theduisbergkid Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 I might be needing a new car for a special trip... It absolutely must fulfill all the following criteria; Be 1.2 litre or less. Be built in 2004 or later. Be simple and robust. Not be a 4x4. Be relatively economical. Any of the following would be a bonus; Comfortable. Cheap or easy for me to blag from a 'friendly' manufacturer. Interesting. Decent luggage/kit space. The following is a no-no; French. Anything I can't get fixed in a Mongolian desert. So, TyreSmoke massive, what do you suggest ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Anything I can't get fixed in a Mongolian desert. You're going to visit Norfolk?!! Now that's what I call brave Fiat Panda. (Are they the right age?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 You're going to visit Norfolk?!! Now that's what I call brave Fiat Panda. (Are they the right age?) How rude Mongolian deserts are nothing like Norfolk. They are much more hospitable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted July 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Actually, I am in Norfolk on holiday at the mo, if you see a chap and his kids frantically bailing a leaky old Kayak on this webcam at about 10-11am tomorrow, that'll be me. Patently, the Panda would be great, but Fiat UK PR people went from loving s2b2 (Stelvio) to blacklisting us (Chrysler fanny gag) pretty quickly, so I can't ask them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted July 24, 2012 Report Share Posted July 24, 2012 Shame. Panda would have been ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Vx should be desparate for PR, so they'll probably offer you a multitude of 1.0l Corsa's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 VW UP / Seat Mii - 1.0l, good on comfort, but poor on space Mitsubishi Colt - 1.1l 4-door, you can pretend you're driving an evo. Kia Picanto 1 - 1.0l, 4-door so room for hitch hikers or dogging. Proton Savvy - 1.2 and totally sh!te, but like to see you race one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I assume you mean older than 2004, which rules out the Up! Etc, and I would be surprised if any manufacturer 'gave' you a car, given I think I'm correct in saying its a one way trip. You might be better off blagging something off a used car dealer at the bottom end of the market, in return for lots of advertising in the local papers! I've just had an idea, so in off to check if it meets the requirements, I.e engine size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Just checked the rules and it's 2004 or newer so my idea is out. This makes it really quite difficult as there aren't many cars of this age that aren't complicated. I'd avoid anything VW as repairing them at the side of the road without a laptop and VAG com isn't going to be easy. Your going to need reliability above anything else, so look for a Honda, you might need to look at Cat C's though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Japanese or Korean. Toyota Aygo, Kia something, Hyundai wotsisname. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Is the 1.2 litre negotiable? There is a 1.4 Caterham... you don't get much simpler than that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 A 1.2 Honda Jazz would cover every requirement apart from "interesting". And they're like rocking horse sh!t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Is the 1.2 litre negotiable? There is a 1.4 Caterham... you don't get much simpler than that! That's bloody brilliant. A 1.4 is allowed (costs more $ to import to Mongolia though). I've suggested it to my co-driver and await a response Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 That's bloody brilliant. A 1.4 is allowed Excellent! It's called the "Classic" and has a 1.4 K-series: Caterham Cars - Designed for racing, built for living Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 But you did say: Comfortable.Decent luggage/kit space. If you want to go in that direction ... there's plenty of 300 BHP Per Ton bike engined kit-cars from companies that are gaging for PR: R1 seven DAX Rush Hayabusa even your old fav a Tiger B6 with a ZX9R Engine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 MG Midget? Real men can fix one of those by the side of the road using just a Swiss army knife... :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 MG Midget? Did they still make them after 2004? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I'm sure there's a few Caterham or similar type cars out there sans engine for sale, then just stick whatever engine you want in it! Is a bloody good idea though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanG Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Didn't read that bit about 2004 properly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Darryl has 2 Midgets already, although they're way too old, sadly. A quick little sevenesque car is on the cards then. The thought of doing a HGF repair in a desert in somewhere ending in -stan is strangely appealing. I wonder what the fastest time is ? Hmm..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 I would highly recommend changing the head gasket before you go, it's the only way you can ensure that it'll have the latest design that sorts the failure issue out once and for all, the K series lump is hugely underrated as an engine, and the HGF is about it's only achilles heel, and that's easily sorted, the issue is the loose fitting plastic dowels that are between the head and the block, and the material the HG is made of. The latest design HG is a multiplate one, and basically sorts the problem for good, although you do still have to ensure the cooling system is in top condition, and it's (apparently) a right bitch to bleed all the air out. A mate of mine builds rally cross cars out of MGZR's, MGF's and TF's (used to race them but he wasn't very good behind the wheel), and also ships cars and engines out to Germany, Norway etc as the engines are sought after for rally cross vehicles out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted July 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Darryl does the spannering and clever stuff. I do the drinking/shouting at foreigners/land speed attempt bits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Remember, MGs never break down, their owners just love to fettle them at the side of the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted July 25, 2012 Report Share Posted July 25, 2012 Remember, MGs never break down, their owners just love to fettle them at the side of the road. I believe most owners refer to it as 'unscheduled servicing'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collease Posted July 26, 2012 Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 My brother referred to his unscheduled servicing as that effing things foocked again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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