Spinal's Mongol Rally Thread

[Sp!ke]

That 35,000 mile SJ looks like a bargain. I wouldnt worry about it being a non runner - how hard could it be to fix? (not very in all likelihood)

These are very capable cars off road and simple to maintain. The ride though is hellish. I used to have to carry paracetamol in the glovebox of mine to lessen the pain of driving it.

 

[Bellow]

Love it... though I'm not sure I would be able to do that, and still put the engine back together...

Not necessarily that difficult. If the vehicle were simple enough...
Anyway, SJ410 right on capacity blows all other contenders clean out of the water. That's the kind of ruggedness I had in mind - and the engine is already the correct size. Bingo!

The great thing about a Niva is that you only need to carry two tools.

1. A big hammer

2. A cold chisel

Chisel? Bit of a luxury isn't it?
Did you mean cold beer?

 

[John Jones Jr]

The ride though is hellish..

You can say that again. One was enough for me. Can't imagine doing a rally in it.

 

[IanA2]

Yaris or Micra.

 

[gaz_l]

Classic Pandas are becoming collectable now and you'll struggle to find a half-decent 4x4 in budget. Buy a ratty one and it'll break down for a pastime. Go Japanese is my advice, the Suzuki Jimny sounds ideal. I believe they rust, but I doubt tin worm is a problem for the Mongol - Pebble Beach it ain't..

How are you getting it home at the end? Shipping or driving? The Mongol authorities got fed up with westerners dumping clapped out cars in Ulan Bator years ago, IIRC.

If you really want to go hardcore, how about a Cossack Dnepr motorbike and sidecar? A mate of mine had one, available in 2WD (sidecar wheel driven), and reverse gear. The manual apparently said "in case of mechanical difficulty, consult your local blacksmith". That's the sort of vehicle you can fix in the middle of nowhere..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[E270 Owner]

Suzuki Carry

Its ready to go and carries loads of spares n stuff ........ bodies too.

 

[Spinal]

Quick question...

How much of a grudge do the -stans hold with CCCP? In terms of fancy dress, I was thinking of dressing the car up in the james bond lada niva style, with the red star on the side...

That said, I'm worried some ex-soviet officer will take offence,....

M.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

How are you getting it home at the end? Shipping or driving? The Mongol authorities got fed up with westerners dumping clapped out cars in Ulan Bator years ago, IIRC.

No need for the trouble and expense of bringing it home. There'll be plenty Mongolians willing to take what's left of it off your hands for a few Tugrik to spend in the excellent Irish Bar just a short walk from the finish.

 

[jotter22]

That would be ideal, if it were not for the words "non runner"

This one seems interesting:
SUZUKI SJ410 1987 Samurai 4x4 off road 4wd | eBay
especially if I can haggle on the price a bit...

It's not exactly near... but will drop the seller a line and see if I can go see it this weekend...

M.

I did not mean that actual one

Tony.

 

[Spinal]

No need for the trouble and expense of bringing it home. There'll be plenty Mongolians willing to take what's left of it off your hands for a few Tugrik to spend in the excellent Irish Bar just a short walk from the finish.

Not anymore - participants are banned from selling cars en-route. You leave a £1000 deposit, and if your car doesn't make it back, you don't get your deposit back.

The official end is now actually 8 hours drive north of Ulanbaatar, Mongolia, and actually in Russia. From there, they arrange to get the vehicle back to Ukraine for you, and you can then choose to collect it there or scrap it.


On a related note, I went to see a car... a 2000 Micra, advertised as "low mileage, air condition, electric windows". I get there to find that the address the seller gave me (a trader on gumtree, not a private) doesn't exist. The car was parked at the end of the road, keyed, doors unlocked. The seller (on the phone) told me I could open the car and have a look around, which I where I noticed the engine was still hot.

The bumper was a different green from the car, there were signs of putty on the side, the (new) key and (new) lock showed signs of the old lock being ripped out.

The four (different) tyres all had cracked sidewalls.

Oh yes, and there was no air con, nor electric windows. And the seatbelts didn't work.

So all in, suitably cr@p for the mongol, but I decided to run for the hills and wait for something more... well... less dodgy!
M.

 

[Sp!ke]

When are you doing this exactly?

