Your list of cars reads like a who's who of luxury and exotica. Let's start with what you've owned before.
Well, here are just some of the more memorable cars I have owned before in Dubai: Mercedes-Benz CL 500, SL 500 and CLK 230, Jaguar XF, three Range Rovers, a Ferrari 360 Modena, Maserati Quattroporte, Audi S8, 1965 Chevrolet Impala and a 1968 Mercedes SL 300.
Wow! And your current fleet's not too bad either…
My current cars are a FAB Design S 500, a Range Rover, a Porsche 996 Turbo, and a Panamera 4, which couldn't make it to the photoshoot.
This Turbo looks like it's about to devour us, what's the story?
This is a twin-turbo producing 700-plus horsepower. I bought it this January through a friend who is a trader, and he had this car displayed in the showroom for his client. I didn't like the way the car had been treated, and I knew if I bought it I'd have to spend a few good months and a few thousand dirhams restoring it to its best shape.
After I bought the car, I immediately took it to sort out the interior and exterior. The black foils were removed, as well as the very unprofessional looking bodykit pieces, and the car was polished. The GT2 spoiler was sanded and repainted and the whole car was wrapped in red foil.
Then came the technical part, with work lasting about 10 days. By this stage I had spent about Dh35K on it, but it was well worth it.
I then started searching for original Porsche rims, and I found a nice set, wrapping them in new tyres and after the balancing and alignment, we were all done. It drives beautifully and it's truly a monster on the road. I love driving this car and my daughter loves it too. Although she is only three, she loves to sit behind the wheel when the car is switched off, pretending to drive.
Compared to the Turbo, this Range Rover must feel like a truck to drive?
This is actually my favourite car and I drive it every day to my office in Deira. I bought my Range Rover from Al Tayer Motors in November 2004. It was originally silver with a beige interior. This was the Range Rover which came with a BMW engine, so I love the sound of the engine on this car.
Since I love cars and I have changed over 30 cars since arriving in Dubai back in 1995, I grew tired of the Range Rover because of its looks. However, I had the whole interior and exterior redone, and I ended up with an almost brand new Range Rover.
Nobody believes it is a 2004 model. Some people think it must be 2008 or 2009. It's done 120,000km, but runs like it's the first year of its life.
I have recently changed the rims to the 2011 look and changed the tyres as I believe they are key to safety and ride quality.
Does the FAB Design live up to its promise?
I bought this car from Gargash Enterprises in 2009, and I think it has amazing quality and comfort. Having a great bodykit and interior trim from FAB Design was an added advantage. It has done only 32,000km since I bought it and it's still in perfect condition. The only problem is that now I can't change any of my cars any more; they can't get better than this.
Bio
- Name Nima Tabibi
- Job Legal consultant
- From Iran
- Wheels Mercedes S500 FAB Design, Range Rover HSE 4.4, Porsche 996 Turbo and Porsche Panamera 4
- In the UAE Since 1995
