ended up with new arms in the front from a Grand Cherokee, had to drop the transmission because of the stupid real drive shaft yoke design. Quite some stuff in the front end ( can't remember exactly what ) and even after all that the the trustline off the vehicle was off the front tyres were not in the same line with rear but a inch or so to the right or was it left. To fix that needed a longer pitman arm and steering link, to bring the front end in line with the rear but by that time I had enough of it and sold it.

There is a reason you won't find a RR with low mileage because it is very hard and very expensive to turn the odometer back, next to impossible. Either you change all ecus including the cluster gauge from a single al with same mileage or be ready to hire a hacker who can hack into the ecu. Cars like caddilac need a cheap usb obd dongle and set the mileage to whatever you like or go to Shj and pay 50 DHs and have it 000000 if you like. Notice how you will find almost every car even 15 yrs old with low mileage but as you know almost no RRs. Ever wondered why? I love the new Escalades and if RRs didn't exist in this world Id probably be driving them. Also the Jaguar S/C unit and the ZF transmission are know to last long I've seen cars with 300k plus kms on it and still pilling strong. And now there are about a dozen dedicated LR workshops in Shj that charge very reasonable rates also couple of new scrapyards srocked to the roof with new RRs also very reasonable. And believe me parts are not expensive at all save for an odd bit here and there. You can call me or msg me for a detailed discussion if you like Also i know to many you they come with built in latches that you can undo and the hood opens up straight 90degrees where you can actually sit on the motor and work if you like. Ask me how I know this! As for a vote do I even need to?

It's good enough for a small capacity 4 cyl engine. You are probably too used to seeing those huge vacuum cleaners stuck on the hoods at the Tel Morab hill climb competition.

Michelin makes some of the quitest tyres I know off.

How bout "Carnity" lightens up a little instead. Put your guns away. It's a sarcastic yet humorous remark. Clearly some get it because of the "LOL" emoji reaction.

It's because of the car, these vehicles are not built to offer you smooth and quite wafting rides but more on the economical transport side of things. I rode a newish camry a while back and the road noise was terrible, then there s my neighbor with a one year old Lancer who keeps complaining about wind noise over 100. Sorry bud you'll have to live with it. Get the smoothest road tyres you can, stick some insulation in the door gaps and hope for the best.

Yup, see that on a lot of forums, people always fighting off or repairing rust on their old. Fortunately we don't have to worry about such stuff nowadays. In 80s I remember rust was a bit of an issue here, not any more.

Ahem....hate to be pedantic but blower refers to a supercharger and that's a turbo.

A fresh jap import 1988 Merc 560 SEC with 70k on the clock for 7k and a1995 softdash Range Rover classic for 5k. Prices for both went through the roof shortly afterwards.

Meh, Dubai people, pfffttt. Sorry, can't have your cake and eat it too.

Not really, was just slightly offensive to say that all those years were just spent only going up and down one fixed route. So the information or view provided was irrelevant and/or not applicable in the weekly grind to pink rocks

As Compared to what? Weekend warriors going up and down big red, going around pink rocks every other weekend in winter or at most going somewhere different once a month or two months ? You forget that was just part of the job. Ive worked with big car manufacturers from Porsche, Land Rover, Nissan, Toyota, Jeep, Honda so on and so forth in development of prototype SUVs to marketing their finishef products. every where from Liwa,, Shuwehan, Margham Wagan Shoaib, Bidayer, Hayer, 53, Khatim Faqa, marqab, lisaili etc etc. Not to blow my own horn here. Ive probably forgotten more about desert driving and offloading than most people here know about it. So pretty disingenuous for you to say something like that, specially knowing me and my background for so long now. And as far difflocks go why stop at one as most come with rear only ir center. You can always install aftermarket ones on all two or three diffs ( depending on vehicle )

Looks lile a 2001 Tahoe XL from this angle.

Go to Aweer used car lots youll find a few parked over there for 15-20ish

The problem is you want to have your cake and eat it too. You will have to cross one or more out. You gotta be willing to give somewhere. And Ive been driving offroad almost 20 yrs now and none of my cars have had a difflock. Dunno why its such a essential requirement in your case, specially being newbie and with no intention of extreme driving? I'd go for the 100 series land cruiser. Buy the nicest one you can in your budget or even if you have to pay a little extra. Nowadays Im seeing some very good, house runaround Mrs 2 car in house non abused very well kept models going for as low as 20k from the early 2000s. If I wasnt so broke Id get one agaib. Always wanted to get one again. With your budget you should have no trouble to be in mid 2000s and the fully specced VXRs do come with difflocks if that is something for some reason you cannot live without.

Nope sorry nothing

I wouldn't touch an American import with a 10 ft pole unless I saw it being unloaded from the container it came in and then repaired it to my satisfaction at a place I trust There is a reason why these cars where there is a big demand for good cheap 2nd hand cars end up here. Some have minor damage like a small to medium sized fender bender to being flood damaged and rusted to shit.

Man if life is just about maintenance costs and resale values, we should all just drive Toyota Tercels

Why does everyone here instantly suggest japanese crap as soon as someone asks for a recommendation? Some people like to enjoy life a little and drive something with a little more character and comfort.

Well then keep suffering the consequences and the cost, eventually people will get tired of your shit and just stop responding. And a hole in the exhaust, makes a straight pipe not!

Sorry to sound crude but you are acting like a real doofus kid here, doing all sorts of stupid and dumb things in order to look and sound "cool" lowering your front suspension, drilling holes in your exhaust, WTF man! Get a grip dude. My advise : STOP IT ! The car smells of gas because it is running rich hence decreased MPG, because of that hole you drilled before the cats. Go to any cheap Irani shop give him a 20 dh note and to weld that hole up. I wouldn't suspect the temp sensor because Land Cruiser temp gauge hardly goes above C in peak summertime in the Desert maybe it will go up to less than 1/4 of the way up.

its an early 2000s gxr. Doesnt have any of that. Doesnt have any traction control.

Practice practice practice. Its like any other skill, the more you do it.The better you get at it, and slowly your confidence level increases. Doimg sideys or side sloping otherwise as its known it not recommended at all for newbies, its an acquired skill and you can read an entire library on the subject and still suck at it. Practical real world experience is where its at. But for now. Go straight up and straight down. Just get used to driving on sand and how you and your car react to it. As for the L4 first of all sorry Treks probably not familiar with the vehicle hence his analysis was inaccurate. The diff lock on your cruiser is a center difflock which you should engage the second you hit sand. You can drive with an open center diff but your car will struggle more and more chances of getting bogged down. Low range are short gears and you can get too much speed i.e momentum and even in an under powered vehicle if you get enough of it you can traverse some decent dunes. L2 youll run out of gear very soon and thats what happened. Learn to drive in just D and hone your skills there. Low range for only when you are stuck or have a tricky situation ahead.

Nope they are names of winds, rivers and an arrow.