You're an outdoor kind of guy, right?
I was a keen skier back in Switzerland before moving to the UAE as I love being out in the fresh air.
Without any real countryside here, dune bashing, desert trips and BBQs in the desert are the Dubai equivalent. So I bought the Jeep seven months ago to make the most of this.
Did you always want one of these?
Not necessarily a Wrangler, but a 4x4 was certainly on my wish list.
I always figured that my stay in Dubai wouldn't be a long one so I decided to make the most of it — nowhere else in the world could I afford owning and driving such a vehicle. It will be a sad day when I must sell it before returning to Geneva.
What else were you considering?
I was weighing up getting a two-door Nissan Patrol instead of this, as the engine is much larger; 4.8-litre V8. However, I was not able to find one in such good condition for the same money.
I chose the Jeep as it was a soft top and the Dubai winter climate is perfect for owning a cabriolet.
You've had some modifications done to it. What are the highlights?
The 202bhp 3.8-litre V6 has been super-chipped and it has a K&N induction kit fittedto increase the horsepower. It also gained a dual-end Gibson exhaust, so combined with the induction kit, when you hit the loud pedal, it really does roar. As for the body, it's got a lift kit, uprated heavy-duty suspension and33in Cooper tyres.
I must thank my good friend Rayan Abou Daher for helping to build the beast.
And after all those mods, how does it perform?
Well, with the engine chipped and the induction kit, I have 25bhp more.
The engine, gearbox and brakes are all in great order. Combined with the fact that it weighs nothing, its power and performance off-road is impeccable.
Naturally, it's not a jack of all trades, and for long drives on Shaikh Zayed Road it isn't the most comfortable — good thing I don't have to commute to Abu Dhabi every morning!
The road handling is what you'd expect from a Jeep that's had its height increased and it is always advisable taking corners slowly, otherwise you'll topple over.
However, when you leave the tarmac it handles like a dream. The heavy-duty suspension swallows sand dunes and it can easily survive in whatever off-road conditions you throw at it.
I was in the Hatta area recently and drove up rocky wadis without a problem, thanks to the Cooper tyres giving it incredible grip and the ride height allowing good clearance.
In the dunes, it has ample power, so getting stuck is never an issue.
These Jeeps are driven hard and things usually go wrong. Have you had any worrying issues with it?
I needed to change the clutch once and needed the steering realigned after a heavy landing in the desert, but otherwise it's been as good as gold.
What do your friends and family make of it?
My girlfriend thinks it's just a toy and isn't the biggest fan of off-roading, but I think secretly she has a soft spot for the car and loves it.
However, if we are going out somewhere nice she'll always insist we take a taxi. I agree with her fully. After all, clambering down from the passenger side when dressed up to the nines is not a glamorous entry anywhere.
Finally, it seems to have taken the term ‘creature comforts' a little too literally...
Indeed it has. One evening, I had parked with the roof down and came back to it the following morning. I opened the door and a big tomcat had decided he was quite happy sleeping under the pedals. He scared the pants off me and wasn't too impressed with me throwing him out of his bedroom either!
Bio
- Name Ben Hardaker
- Job Commodity trader
- From Essex, England
- Wheels 2008 Wrangler Jeepers Edition
- In the UAE One year
