vanhack

So decided to reduce the cost of our oil/filter change in the company, and this is what turned up....infact visited 3 garages, with 3 quotes, and the prices are astonishing. 

These garages don't have wating rooms, or car parks with signboards for "customer parking" and are not along major roads, but in areas such as Al Quoz, Ras Al Khor etc. Mostly frequented by fleet vehicles, and they are busy.

Bond's Astons, would love to have those on Dubai streets to keep away tailgaters.

I advise you to join a club that has some experience in training newbies, and they will guide you better. Many clubs out there, I would recommend the following: www.me4x4.me , Just offroaders, Emirates4x4 and I am sure some others will chime with their loyalty.

Driven both, prefer manuals, but I daily my 4x4 90% on tarmac through the city, so manual was going to get difficult, Auto is a compromise, but the flip after a drive, I can let the wife drive, whilst I sit in the passenger seat and have a cold one.

I should stop by this forum more often, I had a itch to scratch, or should I say a few bolts to round off. 4 years ago purchased a 1994 RWD manual coupe, and started to restore her, great great fun, spent loads and learnt even more. The reason behind it was so that one day I can do a long range trip in Africa or Asia and having some knowledge would be great. I have learnt so much, and these days with Youtube and manufacturer forums it is very very easy.

Issues are to get a lift here, non-existent, so jack stands and a garage it is, I have heard some folks doing the DIY in apartment building car parks too, security guards watching around and all.

If you go to www.gulfpetrolheads.com there are DIYers there, but it seems a bit quiet these days. I have started servicing my daily now as well, and find it great to do what was a mystery to me, but do need 2 cars, 1 car taken apart, and the other to get to work and via Al Quoz to pick up spares or tools.

The issue with community garage is the cost of rent, to make the business viable, the charges per hour have to be high, unlike elsewhere in the world.

Fake ads with lowered prices...wow in the investment banking world they would call this "market making", sorry to those who fell victim, but you have to be wiser here.

Regarding the clocking back of odometers, this is truly fraud, and nothing is being done here to stop it. This also occurs outside of Al Awir market, infact a creep that sells jeeps (read the clues) sells insurance write off modded jeeps in Al Quoz, and I see many of these about in DXB. What is even more ugly, is that an online auto magazine that couldn't tell the difference between a piston or a crank ran an article about them modding a jeep!

I would not consider horsepower and torque on their own as a measure if the vehicle has adequate power. The horsepower and torque along with weight is key. Or what is known as power to weight ratio. An old wrangler 1999 to 2005 is around 17 power to weight ratio, which are very agile in the dunes and any idiot can look expert driving them I am sure the new wranglers surpass them as does the FJ in terms of power to weight ratio. I would like to know if the duster has low ratio transfer box, if the traction control can be switched off completely s these can stop the vehicle in loose sand at the side of the highway to al Quadra lakes.

Others to consider are ground clearance, suspension articulartion,  departure and approach angles, placement of radiator to front cross memeber and factory tow points. I doubt that any US, Australian and South Africans are going to make suspension lifts, tow points and any other basic mods for the duster unless it starts eating into LC, wrangler and FJ sales as a capable offroader.

1 overlooked 4x4 here is the fortuner, good power to weight ratio, diff lock and carry 7 passengers and great on fuel....not a monetary concern but when on remote trips your distances are more flexible.

Lighter and taller is best. But no one makes those...yes the Siams meet that criteria, but they increase braking distance. Unless you live in liwa and work on a date farm, they will be difficult to balance between wobbly ride at high speed to work and having max flotation in the soft stuff.

I have tried heavy cooper atr, great flotation, but sucks power away due to weight and bigger footprint. 

I am on my 2nd pair of yokohamas...not as bling, but cheap. I prefer a stock size as they are easy to buy. 

How is the car engine at idle...if not smooth look for unmetered air. How many kilometers on the car, when was last major service. Loss of power during acceleration.

In Germany a friend told me that there is a company with many small garages that change oil, for any car with filter for Euro23.00!!! WOW

I know this post is done and dusted, but one of the oldest clubs out on the internet is ME4x4 , it's been around since telephones were used to organise drives...yes that is before the internet.

Website is www.me4x4.me and facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/me4x4/

If you know the book by Michael Nott, "Advanced Off-Road Adventure Routes UAE-Oman, he used to be the chairman for the club, and many of the routes were done as club trips on exploration. The club has a grading system for the drivers, regardless of your past experience, and is geared more for longer duration and distance trips, so perhaps have look at the FB or website if it suits your nature of driving...and we are not associated with any offroad garage or shop so no one is going to sell you stuff you don't need.

https://www.facebook.com/Advanced-Off-Road-Adventure-Routes-UAE-Oman-1391301034531568/?fref=ts

Coil Springs suspension are more expensive to manufacture, now if you go towards independent suspension, that is even more expensive. Leaf springs as mentioned are more durable, and carry a better load for their own weight. There are not many newly manufactured 4x4s these days, and I mean the true 4x4 that are on leaves. LC200, patrols, wranglers, (defender...sadly no more) are all springs with coils. I believe that the LC70 series is still leaves on the rear, and coil/spring on the front.

I have not driven leaf spring much, but do remember that they give a harsh ride, even on the tarmac, I prefer the live axle with coil/spring setup...comfortable enough and cheaper to modify than IFS front.