My carport just isn't tall enough to take an OKA or I'd have two.
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of L&L Knight
Sent: Friday, February 24, 2006 9:41 PM
To: Birding Aus
Subject: Your birding vehicle
There's an Aus made vehicle that's missing from the list Ian - the Oka,
which for me is the ultimate offroad behemoth. The WA cops use them
for their desert patrols, and they would appear to have the ultimate in
ground clearance [short of one of those mining truck monsters].
Regards, Laurie.
On Friday, February 24, 2006, at 09:01 PM, Ian May wrote:
> g'Day all
>
> The question of what is the ultimate birding vehicle is like a
> question I asked an old mate of mine, what is the best outback 4WD?
> Alex replied, "that’s a bit like asking me what the best political
> party is. Nearly everyone thinks their choice is best but once you
> strip away the spin and BS, what you have left is useless most of the
> time and very expensive to maintain".
>
> Yeah right I said. For about 20 years, Alex had the responsibility
> for dragging many stranded visitors out of the South Australian
> desert, from Oodnadatta to Innaminka and south to Arkaroola after they
> took what was considered their ultimate off road vehicle a little too
> far off the road.
>
> For what its worth, here is a summary of his experience.
>
> Mitsubishi Pajaero/Holden Rodeo/Rav 4 etc. The source of much
> plastic pollution across the desert
>
> Nissan Nevara/Pathfinder/Toyota Hilux etc etc. Objects better used
> for the study of metal fatigue and passenger stress than rough country
> driving.
>
> Subaru (The ultimate birding vehicle blah, blah?) Well not for long
> after an inch of rain on the Strez or Birdsville track. When the
> going gets tough fuel consumption is about as good as the V8. Have
> you tried looking through the windscreen with binoculars? And the cost
> of parts!!!!
>
> Susuki! What? They make good motorbikes and outboard motors. But try
> buying parts in the bush. Need a windscreen? And, don’t run out of
> gears. Excellent golf buggies though.
>
> Toyota Landcruiser/Prado Blah blah blah. Remember the jingle "Toyota
> tough! That means tough on the arse and tough on the pocket."
>
> Nissan Patrol? Sorry Tony! Can’t resist. Rebadged Lancruiser. The
> drivers mostly evolved from a scene in Mad Max II. If you like eating
> dust you will love a Patrol.
>
> Landrover. With the best centre of gravity and power weight ratio, if
> you have access to two things, (1) your own oil well and (2) your own
> team of mechanics, Landrover is the ultimate off road vehicle. And
> because the body panels are made of aluminium, when bogged in Lake
> Eyre they make good landmarks as the wreckage lasts much longer than
> steel vehicles.
>
> What then is the ultimate 4WD?. Alex said, after a flood like 74, if
> the engine starts when the key is turned, that’s good but in a drought
> like the one we have just had, the one that takes you through the
> bulldust in comfort is best.
>
>
>
> Hope that helps..
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
>
>
> Ian May
> St Helens, Tasmania.
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: 'unsubscribe
birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line) to
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message:
'unsubscribe birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
