Thread: Choosing the RIGHT VEHICLE for Overlanding Video - Interesting....

Originally Posted by dirvine

I made a comment on another forum that the potential air suspension failure fix is an easy cost of $330 and no need to carry any spares. For me (I also own a Toyota 76 wagon), its a no brainer. I want a smooth ride and some form of reliability and if not then some insurance backup. $330 is cheap if it overcomes any suspension failure that MIGHT occur. Some people just hate LR.

Curious here.... but how tough are the airbags themselves? Do they have much protection against sharp stones being thrown up if u are a person that continually drives on rough rocky/loose stoney dirt roads?

According to GOE website only 4 world wide! So a very low number considering how many have been sold in all forms of LR models!

Random! Quirky even. Like it. ...But unbiased? Hmm

My Puma needed a rear main seal at 70,000. But the new Amarok I had for a while needed a new gearbox at 5,000km. Toyotas I've driven for work have needed engine mounts, gearbox and diffs within 60,000km.

The most interesting discussion to me was about the relative bush ability and durability of all new vehicles, although it was pretty cursory. His disappointment in Land Rover here is obvious and his perspective that Toyota have stayed truer to their overlanding roots is a strong argument for Toyota. Especially in those countries that really use such vehicles like Australia and Africa. The urban centeric market shift everywhere else is clearly the reason that on road ability and complex tech is more important to most. ...but what will he drive when all vehicles have air suspension, are all electric and autonomous? It's coming faster than we can imagine.

Interesting and refreshing that he didn't even mention the mythical next Defender.

I'm in the four coils, live-axle, constant 4WD camp, which is why I drive a Defender. As such a secondhand Defender is currently still a far better prospect than a new Toyota for overlanding IMO.

As a newby I found this interesting. After a recent trip my wife and I commented on the number of Toyota’s around and the presence of supporting dealerships. A Toyota would be the best car to break down in - if such a thing exists.

Having never owned a Toyota bit hard to comment on cost of ownership but I will say Land Rover is up there at the higher end.

Getting into a vehicle is something he doesn’t really cover. Much cheaper to get into a 2nd Hand LR compared to a Landcruiser. More bang for your buck. Not sure if he gets help buying his vehicles either.

The next part I thought he skipped, because I am doing the maths at the moment, is load carrying. Should I have bought a Defender rather than a Discovery? Can a Toyota carry more?

Interesting to watch. At the end of the day though it doesn’t matter what vehicle you are driving/towing if you break something you have a problem. Does he carry spare springs & shock absorbers etc. 1 or 2 of each. It all adds to the weight & storage issues. His recent series of videos on the Canning Stock Route mentions the number of other vehicles travelling it. Breaking down, a simplistic vehicle so you can jerry rig something is perhaps a mindset of the overlanding past where it was a lot harder. I don’t know I am too new to this.

At this stage I can only comment on what happened to me in regards to costs of a Toyota and a LR. I bought the D4 first and after a weekend away I was so disappointed I went and ordered a 2017 76 series wagon with air and a auto conversion. I changed the front seats to recaro's, and thought now I have the best of both worlds. However, 2 services on the Toyota are dearer than the one service on the D4. The Toyota has had 3 recalls outside the service intervals, the D4 none. We went away towing a 16' off road van to see which vehicle we would take on a trip we did in June to August. Without a doubt the D4 was far more on road (made and dirt) capable, comfortable, and cheaper to run (ie fuel costs) than the Toyota. So I swallowed my pride and we took the D4. In the bush I must admit I still feel the Toyota is the better vehicle. Perhaps its roughness translates to ruggedness and I feel more confidant in a vehicle that requires driver input than driving a D4 with all the electronic wizardry. At least the Toyota does not get damaged wheel rims! I also feel (maybe its just a perception) that there is more storage space in the Toyota. So when I go to tough stuff I have been taking the Toyota. However as I have now built the d4 up to my interpretation of a optioned capable 4WD, I am thinking that my son may get a nice Christmas present as he still likes the cars from the land of the rising sun. In January to March I am heading off to Perth via the inland route to Coral Bay (read off the beaten track). I have prepared my D4 as best i think I can. with a HF radio if things hit the fan. I am sure I will test it fully. Ie 45C+ temps and towing a van. If I had for a moment a thought it would breakdown and I could be stranded, I would take the Toyota. However a comfortable ride, where you pull in at night and still feel as refreshed as when when you started, a car whose air con actually does cool the whole car, and to do it in style, i will take my chances. Will report my thoughts when i get back.

