I did spend a lot of time figuring out which SUV to buy which will keep everyone happy - My wife, My daughter and Myself.
Looking at the Videos and the kit on the road, 4 door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited was my first choice, it looked seriously capable off-road, however as soon as my wife took the test ride on 2007 model, she rejected the idea straight away. The demo car had noise coming out of speakers even when Volume was turned to Zero, the hot air from outside was making way inside the car from A/C Vents, the doors wont close easily but worst of all was the on-road ride - most of the reviews claimed that onroad performance has improved - but it was a sickening ride - it kept rolling and bumping on standard paved roads of Dubai. My wife concluded that while the Brits may like the "fun" factor associated with such a ride, we have had enough of this fun with cars in Socialist India (Ambassadors and Fiat), she will just not buy this. There went my grandiose plans out of window.
Next pit stop - the Landcruiser Prado - every bit a car - and with offroading capabilities. But - overpriced as all Toyotas are in this region and no ESP or stability control. For a vehicle of its height - it looked wierd not to have it. Plus too many of them on the road - no USP for us.
test drove MRV (or the Pilot as it is known in US) then - I already have an Accord - this felt great - drove like a car - felt precise - little bit of issues in cornoring - but came loaded with everything you wanted except Navigation system and iPod compatibility. We decided to buy the top-end model and with our corporate deal, got it pretty cheap as compared to top end 4 door wrangler or Prado.
Drove it around for some time as Sheikh Zayed cruisers - and felt happy - it would give me 8 Km/Litre on good runs and once did 9 KM/Litre. Then I got bored - decided to take it offroad - slowly increasing the badness of tracks rather than jump head-along into it.
