What Vehicle to Do Melbourne to Cape York Tip in

awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 16:51
Last edited 16/10/2023 - 20:04 by 1 other user

Looking to do a trip next September. My daughter and I are looking to camp drive from Vic up to the Tip and I was looking at a car to purchase, modify and then take up. Circa $10K budget to buy a car and ensure it's up to the task.

We're not doing tracks and serious offroad like the Teletrack or Gunshot or crazy stuff like that, but we do want 4x4 at the very least (low range would be good).

We're looking at a wagon as I'm thinking of actually sleeping in the back so converting it for 2 beds and some small divider down the side so she has some personal space as she is 16 now and sharing a matress might be a bit weird…although she doesn't care, I do.

Auto would be good as she wants to drive some of the way as she will have her L's

Roof rack so we can pack swags as well for places where we can get some decent outside camping

At some point my son and my wife will fly up to Cairns or Sunshine Coast and meet us for a weeks holiday as a family so we will use that car for getting around for the week so I will unconvert the back quickly to accommodate so flip down back seats would be good.

Diesel or Petrol ? I think petrol would be fine and cheaper possibly. I'd even do gas (I have a dedicated gas car now and it's awesome @ 78cents per litre) but dual fuel would be necessary as I imagine the Cape has only Diesel and Unleaded.

Initially I thought about Pajero (02 - 03) V6 $6-$7K ?

other options:

06 Kia Sorento Diesel (not sure whats considered high K's for this) has 4wd low range
01-05 Prado V6 (not sure I can get a decent one in my budget)
Euro AWD like Mercedes ML wagon (are these even proper 4wd ?, too many issues????) Same goes for Toureg ??

Don't want a ute as I don't want a canopy setup

Travel

Comments

  • altomic on 16/10/2023 - 17:02
    +6

    Au Falcon on gas

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 17:05

      I had considered. I know you can do the trip in 2WD and the thought had crossed my mind. Especially given after the trip she could use the car for herself on her P's. Its practical, roomy, parts are abundant. I drive an FG ute now so it's familiar. Its just the lack of height and 4WD. I see a Youtube series of a young lady who posted her trip doing in an i30 hatchback.

      • mapax on 16/10/2023 - 17:24
        +1

        If your daughter is looking forward to this trip to the point that she is happy to camp in the car with you, is there a chance that she will catch the camping/4x4 bug? In which case she might prefer driving a real 4x4 on her Ps so that she can keep 4x4ing?

        • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 17:41

          Oh yeah for sure she might

  • jaimex2 on 16/10/2023 - 17:20
    +3

    Oh man…

    If you're not doing the old tele track you don't really need a 4wd.

    LPG is expensive outside Victoria and not as easily found.

    You really don't want to take a clunker or Chinese cheapie up there, the PDR will likely rattle it apart. Getting towed up there will ruin your trip and cost you more than the car.

    Take a decent 2WD vehicle up there or something you know how to repair very well.

    My advice would be to stretch your budget for a reasonable Prado, a stock one can do the old tele track comfortably ( you can bypass the silly bits of the track )

    Consider also the budget dual cab utes - Mazda BT50 / Triton although again they're likely out of budget.

    Lastly 4WD mods are expensive, get something that's already been done up. You wont be saving any money unless you're ripping bits off wrecked vehicles.

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 20:08

      Really ? LPG is cheap here ? I saw it for 74 cents on a Summernats video this year when it was high 80s in Victoria so figured we paid more. Given the price of LPG I'm surprised it hasn't made a resurgence. A few months ago I was filling up twice a week on gas and was paying the same as what I was when I had a diesel ute but now….I'm paying half of what I was using in the old ute given gas has come down and diesel and shot off to the stratosphere. I was considering a VF wagon for my work a few weeks ago to replace the XR6 ute and looked at VF on dedicated LPG as a real viable option given fuel prices. But if I found a decent Pajero or Prado and it happened to be dual fuel I wouldn't complain and would run as much LPG as I could for the trip.

