Wonderful! That you're working with indigenous people - there's nothing
better.
All the best in your endeavours - shame about not wanting a turbo
though..but this may change.if you do go down the route of trying a turbo -
make sure you have a seriously systematic Schedule C and beyond - done first
at the best 4x4 mechanic's garage you can find before you get into Ethiopia.
Do keep in touch, and yes, we will meet one day! This is for sure!
Renate Haupt
www.desertfoxoverland.co.uk
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]] On
Behalf Of Demi Designs inc.
Sent: 05 April 2008 00:10
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: Re: [ELCO] HZJ80 or 81
Dear Renate: Thank you for your message addressed to Mageru. We are firm
believers in working with the locals - Mageru is Ethiopian born and raised,
and only arrived in Canada 4 years ago! He was a professional driver/guide
with the State Tourist Agency there (NTO) for 20 years. The main reason he
does not want a turbo is because of the lack of mechanics who are able to
service them. But I will pass your information along to him - all input is
valuable. I hope to meet you someday when you are not crawling around under
your beast and skinning your knuckles! We can swap tourist tales - and we
just might need to take a tour with you!
Best wishes,
Maureen
----- Original Message -----
From: Renate Haupt <mailto:[Email address removed]>
To: [Email address removed]
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 10:08 AM
Subject: RE: [ELCO] HZJ80 or 81
Dear Mageru Demissie
Re the guiding - I offer guided tours in Algeria and Libya and the first
lesson I learnt - work with the locals - if not they will resent you and
treat you and your vehicle badly - I say this because a colleague of mine
thought he was the bees knees and didn't even mingle or even talk to the
indigenous peoples - the error in his ego was that he thought he was
invincible - he wasn't; don't go the way he went.
Re the vehicle - us ELCO peoples prefer the 80 - good, reliable, hardy
beasts - okay they don't have as much 'space' available inside then say a 75
(found in Egypt) but they're damn good - I swear by mine.
Most 4x4s will 'work' (to an extent) in arid and hostile terrain, but why a
non-turbo? Diesel turbos are the best in my experience. Turbos have the
umph to get you there better - and quicker, and in more comfort, with no
loss of power. They're economical (okay, this is relative, I know) and
won't fail you, they're also quite 'at home' in the desert - its what I got
mine for. If you give it regular oil changes (every 5,000 miles), filters
and such it will probably out-perform some other 4x4s by about 60%, maybe
even more - depends how you 'drive' it.
Cheers
Renate Haupt
www.desertfoxoverland.co.uk
From: [Email address removed] [mailto:[Email address removed]] On
Behalf Of Demi Designs inc.
Sent: 04 April 2008 15:09
To: [Email address removed]
Cc: Mageru Demissie
Subject: [ELCO] HZJ80 or 81
Way over here in Canada, I have been reading all the messages, and feel like
I am getting to know all your different personalities. I have found my one
Landcruiser, but still need a second one to start my guiding business in
Ethiopia.
I haven't got all the technical knowledge of you folks, but have been
instructed by hubby that the HZJ 80 or 81 is the only car that will work.
So with the belief that it is not WHAT I know, but WHO I know, I would ask,
with Julian's permission, if I can put out an APB for the following:
HZJ80 or 81. Years 1992 - 1998. Manual. Diesel. Non Turbo engine. Left
hand drive. (I KNOW, I Know...you don't have many of them over there, but
maybe you have friends in other countries...?)
Have a good picnic this weekend !
Maureen Demissie
African Queen Adventure Tours
Calgary/Alberta/Addis Ababa/Ethiopia
