What car do you drive to access bushwalking trips?

[Wollemi]

Is AWD important for traction control to get along 30km of greasy Newnes Plateau after a rain event?
Is an older turbo diesel going to be annoying for a 500km trip to Kosciuszko NP due to internal noise?

Am thinking of a 2012 Ssangyong Actyon 4-door ute. Similar features to a Toyota Hilux, but half the price.
It is RWD only, and I once spun a Subaru Liberty when AWD was not engaged - my last two cars have been AWD; Subaru Forester and Volvo XC70, but am tired of sand throughout after sea-kayaking or windsurfing or canyoning.

What do you guys drive?

[crollsurf]

Used to get most places, trail heads at least, in a HSV Grange which is a long wheel base lowered muscle car Got a Subaru Outback now and life is a lot more comfortable. Plus I'm not always worrying about getting stuck. Most cars will get you to where you need to get for bushwalking but AWD/4WD with clearance is definitely the best option and offers piece of mind.

I would love to buy a Nissan Patrol but the petrol costs associated with that beast is astronomical. Around 15-20L/100klm!!

[north-north-west]

My own.

Currently a 2WD CRV. Still miss the Hilux. Will still be missing it when I'm 80.

[LachlanB]

T-30 X-Trail, so similar to your ex-Forester. With AT tyres it gets me most places that I want to go. Plus, it has a hard floor in the back, so it's pretty easy to clean out

[tastrax]

Isuzu DMAX twin cab for me. Great beast for dirt roads and good economy 9-10L/100kms, bit more when towing

[stepbystep]

The Supersonic Blue Rattlebox aka a purple 1999 HRV. I'll drive it till one of us dies.

[Aardvark]

Kathryn and i both have 4WD Rodeo utes. What else... we're from Qld.
One dual cab. One tray back. Both take the kayaks. The bikes often feature too. We can fit a tent on the tray back if necessary. Sometimes we bivvy in the back of the ute.

[Bushman_Craig]

edited

[Lizzy]

Triton duel cab Ute does the job nicely

[drewmac]

What to take....?

If it's gnarly this one

ute.png (188.92 KiB) Viewed 19219 times

But mostly I take this one

val.png (448.29 KiB) Viewed 19219 times

[doogs]

I change cars more often than pairs of undies.. my current trusty steed is a 2002 Mazda 121. Probably worth less than a pair of undies but at least I can drive around Tasmania 17 times on one tank of fuel and I don't care if it gets trashed!

[Moondog55]

Well after having the trusty ute torched I drove Ceciles old Renault Scenic Megane until it dropped the timing belt on the way home from Falls Creek this last week. Tomorrow [hopefully] I take delivery of a 2007 Kia Cerato. It is a tiny, tiny little car and I need to buy chains for it if the old chains won't fit.

[north-north-west]

It is a tiny, tiny little car ....

Are you sure you can get in it?

[johnw]

I change cars more often than pairs of undies.. my current trusty steed is a 2002 Mazda 121. Probably worth less than a pair of undies but at least I can drive around Tasmania 17 times on one tank of fuel and I don't care if it gets trashed!

We owned the 2001 model for 11 years, as my wife's daily driver, and it did a bazillion kms. When we sold it I was inundated with phone calls from people wanting to buy it. Think I got about $1200 for it.

Tomorrow [hopefully] I take delivery of a 2007 Kia Cerato. It is a tiny, tiny little car and I need to buy chains for it if the old chains won't fit.

I have driven one as a rental car and it was actually pretty good. Roomier inside than what it appeared, although I am relatively petite.

My bushwalking vehicle for many years has been a 2003 Subaru Forester XS dual range manual. Probably getting a bit tired now but has never let me down. The biggest issue has been hitting a kangaroo on the Kosciuskzo Rd between Berriedale and Jindabyne one night maybe 5 or 6 years ago, doing some major damage.

[GPSGuided]

This question post is starting to push towards the n+1 concept, as for bike ownership. One car for daily city drive, one car for water sports, one car for weekend cruises then one car for the Bush... Ouch!

[johnw]

This question post is starting to push towards the n+1 concept, as for bike ownership. One car for daily city drive, one car for water sports, one car for weekend cruises then one car for the Bush... Ouch!

Not that bad... Mrs = 1, Me = 1. I would love to share a single vehicle but it doesn't even come close to working for us logistically.
I rarely use mine during the week though; commute by foot and train. Car is generally only used for bushwalking, trips away and miscellaneous things. I do own three bicycles however ... dually MTB, road/cyclocross, and a folder.

[Neo]

I drive (and live) in a '95 hilux ute with custom alumnium canopy. It's got a simple fitout that is super comfy and great for cooking, wind and rain. Occasional dirt road but don't think I've needed 4wd in the last year. Clearance is handy.

It's been a great year-in-a-box, new plan is to downsize to a 2door and live out of a tiny boot! Bring it on

[trekker76]

at the moment a little Suzuki jimny, goes almost anywhere bigger 4x4 can, though admittedly not great for long drives on corrugated dirt roads if you value your fillings.

[bushwalker zane]

Subaru Forester! Like 50% of everyone from Tasmania with an interest in the outside.

[sampy_was_here]

'99 Toyota Hilux SR5

[Lindsay]

Subaru Outback. Love it!

[CasualNerd]

Does anyone drive a big van to bushwalking trailheads ?

I know some places where I've seen small buses must be fine like WOJ or Cradle. I'm fitting out a cheap campervan and my major concern would be low branches and passing other vehicles !