Only I have a crappy old 125cc motorcycle and well... if you can squeeze in some of my luggage, you could be my support vehicle

 

[Spinal]

We are leaving July Exact dates tbc, but it's looking like the 19th.
http://www.theadventurists.com/mongol-rally-where-and-when/

Thinking of driving to the Czech republic a few weekends before and leaving the car there then flying out/back. Saves us a mad, 2 day drive to the Czech out party...

Happy to squeeze in some luggage if it'll fit There are 3 cars in my group of friends, so we should fit your thong & hat in somewhere...

M.

 

[camerafodder]

Excellent M, I'll be looking forward to the pictures and reports. But no leaning out of windows this time eh?

 

[Spinal]

Excellent M, I'll be looking forward to the pictures and reports. But no leaning out of windows this time eh?

Having seen a micra late last night, and pretty mcuh agreeing to buy it for the princely sum of £300... I think I may need to lean out the can only to fit in the thing! They are tiny...

M.

 

[IanA2]

Having seen a micra late last night, and pretty mcuh agreeing to buy it for the princely sum of £300... I think I may need to lean out the can only to fit in the thing! They are tiny...

M.

You did put an extra zero on that figure.......didn't you?

 

[Spinal]

You did put an extra zero on that figure.......didn't you?

Nope

The cheapest, non-scrap, micra I could find was £250... I called the guy yesterday and he said it was provisionally sold. That said, I'm calling again in half an hour (i.e. after the hypothetical buyer collects it) just in case.

The £300 one comes from a mechanic... and is literally covered in oil stains inside. The rear bumper is about to fall off, the rear nearside llght cluster needs replacing. The clutch biting point feels quite low. There is a knocking noise on full lock turning left (I'm guessing drive shafts). The front wing is mis-aligned with the bonnet, I'm guessing from a previous accident. It has a subwoofer that larger than the boot in the back - which he's going to keep in return for cutting £50 off the price of the car.

That said, all the fluids look quite new (he did say he serviced it recently), and the only rust I can find is a little surface rust on the side of the bonnet.

So I'm thinking, new driveshafts (£60), new rear brakes (£50 - he's just done the front), rip off the rear bumper (£0), and maybe a new clutch (£??). Rip out the rear seats for more space (£0), and fit a roof bar with 4x lights (£??) and a sump-guard/skid-plate (£???).

Oh yes, and pressure wash the front seats (£10)... maybe with hot water if I can find a hot water pressure wash place near me.

All in, should come under budget. I hope.

M.

 

[IanA2]

Nope

The cheapest, non-scrap, micra I could find was £250... I called the guy yesterday and he said it was provisionally sold. That said, I'm calling again in half an hour (i.e. after the hypothetical buyer collects it) just in case.

The £300 one comes from a mechanic... and is literally covered in oil stains inside. The rear bumper is about to fall off, the rear nearside llght cluster needs replacing. The clutch biting point feels quite low. There is a knocking noise on full lock turning left (I'm guessing drive shafts). The front wing is mis-aligned with the bonnet, I'm guessing from a previous accident. It has a subwoofer that larger than the boot in the back - which he's going to keep in return for cutting £50 off the price of the car.

That said, all the fluids look quite new (he did say he serviced it recently), and the only rust I can find is a little surface rust on the side of the bonnet.

So I'm thinking, new driveshafts (£60), new rear brakes (£50 - he's just done the front), rip off the rear bumper (£0), and maybe a new clutch (£??). Rip out the rear seats for more space (£0), and fit a roof bar with 4x lights (£??) and a sump-guard/skid-plate (£???).

Oh yes, and pressure wash the front seats (£10)... maybe with hot water if I can find a hot water pressure wash place near me.

All in, should come under budget. I hope.

M.

Buona fortuna .....

 

[Spinal]

forgot to say, after a quick HPI check, it's come back as a CAT-C...

Hmmmmmm....

What's the consensus? Bargepole or test my luck?

 

[DSM10000]

forgot to say, after a quick HPI check, it's come back as a CAT-C...

Hmmmmmm....

What's the consensus? Bargepole or test my luck?

Hmm owner not being honest about the car, need to pressure wash the interior, replace (hopefully just) driveshaft(s) etc..................

You have time to look for a better car I think . A lot of these are owned by elderly drivers and tend to be looked after (bodywork aside!)

 

[IanA2]

forgot to say, after a quick HPI check, it's come back as a CAT-C...

Hmmmmmm....

What's the consensus? Bargepole or test my luck?

Bargepole..