£60k for a car to drive around the world
Discussion
I was booked on to the mongol rally a few years ago but it ended up cancelled because of COVID, since then I've been itching for a long road trip and have a period of 6-12 months coming up I could utilise for a round the world trip.
The route would start from the UK, head to the top of Norway and across to Finland, down through the Baltics and on to Turkiye. Then across some of the stan's and mongolia. Cut across China to South Korea (I'm aware China is a massive pain to drive yourself in), then to Japan for an extended stay. Following this, either SE Asia or Australia next before shipping over to Chile and heading North and eventually West to go back to the UK.
I'm wanting to find the perfect car for this with a £60k budget and with my priorities in the following order:
1. Fun/enjoyable to drive
2. Either reliable or simple to repair
3. Can handle rough terrain and non-existent roads in places like mongolia
4. Ideally wouldn't lose more than £15k in depreciation from the extra miles
5. Has somewhere to store camping gear for times when there are no hotels around
The current car at the top of my list is the 1st gen Ariel Nomad. Storage is the obvious issue but I just got back from a couple weeks crossing the Andes on horseback and was able to fit everything in saddle bags, which makes me think it could be manageable with some planning.
Next would a luxury 4x4 (range rover/g class) but would likely be a massive pain in a breakdown.
Wild card choice - modify a big engine, convertible to handle off road use. I had a V8 F Type previously and some knobbly tyres and raised suspension doesn't seem like the worst idea.
The route would start from the UK, head to the top of Norway and across to Finland, down through the Baltics and on to Turkiye. Then across some of the stan's and mongolia. Cut across China to South Korea (I'm aware China is a massive pain to drive yourself in), then to Japan for an extended stay. Following this, either SE Asia or Australia next before shipping over to Chile and heading North and eventually West to go back to the UK.
I'm wanting to find the perfect car for this with a £60k budget and with my priorities in the following order:
1. Fun/enjoyable to drive
2. Either reliable or simple to repair
3. Can handle rough terrain and non-existent roads in places like mongolia
4. Ideally wouldn't lose more than £15k in depreciation from the extra miles
5. Has somewhere to store camping gear for times when there are no hotels around
The current car at the top of my list is the 1st gen Ariel Nomad. Storage is the obvious issue but I just got back from a couple weeks crossing the Andes on horseback and was able to fit everything in saddle bags, which makes me think it could be manageable with some planning.
Next would a luxury 4x4 (range rover/g class) but would likely be a massive pain in a breakdown.
Wild card choice - modify a big engine, convertible to handle off road use. I had a V8 F Type previously and some knobbly tyres and raised suspension doesn't seem like the worst idea.
AmazingGrace said:
Think you have the ideal candidate already - the Nomad.
Would be a challenge, for sure, but would be hugely satisfying and alot of fun.
Strapping saddlebags and cased storage to the roof and sides would make it much wasiery
How savvy are you with mechanics? Are you travelling solo?
I've seen some people who've managed to modify them to be able to carry a reasonable amount. However, the gen 1 only has a 50l fuel tank so you'd need to allow room for a jerry can in certain areas (gen 2 has a 70l tank but a 3 year wait list). Would be a challenge, for sure, but would be hugely satisfying and alot of fun.
Strapping saddlebags and cased storage to the roof and sides would make it much wasiery
How savvy are you with mechanics? Are you travelling solo?
Mechanics wise, enough to handle basic things - I'd spend some time before leaving to get much more familiar with the ins and outs of whatever vehicle I took though. But I suspect the issue of not being able to carry much in the way of spare parts would become an issue first.
I think you could get around this by stopping before entering a region where you know help/resources will be limited, ship your baggage ahead of you, except for basic necessities, and have common spare parts shipped to your current location. You then use the extra space for the parts, fuel and food/water.
raspy said:
Are you seriously considering taking a range rover to drive around the world?
I've done a few European road trips in an L405 one without issue and the idea of wafting through the wilderness with massaging seats is tempting. Plus, if you got the rear executive seats, you could probably use it instead of a tent. But yeah, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to rely on it to make the trip without a spontaneous and catastrophic break down that no one for a 1000 miles knows how to repair.
I had a similar dream some 20 years ago, to visit my friend in Toronto, using a 2000 X reg smart car.
Reckoned i could lose the passenger seat, load up with spares, fuel tank and equipment and make the journey through europe/russia/bering strait/alaska then finally to Ontario.
Predictably enough, this never got any further than a marijuana fuelled pipe dream
Maybe one for another day
Reckoned i could lose the passenger seat, load up with spares, fuel tank and equipment and make the journey through europe/russia/bering strait/alaska then finally to Ontario.
