AJRFulton Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 I am doing the Mongol Rally next year. I have already did it in 2012 (in a Clio 1.2), but this time I am taking a more challenging route through Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgistan, Kazakhstan... and driving back. Basically, it isn't a race, it's just a jaunt to Ulaan Baatar in Mongolia, then back again. The car has to be under a 1.2 engine (although you can go a tiny bit bigger), and can be any age. Ideally the spirit of the rally suggests you shouldn't be looking to spend too much over £500 on a car, and certainly under £1000. So I am after some idea's of something, ideally things you've experience. What requirements I would like Air Conditioning Proven not to have suspension/bushes problems Lightweight Reliable Engine Easy to fix The rear seats are getting ripped out, so space isn't a huge issue. My previous experience of doing the rally, suggests it is much better to travel light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Sound's interesting. Not got any experience really with these smaller engine car's as the last time I had a low powered motor it was my first car which was a 1988 Micra 998cc. Found some though on Pistoheads just to give you some ideas; Ford Fiesta 1.25 16V; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312120497072/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/fuel-type/petrol/price-to/1000/price-from/500/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/radius/200/keywords/air%20conditioning/postcode/cf158rl/onesearchad/used/transmission/manual?logcode=p Ford KA 1.3i; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312110473717/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/fuel-type/petrol/price-to/1000/price-from/500/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/radius/200/keywords/air%20conditioning/postcode/cf158rl/onesearchad/used/transmission/manual?logcode=p Peugeot 206 1.1; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312100451375/sort/default/usedcars/keywords/air%20conditioning/page/2/transmission/manual/fuel-type/petrol/postcode/cf158rl/radius/200/price-from/500/price-to/1000/onesearchad/used/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l?logcode=p Fiat Stilo 1.2 16v; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311059688256/sort/default/usedcars/keywords/air%20conditioning/page/2/transmission/manual/fuel-type/petrol/postcode/cf158rl/radius/200/price-from/500/price-to/1000/onesearchad/used/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l?logcode=p Citroen C2 1.1i; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309278988950/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/page/3/transmission/manual/fuel-type/petrol/postcode/cf158rl/onesearchad/used/keywords/air%20conditioning/price-to/1000/radius/200/price-from/500?logcode=p Vauxhall Corsa 1.2i 16V; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310159288119/sort/default/postcode/cf158rl/radius/200/keywords/air%20conditioning/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/onesearchad/used/fuel-type/petrol/transmission/manual/price-to/1000/price-from/500/page/5/advert-type/hl-nthcar/dealer/93999/usedcars?logcode=hlp Toyota Yaris 1.0 16V VVTi; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311069721242/sort/default/usedcars/onesearchad/used/fuel-type/petrol/page/6/transmission/manual/postcode/cf158rl/radius/200/keywords/air%20conditioning/price-to/1000/price-from/500/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l?logcode=p Think that's enough for you to look at. All seem to meet your criteria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Yaris or micra IMO. Nice ride, powerful 1l and bombproof engines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jp606 Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Micra! Go Jap for reliability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Need a 4x4 given the territory your going to a small engined 4x4 .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stutopia Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Fiat Panda 4wd or a Citroen 2CV. Classics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Need a 4x4 given the territory your going to a small engined 4x4 .. That's a good call. How about a "SUZUKI GRAND VITARA GV2000"; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201312040322964/sort/default/usedcars/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/radius/200/page/1/postcode/cf158rl/keywords/4wd/onesearchad/used/price-to/1000/price-from/500?logcode=p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJRFulton Posted December 14, 2013 Author Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) No need for a 4x4. Too easy. If something is going to break on a car, the Mongol Rally will do it. Being dragged across rivers, dust storms, potholes size of kids paddling pools, well about 2000mls of driving over dirt tracks. The micra is interesting me. How good are the 1.0 and 1.2 engines on them? When I did it in the Clio, electronics were a nightmare. Although everything else did ok (bar a blown shock and a few punctures). Edited December 14, 2013 by AJRFulton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Need a 4x4 given the territory your going to a small engined 4x4 .. That's a good call.How about a "SUZUKI GRAND VITARA GV2000"; http://www.autotrade...m/500?logcode=p That would do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Cool pictures AJRFulton. Look's like one heck of an experience doing something like that. No idea on the modern Micra's but my 998cc 1988 Nissan Micra MK1 survived a hell of a lot of abuse from a new driver. You know typical young driver first car antics; full of mates, hand brake turns, J-turns, hard stops and wheel spinning almost every time you pull away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Don't bother with the k12 micra they are awful , my mrs has the 1 litre base model and she is on first name terms with the aa. engine has cam chain problems , there are ignition barrel problems . a crap unreliable car, I hate the bloody thing! Oh and its gutless too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 K11 are the good ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bems Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/nissan/micra/nissan-micra-93-activ-16v----------------2002/1858629 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 http://www.pistonhea...---2002/1858629 Wonder how many of the 59 horses are left... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Probably about 40 of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Probably about 40 of them I'd guess less than that even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZEUS Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I think my girlfriends micra has at most 15bhp now :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilogikal1 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 Probably about 40 of them Quite possibly one of those two digits, but not both of them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike89 Posted December 15, 2013 Share Posted December 15, 2013 I had a 1.1 C2 Furio when I was 17. Great wee runner and looked quite sporty. Not sure it had AC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easty Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Go for a old Mini haha That would be interesting :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDON Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 definitely a Micra!! it was voted the most reliable car for a few years, just change anti roll bars as they tend to roll like a boat that's the only down side really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJRFulton Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 What is the aircon like on the 1.0 Micra? Does it pack much punch? The 40^ Heat of the deserts s bearable, it's the humidity (but cooler temperatures) that hurt you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scobie140 Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Ford Fiesta 1.25 16V. I have this for a winter scrapper, Its actually pretty nippy for a small engine and has survived a fair amount of abuse since I bought it. The LX comes with aircon but don't think mine has been recharged in a long time so can't comment on how good it is. Its common as muck so parts are easily available and cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJRFulton Posted December 19, 2013 Author Share Posted December 19, 2013 I like the zetec. Learned to drive with them, and learned about cars/engines with them too. The 1.25 isn't too slow either for a small engined runabout Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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