So will you be driving an expedition-ready Land Rover?
No! We'll be driving a 2004 Fiat Panda!
You're driving a Panda?
As of June 21st we are the proud owners of a 2004 Fiat Panda purchased in Harlow, England. It has 90,000 miles on the odometer, and we purchased it sight unseen through a British vehicle purchasing agent. On July 10th we got to meet our Panda for the first time, but before that these were the pictures we received from the agent:
And, of course, being a cheap little British car, we will have to learn how to drive a manual transmission on the wrong side of the car; the steering wheel is on the right side, and the gear shift on the center console will be operated with the left hand.
Why in the world are you taking such a small car?
When choosing a car, there are only two rules according to the Rally:
1) The car must have an engine of 1.2 liters or smaller.
2) The car must have been manufactured in January 2004 or later.
First of all, the Mongol Rally is an adventure. If you drove to Mongolia in a four-wheel drive truck, it would be easy. Easy things are rarely fun. Thus, for the sake of fun, the drive to Mongolia will be in a car with a small engine. A small car, with a very small engine. We will not be able to comfortably sleep in the back seat. Picture a vehicle that an old lady would drive to church every Sunday; now subtract a few horsepower. That's what we have!
Secondly, remember that the Rally is for a good cause. When we reach Ulaanbaatar all of the cars are auctioned off, and the money raised by the vehicles goes to charity (in addition to the entry fees and the money already raised). As such, we must obey Mongolian vehicle import laws which dictate that vehicles older than ten years old cannot be imported into the country.
1) The car must have an engine of 1.2 liters or smaller.
2) The car must have been manufactured in January 2004 or later.
First of all, the Mongol Rally is an adventure. If you drove to Mongolia in a four-wheel drive truck, it would be easy. Easy things are rarely fun. Thus, for the sake of fun, the drive to Mongolia will be in a car with a small engine. A small car, with a very small engine. We will not be able to comfortably sleep in the back seat. Picture a vehicle that an old lady would drive to church every Sunday; now subtract a few horsepower. That's what we have!
Secondly, remember that the Rally is for a good cause. When we reach Ulaanbaatar all of the cars are auctioned off, and the money raised by the vehicles goes to charity (in addition to the entry fees and the money already raised). As such, we must obey Mongolian vehicle import laws which dictate that vehicles older than ten years old cannot be imported into the country.
(Photo by Humphrey Murphy used with permission from the Adventurists.)