Our choice of vehicle was the 
MAZDA Drifter
2600i SLX Double Cab 4x4 petrol.
After Lifting the unit by 60mm - click to enlarge
Because we travel mostly on our own, a lot of modifications have been carried out to make us as self-sufficient as possible. Of all the vehicles available today the Mazda combines both simplicity of components as well as comfort and off road tractability.
The big advantage - it can run on any petrol - LEADED or UNLEADED and if desperate a whole lot else.
The best 4x4 is probably the Toyota Land Cruiser LDV but they are really very uncomfortable and are best suited to the real tough stuff as working vehicles. Definitely not a vehicle for running around town and not for the faint-hearted. A great vehicle under the right conditions BUT THEIR DEALER ATTITUDES are something else!!!
 Side view |
 Rear View, spare wheel assemblies |
 Interior, fitted equipment |
 Front view winch, light assemblies |
 60mm front lift - non standard |
 60mm rear lift - non standard |
 Relatively uncluttered engine area |
 Winch arrangement - no hooks are used |
| Our Drifter - click on the pictures for enlargements, Back to return | |||
Standard Specifications:
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MAZDA Drifter
2600i SLX Double Cab |
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| Double Cab Petrol, fuel injected Regular or Leaded fuel usable 2606 cc OHC Compression ratio 8.4:1 (this engine has very little stresses) 92kW @ 4600rpm 206 Nm @ 3500rpm Dry type panel air cleaner 12V Alloy 7Jx15 wheels Tyres 245/75R15 Firestone Wilderness Philips Radio/CD |
5 Speed syncromesh gearbox 4,415 - 2,636 -1,597 - 1,000 -
0,875 - rev 3,776 HI-LO Transfer case 2 speed Suspension Front - independent Suspension rear - live axle Raised suspension Differential lock Power steering 12,8m turning circle Active select 4x4 - auto select hubs Payload 1068kg GVM 2685kg Maximum towing mass 1000kg |
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Doug's Chartered Ex Landy 1963/4 - "Battered but not Broken" - Game Guard & Andrew Mpongo (a sample collector) who got sleeping sickness while in the Zambezi Valley. Hard working bush vehicles generally have none of the modern trappings so "necessary" to "intrepid adventurers" nowadays to negotiate Sandton's uneven pavements |
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