Choosing my car
The first big challenge I faced, albeit a fun one, was to find a car suitable for the journey. There were many considerations, including:
Where to buy: And therefore, where to start my journey
Reliability: The last thing I want is to break down in the middle of nowhere and expose myself unnecessarily to danger and hassle
Ability to source parts locally: Ideally, I would buy a car that is common through Central and South America
Cruise control: An essential feature given 22,000km+ I was about to do
Something that I could customize and add bits to: Having an enthusiasm for 4WDs, there are lots of modifications and customisations that I’d love to do to my dream car
Space for all my stuff and to pick up people along the way
To love the car: Finally, but importantly, I was looking for a car that I would love through the adventure and be my companion through the Americas
Where to start:
My initial plans were relatively modest and involved starting in Ecuador or Chile and touring through South America for a few months. It was daunting thinking about buying a car while speaking / reading in Spanish and in a jurisdiction that I didn’t understand and in a country that didn’t have the same maturity in the online listing businesses that I was used to. As I researched buying a car in South America, it soon became apparent that buying in North America would be easier – and would also make for a grander adventure
Ultimately, I settled on buying in Vancouver for which there were several reasons. The market for trucks there was good and prices were decent. A Canadian dealer could be trusted to transact from abroad and therefore I could make the purchase before landing on the ground and saving me significant time at the beginning of the trip. It was also a place I could find 4WD specialists to do the modifications before I landed (I’ll dedicate a separate post to this later when it’s complete). But finally, and most importantly, my sister lives there with her partner and it would give me an excuse to visit them (as well as be my home base for final preparations for the trip).
Choosing the car:
My initial search was targeted around Jeeps and Toyotas. Both are respected for their reliability and capability. Unfortunately, Toyotas (especially Land Cruisers, a very good choice) were quite expensive in Vancouver compared to what I’d expect in Australia. As far as Jeeps went, Wranglers were too small, so the XJ Cherokee was the option in my sights. The 4L V6 was supposedly indestructible and would serve me well. My ideal car was someone else’s project 4WD that had had a bunch of money sunk into it but still selling at a reasonable price.
As I struggled to find the right Jeep, I also began to look at Land Rovers. I’ve always been a fan of the brand having bought a Range Rover sport new in 2011 and loved it ever since. I felt the Range was too showey for South America and would draw too much attention, even though they sold at a good price. The Defenders were far too expensive although it would have been the perfect adventure car. Eventually I began to look at the Discovery which ticked most boxes – a car I liked and respected, could be customized, lots of space, cruise control and a comfortable and spacious cabin. So, almost everything I wanted except for the question around reliability - their reputation to develop issues and the cost to service is not stellar.
The final straw:
While I figured that the Land Rover Discovery was a contender, I was still waiting for the right Cherokee to come along. That was until a trip to Perth to visit my family and I talked to my Dad about an overland he had taken when he was closer to my age. He and a friend drove from London South through the entire African continent. Their vehicle of choice was the Range Rover. In that moment, looking at his pictures and being inspired by his trip, it became clear to me that the Land Rover was my vehicle of choice. The next day I began the process of buying my Discovery.
Time will tell if the Disco was the right choice but I feel it is a good one for the adventure I’m about to embark upon
Picture top:
The car that carried my Dad from London, through the Sahara and the African continent
Pictures below:
How I hope my Disco looks after the mods
My current car in Melbourne, the ‘11 Range Rover Sport. An amazing car but a little too flash for this adventure
The XJ Cherokee, a top contender
The Delica would have also made a great choice. A hard car to love but certainly a practical car up for the challenge
The Patrol would certainly be a capable choice, but I’m not a Patrol guy
More Land Rover porn and inspiration for my mods
