Stalking vehicles….

[Foxyboy43]

Dacia Duster

Talking to a pal at the range on Saturday - his Dacia was rear-ended in early December - still in a hire car because parts haven’t arrived!

 

[Freightdog]

I had a Mitsubishi Outlander for many years, 2.0D did 42mpg average over 10 years. Did 180k+ in it with very little trouble, turbo at 120k, odd bit of broken suspension here and there (me driving it like I'm on the Dakar!), but still had the original exhaust! Finally went to the scrapers after a few issues that were going to be beyond economical replacement. Probably could have sold it but the cam belt was 20k overdue, and didn't want the next owner to get sacked with it.
Was very comfy, room enough for 4 on driving holidays, selectable 4wd, big boot.

However... Mitsubishi are no longer present in the UK, I believe Renault or someone has taken over responsibility, so not sure about after service and parts availability.

Also if you go for one, check the 4wd rear diff isn't sheared. There's some vids on the net showing the issue, where something breaks in the rear drive and you're left with 2wd with no indications apart from it getting stuck in the slightest off-road situation and it spinning one front wheel. Another thing I believe mine suffered.

 

[Tazz]

Jimny - goes anywhere and everywhere and back.
Next question?
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Looks great as pigeon shooting wheels, bit light on “ Deer” related pics.

 

[gixer1]

Which ever you can insure - if you have been driving just over a year that may be the deciding factor!

 

[Merlyn]

Ex military Landrover 90. 1986 2.5 ltr diesel normally asperated engine. No idea what it does to the gallon but it would be frightening.. Removable hatch cut into the roof with a modified 'safari' roof rack that provides the perfect 360 degree rifle rest at exactly the right height for this 5ft 8in stalker standing or sitting on an adjustable height workbench stool. Fitted with hand winch which lifts carcass into the vertical for the gralloch. Mobile and camouflaged highseat. 'Just' fits into the standard farm tramlines. Had it for eighteen years. Two careful owners - Me and the Royal Marines. The perfect tool for this 85 year old.

 

[User00047]

I think the perfect stalking vehicle would be the old Daihatsu Fourtrack. I have had a couple in the past, and they were the most capable small 4×4 vehicles I've ever driven. And fantastic for towing with, too.

I have my eye on one. Very low mileage. One owner from new. Never failed an MOT. Nice huntsman green colour. The old boy who owns it can't possibly keep on driving much longer, he must be nudging 90.
One day, one day.....

You know what happens though…these codgers drive around getting more and more dangerous/blind/senile until they stack it through the front window of Tesco or off the end of a pier and write it off completely.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Looks great as pigeon shooting wheels, bit light on “ Deer” related pics.

I don’t generally shoot deer in NI but do in Perthshire and have done for many years. The reason I bought one in the first place was I saw what it could do as an ATV up and down the glens - with 3 hinds in the back (rear seats out) and pulling a trailer with 4 more in it.
That was enough for me….

 

[Smellydog]

Hilux.

Those Jimnys are utter rot boxes.
The chassis rot through at less than 3 yrs old.

Shame really cause they could be a great motor but they just need fortunes spent to make them robust.

Not true. The soft top ones were made in India, they were the bad ones.
The ones made in Japan were fine.
I had two. No rot.
There are plenty about not rotten.

 

[Smellydog]

Duster. Cheap and better off road than a jimney, I know because I've had both.

 

[Cyres]

Suzuki Vitara or Grand Vitara if you can find one. It will do everything you need and much more. 2lt does approx 30 mpg. Proper High and Low box. Very reliable.
D

 

[Steff]

@Sandy25
Isuzu D-Max. A real pick-up truck with a 1.9 litre engine. And by the reports of it, not a bad one.

 

[Ratel]

I think the perfect stalking vehicle would be the old Daihatsu Fourtrack. I have had a couple in the past, and they were the most capable small 4×4 vehicles I've ever driven. And fantastic for towing with, too.

I have my eye on one. Very low mileage. One owner from new. Never failed an MOT. Nice huntsman green colour. The old boy who owns it can't possibly keep on driving much longer, he must be nudging 90.
One day, one day.....

In the nineties I had a long wheelbase one that knocked spots off the Landover. The boss decided to change it, but they had stopped importing them. He then went for a Mitsubishi pick up, rubbish by comparison.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Not true. The soft top ones were made in India, they were the bad ones.
The ones made in Japan were fine.
I had two. No rot.
There are plenty about not rotten.

No offence but before I bought my Hilux a couple of months ago I looked at around 20 Jimnys. Determined to get one.

Every single one was rotten.
The chassis were disintegrating on ones that weren’t even 5 years old.

That’s every single one for sale.
There are a couple of companies that buy them as mots failures and weld up the chassis the resell them .
They look good but are expensive. Ones that haven’t been done are money pits at the welders .

 

[EdgarF]

Duster. Cheap and better off road than a jimney, I know because I've had both.

The new 2024 model Duster looks very interesting.

 

[Steff]

No offence but before I bought my Hilux a couple of months ago I looked at around 20 Jimnys. Determined to get one.

Every single one was rotten.
The chassis were disintegrating on ones that weren’t even 5 years old.

That’s every single one for sale.
There are a couple of companies that buy them as mots failures and weld up the chassis the resell them .
They look good but are expensive. Ones that haven’t been done are money pits at the welders .

I wonder why people don‘t apply under-body protection like Mike Sander‘s grease. Repeat that every 4 years and you‘ll have an as-new frame and under body forever.

 

[RM100]

Or you can have an upgraded Jimny:

 

[Steff]

Or you can have an upgraded Jimny:
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And where do you have your rifle in this car? On the roof?
The Jimny is a pretty little car and very capable off road. But effectively it‘s just too small for this world.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Not true. The soft top ones were made in India, they were the bad ones.
The ones made in Japan were fine.
I had two. No rot.
There are plenty about not rotten.

Yep SD and as of yesterday I have 2 of them!

 

[Foxyboy43]

And where do you have your rifle in this car? On the roof?
The Jimny is a pretty little car and very capable off road. But effectively it‘s just too small for this world.

Nonsense, take the back seats out and you have enough space for 5 full bore rifles and all the necessary gear for a full day at the range. Oh - nearly forgot - a few slightly shorter odds and ends too….

 

[Steff]

Nonsense, take the back seats out and you have enough space for 5 full bore rifles and all the necessary gear for a full day at the range. Oh - nearly forgot - a few slightly shorter odds and ends too….

Diagonally, yes.