A spec me - With a difference

Soldato
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13 Oct 2004
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South Shields
Right,

Just looking for a bit of help here, instead of taking the normal 2 weeks holiday next year I am looking at doing this

http://roofoftheworld.charityrallies.org/

With a few friends so looking for a cheap car to take (pref <£500) and it can be anything we like but hoping for something fun/interesting.

Not too fussed if I have to do minor repairs to get the car to running but this is more just the idea phase now.

What would you take? I've been thinking about an old E class merc or something along those line but may end up going for something bigger like a land cruiser or disco.

So any ideas would be helpful :)

KaHn
 
Something with the least amount of moving parts to ensure easy repairs? id go for a 4x4 as might put less stress on the car unlike a saloon or something driving along mountain roads :P

Landy of some sort, something like top gears choice when they did theyre rally/south american jobby(reminds me, might watch that again, was good!) :D
 
Something with the least amount of moving parts to ensure easy repairs? id go for a 4x4 as might put less stress on the car unlike a saloon or something driving along mountain roads :P

Landy of some sort, something like top gears choice when they did theyre rally/south american jobby(reminds me, might watch that again, was good!) :D

Outside Europe you'll struggle to find parts for anything other than Defenders if you're looking at a Land Rover, and a good one of those is a couple of grand.

You might get away with a 200TDi Disco but they'll all be offroad warriors or rust buckets at that price, so hardly the most reliable :(

A tidy W123 does seem like the obvious way to go.

Otherwise, old Legacy's and Subaru's in general might be worth a look :)
 
Not really too bothered about the cars state once I get there as it will be donated/left it needs to carry 2 maybe 4 people comfortably for a good number of miles :)

yeah was worried about parts but I think everywhere has old mercs so think that will be the best choice :) might need a trip to the dam to pick on up cheaply (in LHD) tho.

Keep the suggestions coming in tho :D think I'll be taking the scenic route for this rally and up through finland first :D

KaHn
 
Pick something thats used commonly in the countries en route - more luck getting somebody who knows how to fix it that way.

Old Mercs sound sensible?
 
Yeah it looks more and more likely going for a old E class, I quite like the look of them aswell, will have to try and source sponsorship aswell next and take ideas for car designs :)

Was just checking incase their were some dirt cheap gems I missed.

Will update once the car has been bought

KaHn
 
Load up on spare parts and take them with you. Can solve common problems easily that way.
Mates are doing mongol rally this year and are taking an ambulance.
 
Load up on spare parts and take them with you. Can solve common problems easily that way.
Mates are doing mongol rally this year and are taking an ambulance.

I was looking at the mongol rally and taking a bus (otherwise the car choices are dire) but will need too much time off for it so doing this one which actually visits more places I want to goto.

http://roofoftheworld.charityrallies.org/sites/all/files/images/Routes.large.jpg

Will be taking the yellow one :)

KaHn

/edit: As for spares will sort them out once i've had the car for a couple months and know whats right/wrong with it :)
 
yeah, one of there team dropped out and I was offered teh place, but far to much time of work. Will do one of these rallys one day.

That looks like a darn interesting route and rally.
 
I think merc Is sensible like James may in the Africa thing
that car was a beast to be fair

I would say golf mk2 being bulletproof lol but the large car thing is holding us back

volvos seem a good plan there 4wd some of them no?


Here's a 230e w123 for inspiration
http://autotrader.mobi/used-cars/ad...iewing-4?PHPSESSID=i25fa4i7plq0ets24kajm0t641

that one is a 138hp so would be a wise choice as it has the ability of moving forwards
 
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A second propshaft, a second diff, two more halfshafts and potentially a second gearbox add complexity and weight, unless you are actually planning to go overlanding you won't need them :)

From the look of the route it'll be badly surfaced but nothing that a big soft 2WD car can't handle
 
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