I finally got rid of my lemon 4wd, and bought a 2015 Suzuki Grand Vitara AWD, no it is not a true 4x4, but as I hardly used 4wd in the lemon, only to reverse the van up the hill at home to park it, and will be getting rid of the van also and going back to a hard floor camper, for a lot of reasons , the main being the weight of the van and the cost to fuel the lemon, when travelling. This new car will tow 1850 kg, and the hardfloors I am interested in are all under 1400kgs. Like it would cost me $30 dollars in fuel for a 80km trip from town to back home, when I brought this car back, it didn't move off the 3/4 mark, it said it is using 7.2 l to 100km, so quite economical. The worries of the lemon breaking down on myself or my wife, were constantly on my mind. So looking forward to many happy km ahead. also the car has only 72k km on it, and 12 months warranty. Hears hoping I have a much better car. It is my third vitara, and my 5th Suzuki, will be sticking to Suzi's from now on.
Mate , I have everything, being a former ECNT109, army Licensed, driver, I know what to take, but will only be doing dirt roads not much if any offroad again. Yeah have changed the batteries in one , that doesn't work, but the dealer is going to get a new key for us. Has a brand new car battery in it already. All the auxillary stuff from old car have been put in this one, including spare fuses , tow ropes snatch strap, hand winch, fire extinguisher including fire blanket. My previous spanners and tools that fitted the other vitaras, virtually fit this car, their in the tool box. Snake bite compression bandage, first aid kit. Everything that I use to carry and then some more. Still have a place for our groceries and when the time comes our luggage. Just have to fit the towbar, and the roof racks, for the gear we use to put in the lemon 7 seater, as well as the awning.
I think it was a Perentie, ex army 6x6 (true 6x6 with double rear shafts to separate diffs) that we saw back in 2014 in Yunta.
Driver was pleased as punch with his new auction purchase in the big DoD sell off.
Price was $25k for what amounted to as new vehicle, with 9k on the clock (that is 9 single kilometers), intercooled dual turbo diesel 2 tonne load capacity etc.
He was going home to his cattle station out of Long Reach to strip in down from Army super structure to a simple "Homer" brand tray, then change a few cogs in the gear boxes to enable more than the seemingly 80kph Army Convoy speeds and reckoned that there would nothing stopping him from tending the stock and other property needs in future, even with big floods.
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Cheers - Ian
I slowly realise as I get older that I am definitely NOT the fastest rat in the race.
Also the older I get the more I realise I do not know.
Mate , I have everything, being a former ECNT109, army Licensed, driver, I know what to take, but will only be doing dirt roads not much if any offroad again. Yeah have changed the batteries in one , that doesn't work, but the dealer is going to get a new key for us. Has a brand new car battery in it already. All the auxillary stuff from old car have been put in this one, including spare fuses , tow ropes snatch strap, hand winch, fire extinguisher including fire blanket. My previous spanners and tools that fitted the other vitaras, virtually fit this car, their in the tool box. Snake bite compression bandage, first aid kit. Everything that I use to carry and then some more. Still have a place for our groceries and when the time comes our luggage. Just have to fit the towbar, and the roof racks, for the gear we use to put in the lemon 7 seater, as well as the awning.
I was also T109 and 088 driver, but i learnt the best set of tools is a good recce mech or in civi street insurance and auto club membership that way I keep my hands clean.
I agree with you Gundog, with my last Vitara, had all the tools and the knowledge including roadside cover, but also couldn't afford auto membership, with the lemon, it was keeping me broke. Will be arranging for auto club again now, going for gold/platinum level. Still it is still good if you can turn a spanner and screwdriver every now and then, especially, if you come across a fellow traveller, whom is sitting quite dejected on the side of the road , not knowing what to do next.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Tuesday 13th of October 2020 02:24:42 PM
