The Perfect Bushwalking Car?

[flyfisher]

Best things is fuel economy, fuel card, and I dont see the bill.
So it is always my car that gets us to the start of the track.
Roger[/quote]
Nice work if you can get it Roger but I'm afraid my beast isn't like that, but it handles the rough stuff well. Just a little thirsty.
At least in Tassie the distances aren't that great.
John

[sailfish]

there are a lot of L series wagons that are super reliable and do some fairly insane offroad work, so i reckon you was pretty unlucky sailfish.

I am well aware of their reputation. I thought it was a great car when I 1st go it and it did the off road job really well. It started using a lot of petrol and the diagnosis was the engine was worn out. I had an exchange put in that had less power, used too much petrol and the backfiring you would not believe. The original had always backfired a bit too. Testing showed excess unburnt petrol in the exhaust. Several different mechanics had a go including the Subaru dealership. Spent a lot of time and money but it was never any better. I caught the mechanics apprentice using the 4WD on the tar, spotted the windup release as he pulled into the dirt car park. The transmission failed a year or 2 after that. Repair costs exceeded value of the car. I think it is fair to say the mechanic wrecked that car. Anyway, it was defiantly the worst and shortest lived of the 6 cars I have owned so far. I recall seeing an NRMA running cost survey. Subaru were the most expensive car to run in all but one category. There are a lot of things I like about them but, that says something doesn’t it.

PS. Go try a Forester on cruise control and then an Aurion. Amazing how bad the Forester is, relying on it will get you booked. Subaru, never again.

Regards,
Ken

[Liamy77]

I've got a 93 Subaru wagon, with over 4220000 on the clock. Still going strong. The only downside is, it's not the 4wd model. It's a great bushwalking car. A place in the back to sleep if needed.

4,220,000?????
how many engines / rebuilds so far?

Opps, an extra the 0 there. Sorry there is 420,000 on the clock!!

yeah i figured.... just though i'd give ya a bit of crap is all

[Macca81]

PS. Go try a Forester on cruise control and then an Aurion. Amazing how bad the Forester is, relying on it will get you booked. Subaru, never again.

Regards,
Ken

foresters are very highly overated in my opinion. not just for the cruise control either

[north-north-west]

The most overrated thing about Foresters is their drivers. I've yet to see one who looked like that had the remotest idea of how to handle anything with even the slightest resemblance to a curve.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hahahaha 2 guys in our group drive foresters.
1 in particular has had it in some places i'd be surprised to see a real 4x4 get to!

[north-north-west]

The most overrated thing about Foresters is their drivers. I've yet to see one who looked like they had the remotest idea of how to handle anything with even the slightest resemblance to a curve.

[north-north-west]

Of course, if such a creature did exist, it would have to be in Tasmania . . .

[Crum]

My 4runner is ideal for what I need it for. Plenty of room in the back for a matress and all. The independent front and rubbish factory lsd diff are the only things I don't rate

It can tackle small puddles only

[walkinTas]

Does all the right things, just drinks a little.

I know a few bushwalkers like that.

This is the baby you want

(Read about it here)

[Liamy77]

my favorite car is one that starts when you turn the key and gets ya home safely!!!

[Macca81]

My 4runner is ideal for what I need it for. Plenty of room in the back for a matress and all. The independent front and rubbish factory lsd diff are the only things I don't rate

It can tackle small puddles only

ifs is fine if you drive the right lines, and i have had my surf through some bigger puddles than i could ever get my old patrol thru

[johnw]

my favorite car is one that starts when you turn the key and gets ya home safely!!!

Totally agree with that one! Mmm, interesting discussion. I very recently traded (reluctantly) my old '95 XJ series Jeep Cherokee. Absolutely loved it and owned it for 9 years. Thirsty, utilitarian unrefined brute of a thing but it never let me down and had ground clearance to die for. Went everywhere to bushwalking locations, including around Tassie three times. Occasionally some weekend 4WD touring/camping. But it got to well over 200,000km on the clock and looking like some possibly expensive repair bills coming up. So I traded it on a 2003 XS Subaru Forester; went for the manual transmission version with token low range and I put all-terrain tyres on it (my version of an AWD trying to be a 4WD). I've only had it for about a month and yet to take it down an unsealed road but happy with its performance so far. I acknowledge earlier comments about the cruise control, definitely not as stable as other vehicles I've owned. I thought it might be partly due to the manual gearbox but maybe not. Anyway I've found that setting it 2-3 km below the speed limit keeps it mostly in check. It's not the first Subaru I've owned; bought an AWD Liberty wagon back in '92. Had that for 4 years, never a problem and was always happy with it, so I had no hesitation about trying the Forester. One thing I don't miss about the Jeep is the expensive fuel bills.

[north-north-west]

But it got to well over 200,000km on the clock....

That took nine years? I racked up that much on my last two cars in five.

Anyway, this thread has taken an alarming turn. It's become serious!

[Penguin]

my favorite car is one that starts when you turn the key and gets ya home safely!!!

Totally agree with that one! Mmm, interesting discussion. I very recently traded (reluctantly) my old '95 XJ series Jeep Cherokee. Absolutely loved it and owned it for 9 years. Thirsty, utilitarian unrefined brute of a thing but it never let me down and had ground clearance to die for. Went everywhere to bushwalking locations, including around Tassie three times. Occasionally some weekend 4WD touring/camping. But it got to well over 200,000km on the clock and looking like some possibly expensive repair bills coming up. One thing I don't miss about the Jeep is the expensive fuel bills.

