G4 Owners Club

2006 G4 Bolivia Salt Flat Vehicles

https://forum.g4ownersclub.com/Topic7722.aspx

By Marcus - 6 Apr 2008

Hi,  Does anyone know if the 2006 G4 D3 vehicles used in Bolivia were used on the salt flats - would you expect a lot of chassis rust issues if they were?

Marcus

By The OC (Augusto) - 6 Apr 2008

Yes they were, most are LHD (although some recce cars like BL54 OYG were RHD).



You will hear a lot about it, but in my D3 at least there is not much sign of rust (yet ;) ). The rear ladder has some early signs, but I think it might be the same on other cars from Asia (how's yours?).

From the pics/ footage I've seen on the event, the cars were used on the dry season and I think that diminished the impact from salt.

I've been there in 2000 with my own Defender 90 and it was in the rain season, where a 3-5cm layer of water covered all the surface. As I had a long journey ahead I did not risk taking my car there and we hired a guide with car, which had some protection (plastic cover underneath and a bit of bush stuffed in the engine compartment).



The splashing salty water would definitely have a big impact if the car was not clean properly afterwards.



Also some recommend applying waxoil.



hope that helps
By CraigS-L - 6 Apr 2008

My winch carrier and ladder have a bit of surface rust, but underneath seems OK at the moment. Somewhere back in the early days of this froum, somone posted some picks of a 110 that had been on the flats (and also the 2003 challenge) and there was not alot left of the chassis in some places :w00t:
By xtc - 7 Apr 2008

Hi Marcus,

Thailand / Laos vehicles should be fine, no where near the salt flats!  The Bolivian vehicles did all cross the flats, except the HQ based ones, but it was the dry season so probably no worse than sand. The recce vehicles which were in territory for up to a year before the event may well have gone on the flats when they were wet... Some of the recce vehicles would have been from 2003. You should be OK!

Cheers, Richard.

By Marcus - 7 Apr 2008

Thanks All,

Was actually trying to figure out why BL54 OYG (Nick) (50k miles and just out of warranty) has failed to sell twice on ebay - last time it only got to £11,600, first time it got to over £14,000 but didnt get to the reserve price either time.

Its a lot of car for that money - if someone was looking for one.

Marcus

By The OC (Augusto) - 7 Apr 2008

xtc (4/6/2008)
Hi Marcus,

Thailand / Laos vehicles should be fine, no where near the salt flats!  The Bolivian vehicles did all cross the flats, except the HQ based ones, but it was the dry season so probably no worse than sand. The recce vehicles which were in territory for up to a year before the event may well have gone on the flats when they were wet... Some of the recce vehicles would have been from 2003. You should be OK!

Cheers, Richard.

Richard

It is great to hear your agreement about the impact of salt flats. Think there is a lot of stigma attached to the Bolivian cars (including mine:cool:) but the actual impact think is not as great as most think, given the dry salt.

 As you rightly pointed for recce cars that might have taken the salt flats in the raining season might be a different matter. I will try to find some pics i took and the splash it make in the cars .

By martin bisby - 7 Apr 2008

proberbly because it looks like a LR D3 with bright orange paintwork, instead of a fully kitted out D3 G4 vehicle that it is.

i suspect that nick is actually under selling himself and the car

regards

martin

edited

oops:ermm:sorry guys, getting mixed up with another nick

By xtc - 7 Apr 2008

OYG was a recce car for D3, the competitions team. There is a shot of it on the salt plains that was used as a 3x2 meter banner as the backdrop of the stage at Int Selections. Have not worked out if you can insert a picture in the thread, but you can have a look at the banner here :-

http://www.disco3.co.uk/gallery/displayimage.php?album=1077&pos=3

A famous vehicle!!