      • jaimex2 on 16/10/2023 - 21:35
        +1

        It's like $1.50 in North Queensland…

        I can't actually recall seeing any stations with LPG fillers either past Cairns.

        I'm a huge fan of LPG, it's silly the government killed them off in vehicles with short sighted taxes.

      • BigBirdy on 17/10/2023 - 08:42

        You'll be searching for LPG in Qld, it's not common

  • 281982 on 16/10/2023 - 17:40
    -1

    I know you said you didn’t want a Ute due to canopy, but a tub rack can be bought relatively cheap & would greatly increase the usable space in the back. Plus there are plenty of cheap dual cab options on the market. I’d also join some FB groups related to Cape York trips & various vehicle/ 4WD groups. You will get plenty of good (and some bad) advice but it will help you make a decision. Good luck!

  • Drakesy on 16/10/2023 - 17:43
    +1

    I think a Patrol, Pajero or high km Prado would be great. As much as i like the Sorentos, it's really just an AWD and not really great in the rough stuff. Forester if you don't need a huge car.

    I'd suggest getting a rooftop mounted tent and using that - more space, plus can store more stuff in the car. Don't touch the Euro's (maybe an xc90 at a stretch)

    I was going to say be wary of the Diesels with DPF's and EGR's that grenade the engine but they only come in around 2008 on the Euros and 2014 on the Japanese/Koreans.

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 17:49

      So with Prado - whats too high in the V6 if I went Petrol ? Say 2002 era? 500+ still okay ? or try to stay under 450 ?

      • Drakesy on 16/10/2023 - 18:19

        I personally would try to keep it sub 300k

        • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 18:20

          Oh….then I'm looking at Pajeros, woun't get a Prado for the money.

  • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 17:44

    Additional - if we do go 4WD, we're not looking at lifts or bar work. Reliability is key and then comfort suspension that won't break. Any bar work will be totaly underutilised and I'm not doing wheel lift tracks. However having said that if the car grenades on us I'm not wanting to be too heavily invested that I return without a car at all and having to fly back will send me into a deep depression. Annoyiing yes, sad yes but the world keeps turning for us if it all fell to pieces.

  • MrThing on 16/10/2023 - 17:44
    +1

    VN commodore

    What ever you pick, make sure its reliably serviced or repaired up in the sticks……so think nissan or toyota before they got super high tech

  • YRT on 16/10/2023 - 17:53
    +3

    I'd get Subaru forrester for its ground clearance, reasonable fuel economy, perceived durability and perhaps the best AWD in market. I have an Haval AWD, though the Subaru is very popular with bushwalkers and campers alike.

  • nse on 16/10/2023 - 17:58
    +1

    Pajero would be a good choice. You may not need a 4WD to get there but you'd miss out on some awesome locations along the way like Fruitbat Falls, Elliott & Twin Falls, 5 Beaches Drive, Lakefield NP, and so many more. The tip itself is pretty underwhelming.

    I took a Blackhole pop up tent. They're quick to set up, it'll give you somewhere more private, and you won't have to empty the back of your vehicle every night to be able to sleep in there.

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 18:01

      Yah good point. I realise the tip itself isn't scenic etc it's the achievement but yeah I do liek the idea of those off the track but modest access places still.

      A rooftop tent might be an idea I suppose. Was trying to avoid lugging a brick on the roof though to be fair.

      • Nugs on 16/10/2023 - 18:25

        "avoid lugging a brick" for aerodynamic reasons?
        Make an angled deflector out of alum sheet, or even 10mm thick plastic
        .

        • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 18:29

          No…mainly for all the side trips….we're going on a month long or more trip so will be stopping along the way before even getting to Queensland. Like Sydney, Canberra, then Brissy, Goldy, Sunshine Coast. Some places we'll be in the city. A roof basket is ok but some of those tents are huge. But….I'll still weigh up that option

      • nse on 16/10/2023 - 19:04

        A rooftop tent would be nice but it's a decent expense if you're not really planning to use it a lot afterwards. A ground tent gets the job done just fine and access is easier.

  • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 18:03

    as an example…… something like this ?

