It obviously makes sense to start this Jeep project with a basically sound vehicle, safe in the knowledge that the mechanicals and body are up-to the task of the future modifications we have planned.
Words and photography: Matt Carson
I’m not going to be happy discovering the frame’s as rotten once we’ve installed the suspension. A ‘getting the basics right first’ approach is good advice when modifying any vehicle. In this Jeep’s case, we have a fair bit planned, so spending some time and effort early on will – hopefully – help us avoid any nasty surprises further down the line.
Now the image with the Jeep Wrangler is often crawling up sun-baked rocks in the deserts of North America, or maybe posing along Santa Monica boulevard in California; shades on, wind in the hair. Sadly, Jeep Wranglers in the UK have ‘enjoyed’ a lot more moisture in their lives and moisture, road salt and metal, will turn to rust if not cared for. When you are looking to buy a Jeep, try not to get too carried away if it looks good on the outside, if it’s the colour you want and the wheels and tyres look great – you need to get down on your knees. Always have a good look underneath a vehicle. It may well be difficult to see too much, but if there’s a lot of caked-on mud and muck under there be a little cautious. You are sure to have asked the owner whether he takes the vehicle off-road, but let’s face it, the answer is likely to be ‘oh, hardly ever’. Dents and scraps on the protection plates will let you know more. Of course, if the guy is a sensible off-roader, he will have remembered that you have to clean under a vehicle like this, not just polish the shiny bits on the bodywork.
Devon-based OEC International sells Safari snorkels for a range of 4x4s. The company specialises in preparing vehicles for overland adventures, where trips through dusty deserts are likely to be de rigueur and snorkels are therefore a much-needed accessory. Whatever your off-road needs, OEC can provide products to suit. It has recently re-launched its website, where it provides details of its range of Safari snorkels as well as a host of other products designed to enhance your muddy fun.
This month Hils has been driving some rather different Merdeces-Benz 4x4s. Both awesome in their own right but at different ends of the scale
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Last month, Volkswagen signed a deal with Russian manufacturer GAZ to assemble VW and Škoda models in its Russian Nizhny Novorod plant. This is a significant deal, in that the planned production is to rise to 110,000 vehicles per year, and the agreement runs until 2019. GAZ is to build the Volkswagen Jetta, Škoda Octavia and Škoda Yeti models for the Russian market and the first models are due to roll off the GAZ production line in 2012.
Nissan has announced that Britain will design, engineer and build the next version of the best-selling Nissan Qashqai. A massive £192 million investment was announced this month that is claimed will safeguard 6000 jobs. The announcement comes after the independent report from industry expert Professor Garel Rhys reported that the recent natural disasters in Japan would lead to Japanese companies looking to invest in further European bases (4×4, News, June 1’1). Given the difficulties that UK manufacturing is experiencing, this is indeed good news for Nissan. 
When you’re changing your car it’s natural to focus on choosing and finding the new one – but a crucial part of the cost equation is getting the best price possible for the 
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