Car Fanatic

I have always been a fan of nice cars and one of my favorite magazines growing up was Nitro, fueled with hot rods, american muscle and old timers. My first wheels were those of a 1.1l Ford Fiesta, not even remotely close to what I could read on the pages of this magazine, but it was an enjoyable ride for a couple of years. In 2001, after my Opel Vectra died in a pile-up on the highway, I acquired a 2000 Mercury Cougar, powered by a 2.5l DOHC V6 engine developping 176HP to the wheels. My car got featured in the 2004 Euro-NECO calendar for the month of August.

When I arrived in Dubai, I ordered a 2009 Ford Mustang GT500. My first Shelby was powered by a supercharged 5.4l V8, roaring a brutal 500HP, and I joined the team leading the Emirates Mustang Club. The Shelby eventually got replaced by a 2005 Mercedes SL55 AMG, still equipped with a supercharged 5.5l V8 engine and exhibiting similar performances to the Shelby, but I have always missed the raw power of the snake. I also got a 2001 Audi A8L Quattro, powered by a 4.2l V8 developping 300HP as a daily driver to somehow spare mileage on the AMG.

In 2014, I replaced both cars by a 2014 Dodge Durango R/T, which was supposed to be quite sporty (R/T stands for "Road & Track") with its 5.7 HEMI V8, but I was missing the exhilarating noise and driving experience of the Shelby so much that I looked for another one. I found a convertible 2010 Ford Mustang GT500 that I drove for roughly two years on a daily basis. It was great fun, but unfortunately, a convertible is of little use most of the time in the UAE, especially when you don't like dirt and dust...

In February 2020, I managed to find a brand new 2017 Shelby Super Snake at my local dealership. This is a completely different dimension. The 50th Anniversary limited edition is built by Shelby American. The 2017 Super Snake has been rethought and redeveloped from the tires up to maximize the current Coyote-powered, IRS-equipped 5.0 GT. The Whipple supercharger cranks it up to a mean 750 horsepower, and the car is packed with all performance options available in Las Vegas!