Intercontinental Roadtrip Car
Discussion
After hearing a tale recently from my elderly relative about how he went from to Manchester to Pakistan and back in a Mini in the 70s I’ve decided I need to do the same, but in a different car.
Current plan is to go around late November 2018 so there is plenty of time to do my research and prepare for it.
First port of call is obviously decide on the vehicle to take. I’ll be travelling with my brother and a cousin so it will need to have enough space for three adults, a few bags in the boot and be comfortable enough for the duration of the trip. Budget is likely to be around £3-£5k and the only other requirement is an autobox for lazy wafting. It would be nice to have a V8 of some form despite the fuel costs.
Initial thoughts are an older 4x4 of some form like a Disco or a Land cruiser. Not sure what the parts situation or reliability is like for the Disco but I imagine the Toyota will be fairly solid.
Any thoughts folks?
Current plan is to go around late November 2018 so there is plenty of time to do my research and prepare for it.
First port of call is obviously decide on the vehicle to take. I’ll be travelling with my brother and a cousin so it will need to have enough space for three adults, a few bags in the boot and be comfortable enough for the duration of the trip. Budget is likely to be around £3-£5k and the only other requirement is an autobox for lazy wafting. It would be nice to have a V8 of some form despite the fuel costs.
Initial thoughts are an older 4x4 of some form like a Disco or a Land cruiser. Not sure what the parts situation or reliability is like for the Disco but I imagine the Toyota will be fairly solid.
Any thoughts folks?
you won't be able to enter Pakistan without paying custom duty.
There is some car passport thing available but does cost a little, (something like car de net)
Iran border is supposed to be a huge hassle, but other wise an incredible road trip, I wish I could do,
I would take a Wrangler, 90s w124 E class, more fun!
There is some car passport thing available but does cost a little, (something like car de net)
Iran border is supposed to be a huge hassle, but other wise an incredible road trip, I wish I could do,
I would take a Wrangler, 90s w124 E class, more fun!
V8 and autobox is crazy. You have to drive through all kinds of -istans and Iran. You don't want to attract a lot of attention and you want something the locals can fix.
Dacia? Some kind of cheap old Renault or Peugeot I'd think. They are made under licence there iirc.
ETA you can't buy any kind of Land Cruiser worth having for 3-5k.
Dacia? Some kind of cheap old Renault or Peugeot I'd think. They are made under licence there iirc.
ETA you can't buy any kind of Land Cruiser worth having for 3-5k.
danlightbulb said:
Some pretty dangerous countries you have to pass through. I'd choose a tank mate.
Haha. That’s all part of the fundoodz444 said:
you won't be able to enter Pakistan without paying custom duty.
There is some car passport thing available but does cost a little, (something like car de net)
Iran border is supposed to be a huge hassle, but other wise an incredible road trip, I wish I could do,
I would take a Wrangler, 90s w124 E class, more fun!
Yup, looked into getting a Carnet de Passage to avoid the whole custom fees issue. That means driving the thing back though which means double the fun. There is some car passport thing available but does cost a little, (something like car de net)
Iran border is supposed to be a huge hassle, but other wise an incredible road trip, I wish I could do,
I would take a Wrangler, 90s w124 E class, more fun!
It’s a once in a lifetime kind of roadtrip for me so I’m starting the planning well in advance. Old Jeeps seem fairly cheap.
LayZ said:
V8 and autobox is crazy. You have to drive through all kinds of -istans and Iran. You don't want to attract a lot of attention and you want something the locals can fix.
Dacia? Some kind of cheap old Renault or Peugeot I'd think. They are made under licence there iirc.
ETA you can't buy any kind of Land Cruiser worth having for 3-5k.
The V8 is more of a pipe dream I guess. Had a quick look around some Disco 2s recently. Are Land Cruisers in that price bracket really that bad?Dacia? Some kind of cheap old Renault or Peugeot I'd think. They are made under licence there iirc.
ETA you can't buy any kind of Land Cruiser worth having for 3-5k.
Ursicles said:
Id get something basic and easy to repair ... something like an old 190e, or 5 series BMW
BTW - you need to start a thread with pics etc of the trip, sounds like its going to be one hell of an adventure!
I guess a 190E could do the job. I need to do some more research on the route and terrain. I’ll be starting a thread once I have a better idea on the route etc. Got just over a year before it happens so plenty of time to research and prel hopefully. Planning to get a drone of some form too so I can get some aerial footage along the way.BTW - you need to start a thread with pics etc of the trip, sounds like its going to be one hell of an adventure!
RSTurboPaul said:
The correct answer is MX5, clearly...
... x3!
Convoy fun, additional storage, the ability to abandon one and raid it for parts if required, can be easily worked on...
Would love to do a trip like this!
