knightjp

My opinions aren't just based on the ramblings of the youtuber. Similar conclusions, Yes. I still maintain that the Pajero is a great family wagon. I used to watch the old rallies, see the Pajeros dominate. We have a friend who has an old 90s boxy shape Pajero and that thing still goes strong. It so rugged and durable. The Pajero has always been a great vehicle, (bang for buck wise). If your budget is tight and you need a good 4x4 you'd do well with a Pajero. However, in recent years, I've come to expect less and less. Having been in numerous 4th Gens over the years, the ramblings aren't unfounded. I have friends with who have Mitsubishi Pajeros and Montero Sports and have faced mechanical issues from vehicles just over a year old. One had to replace his entire engine after just 4 years. Another keeps having oil leaks and the best part is that all these vehicles are maintained by the dealer. I've sat in the middle of the rear seat myself and I could tell you that after a couple of hours driving, my butt was sore. This was all on road. Now imagine sitting there while driving through dunes. It would not be comfortable at all. I'm not telling someone to take my word for it. Try it and you'll find out for yourself. Every one is different and you might like it. If that's so, that's excellent. I'm just saying, if you're buying a Pajero, you need to know what you're getting into.

Frankly I used to have a lot of respect for the Mitsubishi Pajero. I still do in some sort. The Pajero as a standard car I would say is bad for off-roading if you are going to look at the using it in the desert. The middle seat in the second row is hard and uncomfortable. So if you're a family person, you will get complaints from the person sitting there on long journeys. If you want to know how the current shape Pajero is going to handle off roading and what you should look out for, here is a good video for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn10rNuMDi4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXcKkUqAAU Now this sounds like an old guy rambling on and on, but bear with it and listen all the way through. Some Pajero owners will not agree with some of the things, but the test was real and well documented. The guy is a well known off roading enthusiast who has been to Dubai many times for off roading as well. So he knows what he is talking about. In my opinion, the Pajero is a great family wagon. However the interior needs to be addressed in that it feel of far cheaper quality these days compared with its other Japanese rivals. The likes of Toyota and Nissan are well far ahead of the game on that. The Pajero also suffers from oil and gearbox issues. 2 - 3 users I know have had issues where the feel their engines are basically drinking oil and need regular top-ups and well gearboxes need replacing. I would not worry if you do a proper break-in cycle and you do regular maintenance with all the checks. If you are looking to do a far bit of off-roading, and you need a 7 seater in the Pajero's size scale, I would suggest a Toyota Prado or look at may a used 100 series Land Cruiser. These are excellent and well recommended vehicles. My only gripe with buying a Toyota is dealing with the local Toyota dealer. Their work is subpar at best and all my dealings with them have been negative. I always laugh every time the "toyota sponsored" radio ad comes on advising us to do maintenance only with the dealer. I've seen better maintained vehicles in these backstreet garages in Um Ramool. #RantOver That's my take on it.

There are some pretty awesome EVs being built in garages with all of that stuff on board. So can't really say that it is only possible through Tesla or some other major manufacturer. Its too bad that we don't live in the US, where such projects are possible. I mean finding a scrapped Tesla over will be near impossible.

I tend to agree. Most independent shops mostly focus on simple head unit installations, speakers, etc. Nothing majorly electrical. What is even worse is that they are so rooted and set in their ways, they are even willing to give anything new a try or won't even apply simple common sense into whatever they are working on. However you tend to notice that if someone can create and EV in his garage, and Rich can work on Tesla by himself, there isn't much to it, except understanding the engineering; to which most mechanics are even bothered to try. They more or less presume that oil and gas aren't going to go away in their lifetimes and they would rather continue with what they know than learn something new.

@Frederic Nuyttens / @desertdude You should look into this youtube channel, Rich Rebuilds This guy proves the while there is quite a lot about Tesla that is brand new kind of tech, it isn't extremely new and pretty much anyone with a good grasp of engineering and electrics should be able to handle the whole thing with ease. There are people in various parts of the world building EVs using tesla batteries... https://youtu.be/fXsQGWWz3Is Look up the White Zombie on youtube. Previously electricians used to handly those large television tubes with relative ease. My dad told me that if you don't handle it probably, an old TV tube could kill you. This is just Tesla being the Apple of the car world.

