topgear

I would second and participate in such initiatives should it materialize. 

It would be good for the instructor to do the driving and a senior member to be a passenger to give a live commentary over the radio to relay information like throttle level, gearing, steering input, speed/momentum. This will help the participants watching to appreciate and understand it better.  

Whilst what we are doing is really good because we are doing the real stuff, driving on the sand and experience it first hand, a lesson or 2 on the real theory 'lecture' will be very beneficial. 

2 minutes ago, Frederic said:

If you consider that a petrol engine only has an efficiency of 25-35%, and the rest is being evacuated in the form of heat which is useless, we really need to find something better. If EV will be the gamechanger, or a mix of hydrogen, hybrid, or other technologies will take over remains to be seen. 

Any vehicle can have a soul in my opinion, and i do understand your point and love the rumbling noise of a V8 as well, but we should look forward and not backward.

Scientifically, I know and understand why it is heading that way. My favourite past time, F1 started running on 1.6l V6 hybrid engine since 2014. Yes, we should look forward for the cleaner and efficient technology. But I always feel that I was born 1-2 decades too late. I will enjoy the golden era of the automotive world in the late 70s then 80s and 90s.  

I am hoping for both petrol and cleaner technology (EV, hydrogen, hybrid etc) to be able to co-exist. Much like the quartz watch industry that almost wiped out the Swiss watch makers given that quartz is more precise, efficient and cheaper compared to mechanical watches. Thankfully each found their own niche and co-existed till today.  

I actually hope the EV hype will die down.

It is true that EVs has very good acceleration and speed. But there is no sound and no smell/fumes. To say the least, it is pretty soulless. 

I think Japanese cars in general is indeed more reliable because the technology has been tried and tested. Maintenance is relatively straight forward although certain agencies may try to charge you for various things that are not required/needed. 

I completely agree that Mitsubishi takes the crown for the best bang for the buck, and Pajero deserves the special mention since this is the only full fledge 4x4 offroader, be it 5 doors or 3 doors, in the sub AED90k category- even if you buy new.

Hello @Niki Patel

welcome to the club and I’m reaching out to say hello as a fellow FJ driver

join the drives. It’s really helpful and most importantly fun. 

congratulations @Frederic 

I enjoy all the articles that you have posted

thanks @Ale Vallecchi for the drive. It was my first exploration drive and I felt challenged with the constant change of terrain, dune etc. The pace of this drive was also the fastest that I had participated so far. Despite a few refusals and one 'false-stuck' on the dune where @Pancho @asifk came out with their spades (thanks guys), I enjoyed this thoroughly. The briefing prior to the switch over was helpful as well. Thanks a lot to Pancho for his radio guidance whenever I get refusals.

The second part led by @Foxtrot Oscar was smooth and interesting with a mixture of what the desert has to offer. If it was not mentioned, it did not feel like her debut lead drive at all. 

45 minutes ago, Piotr Kolodziej said:

Most workshops can install a killer switch for FJ for just 200-250 but unfortunately Toyota service informed me it's not allowed to do this - any modification to electrical system would affect the car warranty.  So the only option is to drive for the next couple of years with air bags and ABS on.  I hope for the type of offroading we do it will not be a problem for those of us using FJs (and we can avoid incidents with air bags like the one Jorge had recently with the Land Rover) - hopefully, the sensitivity of air bags at FJs is not that high...

 

That is always the conundrum 

1 hour ago, Biju Abdul said:

Thanks @topgear  I assume that you got it done from outside? I will try to get it too. Thanks. 

yes got it done outside. Pretty convenient with the kill switch I must say.

@Biju Abdul I have an FJ and I have a kill switch that disable ESC, traction control, ABS and airbags

Do such additional led lights or roof bar require special approval from RTA or police?

Congratulations @Islam Soliman

You were behind me when I drove for the very first time  

congratulations @Pancho

The frequency of your drives are amazing 

First time at this desert. Amazing terrain and drive. The pace and mixture of terrain was just right for me. My son and I had a great time. Great weather is truly round the corner. Thanks to everyone especially to @Chaitanya D @Desert Dweller
 

I had a small issue at the end when the hose for my compressor came off after I have inflated 2 tyres. Thanks to @Shaaz Sha for his great help. Much appreciated.  
 

Congratulations @Chaitanya D 👍

5 hours ago, DANIEL NOGUEIRA said:

@FredericLet's not worry about money... you can choose which one to drive... would still drive a classic ?

@topgearClassics are nice, and I had a few... but to drive on the desert, would you go with a classic or high technology one ?? 

Since we switch off all the driver’s aid in the desert, it does not matter if we have modern technology or not. I would choose classic. Probably less prone to have reliability issues as well. 

Old tech for me

Fav BMW, E30

Fav Merc, C126 - last over engineered Merc

Fav Porsche, 993 (last air cooled 911)

Thank you! I will be going for this drive  

2 hours ago, Chaitanya D said:

@topgear I can see your name when I download the list of RSVP ( which you can also do from your end to check)

So please decide which drive you want to join (as you have confirmation on both)and exit the other (by clicking leave) to make space for others in waitlist.

Thanks 

@Gaurav Please remove this from this drive. I got confirmation for @Chaitanya D's drive  

Many thanks!

hello @Chaitanya D , I am not certain if I get a slot for this or am I on the waitlist. I thought I missed this yesterday when I tried to sign up hence my message to get onto the waitlist. If you confirm I am on the drive, I will vacate the newbie afternoon drive led by Gaurav as there are more people on the waitlist over there. Many thanks.

11 minutes ago, Ranjan Das said:

Hi Gaurav, please add me to the waitlist . Thanks

I hope you’ll get my slot 😃

@Gaurav I have joined for this drive but no. 2 of the waitlist for the fewbie drive happening at the same time. If I get the fewbie drive,  I’ll gladly vacate this. Apologies in advance because in desperation to meet my son’s expectation 🙏

Waitlist please 

This was my absolute fewbie drive. I was nervous initially especially when I have not been driving in the desert for 6 weeks. I also made an error with my deflation and was slightly slow to be ready. However, once the convoy started rolling, I really enjoyed the route, scene, pace and terrain. I had some refusals and thanks to @Desert Dweller for the clear and precise instructions on what to do. Apologies for not acknowledging  to all of them because I was too busy and nervous fighting the car 😅

Also thanks to @Tero Vallas for radioing me to stop and I am the first car who missed the tricky soft bowl area. 
 

Thanks @Vanessa8580 and @Srikumar for the drive and recovery efforts. The recovery segment of the drive was part of the overall experience and I’m sure everyone came out of it stronger. Special thanks to those who did all the hard work with shoveling and recovery efforts. My son was nervous to be out of the car because of the strong wind as it had blown off his face mask. 
We had a great evening because my son took a nap in the car and we grabbed McDonald's on the way home 😆

I shall look fwd to the next one