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Light Overland Vehicle Tech Tech issues, tips and hints, prepping for travel
Under 3500kg vehicles, e.g. Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Subaru etc.
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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Old 28 Oct 2013
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Cheers Moggy,

Having looked around a bit I know what you mean about prices...

However, at the end of the market I'm looking at (sub £1000) cars and vans are about the same, it's service history and lack of corrosion that you're paying for.

I wouldn't rule out an estate if the right one came along but I like the fuel economy (50+mpg) you can get from the little vans and they may be a little sturdier, having been built for commercial use.

I forgot to say I'll be taking a tent so sleeping in the back would only happen when the weather gets lively.
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Old 28 Oct 2013
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Have a look here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...6-4#post418410

here in Denmark there has also been a camper version of the Galaxy/Sharan with a foldable sleeping roof and a foldable diminutive kitchen in the back.

It can still be found as a runner and I have seen 3 at a junkyard, so a UK van could be converted.





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Old 28 Oct 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crusty View Post
Cheers Moggy,

Having looked around a bit I know what you mean about prices...

However, at the end of the market I'm looking at (sub £1000) cars and vans are about the same, it's service history and lack of corrosion that you're paying for.

I wouldn't rule out an estate if the right one came along but I like the fuel economy (50+mpg) you can get from the little vans and they may be a little sturdier, having been built for commercial use.

I forgot to say I'll be taking a tent so sleeping in the back would only happen when the weather gets lively.
A diesel estate should see you able to get 50mpg plus. my old BMW530 averaged 43mpg at 85mph (on the cruise control) on the autobahn.

The days of commercial vehicles being better built than cars are long gone I'm afraid. Most vans are built from car parts and have a similar life expectancy. The difference is, the van will have been ragged to death in a hard commercial environment while the diesel estate has probably been used as a second car family runabout.
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Old 28 Oct 2013
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I have to say for a couple of years or so now I have been considering getting a small diesel estate or hatchback car or similar for my travels. two up far easier than a bike. carries more stuff. In an emergency you can sleep in it and has more range than just about any bike. been specifically looking at Citroen C3 and fiat Panda. both do 65mpg or more on a run and have over 400 miles range, plus can easily carry a spare 10 litres of fuel to add another 130 miles. It also means we can take better tents/sleeping bags and beds

It also means on a longer trip those time when the weather is bad it is easier to continue travelling and punctures are so easy to deal with
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Old 29 Oct 2013
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for reliability reasons I wouldn't go with either of those.
The Peugeot 400 series offers good build quality, economy and go quite cheaply.
The BMW Audi or VW options are also very good but more pricey.
Another option is a Volvo. Their lack of trendiness means second hand ones can be picked up for a very good price. build quality is of course exceptional and there is a 4wd option (although rare) like this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-VOLVO...item41785619dd
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