My friend was driving home in VW R32 and just as he was about to get onto the highway he hears a loud boom, and a hard slap, he pulls over and the tire was basically ripped off the rim. It’s around 1am on Thursday night close to Fahaheel Expressway as he was heading home, he was trying to think of what to do but didn’t bother calling us to help him. He remembered that he had a VW Behbehani VIP service, so he called them to check what they could do for him, they ask if he was ok, and said the tow guy will be with him in 10 minutes. He looked at the jack kit for the VW R32, and its a complicated contraption to put together in the rain so decided to wait the 10 minutes. The tow guy got there in 10 minutes, which is a miracle in Kuwait, his phone rang again and the call center was asking about the tow guy.
He got there and within 10 minutes put on the spare tire, and he told him he will take his rim back to Behbehani, replace the tire for free, and check the rim for any structural damage from the savage burst. He drove home and the call center called him again to make sure he got home, this whole event took place in less then a 30 minute period. Next morning the same tow guy called on Friday, brought the rim back with the new tire and installed it on his car. Now that is fantastic service, my friend hasn’t had his car a year yet and this is a service that he pays only 6 KD per year for, and they offer only for the higher end VWs. So its the R32, R36, Phaeton, and probably a few other high end VWs but I’m not sure which ones are included in the service, but if you a Jetta or a normal fleet car then you aren’t eligible for the service. My first question was whether I could subscribe to the service even if I don’t have a VW, I would pay 60KD a year for service like this. I don’t even know if they offer it for Porsche, but its great that Behbehani has service such as this available to its customers. They have a fleet of 40 tow cars all over Kuwait from Doha all the way to Nuwaiseeb, stationed in all corners of the country so the tow trucks can get to you quickly. It would be nice if Luxury vehicle dealers would learn from them and provide a similar service such as this, I hope they keep up the great work.
Foiling is a new phenomeno that has been taking place in the Kuwait and the Middle East, its the simple practice of changing color or design of a car using a special type of sticker on top of the car’s original color. Its a quick way to change colors, styles, and protecting your vehicle’s body. Its legal in the US and Europe, now for the Middle East its a different story.
I was reminded of this topic because of Brake Banzeen’s article linked below, Creative FX did a fantastic job on the F430, making it look easy. In Kuwait you can do it in a few legit places or in Shuweikh, in Al Zeena Street, but I wouldn’t recommend either. I was thinking of getting a strip or something done with the material but it looks like the police are out with vengeance.
Sticker guys who were caught in Shuweikh applying the stickers across whole cars like that were apprehended and deported for applying the stickers. I asked in a two day period 15 Indian and Bangladashi workers were apprehended, and this is when they are trying to do an honest job. I don’t know how they want to hold them responsible when they should just fine the owners of the cars, but it seems there is something else is going on. Word from the top is simple, if your car has the whole sticker applied it is towed and impounded for no less three days, and thats if you can get it out. They are out for blood and I honestly can’t imagine why. They make things really difficult for anyone that wants to do any customizing to a car, and everything is always illegal because its easier for them to take that route to figure a simple system of regulating it. Really not worth all that trouble.
Link: Brake Banzeen
Godzilla seems to be annihilating machine after machine, the Japanese knew what they were doing when they created this monster. Even with the 200 bhp more in the Shelby 500 Super Snake it is no match for Godzilla. Just watch the video.
I have always been a fan of the VW GTI & R32, they just perfected the compact car. Its fun, agile, great around the corners but I feel that they were too conservative with the power, so hear comes Wimmer RS to spice things up a bit.
20 inch Rims, lower stance, and adjustable coilovers is all you see on the outside. This sleeper car is something to be afraid, its something I have always hope for from VW, but came out of Wimmer RS tunig to make this beast of a machine. From stock 211 bhp to a screaming 386 bhp and 336 ft-lb of torque. A daily use car that rip the roads to shred and do some damage on the track, I’m mind trying this car out for a bit.
Link: autoblog
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The more I see these videos the more hyped up I get about GulfRun 5, I want to get on the track right away. I remember those pits, the garages, those turns, I can’t wait to get on the track. GulfRun 5 seems to have changed a bit to a 3 day event in Bahrain not including the Car Show taking place in 360 Mall on the 15th & 16th of January. The Car Wash is taking place on the 14th of January @ Al Falah Car Wash.