I don't know if this is true or not and its simply an observation ive made from watching Andrew's videos.
He's used a lot of vehicles over the years that have been provided to him by different manufacturers. This is his second 70 series and i would bet a decent chunk of change that somewhere and at sometime there has been a conversation between himself and a Toyota representative. I believe this is true cause of a few reasons.

The 70 series has a few major flaws he chooses to completely ignore or play down. The wheel track is ridiculous, can be dangerous and in no way would i call this "over engineering" as he describes it. "Over engineering " would have sorted such a huge flaw....but Toyota didnt.
The clutches on the 70 series are just as bad as the pumas if not worse!
The v8 injectors have a reputation for spitting the dummy and arent "over engineered".
The alternator is possibly in the worst possible postion you could possibly design it to be in, again not "over engineered".

Anyway im not trying to Toyota bash as the 70 series also has a lot of good points and Toyota definately builds some very reliable cars.

One thing i found strange was his opinion on Nissan. Whether you love em or hate them the 4.2TD Patrol is probably the toughest 4wd vehicle ever made and driven in Australia. They're so tuff the comp guys love em and nothing has a drive train close to its strength. I felt as though he brushed over it and left it in Toyotas shadow. He speaks more like a man being supported by Toyota than an independent journalist. Its a bit like Pat Callinan; one week the patrol is the best, the next week its the Amarok.....the truth is his opinion on the best vehicle is the one whos manufacturer is paying his bills!

Again no proof just my opinion.

I think in a way he is stuck.
He dosnt like wagons for overlanding as he likes to fit-out the back of his trucks. That really limits what you can have. Landrover no longer have anything suitable and The Patrol is only a wagon. He did initially buy a dual cab to do what most do but then took it back.
Although you may think he is a tad biased at the moment he does say he thinks the Defender is one of the best cars offroad and more comfortable than the Cruiser. He also says the G wagon is the best offroad he has ever driven. What he needs is a G wagon troopy! Sounds good to me also.

Originally Posted by 1nando

I don't know if this is true or not and its simply an observation ive made from watching Andrew's videos.
He's used a lot of vehicles over the years that have been provided to him by different manufacturers. This is his second 70 series and i would bet a decent chunk of change that somewhere and at sometime there has been a conversation between himself and a Toyota representative. I believe this is true cause of a few reasons.

The 70 series has a few major flaws he chooses to completely ignore or play down. The wheel track is ridiculous, can be dangerous and in no way would i call this "over engineering" as he describes it. "Over engineering " would have sorted such a huge flaw....but Toyota didnt.
The clutches on the 70 series are just as bad as the pumas if not worse!
The v8 injectors have a reputation for spitting the dummy and arent "over engineered".
The alternator is possibly in the worst possible postion you could possibly design it to be in, again not "over engineered".

Anyway im not trying to Toyota bash as the 70 series also has a lot of good points and Toyota definately builds some very reliable cars.

One thing i found strange was his opinion on Nissan. Whether you love em or hate them the 4.2TD Patrol is probably the toughest 4wd vehicle ever made and driven in Australia. They're so tuff the comp guys love em and nothing has a drive train close to its strength. I felt as though he brushed over it and left in Toyotas shadow. He speaks more like a man being supported by Toyota than an independent journalist. Its a bit like Pat Callinan; one week the patrol is the best, the next week its the Amarok.....the truth is his opinion on the best vehicle is the one whos manufacturer is paying his bills!

Again no proof just my opinion.

I think you are absolutely correct, ‘opinion’ is sponsored or bought. It is for this reason I have not bought a 4wd magazine in over 25 years as they became so tainted by the not so subtle sponsorship it was almost embarrassing to read some of the blatant bias and negative comments and not always directed at Land Rovers....

My opinion anyway.