Seems to be you're wanting more of a rally car than an offroad vehicle. Subbies would top my list now. Cheaper older cars would be the Volvo, Vegas, the Z24, Nissian 310 GX, Mini Coopers, Saab 90s, VW GTIs are hot, etc. I raced baja bugs and rails, a VW setup with a v-6 will skin most any car on the street and darn near corner like a 911, might even go with an older 911. In the VW/v6 setup, if you get stuck, pick up the front end and point it in another direction, I've done it alone.
Any of the cars mentioned can be beefed up and good armor, wheels and tires that can be changed out for the use is usually cheaper than larger built vehicle. What some off road trucks or SUVs are crawling over like one larger rock might be flown over by faster smaller cars.....I don't mean rock crawling but an obsticle in a road. Your skills can get you further than any 4x4 without good driving skills, imo.
You don't need AWD or a 4x4 in most places I've been in the south and midwest, forrest roads, lake roads and conservation areas in good weather. If you have 200' of 1' mud a winch works, but you'll get dirty and go very slow.
I rallied some stock and built TR4As, Bug Eye Sprites, and the Datson 510 all rear wheel drive.
A mini cooper can fly too.
I went all over Europe in a Volvo 145 wagon and rarely got stuck, I did get pulled out a couple times along the rivers.
I'm all for the car approach, heck, even went off in the woods in a 64 Chevy wagon.
I like the Celica too, the snorkel is for better air, not fording 3' of water. LOL
I admit none of these can go where my F150 4x4 might, nor will they carry a load of everything you might want to take for a week of boondocking, but a weekend can be done in most places with a decently prepaired car.
My Forrester seems to do fine in mild stuff off road and better than most sedans on the street if I puch it it a bit, but it is no rocket. It does better than just keeping up with traffic.
This reminds me of the James Bond movie with the raised Cobra Mustang with larger wheels and tires. Put a full skid pan under that with a suspension and you'd have a fun machine.
Any of the cars mentioned can be beefed up and good armor, wheels and tires that can be changed out for the use is usually cheaper than larger built vehicle. What some off road trucks or SUVs are crawling over like one larger rock might be flown over by faster smaller cars.....I don't mean rock crawling but an obsticle in a road. Your skills can get you further than any 4x4 without good driving skills, imo.
You don't need AWD or a 4x4 in most places I've been in the south and midwest, forrest roads, lake roads and conservation areas in good weather. If you have 200' of 1' mud a winch works, but you'll get dirty and go very slow.
I rallied some stock and built TR4As, Bug Eye Sprites, and the Datson 510 all rear wheel drive.
A mini cooper can fly too.
I went all over Europe in a Volvo 145 wagon and rarely got stuck, I did get pulled out a couple times along the rivers.
I'm all for the car approach, heck, even went off in the woods in a 64 Chevy wagon.
I like the Celica too, the snorkel is for better air, not fording 3' of water. LOL
I admit none of these can go where my F150 4x4 might, nor will they carry a load of everything you might want to take for a week of boondocking, but a weekend can be done in most places with a decently prepaired car.
My Forrester seems to do fine in mild stuff off road and better than most sedans on the street if I puch it it a bit, but it is no rocket. It does better than just keeping up with traffic.
This reminds me of the James Bond movie with the raised Cobra Mustang with larger wheels and tires. Put a full skid pan under that with a suspension and you'd have a fun machine.
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