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Need cheap LHD 4x4 for Africa - Freelander good choice?

 
 
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ozymandias24
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Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Odometer: 3




PostPosted: Wed Jan 18, 2017 8:10 pm    Post subject: Need cheap LHD 4x4 for Africa - Freelander good choice? Reply with quote

Hello All,

I have recently accepted a job in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and would like to ship a 4x4 out with me so that I can explore the island. I will be working in the capital, where the roads are OK. The main roads out to the provincial capitals are tarmac and OK but the majority of the island is covered by dirt roads that disintegrate into a muddy mess during the rainy season. I will also likely do some driving on the beach on surf trips. Below is an image from a typical rural road, taken in 2015:



I am based in London. Importing a RHD vehicle into Madagascar is illegal, so I need a LHD. For some reason Freelanders seem to be very cheap in LHD configuration here in the UK (maybe they are easy to convert?) When I say "very cheap" I mean half the price of equivalent age and mileage Mitsubishi or Toyota 4x4s in LHD.

I am hoping for some advice from the experienced members on this forum - basically, what car should I buy, and what modifications would give me the biggest bang for my buck in terms of improvement in off-road capability? Below are five of my considerations when buying:

    Budget is around £4000. This would include any modifications I might need to make to the vehicle to ensure it is ready to go off-road (i.e. buying larger tyres, snorkel, any suspension raise etc.)
    It has to be LHD (this is Malagasy law). So no importing a UK RHD sadly. Also, I hear that converting most 4x4s from RHD to LHD is a complete pain, and likely to waste most of my budget.
    The more seats the better. Ideally I'd like 6 or 7, or some sort of bench arrangement in the back. Folding seats with lots of storage space would be great to load up on camping supplies. This is one of the factors pushing me towards a Mitsubishi Pajero / Shogun or a Toyota Land Cruiser rather than a Freelander, but I imagine a Defender or Discovery might also have more room? Also means a Suzuki Jimny or similar is out of the question.
    Diesel or petrol makes little difference. Fuel economy also doesn't matter too much as fuel is cheap out there.
    AC is borderline essential as it's bloody hot out there!


I guess the overall question is: if I buy a LHD Freelander for £2000, and spend £2000 on it, will I be able to get it up to a suitable off-road standard? Or is there a more suitable type of Land Rover (like an old Discovery) that I should hunt around for in LHD configuration? Or should I scrap the Land Rover idea altogether and go for a Japanese 4x4 (Shogun / Pajero / Hilux / Land Cruiser / L200)?

Before people say this is a crazy budget: in 2006 a friend and I drove a 1973 Land Rover Series III 88' from London down to Liberia in West Africa...and that only cost us £900! Story of that journey can be found here: http://polosbastards.com/west-africa-monrovia-or-bust/

Any advice much appreciated!
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plugspanner
Just got MTs


Joined: 24 Dec 2009
Odometer: 211
Location: somerset



PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the freelander has no low box, so if you put on bigger tyres which you will need, the gearing would be too high if the terrain gets bad, also the ground clearance is not very much and not easy to raise up by much.
if that picture is a typical rural road them it would be a struggle in anything like a freelander, imho.

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www.sandsmodels.com
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Twiss
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Odometer: 6438
Location: Birkirkara, Malta


1993 Suzuki Samurai

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

^ As above

quick scout around ebay found a couple of disco 1's for about £3k
I'd probably get one of those, with some mud tyres and a winch in case you get stuck...

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Twiss
'95 Samurai 416 16v
'92 Maruti Gypsy MG410
www.suzukiclubuk.co.uk
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** GED **
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 18 Jun 2014
Odometer: 2039
Location: Scouser



PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 8:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

cruiser...
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the other co-founder of the DCJC

Member of TEAM CHAOS
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Nightbar
Difflock Royalty


Joined: 30 Sep 2003
Odometer: 20799
Location: In a state of anticipation...


1999 Land Rover Defender

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 11:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hate to say it... but ^^^ he's probably right^^^
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The ex-Difflock Ambassador to Naples, Sir Nightbar DCJC DFS and 2 bars.

Plant a tree for the Difflock 3
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Xpajun
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 22 Sep 2008
Odometer: 3245



1988 Mitsubishi Shogun

PostPosted: Mon Jan 23, 2017 8:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It might be an idea to find out what the locals are using - so that spares are easily obtainable. After all you wouldn't want to be waiting 2 or 3 weeks for a spare part to arrive and have to suffer the high cost of shipping...
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jeepmadmike
Mud Obsessed


Joined: 08 May 2005
Odometer: 4573
Location: between 6000+7000 rpm and Devon



PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 1:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After owning one there is no substitute for a land cruiser 70 series
__________________________________
Land Rovers are the root of all evil!

Now i have gone and bought a D4!

one day i might buy a 86" series one like my dad had when i was a boy.
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