new here

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 .

Hi K900,
Welcome to the forum...
Might help if we knew where you are based.... You in UK and what's your budget?

Regards,
Scott.

I'm in Ireland. Not sure of budget yet, depends on circumstances, what could one get for maby 5,6, 7,ooo. I might consider selling one of my bikes bought in the UK to help. I'm OK with UK purchase Thanks for any advice. from Anthony

Hi Antony,
Several people will have different opinions, but personally I prefer sticking with vehicles that don't have electronics as complicated as NASA to run the engines or to tell you that a fuse has blown!
I suggest reading the Overland Handbook by Chris Scott.

The 200 or 300 TDI Land Rover engines are simple and robust and can be fixed by an African garage with tape and glue in the middle of the Kalahari if needed.
Land Rover Defenders hold their price well, but Discovery's are cheaper however the old ones have a few known issues that you have to be careful with.
I have a 1995 110 Defender which has done 120,000 miles and its been to Morocco twice, Tunisia, Alps, Scotland, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, France, Spain. Yes, its had problems on the trips but can be fixed. However I did crash it in Tunisia and had to get it from Tunisia to UK with it only having three wheels. Within 4 months the garage had it back on the road with new chassis, gearbox and front axle. With a newer vehicle I would hate to think of the cost to rebuild it...!!

Plenty of Discovery's on E bay for your budget, but all depends how many people you will be traveling with as I have had two discovery's but when my kids grew up it didn't have enough room for all the Overlanding kit plus all their cr*p...!

I don't know much about Land Cruisers / other makes, but Im sure someone will pop up and give you some advice.

Good luck...!

the defender sounds good 200, 300, which would be best or are they both as good. you've certainly done well with your defender plenty of trips

Hi and welcome,

I had a 200 tdi, was great off road and on, that would be my choice, but if you can try both and make your own mind up,

200 is the older engine. There are a few differences between 200 and 300, but both seem to have a good reputation. Chris Scott's handbook is VERY detailed on everything from Engines, to planning trips, to dealing with kids!

Photos of my trips can be seen here - http://www.global-adventures.webs.com/

thanks everyone appreciate the advice very much, from Anthony

Hi Anthony - welcome mate!

I would wholeheartedly agree with Scott, avoid vehicles with masses of electronics. They may be very capable on and off road, but break down in the middle of a third world country, and they are the best places to go for an overland trip, you'll be glad you kept the motor as simple as possible.

As for the make of vehicle, you certainly have plenty of choice nowadays. Then again, do you? In Eire or NI I'm pretty sure Land Cruisers are expensive, while Discos are still reasonable - although nowhere as cheap as mainland UK.

Personally I wouldn't go for a Jeep (they rust worse than Land Rovers!!!) or most of the other Jap motors like Isuzu, not because Isuzus are bad, it's because accessories and spare parts for Land Rover Defenders and Discos are dirt cheap compared to some of the Jap motors. Like my dad used to say, it's fine buying an 'unusual vehicle', but it's keeping it on the road that's the problem. Could be that if I was brought up in America I might be a Jeep nut, but as I'm English and live in a land full of cheap Rangies, that's the make/model that I latched on to when I first got into 4x4's and off-roading, so ever since have owned them.

Also, the Land Rover community is like no other (although I'm sure the 'septic tanks' would argue the issue with their Jeeps), so be prepared for some genuine camaraderie both at home and abroad if you go for a vehicle with a green oval. Don't think you are ever truly alone with a Landy, owners are quite literally all over the world, thus you have a common bond from Day One.

Decisions decisions ...  

fishing for knoll age

Thanks everyone your very good appreciate the info. some people telling me keep away from discovery's, though I like them myself, but if your on a trip with one what would your concerns be or worries, They cant be that unreliable as I'm told, so so many people have them and seem happy enough. I asked about this already on another tread (knoll age) i think. My questions. Didn't mean to sound negative as i didn't get much replies, Well not to worry. I'm just curious to simply know whats the pros and cons and mechanical difference with discoveries and defenders The ups and downs

Regarding the reliability of vehicles ...

I've said a million times to anybody I corner, perhaps Toyotas, Mercs, etc. are more reliable when just out of the factory, but like any machine thay will break down eventually, and the older they are, so the probability increases.

For example, two traders who were booked in but never made it to the Adventure Overland Show last weekend both had mechanical issues which prevented them from attending -

One had the clutch bearing give up on an Iveco Daily, the other furnished a little more of a description. I'll let him tell the story -

We had just about managed to to get everything in place for the show when the HiLux developed a technical fault with the turbo. There is a 10 bob linkage which connects the variable veins to the stepper motor which has failed. Unbelievably Toyota don't sell ANY parts for the turbo, instead they wanted just shy of 3 grand for a new one. Seriously the linkage would have cost pennies to make, it's ridiculous. Needless to say we told them where to shove their estimate. The turbo is being repaired with a new custom made linkage instead but in the mean time the thing is still off the road so there is no way to get it to the show. I'm absolutely gutted...

I rest my case!

I understand and yes I've been told this before Reff: my own car as an example they can give trouble like anything else. But new is a different story. I suppose then if you get your hands on an older 4x4 as I couldn't reach out for very fresh or new, If It was in relay good order, Then after a while you get to know your vehicle and trust it, its just a matter of looking after it and maintaining it. should be on the right track then.

Yep...my truck is 28 years old and I know it inside and out and it has never left me stranded anywhere. I would never, ever consider trading it in for a shiny new truck, especially anything made after ECU's became standard on 4x4's. Parts are stupid cheap and easy to find. And even though it is an older model I still get 25 mpg off road and 27mpg on road. So I would highly recommend the old faithful type of vehicle...