Great review... The latest Accord is a great car.. However there is only one reason why I wouldn't buy one. It is primarily bought and driven by Cocks..

It doesn't look like an Eleanor to me unless you are talking about the 70s Gone in 60 Seconds movie with the yellow Mach 1. From 1969, I guess the real collector's items are the BOSS cars (302, 429).. I like the mods though... Very tastefully done. The backup camera is a great idea. The colour is amazing. Awesome engine. IMO, SBFs have a better sound than the popular SBCs. The HEMIs have the sound of Thunder & Power.

Honestly, back in day, we had 1997 - 98 1.3 Honda Civics as company cars for the courier company I was working at. At the same time we also had 1.3 Toyota Echos... Now the Civic was an amazing car, but it didn't have the VTEC and its acceleration wasn't at the level of the Echos. The couriers were pretty much fighting over the Echos and being a car guy, I couldn't understand why. My friend had a Civic Vti 1.8 & that was fast. It was only when I took a ride in both I understood. Honda's 1.3 was seriously under powered; which is why later Civics never came with a 1.3 and that engine was given the VTEC and then out in the Honda City and the Jazz. That was when the engines made sense.

Like I said earlier, Toyota is pretty much the only manufacturer with a peppy 1.3. The rest of the manufacturers (Nissan, Mitusbishi, Honda, etc) always left us wanting.

@stig I find any post '93 1.3 engine lacks power and torque; save Toyota's... I've driven 1.3s from pretty much all the other major Japanese brands and they do disappoint. Makes it hard to get out of a service lane, enter a roundabout or even a fast moving highway. The only way to get a decent enough performance from them, even a lancer, was to get a manual and redline the engine for the initial push. That too sometimes wasn't enough.. Toyota's 1.3 even on a larger corolla was great. I remember the Tercel's replacement - the Echo. It was hideous, but it was a good car with a good engine.

Well... I'm thinking of getting hitched in the near future as well. That is why I'm not going for any kind of trade in option at the moment; unless its a straight up exchange for a 2014 2500 or Power Wagon.

@sertac That sounds like a great option. If you can stretch your budget to that, then go for it. Otherwise you should visit AutoMall and see what they have as well or even the Aweer Used Car market. It is always good to have options.

Might I suggest looking at something like a daily run-a-round like a Japanese sedan / hatchback or a even a city car like a Daihatsu Sirion or Materia. Something that doesn't need much of any maintenance and can be more of a daily driver. If you budget around the 6000 - 10000 AED, it is possible to get a car that is relatively a good runner.

Go to the AutoMall near the IKEA in Festival City.. I believe I saw a couple over there. Otherwise look for Rosella in Trading Enterprises if you're looking to buy new. Here's a couple of videos for inspiration... Ram 1500 Express

Great review and great pictures...

@Gaurav Thanks... LWB vehicles do struggle with off roading with the break-over angles, but as long as you know what you are doing and you've got good underside protection, they work well. For the moment, I'm in two minds to hold off the mods and swap for a 2019 Ram 1500 later on, or maybe look to trade in for a 4th gen 2500 / power wagon. I saw one yesterday and they look so impressive.

@Danny Here is a nice upgrade for you... https://phoenixandroidradios.com/products/10-4-tesla-style-vertical-screen-android-navigation-radio-for-ford-mustang-2015-2016-2017

