Any Dubai Mk5 Owners About?

[dubaiphil]

Morning all

Finally getting back into GTI ownership after 5 years.  The Mk4 was a bit of a dog but the Mk5 is so much friskier!  Unfortunately you can't get the ED30 in the Middle East, but a standard GTI will be be fantastic.  Are there any more guys from Dubai on here...?

PS - I won't bore you with the spec you get as standard over here, or the price!

Black is the colour to have if I was back in the UK and looks fantastic in the sun, but over here you'd be washing it twice a week - not fun when it's 50c in the summer!  As standard it should show the lazy tiptronic Coxster owners over here a thing or two.  Anyone got any comments on Bluefin?

Tornado Red 4 door, 18", DSG, Sunroof, Leather, Cruise, iPod prep, Mirror Pack, Xenon, Parking Sensor, RCD500

[illyun]

If I was living in Dubai I would def have got white!  But welcome to the forum - from a black Ed30 owner. 

[Hurdy]

Welcome Phil

[dubaiphil]

Well this is that land that taste forgot!  Everything is in white over here, or gold - hmm, nice!  Red stands out a bit more over here!

[AlanD]

Doesnt the black get fooked with all the dust and sand and stuff?

welcome btw.

[Russ.C]

Hi Phil!
You lucky chap, I LOVE dubai! had the good fortune to stay in Jumeirah Beach in '05, fantastic place!

Try this link re. bluefin! (we discussed in detail!)

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=59703.0

[Rollini]

well my GTI is from Dubai  alas i am in a far wetter/colder country 

hiya btw

Iain

[TeddyKGB]

Whatever you do don't get one with that ghastly beige leather or wood trim that they seem to love over there

[08micsta]

Welcome.

I got a question...

Are GTI's at all common in Dubai?

[dubaiphil]

I've seen about 15-20 GTis on the roads - that's all.  They're quite rare over here as most people pick up Japanese or US cars.  We don't get to pick our options but get pretty much everything thrown in for 107,000AED (14,300GBP) for the 3 door or 110,000AED (14,700GBP) for the 5 door.  The colours seen on the roads are mainly silver, black, red, ink blue and I've seen one in white.

There are only a few 3 doors about, mainly because for some stupid reason a 3 door GTi is considered a sports car by the insurers but a 5 door is considered a family hatchback!  One friend of mine picked up a second hand standard 2.0L Beetle for 6000GBP, only to find the insurance was about 2000GBP a year because it was considered a 'sports car'!

Black over here is a common colour but is a serious pain to keep clean, especially if you park outside in the sand.  Whenever you park at work or when you're shopping you can get your car washed for a pound, but I'm not trusting the Golf with them! 

Two days and counting until delivery - can't wait!  I'm off to Jebel Hafeet as soon as i get it to try it out on the mountain roads - try the youtube link here for a clip of a poser in a Boxster S driving down the mountain, not nearly sideways enough though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWsC0mFMNh8