Landrover in PNG

[carlschmid2002]

After having spent the last few weeks in PNG I am shocked to see no LRs on the road. I did see a one in a shopping centre today but have only seen one on the road. After having completed a near camel trophy to get from Kokoda to Popondetta I am amazed that there aren't more LR here. The roads are terrible and there is only one vehicle that is suited to this country in my opinion.

[JDNSW]

As with Australia, Landrover handed this market to Toyota in the 1970s, initially by Leyland treating Landrover as a cash cow, followed by the decision in the 1980s that Landrover was a luxury brand name, not to be defiled by use in third world countries, with the 90/110 renamed Defender and reprofiled as an urban niche vehicle rather than a utility one.

John

[87County]

As with Australia, Landrover handed this market to Toyota in the 1970s, initially by Leyland treating Landrover as a cash cow, followed by the decision in the 1980s that Landrover was a luxury brand name, not to be defiled by use in third world countries, with the 90/110 renamed Defender and reprofiled as an urban niche vehicle rather than a utility one.

John

that summarises the cause very well JD,

Carpenters Motors (Kia dealer) plans to sell them again I believe.

I would add that away from Moresby, Lae & Rabaul there won't be too many tilt trays and the proprietry electronic diagnostic equipment for LRs just won't exist.

To have mechanics with little training solve just the electronic problems we see listed on the pages every week would be an impossibility, let alone the broken diffs etc that seem to crop up on these pages.

I'm guessing that the ones that carlschmid saw were owned by expat enthusiasts.

The majority of the population does not have a $ income and therefore just cannot own motor cars - only goverment and police, businesses, the rich & the corrupt and senior employees have them - & they'll be buying from whoever gives them the "deal" without much thought to longevity/serviceability.

The roads away from the major centres are generally in very poor condition, there are bridges left over from before 16/9/75 that even our most adventurous 4WDer wouldn't attempt simply because someone has stolen all the decking.

If a person can be aware and cope with the personal security issues, I would encourage them to visit and educate themselves about how people live in the third world, which in this case is on our doorstep.

It would be interesting if you (carlschmid) could post some pics and tell us more about your trip.....

[123rover50]

The Administration used to run Land Rovers but by the time I worked there in the late 60,s they had changed to Land Cruisers.
Still a lot of new Landies being sold private though.
The Forward Control I have I bought in Bougainville in 72. Was a Mission vehicle and not very old when it was scrapped.


The Station Wagon was ex Administration. They were all that colour.


Didiman

[RobHay]

Anything electronic is a waste of time in PNG. I have seen 2 month old trucks in PNG that looked like they were 30 years old. Even the seats had been eaten.....Yes thats right they ate the seats.

Land Rover, if introduced, would only be aimed at the expat market and that is dwindling. Toyota and Nissan have the country in a strangle hold that will not be broken for some time, if at all.

God when he made PNG upended an entire cornupia on the country however corruption, melanesian time, the wantok system and an inability to understand the Westminister system keeps the counrty from becoming one of the richest in the world.

The road system outside of the major cities/towns is not extensive. The Highland Highway which runs from Lae in Morobe province through to Mendi in the Southern Highlands is slowly reverting to the Highlands Track due to lack of maintainence. Ambushes by 'Raskol' gangs is common due to the breakdown in law and order and disfunctional police ( Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary).

The economy is shot to pieces, when I was up there K1 (Kina =$; Toea = cents) was worth almost AUD$ 2, now it is worth approximately 45c.


It is going to require major intervention from Australia and the UN to save the place.

[123rover50]

Yes thats right they ate the seats.

You are right there, even the Govt Toyota seats were buggered.
We used to say the Kanakas had teeth in their arse.

Didiman

[dromader driver]

There are a few LR series in the highlands. i was offered a good series 3 for about $2k Oz oz last year. the owner was really reluctant to sell as there appeared to be a strong emotional attachment. In the end i sent him the contacts for the parts he needed to get it safe vis fix the brakes. The rest seemed to work ok.

The Highlands Highway got so bad that Exxon Mobil were flying their stuff from Lae to Moro as the highway couldn't handle the volume and the bridges were very suspect. it was hilarious to see them doing the survey. Talk about setting themselves up as a target...

[samuelclarke]

I had two trips up to Moresby last year - and some outlying villages. Was the first time I'd been back since living there for 10 years with my family back in the 90's...

One of the biggest things that hit me (aside from the drastic Chinese government push into the country) was the number of new vehicles on the road compared to when I'd been there last. Toyota 70 series and Hiluxes (what I had on both trips) dominate, but saw quite a few Defenders around the place...and all but one of them driven by locals. As mentioned, the issue is servicing and parts - if I ever move back to PNG I'd love to take my Defender, but you'd honestly have to take a container of parts for backup! Oh yeah and also saw around a dozen early model 110's painted in Rotary colours parked near Moresby airport - looked like ex army soft tops. Plus a P38 Range Rover and the yacht club!