Cars for travelling around the world

[Marcq]

Hello all,
Myself and my girlfriend are looking to do a long around the world trip if we ever finish our PhD studies
Therefore I find myself spending most of my days reading the internet looking for a suitable vehicle
Right now I have an old (2000) Volvo V70
It's certainly large enough for camping gear, fridge etc
But I doubt it is much cop on the rough stuff and hasn't exactly been a trouble free motor
I am thinking lowish <£5k budget
Raised ride height
4x4 of some description
Reliable
But also a bit interesting/exciting/classy
Anyone got any ideas? Links and experiences welcome

Cheers

[1766]

Sound like an amazing experience

Something along the lines of a A6 Allroad or Volvo XC70 will fit the bill and come in around budget

[Wooda80]

Sounds like a great trip!

Consider getting something which is repairable in all continents. That probably means something Japanese, like a RAV 4 or Landcruiser, Nissan Patrol or Honda CRV? Or maybe a relatively simply specced Mercedes.

not sure about parts availability for Audi / Volvo in Africa or Asia outside major population areas.

If you take that advice then beware of getting a Europe only model. Would petrol be be better than diesel in this instance in terms or worldwide availability?

[DamnKraut]

I’d suggest to get an idea of the typical cars driven in the countries you would want to visit. That should soon rule out a Volvo or an Audi as far too complex and difficult to repair, let alone get spare parts for in remote regions of the world. There was a thread once about a Nissan Micra taking part in the mongol Rallye. Not saying that a Micra is the solution but I think Toyota and Nissan would be your go to places. Or TVR as the car of choice for pub to pub travel

[jkh112]

You could get a really good condition 5 door rav4 under budget. My family had one for years and it was so reliable we couldn’t bring ourselves to sell it, it just kept on going and was used and abused by everyone!

Not as good off-road as a shogun or land cruiser, it still quite capable and reliable. I seem to recall that the newer ones are not as off-road capable due to a less mechanical and more electronic 4wd system but can’t remember the details.
Doesn’t really fit with your interesting/exciting/classy requirement though.

[cheddar]

Mitsubishi Delica Spacegear.

Pajero underpinnings, very reliable motor and campervan space.
Friends have them and abuse the hell out of them, nothing ever seems to go wrong, just make sure the fuel pump's ok, start it up and drive round the world.

Twice

[Marcq]

Yes I like the Volvos, the seats are amazing, but getting parts could be difficult
Anything from Japan sounds like it might be best! Although perhaps lacking in character a little....
I'll check out that Mitsubishi

[Marcq]

I might add, whatever we get will be used for daily duties for the next year or so while we slowly build up our equipment and make sure the vehicle is sound!
I suggested the Previa 4wd to the gf and she doesn't approve of anything that looks hoop like that hence the XC70/90 consideration

[caelite]

Normally the obvious solution is Land Cruiser/Discovery/Defender/Hilux etc.

What you would want is local parts availability. Regardless about what a certain Australian marketing slogan has said, whether you bring a Land Rover, Toyota, Mitsubishi etc, if you are really going around the world then SOMETHING is going to break, you want something that a local garage in Timbucktu is going to know how to work on and is able to supply parts for. That pretty much rules out anything complicated or from a more obscure brand.

So, options I can think of off the top of my head:

Toyota Land Cruiser, you won't get one in budget, forget it. If you do pick one up for <£5k you will have no money to fix it up

Land Rover Defender, ditto the above

Land Rover Discovery The favourite of the Camel Trophy and numerous African adventurers, Disco 1s and 2s can be had for not a lot of cash, are very modifiable, simple and easy to fix.

Toyota Hilux, you see these EVERYWHERE in Africa, hold better residuals to Discos but still achievable within £5k, leaving some £ to sort niggles, and get a good set of tyres, shocks & springs

Suzuki Jimny, not one many people think about, but across northern Africa, South America and other places with more treaturous roads, this lightweight cheap truck is a favourite of the locals. Clean examples can be found for £2k, leaving cash for tyres, shocks & springs, roof bars, work lights and all that other jazz that makes overlanding that bit more fun.

