Which car to buy (going to Morroco) ?
 

Hy

Me and my girlfriend are going to Morroco on july 2003.We will go from Slovenia (our home) to Italy, France, Spain to Morroco. This route takes about 10 000 km in both sides.
We don`t know which car to buy for this trip. I must not forget to tell that we are students and we don`t have a huge amount of cash http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif
So, we could buy a car for approx. 1000 EURO.
Is it necesary to buy 4x4 ? I read, that RENAULT 4 or 9 are good cars.

What to do ???

Thanx for replay(s)

You don't need a 4x4 in Morrocco but it would let you go to a few more areas. Can stay on tarmac the whole way from Slovenia to Morrocco and back. On the one hand 4x4 capability would give more options, on the other hand if you only have £1000 to spend then you would probably get a newer more reliable 2 wheel drive. Really depends on what you want to do in Morrocco.

There is an expedition leaving from southern England where the entry requirements are that the vehicle must cost £100 or less and only £15 can be spent on preparation. They are planning driving from Uk - Senegal and there are about 40 vehicles going according to the press report so £1000 is easily possible.

G'day Elektro
Any car can do this trip.
For the money that you would like to spend you can't buy a 4WD and you don't need it either.
If you buy a car then:
1. it should be reliable enough
2. handy if it is registred on your own name (and don't forget to take the ownershippapers with you!)
3. diesel is cheaper fuel than petrol
4. buy one that can open the rear windows or roof (it can be HOT in July)
4. if you really go into the desert then you should think about airpump, shoffel, some kind of simple sandladder, but in that case you better look further on this sahara forum for more detaills.

I went last August with a Toyota Carina with 4 people from Netherlands to Marocco, south of Atlas and did also some pistes and no problems; I could easily have done it with my small Peugeot 205 (with 2 people instead of 4!!)

ON 19th January I will drive with a Mercedes 190d to marocco and on to Senegal; that will be harder (Mauritania) but lots of people do it.
Good luck, you will love Marocco!!
jan

-
any more details on this?

Thanx for all answers ...

I forgot to say, that this will be my first trip. So I don`t have many experience.
OK, I would like to see Marrakesh, Fes, desert (south) and High atlas.

1.)Will it be safe to leave car (when we`ll went to city)?

2.)How high are temperatures in July ?

3.)Which spare parts for car I must take with me?

4.) If I would buy Renault 4, will it operate in high temperature?

Buy a peugeot 504 or 505 diesel

simply the best!! and there are many in morroco, which meens that if you have any problem you will easily fix it!

renato

Acording to the fact that in Slo there is still a lot of R4 in good condition(last R4 was made in Slo), and that you can get 10 jears old R4 for 300 euro, I prefer R4.
It is easy to repair and there is a lot of space inside. It is not heavy, so fuel consuption is minimal.
The rest of 700 euro you can spend on registration and modifications, if you think you need them.(for Marocco I dont think you need any modofications, only: extra fuel filter, extra tire and 20 l gas can).
Call me on 041/575 295
Janez

Lamin,

Think I read about Southern England - Senegal in £100 car or less in the Daily Telegraph saturday motoring section about 2 weeks ago. If you try the telegraph on line you might be able to find it. Could of been under the "honest John" section, can't remember. Not sure of the start date but think its fairly soon. All sorts of vehicles supposed to be going including some Lada 4x4s, the choice of the organiser amoungst others. The article stated the plan was to drive in convoy and help each other out when they got stuck, broke down as apposed to spreading out.

Does that mean that they'll be travelling at the speed of the slowest vehicle? 40 cars each worth less than GBP100. How long have they got!!??

It's a great idea though - who cares about the practicalities!

Yeah Sam, sometimes life is not so practicle.
We can travel trough the sand with expensive 4x4's and GPS etc. and 2 years of preparation and still get into big trouble down there.
These guys "electro" know nothing and have little and want to try this adventure. Good on them! They might have a lot of fun although they might have to solve some problems but that's part of adventure.
I travelled in the late sixties with an old Vespa scooter (I bought it for 12 euro), 90cc, with a passenger to the south of Marocco, until the tarmac stopped; the scooter broke down nearly every day but it brought us back home, although very slowly at the end....so, go for it "Electro", it is not as difficult as you might think!
jan

My point was that there are going to be 40 vehicles all having to stay together! It's bad enough with more than 3 (regardless of type/age etc.)!

The rally will be at:

http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk/

once they get it online, in the meantime, a search using:

Plymouth, Senegal, banger, rally
etc. brings up most of the detail.

Sounds great - although not sure if they've dealt with possible vehicle import problems in Senegal either!

One to watch, if you can't actually give it a go!

Sam.

The link works, and they're as far as Mauritania!!!!!

Looks as if they'll do it again next year, who's on for it??!!

Sam.

PS Not sure that the LR 109 is really worth less than GBP100, but I guess there's some flex in that rule?

PPS They also decided to allow the group to split - no surprise there!

So, you see "Elektro", old cars can make it all the way to Mauritania!! So, don't worry, get a old cheap R4 in Slovenia. They are available in your country and are high on their legs, I believe. That's a big advantage in the sand, in case you go further than the sealed roads.

I will go for adventure... that is for sure http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif
You gave me some answers on my questions. I found a book Lonely Planet for Morocco and will have to read it.

Just one more question, if I may:
Which car modifications do I need for this trip to desert? How many fuel, what tires (dimensions), air filter for motor???

Bye from Slovenia

You don't really need any modifications. Most of the mods done are to make the process of driving more extreme routes or the overall process easier - such as its easier to have long range fuel tanks plumbed into the vehicle than using jerry cans, etc. But for going to Morrocco in a 2 wheel drive vehicle, you really don't need to do anything. Just make sure the vehicle is properly serviced, the tyres are in alright condition, etc. If you wanted to get some bits to help - maybe get a jerry can or two, so you have some emergency fuel for longer range, same with water cans. Possibly a some basic tools such as spanners, hammer, hacksaw, etc and some spare parts - heavy duty tape, maybe hoses, good spare tyre, possibly 2. However Morrocco isn't that hard and the areas you are likely to be going in a 2 wheel drive vehicle won't be that remote. Have fun.