Or sell the Astra and buy something when you get up there?
If I was in the UK still I definitely would!
But over here things are a bit different in that everytime you buy a car, even a second hand one you have to pay tax which is a percentage of the vehicles value! OK you can ask the seller to lie and put down a lower value on the paperwork, but even so its still an absolute rip off!
Also cars are twice the price here than the Uk.
Selling it would be an option but then I really dont know what I'd replace it with and I actually quite like it. I know its nothing special but its nice to drive, smart enough for my needs without me having to worry about parking it anywhere or pranging it and it blends in nicely and never gets a second glance unlike LJ which turns heads all the time.
I also know its mechanically sound and having just done the timing belt and fitted new tyres should be good for a few years.
Its also slightly attached to it in that I bought it within the first week of landing here and I've had some great times in it. The huge road trip I did with my mate in it up to Queensland was the best road trip/boys holiday I've ever been on!
I'd like to keep it for a few more years but I wont be keeping it forever!
LJ will never be sold!!
I want to fit a new body in a few years time, maybe even a soft top one and completely rebuild it.
But.........................
There is going to come a point in a few years time when hopefully kids come along and suddenly we cant take LJ away camping, the 3 or 4 of us!
When that happens LJ will have to be parked up for a while and we will need a bigger 4wd.
Toyota are going to stop selling the mighty 70 at some point, sadly thats undeniable!
Maybe they will replace it with something equally as amazing and I really hope they do!
But if the way the LandCruiser evolution seems to be heading is to be followed, then it will be getting softer, more car like, less utilitarian, weaker and certainly a lot bigger!
At the moment.......................If Toyota announce tomorrow they are stopping production of the 70 and the replacement looks as crap as I imagine it will be, I will be off to my local Toyota dealer to order one of the last 70's and that will then become my daily drive/weekend trip car!
Then the Astra really wont be needed, but until one or both of those things happen I want to keep the Astra.
I think I've already sold Bec on the idea of a brand new 70 the only hard part will be deciding what to get!
I'm thinking duel cab ute would be most practical but then the length of the wheelbase is huge so they have a ridiculously big turning circle. I like the 5 door wagon which obviously had a smaller wheel base and much better turning circle and that would be more practical with kids in some ways.
One issue I would have is I would want the top spec model but I dont want the factory difflocks, I'd rather fit Eaton E lockers. But I dont think I could spec that model without the factory standard lockers.
Anyway....................the Astra isnt for sale yet.
Piece of perspex secured in the box with some good sized holes for fish to swim through? Would baffle the box a bit.
A lot of driving to do, need a cb to keep in contact.
What about driving one the cars when take the truck load of stuff up? Both come back in the truck then pick up LJ and the other car?
Yeah not a bad idea my only concern is if we go over a slight bump and they get washed against the edge of the baffle and injured.
Maybe putting them in a couple of smaller boxes might be better. Or maybe even put them inside a 20 litre plastic water jerry can.
I want to get a handheld UHF so Bec can tell me when she needs to stop
again for the toilet!
Regarding her driving the Astra up as well as her car.........................
That would be the easiest and nicest solution from my point of view but.....
She has only ever driven autos! I've been teaching her to drive manuals and shes getting a lot better and more confident but she doesnt feel like she can drive all that way.
If I'm honest I think shes going to struggle to drive hers up, without having to then come back and her do it all over again in the Astra!
She has never driven for more than 3 hours before and I think she is going to struggle so much driving for that many hours! Thats why when we drive LJ and her car up we can do it slower and maybe take 3 days to get up there.
Thats why I really really really wish we could find a truck with a towbar because then she wouldnt have to drive at all! I could do it all and tow both her car and the Astra up!