John, I took the alternate view and kept my 1997 Jeep and spent a bit of money. The old jeeps are considered the joke of the 4WD community by many, but it has not embarrassed me where other 4WD's have let people down. Mine is the diesel so not as thirsty.

The perfect car is usually the car that each of us owns - how can we be wrong in the original purchase?

P

[Nuts]

The older model and swb wranglers etc have always been pretty well regarded 4wd wise... i had an early 80's j20 truck that would climb a wall... just needed to work on it full time to keep it going.

Something classy? Heres a modded cruiser:

citroen-ds-land-cruiser-cross_AErzg_5965.jpg (33.85 KiB) Viewed 16178 times

[flyfisher]

Amazing.
ff

[johnw]

John, I took the alternate view and kept my 1997 Jeep and spent a bit of money. The old jeeps are considered the joke of the 4WD community by many, but it has not embarrassed me where other 4WD's have let people down. Mine is the diesel so not as thirsty.

Excellent! I can understand that (it's a Jeep thing ). I reckon the old Jeeps are great, never let me down either . I thought long and hard about keeping mine but didn't want to end up pouring a lot of money into it. I did consider a KJ series diesel, but reasonably low km ones in my price range seemed to be as rare as. Still keeping that option open for next time around though.

But it got to well over 200,000km on the clock....

That took nine years? I racked up that much on my last two cars in five.

And they weren't even all mine...

[Nuts]

Amazing.
ff

I think i like this saudi version better, would be hopeless off-road (or probably even On many) but does look the part

Land_Cruiser_Ugly.jpg (67.96 KiB) Viewed 16131 times

[johnw]

Amazing.
ff

I think i like this saudi version better, would be hopeless off-road (or probably even On many) but does look the part

These things always amuse me. Who on earth lowers their 4WD?

[Penguin]

Amazing.
ff

I think i like this saudi version better, would be hopeless off-road (or probably even On many) but does look the part

These things always amuse me. Who on earth lowers their 4WD?

I rased the Jeep by 40mm but lowered the MX5 by 20mm. Does this mean I am 20mm ahead

The other one i cannot understand is stiffer antisaw bars on 4WD's. Brilliant on MX5''s

Here is one for all you Forrester drivers out there - it is called "Pimp my Mum's ride".

A mate has a Forrester with 340Kw at the wheels. Not much original on that one in teh drive train. Has trouble with the lip on my driveway.

[Macca81]

Excellent! I can understand that (it's a Jeep thing ).

i got the jeep thing once... it took weeks before it stopped hurting when i wee'd...

[johnw]

I rased the Jeep by 40mm but lowered the MX5 by 20mm. Does this mean I am 20mm ahead

A mate has a Forrester with 340Kw at the wheels. Not much original on that one in teh drive train. Has trouble with the lip on my driveway.

I fitted heavy duty coil springs to the front of the Jeep and an extra leaf spring in the rear, which raised it about 25mm. I don't have an MX5, I doubt my wife would be happy with me lowering her 121 Metro . I've seen a few similar Foresters locally, dunno about 340kw though .

i got the jeep thing once... it took weeks before it stopped hurting when i wee'd...

[Penguin]

i got the jeep thing once... it took weeks before it stopped hurting when i wee'd...

[/quote]


It is amazing what you cn do with 2.5 litre engine when you completely rebuild it. The car is almost udrivable. There is so much power that even the spec B drive shafts could not be used. It has a Gertag racing gera box and the drive shafts are corruption of those in the racing Commodors. We estimate that he has spent over $100k on the full car rebuild, and at the end of the day he has a...............Forrester.

Boys and their toys.

[Liamy77]

$100k...... Why bother.... 50k on the car and the rest went on police fines and speeding tickets maybe?!
you could buy a great car or 2 and still have enough for a round the world trip for that!!
just think how many years walking you could do with a $30K 2nd hand car.....
each to their own I guess..

[north-north-west]

... he has spent over $100k on the full car rebuild, and at the end of the day he has a...............Forrester.

That says it all.
Still, I suppose it kept him off the road for a while, which has to be a good thing.

[Crum]

Maybe this one would be a little more appropriate

[iandsmith]

THIS [i][u]IS[u][i]the ultimate bushwalking vehicle. Okay, so it doesn't go to some places 4WDs go (though a lot of people are gobsmacked by where it's been); it doesn't get there very fast; it does chew up a little more fuel than a lot of other vehicles but, hey, consider this - when I finish my walk and I have a nice hot shower and bunk down into a custom made 5 star bed after a sumptuous dinner that I didn't have to carry all day - I'm thinking of you guys and "envy" isn't amongst the emotions I feel. Cheers all
P.S. This shot was taken at Bunyeroo Gorge, Flinders Ranges.

[Phil Box]

My Landcruiser Troop Carrier has everything I have ever needed in a vehicle. Diff locks front and rear and a dirty great PTO winch for when I really get stuck (had to do an Austin Powers 96 point turn once using the winch, took me hours). Add in a snorkel so I can get across ridiculously deep water and I'm golden. Sleeps three in the back in comfort at a stretch. Half a million k on the clock and still going strong. Love those big lopey diesels.

[samh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm8COtiCXb4&feature=related

http://www.streetfire.net/video/fifth-gear-rinspeed-squba_176742.htm

One of them, and no need to pay for the ferry at lake St.Clair