[anonymous-user]

Marcq said:

Hello all,
Myself and my girlfriend are looking to do a long around the world trip if we ever finish our PhD studies
Therefore I find myself spending most of my days reading the internet looking for a suitable vehicle
Right now I have an old (2000) Volvo V70
It's certainly large enough for camping gear, fridge etc
But I doubt it is much cop on the rough stuff and hasn't exactly been a trouble free motor
I am thinking lowish <£5k budget
Raised ride height
4x4 of some description
Reliable
But also a bit interesting/exciting/classy
Anyone got any ideas? Links and experiences welcome

Cheers

Watch the Top Gear specials with Clarkson etc.

Might give you a few tips.

Perhaps not the one they rode motorbikes

They used to try and kill one of these.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 11th March 19:28

[996TT02]

Japanese, and forget any fancy stuff. No idea what sort of route is planned but there are roads suitable for any normal boring econobox in every country - that's what most people (99.99%) drive in deprived countries, so the concept that you "need" a Landrover or Landcruiser is pretty much mythical unless you deliberately will be travelling on unpaved roads. Very very few people in such countries actually own this sort of vehicle, completely unaffordable. You might not even see a Landrover product of any shape, form or age for days if not weeks in some places so the repairability - parts availability - will be close to zero. Same applies to practically everything European. Case in point, back from 2 wks in Indonesia, despite incredible traffic, saw only 3 (older) Mercs in total, 2 BMWs, zero VWs excluding a likely expat owned classic camper van and a classic Beetle, and a big fat zero absolutely any other European cars. They probably have never even heard of Volvo. Driver we had said that no-one buys European cars, could take months for parts to be received. If you really must go 4x4, Japanese, yet again, and 90's vintage will be best for roadside diagnosis and repair.

[cptsideways]

You need

Clockwork not electronics
Parts worldwide
Anyone can fix it
Inherently reliable
Large enough to kip in but trust me take a tent or rooftent or van/camper
Fuel cost is of little issue its cheap in most parts of the world esp 3rd world

Though 4x4 is not essential it is when you start heading into Africa, far east, remote parts of the world etc without decent roads etc

I'd suggest a Landcruiser HDJ80/HDJ81 or Hilux Surf 3.0D both comfy things, surf more so. Cruiser van carry more kit. Another fave of overlanders is the Merc van the older ones. Keep it simple dont go all rambo one life live it stylie totally not needed. I'd do it in a van converted to a camper of some sort with a shower! so you could at least live in it & its easily in budget. An older sprinter 4x4 could be found perhaps in budget.... also Transit 4x4 later ones are cheap mega off road too.

I have travelled to West Africa trans Sahara Atlantic route in an almost boggo Volvo 240 & a Merc SEL500 both 80's vintage. The one thing we could have done with was a shower!!!

There are a couple of good overland forums that are worth getting onto

[Marcq]

A couple of weeks ago on the Grand Tour James May had an old Mercedes but it didn't get very far in the end?
We like going off the beaten track a little, not hard-core offloading ofcourse
I fear that anything sensible and 'easy' for a trip like this might be a little dull in day to day life (the gf may refuse to drive it!)
Has anybody seen Ronny Dahl and 4xoverland on youtube? Sometime their trips are a little extreme but mostly they are exactly what I have in mind

[cptsideways]

A quick rummage on the jumble

This is what you want (with a shower) yes its crap looking old transit & not new etc etc but its a 4x4 county & a twin wheeler too. But in 3rd world Africa this a great stealth wagon (important to not stound out at times) one of these will get you round the world with ease, though you might want a box of earlplugs

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Transit-County-4x4...nsAAOSwyrlZzkEO


In two weeks you could be in Senegal with this

Edited by cptsideways on Sunday 11th March 20:28

[Marcq]

cptsideways said:

A quick rummage on the jumble

This is what you want (with a shower) yes its crap looking old transit & not new etc etc but its a 4x4 county & a twin wheeler too. But in 3rd world Africa this a great stealth wagon (important to stound out at times) one of these will get you round the world with ease, though you might want a box of earlplugs

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Transit-County-4x4...nsAAOSwyrlZzkEO


In two weeks you could be in Senegal with this

Haha that looks brilliant
Great photos too
My girlfriend's response was absolutely not
UGLY
I fear she might have to live with something less pretty than her mini
There are a couple of landcruiser 100's within budget
With a roof tent they could do? Although the one I can afford are approaching 200k miles

[blueST]

Sounds like Winderful dream, would look vex to do it one day. I’m setting off to the Sahara in 10 days. 3.5 weeks to get there and back is all I can get off work, so anywhere further afield will have wait until retirement.

