I'm off to laze around in Turkey for 6 months shortly and want to drive down from UK. What do you guys recommend would be tough to cover the miles and simple enough to service (on the way and in Turkey) that would get me down there without ending up in a smoldering heap? I don't want to shell out more than £3k tops (just in case I can't be bothered to come home and need to dispose of it!). I need a bit of space for luggage so a smallish car would be out of the question. There will be 2 of us travelling.
Thanks in anticipation.
Iain
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Berlingo, Kangoo or similar diesel.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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If it's big enough, a Renault 19/Mégane or Citroën ZX/Xantia with a non-turbo diesel. It'll be slow but surprisingly relaxing and there are loads of XUD and whatever the Renault engine code was...
Or if you can handle trivialities like insurance, a Mercedes might be quite popular too. But go for a big, underpowered (i.e., simple, unstressed and torquey) barge. I'd be inclined not to go Japanese here, because even if they are more reliable, an older Japanese car could prove difficult to get parts for.
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A 10 year old VW Passat Estate with a 1.9 TDI engine. Mine hasn't been out of the country, but the engine just goes on and on. ££2500 should get you a good one, if you can find one, or for a bit less the saloon version.
Cheers, SS
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£2500 seems an awful lot of money for a 10 year old Passat - which would be the shape that looks like its worth about 500 quid.
My choice would be an S or T reg Peugeot 406 1.9TD Executive.
Excellent, reliable, robust and economical Turbodiesel engine, yet on the inside you have all the comfort and toys needed to make your journey a pleasant one - Air Conditioning, Leather, Cruise Control, CD Changer, etc.
Much nicer than an old M reg Passat.
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If you're going to leave it there, perhaps get a LHD. In fact, you'll find a LHD a better bet throughout Europe too.
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I did a similar trip in 1982 with a £100 1973 MK3 Cortina 1600 Estate,did many miles in all kinds of terrain,it just kept going,simple enough car that if needed could be repaired without too much of a problem.Not much point spending a lot of money,just make sure it looks tidy and roadworthy and Europlod and Eurotealeaf will leave you alone.
If i was doing the trip now for a few months i would find a cheap van,transit type,petrol or diesel and go over it throughly b4 i set off.
You can always find a home for that type of vehicle in somewhere like Turkey,RHD or LHD,if you want to sell it.
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Diesel might be best - have a look at prices of fuel
www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/fuel/motfue001.html
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Normally aspirated diesel van would be perfect. Robust, designed for comfort over longer journeys, somewhere to sleep should you need it and yes, easy to dispose of to pay for a return flight should that be your intention.
VW Transporter SWB, especially one with seats behind the driver, would be perfect.
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>>somewhere to sleep should you need it
VW Camper?
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cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=...1
Camper! Do it!!!!! Spare parts a-plenty available for these. You can take the hard-to-find stuff (RHD-specific cables etc) with you.
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It's even got the fluffy dice!!!
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Not sure if this info is up to date but I do rememeber years ago if you take a motor into Turkey they stamp your passport to ensure you 'export' the vehicle again, if you try and leave without it, or without whatever documentation to say you have sold it legally or whatever, they wack you with a huge 'tax' fine, and wont let you leave until it is paid.
Worth asking the powers that be if it is still correct?
Cheers
CBG
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Drink Lager Talk Piffle !
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