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desertdudeshj wrote: And YES we are talking 4X4's not soccer mom AWD station wagons !

Dude, don't be so tough. I see that some people seriously discuss CRV in this topic as well.

To be frank visually and in terms of spec. and price I like Ford Edge. It's very comparable with CRV in price but IMHO is much better SUV.

Of cause I am not going to dune bash but SUV at price of sedan is rather good option in the UAE. At least people will "respect" you on the speed lane.

The only thing that stop me from purchasing is an opinion of my American friends that the only GM can compare (rather distantly) with Japs in quality. The rest Americans are utter junks.

Well as of recent the Jap quality is also nothing to write about either.

Get the new GMC Acadia. If you prefer a GM. But its strictly a mall crawler and should not see any off road action at all.

Ford Edge is quite stupid with the fact it does not even have a hook or even a screwable eyelet to pull the car. Saw one stuck in Dragon mart sand paking could not pull it out because no where to tow it out from !

desertdudeshj wrote:Ford Edge is quite stupid with the fact it does not even have a hook or even a screwable eyelet to pull the car. Saw one stuck in Dragon mart sand paking could not pull it out because no where to tow it out from !

It's a big disadvantage of cause. Living all my life in severe weather conditions (believe me snow, ice or mud are as good friends of any driver as sand) I understood a wisdom that better 4 wheeler you have means much longer walking distance for a caterpillar.
So I'm not a fisherman.

Hmm well the OP never stated what they were going to use if for. I posted a commuter that is a 4x4. Since you never get ice there I can see no need for it on a public highway. I don't care what you buy, as long as you can get parts for them. They all break down. If you are going to play in the desert seriously, then get something made for it. Like a real dune buggy. Not that other cr*p. Those guys are driving like a bunch of girls in that video. Are the foreigners going to have to show you how to do that also? Just like getting that oil out of the ground. All foreign technology. What do they actually build in Dubai besides hotels? (that's all imported technology also)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge_XMEJplvo

Hate to say it canucky, but your starting to sound like a troll. Bad day at work maybe ?

I showed a 4x4 for the OP. You came back with your smart*ss remarks. I gave a little taste of it back. Not fun is it?

HuH ? I thought I was being very accomadating, Saab does not hold its value well ( maybe it does in canada )and many don't even know it exsits over here. And the Video was FYI so you get an idea of what kind offroading is I was talking.

Not the generally boring muddy gatch tracks of N.America or if you go extreme up there. Even more boring Mudding and rock crawling.

Although we do have our mud pits and mountain ranges not many care for it. Anyone who's done all three types will tell you which is the most exhilirating and a bigger adrealin rush. Snow n Ice is the only thing we don't have here but I know people who now live in Alaska and Canada still say nothing beats the sand

Anyways no worries

Peace out and chillbro.

I think you need this experience, Dude, when you cannot start any of your jeeps due to raging blizzard and don't have any single man 500 km. around.
Then you will understand that diesel isn't the best fuel in the world.

P.S. I don't mean in below statement that snow and ice is worse than sand - real "fisherman" can easy find an adventure on own arse anywhere in the world.

RC, where the hell did diesel come into the discussion ?

Diesel is a total no-no in any form of off-roading.

1. Small SUV
2. Real off roader
3. with low range gearing and differential lock.

There is only one vehicle for which all the above can be true and that is Zusuki Grand Vitara.

Believe me, I have seen a grand vitara (slightly modified) doing wonders in the desert which perhaps a Patrol or Land cruiser can not think of because of their weight.(This is only my observation. I am not an off road expert as many of you)

arniegang wrote:Diesel is a total no-no in any form of off-roading.

Rather unusual point of view I must say. Many jeepers chose diesel for its high torque at low engine speed and a half of fuel consumption against petrol engine.

Double post.

gcarlin37 wrote:1. Small SUV
2. Real off roader
3. with low range gearing and differential lock.

There is only one vehicle for which all the above can be true and that is Zusuki Grand Vitara.

Believe me, I have seen a grand vitara (slightly modified) doing wonders in the desert which perhaps a Patrol or Land cruiser can not think of because of their weight.(This is only my observation. I am not an off road expert as many of you)

I have to agree with this. It the most compact proper 4x4 available only to be beated by the Suzuki Samurai now Jimny in compactness.

Red Chief wrote:

arniegang wrote:Diesel is a total no-no in any form of off-roading.

Rather unusual point of view I must say. Many jeepers chose diesel for its high torque at low engine speed and a half of fuel consumption against petrol engine.

Well in this country and desert driving diesel is really not the optimal choice of fuel and you need speed and quick accelration to cover the dunes. Although in capable hands a diesel would not fair bad at all.

