Looking forward to home
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 18, 2007 at 22:38
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Member - Don M (NSW)
Well here I am in wintry (Old) South Wales where I am spending 12 months or so with wifes family...saw Wales belt England at Millenium last nght...great match and atmosphere, however wec are looking forward to getting back early next year and joining the set of the "
Grey Nomads'.
With that in mind, I have bn looking at a range of alternatives in big 4wds, top of my list is currently the much heralded Landcruiser 200 with V8 turbo diesel. However, and as an aside, I have bought a 3 yr old Mercedes
sedan over here and plan to bring it back as a road car. I have to say how impressed I have been with Mrcedes after sales service and am thinking maybe I should look at the Mercedes ML 320CDI with maybe "off Road pro' option. Has anybody any experience with such a vehicle.
I will not be too seriously off road but need to be able to tow a 23' van satisfactorly and without the van, crossing the Simpson and going up the Cape etc
I would appreciate any comments.
Reply By: Des Lexic - Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 07:49
Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 07:49
Don, my main concern with the Merc would be that IF you needed some mechanical assistance away from the Capital Cities, would you be able to get the assistance that you require in those Regional Areas.
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Reply By: Willem - Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 08:05
Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 08:05
I have seen a Mercedes 320 out in the Simpson and it was struggling due to poor clearance, but it made it through to Mt dare
The Merc is not generally known as a reliable outback tourer here in Aus.
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Follow Up By: Member - Don M (NSW) - Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 18:55
Monday, Mar 19, 2007 at 18:55
Thanks guys and I guess I was thinking the same. Also applies to others I was thinking about, Disco3 and Toureg, although Disco has a bit more support I would think.
My concern with the new Toyota is expense and possible unreliability early on. i bought one of the first 100 series V8's and broke the front diff at Crystal Creek doing nothing I couldn't have done in a road car. 3months old and it was expensive..$97K in 1998 and nowhere near as
well equipped as current Sahara for around the same price. And hell, that V8 was thirsty. i'm presuming the diesel wil improve on consumption a whole lot...!!
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Reply By: John Cook - Friday, Apr 13, 2007 at 22:41
Friday, Apr 13, 2007 at 22:41
Don
I have a 2003 MB ML 270 CDI, which I bought second hand.
It has been across the Tanami.
It has now done 120,000 km.
IMHO it's great (no problems to date).
I bought it mainly to tow a van, and do the odd off-road side trip.
Cheers
John Cook
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