General News

When we last asked for a VW for a test drive, the PR guy mumbled something about the magazines getting priority. It pissed me off enough to ignore them for the next few months. We figured we’d ask them again anyway, and this time they replied with their misguided policies in writing:

While we appreciate your continued interest in test driving Volkswagen vehicles, our test driving policy stipulates that priority is granted to publications in the first degree due to the demand and availability of
the vehicles for such activities. We hope that you can understand our reservations and look forward to continuing on updating you with information from Volkswagen.

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The Abu Dhabi numberplate auction held on February 16 has set a new world record for selling the most expensive numberplate ever auctioned. Organised by Emirates Auction in association with Abu Dhabi police, the Code 5 plate numbered “1” fetched Dhs 52.2 million. That’s about US$14.4 million for a numberplate. The plate is expected to adorn a luxury car that only costs a fraction of that amount.

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Not quite. But Dubai has an unusually large population of Bugatti Veyrons, as published in a press-release-style article in Emirates Business newspaper. Out of 125 Veyrons delivered to customers worldwide, Dubai alone has 15. While the article simply mentions numbers, a simple calculation reveals that tiny Dubai has a massive 12% of the world’s Veyrons. Maybe a few of them will show up at the PrivatDrive Supercar Show in Abu Dhabi. Read on for more details about the show.

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The PrivatDrive Supercar Show is about to begin in Abu Dhabi at the Emirates Palace, from February 2 to February 4, 2007. The best part is the general public can enter for free, so all are invited. The event will be used to show off the Abu Dhabi numberplate “1” (in the Code 5 category), before it makes its bid to become the most expensive numberplate in the world.

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Usually I don’t freely advertise local aftermarket outfits, but the PR folks for Yellow Hat were kind enough to invite me to their opening ceremony, so I figured I’d give them my time. Yellow Hat is a Japanese superstore for aftermarket car accessories, and they have opened a branch store here in Dubai, at the Times Square Mall on Sheikh Zayed road.

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I briefly wanted to get a cheap so-called “hot hatch” so I could have some fun driving around town while I saved up enough money for a true sports car (since I refuse to take a bank loan). After selling off the Supra, I didn’t want to lose touch with a manual car. The ideal temporary-replacement used car I wanted had to be small, have decent power for its weight, have a manual gearbox, and be really cheap. This pretty much removed most reliable-but-slow-and-sloppy Japanese commuter compacts from my list sadly. So what I came across in my search were four Europeans and one Japanese.

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Speeding in Abu Dhabi may lead to jail-time and confiscation of vehicles as the Traffic and Patrol Division of the AD Police is apparently cracking down on reckless drivers. Warning that strict measures have been put in place to arrest such motorists, the police said some of the drivers go up to dangerous speeds of 200 kph. But more importantly, those caught driving dangerously will now have to spend one day cleaning the roads and another day cleaning a school. They will also spend one week in prison.

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According to an article in Gulf News, plain-clothes RTA officials have been going around Dubai fining people for simply sharing a car to get to the office. Basically, even if they see you picking up your buddy on the side of the road, you could be slapped with a Dhs 5000 fine. And I can bet you they are probably targetting people with economy cars. Like the trusty old Toyota Corolla that my family owns.

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I am currently being bombarded by press releases from carmakers touting their Something-Of-The-Year awards handed to them at a glittering ceremony by CAR Middle East magazine. And I am trashing them as soon as I receive them.

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A Dubai-based engine manufacturer today announced plans to be the UAE’s first mass producer of automobiles. Except that there isn’t really a market for its cars in this country.

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