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2001-toyota-landcru…

  • Muzeeb on 16/10/2023 - 18:12
    +2

    Are you DIY automotive savvy?

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 18:13
      +2

      Some what - better under guidance. I can use tools as I am a tradie. Google is my friend. I'll have starlink with us.

  • Benoffie on 16/10/2023 - 18:15
    +2

    Last we were up that way a couple of years back, we were in Gulf country. Used a Landcruiser (93). Was doing very well until a roo decided different. Took a week to fix in Weipa.

    My point? Parts had to be shipped in but the local mechanic was right with fixing her up and did good enough she got back to Adelaide.

    Id be sticking to a Toyota or similar and pre fancy electronic wizardry.

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 18:17

      We drive a 2023 Havel H6 Hybrid…..I'm definitely with you on the low tech option I hate the new wizardry in it.

  • AustriaBargain on 16/10/2023 - 18:49
    -3

    Circa $10K budget including car.

    Perhaps stay at home and rent movies about camping?

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 20:03

      No…circa $10K for the car any mods like shelving in back, bedding, tent and to make sure its up to the trip. Not for the actual cost of the trip.

    • SlickMick on 17/10/2023 - 16:44

      I thought the same. I would be expecting this trip to be eventful. i.e. breaking down in the middle of nowhere.

  • brad1-8tsi on 16/10/2023 - 20:16

    Initially I thought about Pajero (02 - 03) V6 $6-$7K ?

    Probably your best bet but the fuel bill will be close to your purchase price.
    I'm not sure what mods you intend to do but a fellow club member just did Cape York in a Pajero sport with the factory highway tyres and no lift but did have aftermarket underbody protection. She did have a bullbar which I don't think is needed but I don't tour at night.

    Why not just have a tent? Your vehicle will be full of gear that you'll have to unload every night

    06 Kia Sorento Diesel (not sure whats considered high K's for this) has 4wd low range

    Maybe.

    01-05 Prado V6 (not sure I can get a decent one in my budget)

    Maybe

    Euro AWD like Mercedes ML wagon (are these even proper 4wd ?, too many issues????) Same goes for Toureg ??

    Insanity. Absolute madness unless you have a YouTube channel

  • WreckTangle on 16/10/2023 - 20:20

    Would renting a car be an option?

    • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 20:44

      Its 5K roughly return before fuel in a rental from Cairns. Part of the whole adventure is the whole east coast so it'd have to be rental from Melbourne. Nothing like that here - may as well buy a car and sell it after if we don't want to keep it.

  • awdavgds on 16/10/2023 - 20:45

    Taking our current cars is not an option. Mine is an FG 2 XR6 work ute and the famioly car is a Chinese Haval H6 which I wouldn't dare take on dirt - they are purely a city and country road car.

  • wackedupwacko on 17/10/2023 - 00:01

    Just curious why you are considering buying unless it's a consistent trip thing. Otherwise wouldn't renting for a while be cheaper and get you a better vehicle?

    • awdavgds on 17/10/2023 - 06:41

      No - renting comes out to around $12,000

  • JIMB0 on 17/10/2023 - 13:14
    +1

    With that budget a Lada Niva is your best option.

  • tz001 on 17/10/2023 - 15:35
    +1

    For that budget, I recommend a pre-modified Pajero. I've got a heavily modified Forester (2012) and I would pick a Pajero now if I was doing an extended trip. Other than interior modifications, look for AT tyres and a sump guard at minimum. Roof storage is handy, rooftop tent is good - until you've set up camp for a few days and want to do a day trip or run in to town. Good idea buying, if you decide to sell it once you're back you'll probably get within 10% of what you bought it for. Have a great time!

    • awdavgds on 17/10/2023 - 18:21

      Thats what I am leaning towards. I'm hoping to snag one around $7K with roof racks. Allow $3K to make sure its running good. If I have to stretch more I will I guess - and yes…..if we don't want to keep it when we're done we could get back most of what we outlaid. Even if it was 50% it'd still be cheaper than renting.

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