Safari All Cars! Audi TT and MR2 + rally camper Mazda BT-50
Discussion
I've decided to post my three "creations" after seeing all the comments under 911 Safari News.
I'm one of the people who are in no way interested in any modern track orientated 911, yet the Safari version would be very high on my radar.
I'm guessing there are many more like me, seeing the recent popularity of offroad conversions of normal cars. I'm glad that maybe soon I won't have to build all my cars!
After owning many fast road only cars, I see no appeal in hard suspension, rubber band tyres and being confined to smooth tarmac roads only.
Just predicting "why don't you just get the 4x4 or even an SUV" : 4x4s drive like s
t on roads, especially in corners. I also like my cars as light as possible. That also makes it offroadability better in comparison to equivalent 4x4 being often double the weight.
1) Audi TT 3.2 DSG Quattro
mods: around 5cm/2 inch lift - Custom + camber plates, A5 wheels with Yoko Geolandar GO15 AT, spare mounted on the tailgate, rear moto mount under the bumper + reinforcement, hydraulic handbrake.
Next mods will be making it into a micro rally camper
2) Toyota Mr2 "The Offroadster"
Mods: steelies with bigger Yoko Geolandars, arch extensions, winch, ledbar, hydraulic handbrake, exhaust modified to be higher, trunk mounted spare, front "sump" alloy guard
Both fun in their own ways, both great value for money. I also have an Ariel Nomad and Pajero EVO and the "not caring factor" makes the TT and the MR2 much more enjoyable.
And don't believe when people tell you that Haldex and the TT can't be fun - I was also one of those people and now regret not doing the TT sooner!
3) This one was the biggest project. The rally camper Mazda BT-50
Everything on it is modified. The idea was to build something that is comfortable to travel and live in for longer periods of time and also for it to be as fast and fun as possible. As you can imagine - the exact opposites
I've found a very low mileage BT-50 in manual (rear LSD sold it to me) and started planning.
Some of the mods:
- full rollcage
- OMP bucket seat for me, Recaro ergomed for my girlfriend, OMP harnesses
- hydraulic handbrake
- Old Man Emu suspension
- air bags in the rear ( good for when the camper is on, emptied when the camper is off, this allows me to run softer rear leaf springs)
- whole frame reinforced
- custom front bumper
- custom intercooler
- winch transported in the rear, with attachement points in front and rear, depending on how I got stuck
Camper is fully independent of the truck - there's only one socket/plug connection to charge the leisure battery while driving. The water, battery, webasto with it's own tank etc it's all in the camper so it can function independently.
There are many many more mods, overall it's very comfortable to live in it. The longest trips so far were Georgia and a month around Sweden.
And the truck without the camper is very fun to drive being very light. One thing that I hate on it is the steering - thousand turns from lock to lock. But I learnt to live with it.
I hope you like my crazy ideas
I'm one of the people who are in no way interested in any modern track orientated 911, yet the Safari version would be very high on my radar.
I'm guessing there are many more like me, seeing the recent popularity of offroad conversions of normal cars. I'm glad that maybe soon I won't have to build all my cars!
After owning many fast road only cars, I see no appeal in hard suspension, rubber band tyres and being confined to smooth tarmac roads only.
Just predicting "why don't you just get the 4x4 or even an SUV" : 4x4s drive like s
t on roads, especially in corners. I also like my cars as light as possible. That also makes it offroadability better in comparison to equivalent 4x4 being often double the weight.1) Audi TT 3.2 DSG Quattro
mods: around 5cm/2 inch lift - Custom + camber plates, A5 wheels with Yoko Geolandar GO15 AT, spare mounted on the tailgate, rear moto mount under the bumper + reinforcement, hydraulic handbrake.
Next mods will be making it into a micro rally camper
2) Toyota Mr2 "The Offroadster"
Mods: steelies with bigger Yoko Geolandars, arch extensions, winch, ledbar, hydraulic handbrake, exhaust modified to be higher, trunk mounted spare, front "sump" alloy guard
Both fun in their own ways, both great value for money. I also have an Ariel Nomad and Pajero EVO and the "not caring factor" makes the TT and the MR2 much more enjoyable.
And don't believe when people tell you that Haldex and the TT can't be fun - I was also one of those people and now regret not doing the TT sooner!
3) This one was the biggest project. The rally camper Mazda BT-50
Everything on it is modified. The idea was to build something that is comfortable to travel and live in for longer periods of time and also for it to be as fast and fun as possible. As you can imagine - the exact opposites
I've found a very low mileage BT-50 in manual (rear LSD sold it to me) and started planning.
Some of the mods:
- full rollcage
- OMP bucket seat for me, Recaro ergomed for my girlfriend, OMP harnesses
- hydraulic handbrake
- Old Man Emu suspension
- air bags in the rear ( good for when the camper is on, emptied when the camper is off, this allows me to run softer rear leaf springs)
- whole frame reinforced
- custom front bumper
- custom intercooler
- winch transported in the rear, with attachement points in front and rear, depending on how I got stuck
Camper is fully independent of the truck - there's only one socket/plug connection to charge the leisure battery while driving. The water, battery, webasto with it's own tank etc it's all in the camper so it can function independently.
There are many many more mods, overall it's very comfortable to live in it. The longest trips so far were Georgia and a month around Sweden.
And the truck without the camper is very fun to drive being very light. One thing that I hate on it is the steering - thousand turns from lock to lock. But I learnt to live with it.
I hope you like my crazy ideas
, for all of them. -5 points for referring to a "trunk mounted" spare on the MR2. joropug said:
These are all so cool - Where do you use them mostly? I've loved the idea of an off roader but wouldn't have a clue where to take them to actually make use of them.
Thanks! To be honest, majority of the FUN use is outside of the UK. There are many places in Europe suitable for it.Hello @Mudnomad, returning to this thread after some time... now getting close to kicking off an MR2 mk3 project and yours here is great inspiration, thanks.
Would you mind sharing some info on your build, (if you still remember all of this!). I'd like to know:
1. How much did you lift the front and rear suspension. I am looking at an off the shelf kit sold by AutoDVC which apparently provides a lift up to 40mm. i.e. HDPE spacer kit.
2. What size steel wheels did you use and did you use any spacers?
3. Do you recall the size of the Goelandar tyres?
Thanks!
Tom
Would you mind sharing some info on your build, (if you still remember all of this!). I'd like to know:
1. How much did you lift the front and rear suspension. I am looking at an off the shelf kit sold by AutoDVC which apparently provides a lift up to 40mm. i.e. HDPE spacer kit.
2. What size steel wheels did you use and did you use any spacers?
3. Do you recall the size of the Goelandar tyres?
Thanks!
Tom
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