So I'm moving back to Africa early next year and my wife and I are in the market for a vehicle to take with us. The challenge is we will be living in a city with narrowish streets and small parking spaces. However, the roads in the city are in poor condition and practically non-existent is wide swaths of the country where we intend to visit.

The challenge is finding a compact, relatively inexpensive SUV that is rugged enough for the terrain and able to haul two adults, a young kid (maybe), and a dog on a weekend trip (so no Suzuki Jimny unless we buy a second car there). We won't be rock crawling or doing any serious four wheeling, but want something that is reliable and capable on 'unimproved roads'. Reliability is pretty key for all but the ubiquitous brands in Africa (toyota) because spare parts are hard to come by.

We aren't limited to American spec cars but will likely have to stick with automatic transmission (so no Land Cruiser 76 series...bummer).

Any makes/models I should be looking at?

8/13/2022 9:52:03 AM

get you a 4-door toyota hilux or nissan navara when you get there?

8/14/2022 10:42:08 AM

Mercedes G-Wagen. They're artificially too expensive in USA (though part of that is because the newer ones are only sold here in top trim specifications), but you may be able to find some more reasonable outside the US.

8/15/2022 12:53:19 PM

many foreign countries have subsidies for diesel, is this one? if diesel is the preferred fuel, are they getting american spec diesel (or gas for that matter) or farm use type stuff with much lower octane? which side of the road will you be driving on since you didn't specify a country? all of these are pretty important.

8/15/2022 5:02:02 PM

^some vehicles drive better on different sides of the road?

8/16/2022 4:20:24 AM

Why are you wanting to spend the money shipping a vehicle there? Is it cheaper than buying one once you are there?

8/16/2022 1:16:21 PM

^^ yeah, try driving a rhd car on the right side of the road and get back to me after you have to pass someone

8/17/2022 9:06:57 AM

Iguess I assumed OP was going to purchase a vehicle appropriate for the country he was going to.

8/17/2022 1:02:19 PM

[quote]get you a 4-door toyota hilux or nissan navara when you get there?

or a RAV 4

8/17/2022 2:58:06 PM

I’m interested in knowing what country. Africa covers a LOT of geographically diverse terrains. And different vehicles are available throughout the continent. I suppose if I were to pick something right off the bat it would be a Landcruiser 70 series or the like, though it ain’t exactly small. Take a look at the Toyota Fortuner or even the RAV4. The truck based stuff like Isuzu KB or Mitsubishi L200 or Toyota HiLux are excellent in 4 door versions and you can haul stuff too.
You can usually get one of the Hyundai or Kia smaller SUVs as well. You know, along the lines of the Tucson. Or a Honda CR-V. You’d be surprised at the places you can drive with even just front wheel drive. All wheel drive is a definite improvement. Not as good as a true four wheel drive, but unless you’re driving on technical off-road terrain, it’s not really necessary (though I would much prefer having it).

9/30/2022 11:09:51 AM

Ended up picking up a 2020 Subaru Forester to cart the family around Antananarivo, Madagascar and on most road trips. I may still look into 70 series Land Cruiser or similar locally if it turns out we need something more capable and the price is right.

For the Subaru, I considered lifting it but I think I’ll just swap the current tires for Falken Wildleam all terrains. Unless you guys suggest some can’t miss upgrades, I’ll probably just throw some self recovery tools in the trunk and call it a day.

6/2/2023 5:04:47 PM

I like the look of the Falken Wildleams.

6/6/2023 3:39:55 PM

Looks like a tire!

6/24/2023 11:45:52 AM

She got a purdy mouth.

6/28/2023 11:33:09 PM

I wouldn't rely on a Subaru to get me around in 3rd world countries. Oh hell nah LOL.

7/6/2023 9:25:07 AM