It's been a while since I posted anything online about IronHide. Yes.. I named my truck after an AutoBot and its not a GM vehicle. I could go on how the original IronHide wasn't a GM vehicle and was based on a Dodge Wagon / SUV, but that is not what this is about.. It's been 4 years since I have had my vehicle and its currently done just over 75,000 kms. The notion of owning a pickup truck seems rather agricultural or signs that you are a someone who uses his vehicle to haul stuff. You would rarely think of a pickup truck being a family oriented vehicle. But nevertheless, looking at what the modern pickup truck has become you would do well to give them a second glance. Noticing the number of large SUVs on the roads of Dubai, you get the notion that having a big vehicle is pretty much a status symbol as well as a necessity if you have a large family. But to be honest, most people in Dubai do not need anything more than a 5 seater. Initially when I was in the market for a new car, I was hesitant in choosing a large American pickup truck. But now that I have had it for 4 years, I'm very glad that I did. Those interested in seeing how I made my choice of a pickup vs a sedan, please click links below: This is Dodge Good Bye Alfa - Ford or Dodge Hello IronHide The biggest caveat of purchasing a brand new vehicle in Dubai is trying to keep the paintwork as prestine as for as long as possible. Truth is you cannot stop the actions of the "inconsiderate idiot". You know this type.. he/she is the one that parks so close to your vehicle in a parking lot and "rams" their door into your's whilst trying to get in or out. I even had infuriating encounter where the person peeped into my car, looked at my face and then proceed to vandalize my vehicle. I can only explain it as he was making sure that I wasn't an Emirati or a European / Western expat. Forget confronting such people.. They would easily dismiss you with, "So?... This is Dubai... It is normal." However watch such people make a huge fuss when the same is done in return to their vehicle. Mind you, I still treat another's vehicle with respect; regardless of who they are. But I guess it is pointless to expect the same in return. After a couple more dents were made to the paintwork, and I had my first accident with the truck, I gave up trying or caring. Now I just try to maintain it the best I can and find the grace to ignore what I can control. Getting into the technical aspects of the truck: Ram 1500 SLT, 2014 4x4 5.7 ltr V8 HEMI with MDS (Multi-Displacement System), 8 Speed Gearbox CrewCab configuration with a shortbed 5 link multicoil suspension At the time of purchasing the truck, the SLT package comes with the cloth seats as well as the 8.4" display in the center. Rosella from Trading enterprises was exceptionally helpful in the whole buying experience and I can't thank her enough. It is amazing to think that I entered the showroom with the intent of buying a Charger or a Durango and came out with something better.. IMO. While I can praise the sales team of Trading Enterprises, I can't exactly say much of the same for the staff in the service center. With the exception of a two individuals who have been exceptional brilliant in handling my agency services, I can't say much about the rest. There are certainly things that I would like to see improve with the service centers here; for all the agencies, not just Trading Enterprises. However I will say one thing, dealing with Trading Enterprises is far better than with Toyota's service center. Getting back to the truck, in the 4 years, nothing has gone wrong yet nor has skipped a beat. Everything works well. The rotary style shifter takes some getting used to initially, but it quickly becomes second nature after a while. After two months with the truck, I drove my brother's Camry and kept putting air conditioning up while trying to reverse into a parking space. The gearbox in the Ram is excellent and has really smooth shifts. I have been informed that it is the same 8 speed that is in the Rolls Royce Phantom. Having said that, I do notice a slight jerk as the vehicle comes to a halt; as the autobox changes down from 3rd - 2nd - 1st. Looking through the online forums you do notice that this is a common minor annoyance with the 1st generation 8 speed boxes and is nothing major to complain about. There are fixes and I will be looking into it. Another common flaw in the design of the Ram comes from the seals around the 3rd brake light on the back of the cab. Those in wetter climates will notice their headliners will start to stain as it retains water. The seals are exceptionally tiny for what it should be and do a pretty bad job keeping out the water. Ram isn't the only truck with this flaw. This has been noticed among Fords and the GM trucks as well. The sad thing is that though this is known as a common fault, it has not been attended to by FCA at all, even amongst the new 2018 models. So my suggestion to anyone buying a Ram truck anywhere, please do follow the instructions in the link below as soon as you take delivery. It won't void your warranty and actually will save you a lot of grief. 3rd Brake light fix In the city, parking is pretty much the Achilles heel of the Ram or any large vehicle. You would think that in a city with a large numbers of SUVs around, malls would be more accommodating, but that isn't the case. Some places you go, you struggle to find a sport large enough. Even the standard size length of the parking bays slots are not long enough at times. You need to take that into consideration wherever you go in the city. Having said that, I haven't been too inconvenienced to concede that the Ram is a poor purchase. On the road, the truck is never wanting for power; especially given the size and weight. The engine is smooth and immediate. Anyone who has driven a Dodge with the current Magnum Block HEMIs will find the experience quite similar. The on-road manners of the Ram is certainly better than the other pickup trucks. Sure, the Ram is no sports sedan like its FCA stable mates (Charger, 300C), but the 5 link coil suspension is a certainly a testament to its on-road performance. Ram is the 1st and to my knowledge, the only one that does use coils in the rear of its trucks and also the online one to offer air-suspension as an option. Other manufacturers still use leaf-springs. Certainly leaf-springs are more hardwearing and "old-school", but the coils do a far better job in keeping the Ram stable during heavy cornering. The air-suspension wasn't an option when I was purchasing the Ram and came into the region later with the Ram Rebel. I certainly would have liked to have it, but again comes the age old argument, "less complicated, less to go wrong later on." Certainly is true. With the current coil setup, it is easier upgrading later on for better off-road capability. Talking about Off-road, I can't say much as my experience is limited. However the brief instances over soft sandy patches near Al Qudra proved extremely easy for the Ram. The just glided over it easily. I am sure that I would have gotten better performance if I had aired down the tires, but being my 1st off-roading experience, with no one else around, I didn't have an issue. I got stuck one, reversed out and then the truck plowed through with ease after. Ever since, I have been educating myself on the off-roading dos and don'ts. I have nothing but good things to say about the 8" infotainment system. The Uconnect system is by far considered the best of all the factory infotainment systems out there. Adding to it is a screen which is far more responsive than anything that I've experienced with Ford's Sync, etc. Certainly leaps ahead of Toyota's standard system. Having said that, it would have been nice to get something with navigation or the current generation Uconnect that gives me Apple CarPlay. As I understand it, my current unit cannot be upgraded to the latest software release. Now to the business end of the truck. I can't express enough of how good it is to have a dedicated cargo area. Sure unlike those Hilux trucks you see around with rails and cages attached to their beds, my carrying capacity in terms of large volume items is slightly limited, but the bed has come in handy more times than I can count. Feels good when you go to IKEA and they offer to have stuff delivered by pickup and you say, "No need... I've got a truck." One of the amazing things about a pickup truck is how interchangeable the parts are with each in the model range. For instance, I can easily purchase bumpers of the 2017 Ram Rebel and put them on my truck. That should give the Ram a bit more clearance for off-roading. To add, all of this can be done in a parking lot or drive way; using a set of hand tools and the help of a couple of friends. If you read my articles linked above, you will notice that I mentioned there is a huge aftermarket supply for the Ram and other pickups in general. Certainly the Chevrolet and Ford vehicles have bigger aftermarket support. I guess that probably shows that those trucks need more improving over the stock than my Ram... (just my little joke).. 😄 That aftermarket supply is one of the reasons that I went for the truck over the sedan. This bring me to my next point. Another advantage of a pickup over most other vehicles. Pickups don't change their shape often and for the most part, they don't age. You can look at a tastefully modded '98 truck and it still looks modern and cool. Of course, looking at the new 2019 Ram 1500s coming in later this year and next year, I am tempted to trade in for a newer model. Certainly the new 12" tesla style screen of the new Ram will be a treat to have as well as the host of other features and improvements. But seeing that Ram will still be selling the current 4th Generation 1500 as a "Classic" for 2019 onwards, shows that still there is demand and it has been one of FCA's best and sought after models. I have a feeling the 4th Generation Ram will go the way of Toyota's own 76 - 79 Land Cruisers & Nissan's Patrol Super Safaris... You still see these older models being sold as brand new production vehicles. The reason is that people still love them and want the old school off road look. So those who are serious off roaders might prefer to have a 4th Gen Power Wagon over a 5th Gen luxury truck. I could go on and on what a great purchase this truck has been so far. Can't have too much of a good thing? Then you haven't yet tried the 4th generation Ram 1500.