For a trip of that duration, Id want a vehicle that is fundamentally tough and simple, especially as the budget is quite low. I’m not up on the prices, but an older Jap pickup or maybe one of those old Shogun Sports might do the trick. Fuel quality can vary widely abroad and older diesels cope with this better than more modern ones in general.

For help and advice, join Expedition Portal. There has also recently been a series of articles in Land Rover Monthly chronicling a chap who has driven from U.K. to NZ that you might find interesting.

[Jag_NE]

Marcq said:

Hello all,
Myself and my girlfriend are looking to do a long around the world trip if we ever finish our PhD studies
Therefore I find myself spending most of my days reading the internet looking for a suitable vehicle
Right now I have an old (2000) Volvo V70
It's certainly large enough for camping gear, fridge etc
But I doubt it is much cop on the rough stuff and hasn't exactly been a trouble free motor
I am thinking lowish <£5k budget
Raised ride height
4x4 of some description
Reliable
But also a bit interesting/exciting/classy
Anyone got any ideas? Links and experiences welcome

Cheers

id suggest defining the scope first as that will have a major bearing on what you need to buy. you could go to many places and cover some distance without a 4x4. visas alone will be a huge ballache and expense for a literal round the world affair, i dont think it would be plausible in a 5k car without support. you could have a very lengthy jolly around europe that wouldnt get boring before the money runs out.

[DamnKraut]

Marcq said:

Haha that looks brilliant
Great photos too
My girlfriend's response was absolutely not
UGLY
I fear she might have to live with something less pretty than her mini
There are a couple of landcruiser 100's within budget
With a roof tent they could do? Although the one I can afford are approaching 200k miles

Maybe you should reconsider your travel plans when your better half cannot see beyond irrelevant aspects such as whether the vehicle is ugly or not. How about buying a V70 shed and traveling Europe for an extended trip?

[cptsideways]

Marcq said:

cptsideways said:

A quick rummage on the jumble

This is what you want (with a shower) yes its crap looking old transit & not new etc etc but its a 4x4 county & a twin wheeler too. But in 3rd world Africa this a great stealth wagon (important to stound out at times) one of these will get you round the world with ease, though you might want a box of earlplugs

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Transit-County-4x4...nsAAOSwyrlZzkEO


In two weeks you could be in Senegal with this

Haha that looks brilliant
Great photos too
My girlfriend's response was absolutely not
UGLY
I fear she might have to live with something less pretty than her mini
There are a couple of landcruiser 100's within budget
With a roof tent they could do? Although the one I can afford are approaching 200k miles

Girlfriend needs a reset. We are talking third world, a hotel will have a French trench loo, which is no good when you have the trots from the hotel food, the cold showers will have no nozzle, it will be infested with lice & flys. The comfort & cleanliness of your own clean (but ugly) van is a stark contrast trust me.


Yes its an ugly vehicle in Milton Keynes but its not an ugly vehicle in Africa!!! Its the journey, the places & the people you meet, your not keeping up with the jones's in primrose crescent when traversing the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.


PS I have owned HDJ80 Land-cruisers for 20 years, I have a mint one currently, I'd take a campered van unless I was leaving tomorrow morning in which case the cruiser will do as is (mine has a simple camper bed in the back & a webasto heater)

[Marcq]

DamnKraut said:

Maybe you should reconsider your travel plans when your better half cannot see beyond irrelevant aspects such as whether the vehicle is ugly or not. How about buying a V70 shed and traveling Europe for an extended trip?

Got the V70 shed already, not sure I would trust it going that far!
We did a trip around Italy camping out of her Mini, which was great but I get the point about a campervan!