What Car? - Mongol Rally

[fivetenben]

GC8 said:

You could buy Bens book too, but I think that he might be mental...

I would attempt to refute that statement, but I guess I'd loose the argument pretty quickly.

I'd agree that the Nissan Micra suggestion is probably the best (sensible) one so far. Other options to consider which people have done the rally in include VW Polos and Fiat Unos & Pandas. Both could be considered to tread the middle line between being boringly reliable (Micra) and potentially a total hassle (Trabant, Reliant Robin)

Do the regs still allow emergency vehicles? If so, given there's four of you an old ambulance may be the way to go...

[Rocksteadyeddie]

fivetenben said:

I would attempt to refute that statement, but I guess I'd loose the argument pretty quickly.

Spent a couple of hours reading your website Ben. I think un-certified mentalist sums you up neatly. Bravo!

[ajprice]

SammyW said:

Here's all the info for those interested:

http://www.theadventurists.com/the-adventures/mong...

The only real rule is that it must be under 1000cc. The sensible choice would probably be something japanese, but I like the idea of something old and British!

"You can bring anything as long as it’s crap and has an engine no bigger than 1 litre of yak's milk."

Old Panda 4x4

[SammyW]

Just been looking at old Pandas, like the idea of something red and Italian. Micra is also one for consideration. I thought about an old ambulance, as they were allowed when I looked into it a couple of years ago, but they're now saying they don't want them. Would have been good though.

Anyone got any idea what the largest sub 1 litre car is? By the looks of things we're going to be cramped and uncomfortable whatever we buy!

[vrsmxtb]

Don't rule a 2CV out if you can find one, they were made for exactly those sort of roads, silly-soft long travel suspension. Although the lack of power may get frustrating on the more civilized parts of the journey!

[shoestring7]

vrsmxtb said:

Don't rule a 2CV out if you can find one, they were made for exactly those sort of roads, silly-soft long travel suspension. Although the lack of power may get frustrating on the more civilized parts of the journey!

Renault 4 is built to the same template.

SS7

Edited by shoestring7 on Saturday 10th August 13:28

[A.J.M]

My mate and i are going to do it as well.

We were going to take a Smart Roadster as our car, but now the rules have changed that idea may be out the window.

It's all Matiz's, Micra's, Corsa's and Fiat things at the cheap end.

I want/need something daft and st. The above are too mainstream and sensible for my liking.

[ajprice]

SammyW said:

Anyone got any idea what the largest sub 1 litre car is? By the looks of things we're going to be cramped and uncomfortable whatever we buy!

Not sure on any of these being a 1.0, but maybe an older Escort Mk3 or 4, Astra Mk 1 or 2, or Rover 200 size car. The first Proton, based on some Mitsubishi, or the Daewoo based on a Mk2 Astra, I think it was called a Nexus. Old Hyundai/Kia?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

Gentlemen. Your problems are over....

A Cougar (wrong sort obvioulsy!)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

MR2 - didn't Top Gear do something mad with one of these? Perfect for badly surfaced roads.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

That paragon of Japanese reliability - Lexus. (fk knows what you'll do if it breaks though).

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Talking of reliable... A Golf. And a GTI at that (MAY have some paint issues)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Red? Check. Italian? Check Sporty? Check. What could possibly go wrong?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-ALFA-ROMEO-GTV-T-SP...

V6. 200bhp. RWD. And Japanese.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-MITSUBISHI-FTO-RED-...

[Chongwong]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Gentlemen. Your problems are over....

A Cougar (wrong sort obvioulsy!)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

MR2 - didn't Top Gear do something mad with one of these? Perfect for badly surfaced roads.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

That paragon of Japanese reliability - Lexus. (fk knows what you'll do if it breaks though).

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Talking of reliable... A Golf. And a GTI at that (MAY have some paint issues)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Red? Check. Italian? Check Sporty? Check. What could possibly go wrong?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-ALFA-ROMEO-GTV-T-SP...

V6. 200bhp. RWD. And Japanese.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-MITSUBISHI-FTO-RED-...

Cough*1 litre* cough

[Chongwong]

Watching with interest, as myself and a few friends are looking in to putting a small team together for it

[McFarnsworth]

I've been planning to do the Mongol Rally for years but doing it with a newer car didn't really appeal to us. Really glad they've gone back to older, crappier cars. Our plan to take a smart roadster has gone out the window now.

Apart from the K11 Micra, a Suzuki Swift is probably one of the more reliable bets.
But a Fiat Cinquecento or even a Trabant would be much more interesting.

[tinkertaylor]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Gentlemen. Your problems are over....

A Cougar (wrong sort obvioulsy!)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

MR2 - didn't Top Gear do something mad with one of these? Perfect for badly surfaced roads.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

That paragon of Japanese reliability - Lexus. (fk knows what you'll do if it breaks though).

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Talking of reliable... A Golf. And a GTI at that (MAY have some paint issues)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Red? Check. Italian? Check Sporty? Check. What could possibly go wrong?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-ALFA-ROMEO-GTV-T-SP...

V6. 200bhp. RWD. And Japanese.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-MITSUBISHI-FTO-RED-...

Did you miss the part where he said 1000cc and below?

[Rocksteadyeddie]

tinkertaylor said:

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Gentlemen. Your problems are over....

A Cougar (wrong sort obvioulsy!)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/f...

MR2 - didn't Top Gear do something mad with one of these? Perfect for badly surfaced roads.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

That paragon of Japanese reliability - Lexus. (fk knows what you'll do if it breaks though).

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

Talking of reliable... A Golf. And a GTI at that (MAY have some paint issues)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/v...

Red? Check. Italian? Check Sporty? Check. What could possibly go wrong?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-ALFA-ROMEO-GTV-T-SP...

V6. 200bhp. RWD. And Japanese.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-MITSUBISHI-FTO-RED-...

Did you miss the part where he said 1000cc and below?

Not 1 litre per person then? Oh.

[fivetenben]

If you can come up with something sufficiently random with an engine over 1l, the organisers may allow it anyway. The year I did the rally, some folk entered in a ford granada hearse, complete with V6 and a bed on the 'coffin deck'. Think laterally and you may - just may - be able to blag something better suited to 4 people. like an ice cream van, for instance.

[DonkeyApple]

Bedford Rascal?

[vit4]

McFarnsworth said:

I've been planning to do the Mongol Rally for years but doing it with a newer car didn't really appeal to us. Really glad they've gone back to older, crappier cars.

Same here, holds so much more appeal

[Snails]

This £350, Immaculate condition, 50k miles apparently?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-FIAT-UNO-1-0-IE-STA...


Or a 993cc Suzuki Swift. £350. 44k miles

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-SUZUKI-SWIFT-GLS-99...

Edited by Snails on Saturday 10th August 14:45

[Lexual]

My mate is doing it right now, they're in a very beaten up Citreon C1 which had been rolled..

[A.J.M]

Mini's are all getting very expensive. The cheapest one you could use is £1200

I can find loads of the following.

Micra's. In manual and auto, 3 and 5 doors.
Corsa's. in B and C shape. Having driven 2 1.0 Corsa's i would rather walk the route than drive one again.
Matiz. 0.8 litres. Some even have AC.. never driven one.
Fiat Seicento's. Never driven one. Small and tiny wheeled.

That's nationwide with a max budget of £1000.

Shame it's a 1.0 or under as there are plenty of cheap Ford Ka's going.