After my sheddy MX5 experience I don’t think that would be a wise idea! Sadly it has to be one car to accomodate all 3 of us otherwise a TG style challenge would have been perfect! I’ve always wanted to do the trip and it makes sense to do it next year whilst I’m relatively young and without any dependants. ... x3!
Convoy fun, additional storage, the ability to abandon one and raid it for parts if required, can be easily worked on...
Would love to do a trip like this!
giblet said:
After hearing a tale recently from my elderly relative about how he went from to Manchester to Pakistan and back in a Mini in the 70s I’ve decided I need to do the same, but in a different car.
Slightly OT, but my father did Pakistan to London in 1955 solo on a Brough motorbike/sidecar combination. He was the least mechanical person I've known. He chose the bike because it was reliable, had a spare wheel and long-range tank (in the sidecar) but it was also capable of being easily serviced anywhere on the way. The sidecar ended up hosting several wonderful Persian rugs! He was passing through Iran just after the Anglo-Persian oil blockade/crisis (Mossadeq) and money was tight for the locals; he got the rugs in exchange for a Remington wind-up razor and some cash...He told me had no fear in the Middle East - it was the Balkans that frightened him! Which must be something because he was a fearless b*gger.
Strudul said:
LS400?
psi310398 said:
Slightly OT, but my father did Pakistan to London in 1955 solo on a Brough motorbike/sidecar combination. He was the least mechanical person I've known. He chose the bike because it was reliable, had a spare wheel and long-range tank (in the sidecar) but it was also capable of being easily serviced anywhere on the way.
The sidecar ended up hosting several wonderful Persian rugs! He was passing through Iran just after the Anglo-Persian oil blockade/crisis (Mossadeq) and money was tight for the locals; he got the rugs in exchange for a Remington wind-up razor and some cash...He told me had no fear in the Middle East - it was the Balkans that frightened him! Which must be something because he was a fearless b*gger.
That sounds epic! I can see why he was frightened more by the Balkans, that area is the most worrying part for me too. The sidecar ended up hosting several wonderful Persian rugs! He was passing through Iran just after the Anglo-Persian oil blockade/crisis (Mossadeq) and money was tight for the locals; he got the rugs in exchange for a Remington wind-up razor and some cash...He told me had no fear in the Middle East - it was the Balkans that frightened him! Which must be something because he was a fearless b*gger.
I too vote for the Lexus. As I will be one of the aforementioned two others on this trip alongside OP my thinking is Jap reliability and reasonable parts supply at the other end just in case it needs major work if/when we get into Pakistan.
Although part of me would love to take an LPG'd old Jaaag V8. MX-5 convoy would be an absolute hoot but not sure it is very practical as we are intending to share driving duties to allow us to take in some of the culture/scenery en route.
The bit that frightens me the most has to be the Iran/Pakistan crossing. I think Europe through to Turkey will be fairly straightforward, Iran is slowly starting to open up but there have been some worrying tales of the border into Pakistan.
Although part of me would love to take an LPG'd old Jaaag V8. MX-5 convoy would be an absolute hoot but not sure it is very practical as we are intending to share driving duties to allow us to take in some of the culture/scenery en route.
The bit that frightens me the most has to be the Iran/Pakistan crossing. I think Europe through to Turkey will be fairly straightforward, Iran is slowly starting to open up but there have been some worrying tales of the border into Pakistan.
ali_XFR said:
The bit that frightens me the most has to be the Iran/Pakistan crossing. I think Europe through to Turkey will be fairly straightforward, Iran is slowly starting to open up but there have been some worrying tales of the border into Pakistan.
I still have contact with Pakistani friends of my father, although he is long dead. I spoke to one yesterday as it was his birthday and mentioned your scheme in passing. He was highly amused that any Westerner was interested in driving to Pakistan. He agreed that going through Balochistan was safer than through Afghanistan but was very rude about the amenities of Balochistan - in the way that a New Yorker would wonder why anybody would want to go to Arkansas...
Anyway, he is long retired from the particularly pointy end of the Pakistani Army (so not worried unduly by the prospect of violence) and I summarise his thoughts below:
You will be aware that Balochistan has been lawless from Day 1 and is a major smuggling crossroads in South Asia (everything conceivable, not just guns and drugs - fridges and cars etc).
Things are complicated further by a separatist movement fighting the Pakistani Army. There are no police worth talking of and policing is done by a frontier force which is Pakistani Army, which is corrupt and brutal. It is not particularly true that foreigners are at any more risk than locals but that, according to him, is scant comfort.
From what he said, the Pakistani Army has almost full control in the North and getting to Quetta along the N40 from Taftan is what he would do and then onwards. Apparently it is much less risky than crossing further south to Pangjur or Gwadar.
In any case, his advice is that you'd be insane not to engage a Baloch guide to get you in and through the border area. He said that this was as true when the Raj was operational as it is today. Perhaps one of your family members has contacts in Quetta and can arrange that?
HTH
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