Thread: The birth of another Perentie monster. First nights in the FFR at Anglesea. Fuel use.

Hi all, bit late but happy new year to all. 4000kms down and the FFR is running great. Managed 11.5 litres per hundred over 430km trip to Anglesea (very light load) and surrounds I just returned from very pleased with that indeed. I feel that could be taken down to 10 or 10.5 with very conservative driving.

A freind of mine from the country was meeting me and I couldn't help thinking the old landy would be right up his alley and couldn't wait to show him. The day after arrival driving down to the beach he started to get the buz and remarks of vehicle admiration were beggining to be heard over the mighty Isuzu donk. A few moments later my freind said this will be my next car. Ten seconds earlier I had noticed a civvy defender coming the other way and as he was just fininshing his declaration I said mate watch this stuck my hand out the window and waved to the other driver who was already hand raised out the window. I turned and asked if that ever happens in his hilux.

Spent my first couple of nights in the back of the car very comfortable right next to the beach. Unfortunately I leaned on the canvas above drivers seat at one stage and it tore. It is very deteriorated and I had planned to make a decision on hard or soft roof soon and get rid of it but for now some fancy waterproof tape I got earlier will do the job.

Took a little drive out the back of town and put the perentie through its first real test of mine down some nice tracks, up some nice little climbs and through one particularly uneven,ruff,deep rutted and pitted spot. Even with road going pressures and a novice off road driver the beast just ate it up. I couldn't imagine being willing to drive any other car though that obstacle without having spent an amount of money that I wouldn't be putting through there anyway. My poor wrx is sitting in the top of the drive now relegated to the second car Ohhh I forgot did a little job swap with a carpenter freind (drank his beer, sorted his copper and loaded his trailer) and in return he built me a "plug" for the perentie rear footwell so I could sleep in the back. It has three even storage sections underneath. I will put up some photos when I have them. Very simple solution for the time being but seemed to do the job very well. So many ideas about how to configure the car do this do that ect but I really would like to stick to the original less is more motto of the vehicle. Funds or lack there of also dictate this line of thought lol. I will live with it how it is for a time longer before making any decisions. One thing I'm very keen on is sticking to the skinnys. There is some pleasure to be had from driving an na vehicle as opposed to forced induction, that sound and the.....vibe are different. I battle with the idea of fitting a turbo constantly.

Does anyone know the average prices perenties went for in the auctions at bandiana and elsewhere a month ago? The prices on the second hand market seem to be all over the shop. Investment was no where on my list of reasons for purchase but none the less a bit interesting and a little bit of a thrill to dream that it will be worth well more than I paid.

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