Best 4x4 in hot and sandy conditions

[only1ian]

Currently in the process of selling my Alpina and the misses wants a 4x4 to replace it. I'm living out in the UAE so fuel isn't and issue but good workshops are so it has be reliable yet hopefully still fun. Not looking for dune bashing more exploring off-road trails and beach areas. Any suggestions from PH?

60000-80000aed £10000-£13000 to spend

[only1ian]

Also apologies on the title my iphone did not recognise sandy and converted it to standby

[Engineer1]

I'd guess Landcruiser either 200 or 70 series, they seem to be popular

[blasos]

Engineer1 said:

I'd guess Landcruiser either 200 or 70 series, they seem to be popular

Yes, I agree with this. I used a Land Cruiser 76 series when engineering in desert conditions in Western Australia. It never missed a beat.

[only1ian]

Would it a 76 put a smile on my face and handle ok on road?

[TLandCruiser]

Depending on prices in UAE, Land Cruiser 100 series or a Prado... I would pick those over a 70 series as they will offer more comfort...all the 100s and prados are IFS/SRA, the 105 series have sfa/sra and the 70s have sfa/sra. If it was a pure toy to have fun in and do some adventurous driving get a 70...If its just to enjoy some trails etc a prado or 100 series will do everything you ask it too. I love my land Cruiser I will never sell it and it will only be replaced by another LC land rovers are crap in comparison, poor build quality and terrible reliability.

Edited by TLandCruiser on Wednesday 29th January 11:37

[FatSumo]

Can you get the FJcruiser out there?

[golfer19]

I was in Dubai a few years ago and went on one of those desert trips in a Land Cruiser.I got chatting to the driver and I asked him what he did on his days off.He said the only days he got off was if the jeep broke down.Nissan Patrols break down but Toyotas don't he said.

[TLandCruiser]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isC32ev4Lw4&lis...

[mikeh501]

TLandCruiser said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isC32ev4Lw4&lis...

that advert is awesome

[only1ian]

Those FJ cruisers are in budget they do appeal and they would fit the road/off-road use required. They do have a feral youth fan base out here so I fear they will all have been thrashed

[only1ian]

That advert would make a great time for tea

[shirt]

FJ is nice in principal but unless you/your family are all short arses it is not ideal.

A girl at work may be selling hers. She's an engineer, sensible, never been offroad and full toyota service history.

I'd get a patrol personally. Super safaris have locking diffs as std and 2 fridges. Can't beat offroad camping with a cold beer.

[Siscar]

TLandCruiser said:

old land rovers are crap in comparison, poor build quality and terrible reliability.

EFA

Having driven quite a lot of miles off road in Africa in a new Disco with a number of other new Discos I can say that they are very reliable these days.

[PugwasHDJ80]

Siscar said:

TLandCruiser said:

old land rovers are crap in comparison, poor build quality and terrible reliability.

EFA

Having driven quite a lot of miles off road in Africa in a new Disco with a number of other new Discos I can say that they are very reliable these days.

And yet utterly dreadful in the hot and sand

Have been into the Sahara on four occasions now, with two 110s (one new puma and one td5), a d3 diesel and my landcruiser 80.

The puma was faultless, the disco was constantly stuck. My 24 year old cruiser was cooler inside, didn't overheat at all (the disco spent most of the time with bonnet up) and pulled the disco out constantly.

We all tried the disco (drivers included a LR experience trainer, a British rally champion, the owner and me), and it wasn't down to bad driving, fir some reason to spent the whole time sinking, or being underpowered.

[Siscar]

Oh well, different people, different experiences. I wouldn't want to be anywhere hot in a 110 but having recently spent several days in African sand in a disco 4 that included a few instances of helping land cruisers out of trouble I'd definitely not agree, but hey, no point in arguing about it.

[Engineer1]

Most of the middle east uses Toyotas, the various aid agencies use Toyotas, various armoured vehicles for export are built on Toyotas etc.

[TLandCruiser]

Siscar said:

Oh well, different people, different experiences. I wouldn't want to be anywhere hot in a 110 but having recently spent several days in African sand in a disco 4 that included a few instances of helping land cruisers out of trouble I'd definitely not agree, but hey, no point in arguing about it.

Everyone gets stuck at some point, land cruisers, land rovers and jeeps etc etc there is no shame in getting stuck which everyone will do at some point when driving off road... The question was on reliability. If I had to cross the Dessert in a land rover, it would be a defender simply down to it having no electronic 4x4 systems with air suspension etc, all mechanical with less to go wrong.

[camel_landy]

TLandCruiser said:

Siscar said:

Oh well, different people, different experiences. I wouldn't want to be anywhere hot in a 110 but having recently spent several days in African sand in a disco 4 that included a few instances of helping land cruisers out of trouble I'd definitely not agree, but hey, no point in arguing about it.

Everyone gets stuck at some point, land cruisers, land rovers and jeeps etc etc there is no shame in getting stuck which everyone will do at some point when driving off road... The question was on reliability. If I had to cross the Dessert in a land rover, it would be a defender simply down to it having no electronic 4x4 systems with air suspension etc, all mechanical with less to go wrong.

Just coz they're from LRE, rally pro, blah, blah... It doesn't instantly mean they know how to drive on sand.

The Disco does very well but it is a heavy car, something like the Freelander is a cracker in sandy conditions as it is 1t lighter...

M

[Siscar]

TLandCruiser said:

Everyone gets stuck at some point, land cruisers, land rovers and jeeps etc etc there is no shame in getting stuck which everyone will do at some point when driving off road...

Very true and if you don't get stuck at some point you aren't trying if you do it for fun

TLandCruiser said:

The question was on reliability. If I had to cross the Dessert in a land rover, it would be a defender simply down to it having no electronic 4x4 systems with air suspension etc, all mechanical with less to go wrong.

There's not much in the automotive world that wouldn't make it to the other side of an apple pie or bowl of ice cream!