@goodmanIt's a tire brand from Korea. They are extremely popular on sporting and racing events; especially formula drift.

@Rahimdad Spot on... Patience is the key. This might sound a bit racist but I have noticed that the most impatient drivers that I've seen on the road are always the local Emiratis and the expats from the Arabic speaking countries. I mean no disrespect. They are perfectly nice people - very caring and very helpful. But the moment they get into the driver's seat, they're suddenly in Race-driver mode and they act like they're always in a hurry - even when they don't need to be. How do I know this? A couple of those people are friends of mine. Maybe it is a cultural thing, I do not know.. I've asked my friends many times about why they drive and behave like that, they just looked at me like I'm crazy. To them it is perfectly normal. Even your observations about driving in Europe is interesting. Yes, driving in Europe is certainly more civilized, but that is slowly changing I think. A friend of mine in UK was complaining about recently there are some people over there constantly tailgating and driving crazy on the roads. She managed to get 5 people to stop so that she can talk to them. All of them were people who migrated - Two Lebanese, one Egyptian, one Iranian and one Pakistani. The Pakistani guy grew up in Kuwait. For whatever reason people choose to tailgate or drive the way they do, it is clear that one person cannot make a difference. All we can do is drive as carefully, lawfully and respectfully as we can and hope that it gets better.

