knoll-age

Hi everyone I'm new here. I've driven 4x4s before but not off road ever. I sold my land-cruiser colorado couple of years ago. Am thinking of, (or Dreaming of) an overland expedition some day, maby! . In the meantime I think i like to do some kind of 4x4 off road touring, sight seeing, week, week end away, every now and then whenever I can. With an old like new proper equipped reliable 4x4 any suggestions of where to buy or what to buy Ide be grateful .

Depending on your buget, you could buy one that is ready for off road, or buy a basic LR oand do it your self, that way you get what you whant not someone eles's car.

9 times out of 10 you get more for your money buying a vehicle already kitted out than doing it yourself. If you have the dosh then spend £5,000 on a vehicle that somebody has spent £3,000 / £4,000 / £5,000 purely on accessories, and that's without the actual vehicle itself.

That said, if you have the time, skills (although skills can be learnt along the way) and will, building a vehicle yourself is a great achievement. As the man says, at least you will know what you've got, plus will be able to fix it when it goes wrong.

And don't believe all that nonsense about Jap/German motors being super reliable. Okay, I accept a particular component may last longer because it was built in a German or Japanese factory, but if it is a machine or a part for a machine, it will fail eventually ... that you can guarantee! The number of BMWs, VW Golfs, Mercs, Toyota Yaris thingys I see on the hard shoulder of motorways proves this theory (probably because there are so many of 'em out there these days, so the law of averages says that 100% of them can't be reliable 100% of the time), so when it does break down, it's nice to know that you can fix it yourself - simply because you know your motor.

Here endeth the sermon!!!

k900 wrote:

Hi everyone I'm new here. I've driven 4x4s before but not off road ever. I sold my land-cruiser colorado couple of years ago. Am thinking of, (or Dreaming of) an overland expedition some day, maby! . In the meantime I think i like to do some kind of 4x4 off road touring, sight seeing, week, week end away, every now and then whenever I can. With an old like new proper equipped reliable 4x4 any suggestions of where to buy or what to buy Ide be grateful .            

Got a fully kitted out Land Cruzer that was built to drive from Edinburgh to Zambia here if you are interested? I was going to list it on our website tomorrow but give me an email jed@campervanculture.com if you are genuinely interested.

Jed

Thanks jed for letting me know, I'm not In any hurry, and not sure what I'm looking for yet, I suppose till I see something I would be happy with For all the right reasons too. But thanks and I will have a look anyhow whenever you post it, I don't doubt they're a good choice too, Had a look on your camper site, interesting trips you all seem to be in good spirits. Thanks from Anthony

k900 wrote:

Thanks jed for letting me know, I'm not In any hurry, and not sure what I'm looking for yet, I suppose till I see something I would be happy with For all the right reasons too. But thanks and I will have a look anyhow whenever you post it, I don't doubt they're a good choice too, Had a look on your camper site, interesting trips you all seem to be in good spirits.        Thanks from Anthony

Thanks Anthony. Here is the vehicle, http://campervanculture.com/?p=3897&preview=true

Let me know what you think, it belongs to a good friend of mine.

Jed

Never seen a broken down Shogun on the hard shoulder Tom, seen a few Traffic Officer and Police Shoguns assisting plenty of broken down Land Rovers though, and you know the miles I drive.

Assassin wrote:

Never seen a broken down Shogun on the hard shoulder Tom, seen a few Traffic Officer and Police Shoguns assisting plenty of broken down Land Rovers though, and you know the miles I drive.

Mmmm, seeing the amount of Landies still on the road around the world versus Shoguns I think the odds of seeing a broken down landy against a Shogun are about 2000 to 1. Not that I'm biased of course

Twende: Just having a laugh with Tom.

In point of fact there is a higher percentage of Shogun/Pajero/Montero models manufactured still on the road than Landies, most are not in the UK though as Mitsu markets tend to be Asia as their biggest markets.

He's on a wind up Twende, take more than that.

A lot less rust as not much in the way of salt on the roads down that way, that's for sure!

Have a butcher's at this article, says it all really - www.roadandtrack.com/features/web-originals/malaysias-secret-land-rover-graveyard

Google 'Cameroon Highlands Land Rover' for more.

Too many miserable bastards in the world Tom, me and thee certainly won't be joining them.

Long trip today and spotted 5 landies on the hard shoulder broken down, all Range Rovers and Disco's.

It's all those Bosch electronics they keep stuffing into them. The more you stuff, the more it's liable to start complaining.

[quote="Assassin"]Twende: Just having a laugh with Tom.

Me too.  Didn't mean to rattle any bodies roll cage    just trying to be patriotic, however, now they are Indian owned !!!!!!!!!!  I'll remain patriotic and plug for my favourite... the G Wagen  
Well, it is built by our Euro friends.

Back to the thread, make a list of the cars you like and try them all, don't just look under the bonnet or kick the tyres, if the car was put together for off roading/expedition prepared by like minded people they will be only to pleased to show you it's capabillities, if not then walk away.

Not rattled my roll cage twende.

Ongoing source of fun between me and Tom, if my Shogun ever develops an electronics fault I will get it both barrels from Tom for months.

A neighbor, (Farmer) of mine has a discovery 1980 I think. A while since I seen it, He said when he bought it if he was happy enough with the overall vehicle was a bonus, but his main concern was that the engine was good, Hes happy with it now and its not A bad looking 4x4. On the other hand, A friend of mine says stay away from them discovery's, discos, and range rovers there just rubbish, Absolute junk. The suspension rubbish the whole car rubbish. I thought If one can look after it OK maintain it then they wouldn't be too bad. Whats the main issues with them, If you've got one mechanically sorted and then decide to go on a trip of some sort what can one expect to happen, what kind of problems could happen.
Whats the difference with Discovery, verses defenders, Reff: mechanics suspension chassi engines

Discovery 1 first reg 1989, this year it is 25 years old,