Still old 60's and new diesel bedfords, nissan diesel and tatra trucks scour the deserts of the empty quarter

I've been dying to try out the New V8 turbo diesel Land Cruiser with 1000nm of torque ! Unfortunately the retards at Al Futtaim don't bring it in and is also not availiable in Oman n Buraimi

desertdudeshj wrote:Well in this country and desert driving is really not the optimal choice of fuel and you need speed and quick accelration to cover the dunes. Although in capable hands a diesel would not fair bad at all.

I am not goint to argue but in Tunisia I saw 2 million km. on ODO of many LC, that had done long safary raids deep inside Sahara. You probably understand w/o a hint which kind of engine they have.

1st of all you cannot get a million on any odo of any cars as they only go up to 999,999 then it will reset also not very uncommon in Oz for old land cruisers to trip over and reset an there are many example of high milage cars here I've see close to 900,000 myself.

You can cross any terrain in a diesel but to actually play on top peaks of high dunes. Do long insane climbs up a slip face you need a petrol or a V10 turbo charged diesel.

I've driven a 4 cyl diesel in the desert in a LWB Land Rover it can move around but have to be content with staying low down on the smaller dunes. And once it gets bogged down its really an effort to get yourself out.

I was actually going to buy a diesel Land Rover but the high price of diesel here put me off. the extra milage I would get would be evened out by the price of diesel fuel. Plus not enough oomph to really play to your hearts content out in the dunes

I know nothing about sand but if you make the same experiment on snow SUV will lie on belly but all wheels will rotate very quickly in air.

As for ODO I can make a mistake - it was 15 years ago, but mileage impressed me a lot. I have never seen such digits before and after.

As for cost of diesel in the UAE you are right -rather unusual situation compare to the rest of the world. In Russia diesel costs 10% less than 95th that together with rather high cost of fuel against UAE make them rather good choice for ling raids.

Totally offtopic question RC and not judging you or intented as an insult of anykind

Are you usuing somekind of online translator like google translator etc etc

Red Chief wrote:As for cost of diesel in the UAE you are right -rather unusual situation compare to the rest of the world. In Russia diesel costs 10% less than 95th that together with rather high cost of fuel against UAE make them rather good choice for ling raids.

Diesel is more expensive to refine than petrol. So it has to be more expensive to the consumer. Diesel is cheaper in many countries because it is on government subsidy. This extra cost of subsidy compensated by hiking price of petrol.

The reason for all these is diesel is the fuel for mass and goods transportation, agriculture and power generation.

Exactly, Dude. As far as I understand without google translator the guy in the OP asked advice about a SUV for regular routine and weekly picnic in RAK. Such a car is intertesting for me for the same purpose.

In the reply you started your rants about soccer mom. Is it absolutely necessary for you to jump in any thread with sign 4x4 and make long flame?

No was just curious, as sometimes its quite hard to understand you. Same kind of language I get when I sometimes use a translotor.

First post here, jsut found this forum by accident trying to find information on another subject.

desertdudeshj, Al Futaim will import a diesel LC if you go to the right people to ask for it. A Swedish friend of mine who works for the UN had one brought in for him (not for the UN) and eventually drove it back to Sweden during the summer when he was transfered to Rome.

Like most 4x4s of course it had to be modified after it came out of the box for real off roading. (unable to post a link or photo because I have not posted more than 15 times in this forum)

I have some friends driving diesel Defenders here that can outdrive any V8 LC ... a matter of knowing how to drive a diesel in sand

I was never an oil burner fan until I drove a diesel LR3 in S. Africa last year, but the new LR4 5L V8 has more appeal

I'm not talking about the 4.5 6 cyl diesel I'm talking about the V8 diesel, The regular 6cyl diesel is out and about and not a problem to aqquire.

As for Diesel Vs Petrol in the Sand Dunes The petrol will out class the diesel everytime. I've driven SWB TD5's but not in the same class as a gasoline engine.

As for outdriving anything that pretty much depends who is driving what. An offroad driven by a newbie will struggle while a experienced hand with a stock softroader will leave it inits trails.

Anyways Sears you seem like your an 4x4'sy offroader kind of guy if you are why not join our offroad clubs for weekends forrays into the unkown

www.emarat4x4.com and www.desertlions.com you can find in both clubs with the same nick ID

desertdudeshj,

I am talking about a V8 Diesel

Hopefully this photo can upload now ... maybe not perhaps in the next post

Duplicate entry

Only maxima

Yes your two words are SOOOO relavant to this thread which BTW died almost a month back until you brought it back with your pearls of wisdom.

Hey,

since my family is growing and we are owning only a well known 2 seater sports car along with a 3 door grand vitara I purchased a chevy tahoe today. To be frank I was never a fan of American cars (no offence really) and I never actually owned one but I totally fell in love with the looks of this SUV and the spacious interior. I bought the z71 off road edition with skid plates, modified suspension and locking differential bla bla.

Given the fact that this car is heavy as hell I was wondering about the real off road capabilities of this vehicle. Any comments?

Again, it's not a priority since I care more about the safety of my family and the space but since I have it I was just wondering what's possible.

Thanks