Me & my Car in Bahrain- Mahmood BushehriArticle kindly contributed by Bahrain Confidential |
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Tulip Inn Andalusia - Al KhobarThis Tulip Inn Hotel is located in Al Khobar, next to Al Khobar Mall, and is approximately nine miles from Dhahran Airport. Local attractions include Damman, approximately 12 miles away, and the Rashid Mall, located three miles from the property.Hotel amenities include free newspapers, laundry services, business center, restaurant, 24-hour front desk, parking, room service, and a doctor on-call.Guest rooms feature air conditioning, kitchenettes, minibars, safes, satellite TVs, wireless Internet access, and dataports......
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Current car(s)
2005 Mini Cooper and a 1998 Aston Martin convertible DB7 Valanti with a custom-ordered champagne paint and beige top - it took one year and six months to arrive because it was on a waiting list. These cars are hand built and only a certain number are made each year. Between 1994 and 2000 Aston Martin made only 800 of these cars but this colour combination is unique in the Middle East. Inside the convertible top is suede. And by the way, my Mini has more miles on it than my Aston!
Best features
It’s the only one around, very smooth and smells of Connolly leather. I enjoy being surrounded by beautiful things. And you cannot put a price on its sound. Not even the Ferrari sounds as good. It’s super-charged and so very fast, I reach top speed in less than 15 seconds. An Aston is an Aston and you have to own one to know what that means.
What you never knew until you had one
How good it is to drive! Previous cars Audi TT (it was the fi rst hard top roadster in Bahrain); Volkswagen Touareg (I was trying to be responsible); Mercedes CLK50K (a super-charged monster!); Mini Cooper (my rebound car). When I was eighteen I was very into sports bikes. I had a Kawasaki Ninja ZZR600 and GPZ 1000cc. At that time they were the only ones in Bahrain but my mother insisted I choose between her or the bikes so of course, the bikes had to go.
Worst car ever driven
Ford Taurus. Americans are very good at straightforward cars that fall apart in a few years.
What you will never do in your current car
The grocery shopping - it wouldn’t fi t. I love all my cars so I don’t abuse any of them. I never smoke, eat, or even chew gum in any of them. I can’t stand the smell and my cars are not ashtrays.
Who has driven it
I only buy manual so few people besides myself drive my cars. I am not stingy with my cars but my golden rule is if you scratch it, you buy it simply because I cannot stand owning cars that have any whiff of an accident. I would sell my car just for breaking a tail light. I don’t like cars coming between friends so there are really only two people in the world with cart blanche to take any of my cars any time.
Describe your driving style
Very well-mannered until provoked and I am not easily angered except by rudeness, like those who come flying up from behind at stupid speeds flashing all the way. Otherwise I am very much a middle lane driver averaging 100-120kmph. I enjoy driving more than speeding but I like to know it’s there if I want it.
Driving tip
Treat people as you want to be treated - if you want to play in a sports car, drive it properly.
What next (dream car)
Aston Martin V8 Vantage or the DB9 but I may try the DB7 Vantage fi rst to get the feel of the V12. I’m a serial car buyer and now I’m addicted to Astons.
Who will win this year’s F1?
I hope Fernando Alonso again. Schumacher has just become too commercial, it’s nice to see new talent. I’d love to see an Arab and preferably a Bahraini. Mohammed Fardan has my support entirely.