Thread: The Ten Best Used Vehicles For Exploring The World

Hmmm, Scott Brady is a renowned expert in this field, albeit American, hence the choices I guess. Overall, the list covers mostly more recent vehicles, most of which I personally would not like to use for extended backcountry travel due to the difficulties one will experience if the black box plays up.
Scott Brady has a good affiliation with Land Rovers, though. If I remember correctly he owns one himself. As an US based magazine (he writes for), Diesel-powered alternatives and Defenders won't feature too high on their list, as the Americans are biased towards petrol-powered vehicles and Defenders are not available in the US of A...

Hey that's actually a great article. I'm a little miffed the Defender didn't rate a mention but having owned lots of different 4x4s, and quite a few on that list I'd say he's pretty close to the mark once you factor in the American bias i.e. Gas is so cheap it's almost free.

I used to live in Abu Dhabi and owned a Jeep Wrangler TJ. Absolute weapon in the big sand dunes. Buying a diesel over there isn't an option and petrol costs about $0.50/L so it's all V8 land cruisers and patrols and Jeeps for serious dune bashing. The G55AMGs were really popular with the Sheikhs but as much as I love them they are too heavy for sand driving. Sorry to all the Disco 3 owners but they struggled in the middle east. I had several frieda with them. Beautiful cars but constant electrical issues and not a lot of clearance off road.

I've owned several of the Landcruiser 80 series and they are brilliant, especially if you get a turbo diesel Sahara. Triple difflocks, triple air con, beer fridge, i.e. all the luxuries and seriously good off road. But as he says they're so expensive for how old they are now. They make a new Defender (demo on sale) look like good value to me.

Interesting link, looks like they were after budget rather than off the showroom floor - finally a real world article!

I have owned a GV, and although bombproof when they say "Limited technical terrain performance" they mean don't drive over anything bigger than a large grapefruit or you will get stuck. On the other hand driving in / with a GV means you get lots of practice performing recoveries... Don't get me wrong it is a great vehicle, just a little low for decent touring / harder tracks.

The Jimmny / Sirerra on the other hand is a beast. Unfortunately as one of the few 4wds that have less space in them to carry stuff than a Defender 90, it makes them basically impractical for even a 2 person tourer.

Only one problem, most of the vehicles are not common in remote areas of other countries, fine for Nth America.

Baz.