Predictably enough, this never got any further than a marijuana fuelled pipe dream
Maybe one for another day
I would be looking at a slightly older Mercedes or perhaps a Toyota (being the obvious choice).
An older Merc can be repaired nearly anywhere and I would look at getting a left hand drive one in Germany with a full service history. Another thing to consider is ground clearance, I have recently driven the U.K. to Georgia twice and some of the roads I encountered were poor, my car had more ground clearance than most plus I had the option to raise the suspension with a press of a button. I’d be looking at a petrol ML, not really a fun drive but it will be fit for purpose.
I’d take another look at your route, the land border of Azerbaijan remains shut and the only other options to travel further east of Turkiye are Iran or Russia, both can be problematic if you’re a U.K. passport holder.
An older Merc can be repaired nearly anywhere and I would look at getting a left hand drive one in Germany with a full service history. Another thing to consider is ground clearance, I have recently driven the U.K. to Georgia twice and some of the roads I encountered were poor, my car had more ground clearance than most plus I had the option to raise the suspension with a press of a button. I’d be looking at a petrol ML, not really a fun drive but it will be fit for purpose.
I’d take another look at your route, the land border of Azerbaijan remains shut and the only other options to travel further east of Turkiye are Iran or Russia, both can be problematic if you’re a U.K. passport holder.
Not a car but the 6.2 F150 Raptor is the pick, they can take rough roads the drivetrain is well proven & they're fun.
You can get one well under budget:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315310450940?_skw=f150+...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146436256539?_skw=f150+...
You can get one well under budget:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315310450940?_skw=f150+...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146436256539?_skw=f150+...
Have you seen Jim Rogers' SLK/ G-Wagen hybrid. He built it to do just what you're talking about.
I've got a book about it somewhere. I'm sure he did about 150000 miles in it.
https://www.jimrogers.com/the-adventure/
I've got a book about it somewhere. I'm sure he did about 150000 miles in it.
https://www.jimrogers.com/the-adventure/
Edited by Desiderata on Sunday 6th April 07:07
ZX10R NIN said:
Not a car but the 6.2 F150 Raptor is the pick, they can take rough roads the drivetrain is well proven & they're fun.
You can get one well under budget:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315310450940?_skw=f150+...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146436256539?_skw=f150+...
This is a solid suggestion. I'd actually looked into a Raptor previously but gawked at the UK's version in the Ranger with half the power at double the price and dismissed it. Hadn't thought about an imported F150, I might actually arrange to go see that 2021 model as it's not too far from me. You can get one well under budget:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315310450940?_skw=f150+...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146436256539?_skw=f150+...
LRDefender said:
I would be looking at a slightly older Mercedes or perhaps a Toyota (being the obvious choice).
An older Merc can be repaired nearly anywhere and I would look at getting a left hand drive one in Germany with a full service history. Another thing to consider is ground clearance, I have recently driven the U.K. to Georgia twice and some of the roads I encountered were poor, my car had more ground clearance than most plus I had the option to raise the suspension with a press of a button. I’d be looking at a petrol ML, not really a fun drive but it will be fit for purpose.
I’d take another look at your route, the land border of Azerbaijan remains shut and the only other options to travel further east of Turkiye are Iran or Russia, both can be problematic if you’re a U.K. passport holder.
That section east of Turkiye is the biggest pain and things can change so rapidly there that I'll most likely have to have a couple alternative routes planned out and then assess whats best/possible at the time. An older Merc can be repaired nearly anywhere and I would look at getting a left hand drive one in Germany with a full service history. Another thing to consider is ground clearance, I have recently driven the U.K. to Georgia twice and some of the roads I encountered were poor, my car had more ground clearance than most plus I had the option to raise the suspension with a press of a button. I’d be looking at a petrol ML, not really a fun drive but it will be fit for purpose.
I’d take another look at your route, the land border of Azerbaijan remains shut and the only other options to travel further east of Turkiye are Iran or Russia, both can be problematic if you’re a U.K. passport holder.
Sounds like a good trip!
F150 Raptor is a good shout, theres a bit of a range on AT too now of older cheaper and newer steeper models, and some crewcabs which would mean loads of storage.
Ariel Nomad would be very cool, but would there be a point where you wished you had a door to close? or a roof? suppose a horse has neither of those if you're content with that
Could do the same thing you mention on an F-Type to an RS6, kind of like an All Road but with a lot more power.
F150 Raptor is a good shout, theres a bit of a range on AT too now of older cheaper and newer steeper models, and some crewcabs which would mean loads of storage.
Ariel Nomad would be very cool, but would there be a point where you wished you had a door to close? or a roof? suppose a horse has neither of those if you're content with that
Could do the same thing you mention on an F-Type to an RS6, kind of like an All Road but with a lot more power.
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