@derik Agreed about the slow drivers on the fast lane. Think the biggest issue here in U.A.E. is people are not properly aware of the highway code. In all manner of speaking, there should not be as many cars on the fast lane as they are - especially if they are on cruise. The fast lane is for overtaking only. If the person is not going to be driving at 120 on a 100 road, then they should not be on the fast lane. But then again comes the issue of the speedometers. How would drivers know that they are obeying the speed limit or not? Driving at 120 limit is risky if you cannot trust your gauge. 121 and you will be fined.

@Gaurav I agree with you.. Proper highway driving dictates that one should only use the outer lane for overtaking. You don't sit on the outer lane constantly if you are on a cruise. Drivers that choose to disregard the speed limit (even the 20 kph grace), should be freely able to use the outer lane. We should give way. If fines are not going to stop them, what else will? However when the car in front is driving at 20 kph above the posted speed limit, and does not see an opening in the next lane, where does the law breaking driver expect the guy in front to go? I once noticed a Nissan Patrol nearly bump off a car in front. He was flashing and honking at the guy, but at the same time, the lane to the right was completely full, there was no space. Finally when the guy got the space and moved off, the Patrol overtook, came in front of the guy and held the brakes. Typical Abu Dhabi maneuver... I know that UAE has put up those smart cameras that will catch tailgaters, but so far it has not worked in stopping the creeps. Perhaps the guys who tailgate on the slow lanes hope to try to speed past the camera and not get caught; except for the fact that they are held up by those who drive at the sign-posted limit or lesser. @Hassam Tariq If the speed in between the digital readout and the analog is more than 2 - 3 kms, you're best asking the service center to check and calibrate it.

This I blame on the car manufacturers. I've often been told the analog speedometer show numbers more optimistic as compared the car's real speed. The main thing is that cars come here with certain options. If you spec up your car at the dealer like putting larger rims, etc., then you need to re-calibrate your car's speedometer. Most of the time this is not done. I do not know if this imbalance is done on purpose. Probably is, but you know that when someone then upgrades or updates their car's wheels and tires, makes it worse. If your car has digital read out of the speed, then please use it. If you see a difference in between the analog and the digital readouts, then do visit your service dealer and ask them to re-calibrate it. Its not a hard thing to do.

I hate to say this, but this type of driving will not go away from U.A.E.; no matter what kind of fine is enforced or whatever device is installed. It is the mentality of the people that needs to change and that never will. This kind of driving has been the thorn on my side ever since I started driving and it has not gone away. I keep hearing about the many campaigns that the RTA and UAE Authorities have tried, none have been successful; except in making revenue for the departments. That too, not much. The Dubai is a nation of speed and the Emirati people are proponents of it, thus turning roads into race courses and much as they can. I've seen drivers pass speed cameras and speeds and show no sign of remorse or concern when the camera flashes. They continue, being caught by the other ones after. Upon seeing this boldness in breaking the law, one can only draw up two conclusions: They are so incredibly rich that they would gladly pay any fine. They have someone in the Police or RTA who is able to fix it for them. Probably some of the worst offenders and tailgaters are the ones from the capital, Abu Dhabi. I have never seen a car with a red and white number plate drive at the speed limit. It has always been way over and quite often tailgating someone. Its prompted a response that if you do see a car with a red and white number plate, you'd do well to park on the side and hide behind a tree. You're safer that way. If you think that tailgating happens only on the fast lane, think again. Its happened to me on even the slow lane. I'm driving at the speed limit and this guy was tailgating me and flashing me. I'm on the far right lane, where does he want me to go? It is irritating and frustrating. But that is something that we are going to have to accept. It is not going away. You cannot avoid it.

Driverless Cars were invented ages ago.. They're called taxis.