I am glad you are challenging my list. Everyone has their own needs and bias.
The reader will make up their own decision if my logic makes sense or not.
The one thing I was not going to do was spew out the super-safe list that doesn't reflect what people are actually using in interesting places of the world. I recommended vehicles that would fit a cross-section of budgets, size requirements and travel styles. If you love visiting museums and bazaars around the world and could care less about muddy roads, why not buy a sweet Merc and do it in comfort and style and blend in with all of the locals?
I could have done this list:
1. 80 Series Land Cruiser
2. 100 Series Land Cruiser
3. 110 Defender
4. Tacoma
5. Land Rover Discovery
6. Third Generation 4Runner
7. Nissan XTerra
8. Mitsubishi Montero
9. Jeep Wrangler JK
10. Isuzu Trooper
The problem is that this list is safe, it is boring, and it not reflective of what people are actually using in the third world and finding to be effective. People would have read it and said "meh". It would have resulted in no discussion.
The list is intended to get the discussion going and for us to have some fun with it. So let me have a crack at the safe list.
1. 80 Series Land Cruiser: Too old now and usually neglected by the PO. Newer models (i.e. 100) are better in so many areas and only give 10-15% away on trail performance.
2. 100 Series Land Cruiser: A nearly perfect exploration vehicle. They are the Land Cruiser of choice by most in the developing world (Note: The 70 series is the LC of choice for serious work, which the 100 is used for personal use and people transport).
3. 110 Defender: An NAS 110 is nearly 20 years old and still 40k. There are better vehicles for that price, though none will ever be as stylish.
4. Tacoma: Perfect vehicle, though limited parts support internationally.
5. Land Rover Discovery: These vehicles are nearly a decade-old in the newest variant and the LR3 is a more capable, more refined and more reliable vehicle in stock form. It is a bitter pill, but a fact.
6. Third Generation 4Runner: Awesome truck, but I prefer the 4th Gen.
7. Nissan XTerra: Awesome vehicle, but with limited international parts support and a fragile front end.
8. Mitsubishi Montero: The newer trucks are fragile (I have a great story from Morocco, oh, and Mongolia) and struggle in technical terrain. Older solid rear axle trucks are sweet, but just like the 80 series, they are getting really old and there are better simply options with lower miles.
9. Jeep Wrangler JK: Proof is in the pudding. I have beat the piss out of these things over the Rubicon 14 times, Moab and all the way to Panama. They have proven to be 100% reliable in our testing.
10. Isuzu Trooper: I love the Trooper and have owned one for over half a decade but these trucks are now obsolete. There are better options.
The biggest challenge is not picking what vehicle to leave on a big trip with, but actually going on the trip. Just think about how many perfect, built to the max 80 series Land Cruisers there are that have never left this country, let alone left the state they are in.
The Merc and the Suzuki got lots of jeers, but they are everywhere in the world - literally everywhere. Go buy a little Vitara and pack it full of some clothes, a few spares and then go see what lies beyond the horizon. . .
