Animal magnetism

For most of us, a car is simply what we use to go from A to B. This is, after all, what cars are designed for. And yet they are often so much more to us. We give them names.

We pay more attention to their health than to our own. And the toughest of men have been reduced to tears when told that their pride and joy has reached the end of the road.

This fond attachment is completely understandable; it's estimated that in the US the average adult spends 540 hours (more than 22 days) in their car every year. Yet there are many who take this attachment further. Their car becomes a friend, a hobby, a status symbol or a way to get noticed or to meet people.

There are no rules on what makes a cult car. Hollywood can certainly play its part: some of the cars with the biggest followings have held leading roles in famous films. It seems unlikely that The Italian Job without the Mini, Bullitt without the green Ford Mustang, or Herbie without… well, Herbie would have captured the imagination of cinema-goers to the same degree.

For many, performance is enough to make them fall in love with a given Ferrari or Lamborghini; or it may be that a strong motorsport connection does the trick. Indeed, without this some cars – such as the 1970 Plymouth Superbird, with enormous aerodynamic appendages – would have caused onlookers to fall over through hysterical laughter, not through admiration.

Cult cars can also endear themselves through good looks, character, honesty of purpose or nostalgia for the past. A proud history will always help, especially if you come complete with a number of imperfections. The Italian marques are experts at this.

Perhaps we will never fully understand what it is that makes large numbers of people take a particular model to their heart. But that's part of what makes cult cars so fascinating. This month we profile five cars that many people in the UAE hold close to their hearts.

Ford Mustang

The latest generation 'Stang has captured the imagination of UAE locals and expats alike. A clever re-invention, it features everything that made the original classic great: butch styling, affordable price – and easy-to-tune-up V8 engines.

Owner Alan Blackwall says he finds the combination of all three irresistible: "The first thing that appealed to me was the styling; it's so muscular and makes the car look like it's always accelerating. Then I heard the V8 engine and decided to look into the price. When I saw that, I bought one straight away!"

Proving the popularity of the US legend in the UAE, the Dubai Ford dealership (Al Tayer Motors) was recently confirmed as the largest Ford Mustang dealer outside North America.

In brief:

Toyota Land Cruiser

The ubiquitous 4x4 is probably the most popular off-roader in this part of the world. For those who see the latest Land Cruiser model (or the one before that, or the one before that…) as too soft, the Land Cruiser Pick Up (built on the super-tough 70 series chassis) is the one – with good old-fashioned rear leaf springs and trusty engines. This is the Abu Shenab, or 'father of the moustache', the model that the Bedouin, and almost anyone who needs a really serious utility vehicle in the UAE, uses and adores.

As Saeed Al Mazroui, a farmer from Al Ain explains, "My Land Cruiser Pick Up is my business partner, my travelling companion and a friend that can help me in times of trouble. Together, we have transported livestock and produce across demanding terrain. We have rescued friends, acquaintances and complete strangers on countless occasions. And never once has it let me down. I can't imagine life without it."

It may be aesthetically deficient and severely short on glamour, but the Land Cruiser 70 has deservedly garnered its cult following by being a modern-day beast of burden.

In brief

Nissan Patrol

Though it is a competitor to the 'family' Land Cruiser models, the Patrol has resisted moving itself upmarket and so remains a true 'does what it says on the tin' vehicle.

Nissan has spent little time developing gimmicks for the Patrol or – in the opinion of some – styling the vehicle, making it popular as a dependable and tough go-anywhere transporter of people.

This approach has made it the choice of many government and aid agencies, as well as the United Nations. Owner Abdul Mohammad relates his feelings about his own Patrol, a 2006 five-door with the more powerful 4.8-litre '4800 VTC' engine: "I feel as though my Patrol and I move as one. When I turn a corner, the car feels like an extension of my own arm. This means that I trust it completely – something that's important if I'm tackling tricky terrain or going for a run up Big Red.

" A wide range of trim levels makes the Patrol popular with young men looking for an affordable 'proper-sized' 4x4. Those who own the more powerful model are often to be found indulging in the Patrol ritual of accelerating hard and not changing into the next gear until well after the engine hits its speed-related cut-out, producing the familiar staccato exhaust din.

In brief

The Veyron is THE car for Dubai: the fastest (408kmh), most powerful (1001 hp), most expensive road car ever produced. Perhaps that's why more than 10 per cent of the less-than 200 Veyrons so far produced have found their way to the UAE. Some 'enhanced' models have been made available, for those who feel that they wish to stand out from the miniature-sized crowd and don't flinch at the thought of a sizeable increase to the $1.5 million price tag of the 'standard' model.

A targa-roofed version (called Grand Sport) is also on the way.

In brief

Porsche 911

The Porsche 911 is the perfect example of a supposedly imperfect car. Its engine is slung out behind the rear wheels, meaning that its weight distribution is far from ideal. Over the last 45 years, however, Porsche has worked hard to remove the disadvantages inherent in its mechanical layout, producing one of the world's most admired and sought-after vehicles.

A long motorsport heritage hasn't harmed its reputation, either. Rallies, road races, circuit competition… the 911 has done it and won it. And a boggling variety of versions are available, with or without go-faster racing stripes.
Jaap de Hoop, proud owner of a 911 GT3, wouldn't want anything else "For me, this is as pure as driving gets.

Every bit of my 911 feels as though it has been designed to make driving it more enjoyable, whether I am on the road or at a track day. I love the noise that the engine makes, the feeling of being connected to the car – and, of course, it looks like nothing else."

In brief

The UAE cult car of 2013?

The Daihatsu Materia combines singularity of purpose (as much space inside, as little space outside, minimal running costs) with resultant odd looks, meaning it is defended heavily by appreciative owners and ripe for customisation. Is the Materia a modern-day VW Beetle?