There are still details we aren’t aware of for the track and the car show, things are still quiet and now we know the sponsors for GulfRun 5. Its great that companies such as these support GulfRun, some are new and some keep supporting them year after year. I think I’m getting too excited even thought its a month away, I’m still waiting for the spare parts to arrive.
TitleSponsors
- Wataniya Telecom
Platinum Sponsors
- Agility
- Consolidated Construction Co.
- Dent Xpress
- Wataniya Airways
Gold Sponsors
- Al Sawan Travel
- Slider Station
Those are some very nice looking Lamborghinis driving in Los Angeles being followed by a helicotper. I don’t know what the point of this whole video but that road is a very nice piece of the Pacific Coast Highway, I have driven there a few years back, I even remember renting a Corvette C6 Convertible when it first came out in 2005 and driving it down those roads, and in those Gallardos it looks inticing. The music is a bit annoying and I would have preferred the sound of the machines, but still damn good.
The one annoying thing about the 2008/09 Lexus LX 570 & Toyota Landcruiser is that they can’t integrate with the iPod. You have to buy an aftermarket adapter to integrate into the system, and in my case I found a perfect solution which worked for me but you would expect a car as expensive as that to be able to integrate without issues. It seems Toyota heard people’s complaints, with the 2010 Landcruiser / Lexus LX 570 all you have to do is plug into the iPod into the USB slot next to the gear handle and it integrates right into your audio system with all files, playlists, and other details showing up on the screen. I have a 2009 Landcruiser so I got my solution which works for me, and my friend just purchased a 2010 LX 570 and that suv connects right away without any issues. Toyota always does this, they release a few options year after year, and if you bought the model year before then tough luck you can’t upgrade that option in your car even though its just a software thing, its good they keep upgrading but it’s annoying when it was something as simple as iPod integration, well good for all those who will be buying a new LX 570 or Landcruiser.
Things are getting all worked up at this point, people are getting their cars ready and this teaser comes out. What I can see is the Lotus 211 and the Caterham’s in the video, those machines stick to the asphalt like glue and take off like bullets. This year there seems to be some developments taking place during GulfRun 5, going to be a little bit more then last year, and more developments with the track.
From the trailer you can tell the dates are a little bit more then what it was so I’m going to enjoy that extra time. The Car Show has been confirmed for 360 Mall on the 15th and 16th of January with Cars being exhibited on the outside ramp as well as the main inside hall, this is going to be nice show of the racing breed. Check out UpTill1 for more detailed information for GR 5.
I can’t wait for it, the wait is like an itch which is driving me nuts. And NegativEffects keeps making these great videos, I do enjoy when I see quality Kuwaiti talent doing things like this.
Now this is an interesting turn of events from Lexus, there has been a lot of buzz about the LFA. At $150’000 this is one of the most expensive vehicles from Lexus yet, but a limited production of 500 will be made, sold, and delivered by January 2011. What usually happens with high end limited cars such as these is that a few by them to drive, and many buy them to drive up the prices and make a profit over the mark up. What Lexus is doing so that dealerships don’t have the usually excuse for equipment and training to mark up prices, they are providing for the specialized training for special mechanics, and provide the equipment free of charge to those specific dealerships who are authorized to sell the LFA. Now for the interesting part, Lexus will not be selling the LFA outright, they will lease them for 2 years and give you a buy out option later. This is meant to discourage those companies or individuals who buy limited quantity machines such as the LFA and try to sell them at ridiculous profit, making it difficult to transfer the machine to another owner, if this works other supercar manufacturers will follow suit.
Link: Autoblog
Only in Kuwait does someone buy a London Black Cab, get it in Beige and drive it around Kuwait. I honestly wouldn’t mind driving this car around with the guys in the back, its hilarious that someone has this as a personal car, I wouldn’t think there was one in Kuwait, I remember one of the older models but not this one. It costs £22’000 to £26’000 from the UK and I’m assuming you get 17% off for taxes if you are shipping outside the country but with shipping and customs tax in Kuwait I would assume you would get it for about 9’000 to 12’000 KD.
I still think its really cool car and probably fun to drive, I wouldn’t mind taking it for a spin. This is probably one of the few times that I have been to Tilal at night Kuwait, usually I don’t go except if I have a reason but it was packed, ridiculously packed, cars were on top of each other and so many people, but the places weren’t packed except for that one cafe in the corner. People were even standing on the corner waiting for a table to be free, I never knew it was that popular but Tilal Complex is a very nice mall, I enjoy all the design and furniture stores with a few odd ones thrown in.