Hi Eric
I have a Toyota Surf which is based on the chassis of a Toyota Prado. It's a good car for Asia as there are plenty of spares available (it's a very common car in eastern Russia for example). You don't need extra tanks or any other expedition stuff.
The only country on your route which accepts the carnet for passenger vehicles is Iran, but it is not mandatory there.
For Russia (and Kazakhstan), you can have up to 1 year TIP, but only as long as your visa is valid. So if you have a 30 day tourist visa you will not necessarily be given a year. No problem to fly out without your car (I did this last October).
I am not sure about Turkey or Georgia; I have heard people leaving cars in both countries but I have not done it myself.
I think for Mongolia it is not likely to be possible as they are quite strict with foreigners bringing cars in thanks to all the 'adventurers' on the Mongol Rally 'donating' broken, crappy 2WD cars to charity.
In China you cannot bring in your own car without an escorted tour, so I would forget about leaving the car there.
Good luck
EO
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EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.
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