Autoshite Road Trip - Part Deux

[Negative Creep]

You may remember back in February I did an impromptu trip around the South Island in an old Nissan Sunny. Well now it's time to head around again and then back up north taking in the winter sights along the way. I didn't fancy pitching a tent in this weather so bought a van. Now the sensible thing would be to buy from a backpacker, or indeed build one up yourself. Now that would just be too easy, so I bought this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 1985 Nissan/Datsun (is badged as both) Japanese spec Vanette. Now I've owned some truly miserable stuff in my time, but this really take it to a whole new level. The heater doesn't work, clutch weights two tonnes, doors don't align properly, there's no choke, the seat is now made of foam and you can remove the key from the ignition with the engine still running. It has a column change manual which is insanely fiddly to use and normally results in punching the dash every time you get 3rd. Had a somewhat ignominious start when a mate decided to do some doughnuts in it, which cased the loose battery to touch the bodywork, creating a shower of sparks that set the grease on the gearbox alight. Disaster narrowly averted, but it did fuse the throttle cable and melt the gear linkage

 

My preparation consists of fitting a stereo and throwing an airbed in the back (or at least I will when I get rid of the sofa that in there currently) and hoping for the best. Internet will be sporadic but I'll keep everyone updated best I can.

[ashmicro]

Respect! Keep us posted, and of course keep safe.

[Alexg]

Had a somewhat ignominious start when a mate decided to do some doughnuts in it, which cased the loose battery to touch the bodywork, creating a shower of sparks that set the grease on the gearbox alight. Disaster narrowly averted, but it did fuse the throttle cable and melt the gear linkage

.

 

Good luck with your trip......

[mouseflakes]

Ooh - I like those Vanettes - please don't have too many more mishaps in it!

[Mr Lobster]

Have fun! Vanette sounds horrific though

[Negative Creep]

First update time, and quite frankly what a fuckload of arse this is turning out to be. Went to set off, battery was flat so had to jump start. Ok, maybe just one of those things and a nice run will get it sorted. So we drive to the first stop - hmm this thing doesn't really want to go over 100kph and the fuel gauge is moving rather quickly - but at least we're getting there.

 

So we stop at the first place, go to book in, get back to the car and.....nothing. No power whatsoever. Starts first time with a jump start, dies again when you turn the lights on. So long story short it goes into the garage who trace the fault to corroded terminals which need to be changed. At least it wasn't a battery or alternator but I'm still $80 down. Onwards again and it is apparent how horrific this van is. I've driven some bollocks in my time but this is just in a different galaxy. As it gets hilly I could barely do 80 and once we got to a steep hill I just about managed 40kph. It keeps misfiring, the welds on the gear linkage snapped so finding the right gear was impossible. I just stuck to 2nd and 4th to save grief but you have to wrench it into the right gear and always crunches in reverse. It's also doing about 25mpg. Twenty fucking five.

 

Changed the plugs and filters but made no difference to the terrible idle. Into another garage it goes who readjust the throttle cable so I can actually get full revs this time (seems a bit quicker but won't know for sure until tomorrow.) They tried to repair the linkage but their diagnosis is the clutch is fucked. So I can now either spend half the value of the car and my travel money getting a new one fitted or drive the thing until it dies. Only upside is that as it's almost all open road I'll just be sitting in 4th so won't need to change gear much and sleeping in the back isn't too bad

 

I did manage a few photos though

 

 

 

[mouseflakes]

Yeah, never liked those Vanettes. Crush it when you're done.

[Negative Creep]

Since I've found somewhere with a reliable wireless connection I thought it's time for a quick update. After getting the throttle sorted it soon developed a misfire which became a backfire which then became a non existent idle. Managed to nurse it to a garage, holding up lots of locals en route and found a very helpful mechanic. One set of points and adjusted timing later and things drastically improved. Idle is much smoother and fuel consumption has dropped to a heady 30mpg. So it's now running fairly well, although the fuel gauge has now died, and if I can get the gearchange sorted (think it needs a new linkage bar, it's just stopping in one place long to get it done) it should be liveable and I may even begin to develop a grudging respect for it............

 

 

We're now in the Alpine region but the weather has been surprisingly mild and very sunny. Having said that, I did get to drive though snow one night and with no heater or blower I can officially state that was the most miserable driving experience of my life. A few more pictures:

 

 

Queenstown, adventure capital of the South. Note how everyone else there had the common sense to rent a camper

 

 

By Thunder Creek Falls

 

 

 

 

At the Haast Pass

 

 

 

 

Tonight we're parked up next to a glacier and a rainforest and I've fashioned my towel to act as a blind as I'm parked right next to the toilet block. And to think I couldn't find anyone to join me on this trip. Bloody women

[michiel]

I just looked out of my office window and I R a bit jealous. Good to hear the Datsun is behaving a bit better!

 

The Sprinter to the right and back of you - a stretched ambulance?

 

[FredTransit]

Bump for a real thread.....

[Negative Creep]

Think it's time I updated this. So I finished the South Island and went to Wellington (bottom of the North). There due to some slight money issues the trip was put on hold and very little happened. My travel partner has gone to Oz with his girlfriend so just me now. After sorting the money I drove directly north to Auckland and from that point I have begun exploring around.

 

The best thing is that being off season, the roads and campsites are deserted. Once you're outside of the cities the sense of isolation is awesome. You can pull up somewhere and hear nothing but birdsong at at night it's just a blanket of stars.

 

So how is the Vanette doing? Hasn't missed a beat since Invercargill (southernmost city). Storms, torrential rain, escaped cows, sand, mud, unpaved roads, Auckland's motorway all failed to stop it. Really do need to fix that gear selector problem though..........

 

 

Cape Reigna - the northernmost point of New Zealand, so I've now driven up the entire country

 

Ninety Mile Beach, actually part of the road network. I was tempted to drive it but the sand was very wet and boggy, I was on my own and didn't know the tide times so decided it wasn't worth the risk

 

Tarmac? We don't need no stinking tarmac

 

 

Lake Taupo

 

Auckland

 

These giant Ferns look like something out of Jurassic Park

 

 

The Sprinter to the right and back of you - a stretched ambulance?

 

It would be a purpose built camper. Besides a handful of Transits European vans are all but non existent in anything other than camper form

[michiel]

Ah, thanks. And once again, wow - what a beautiful country.

[Danblez]

Glad to hear things have picked up a little and excellent choice of vehicle!

 

We bought one a few years ago and after a quick service wanged it around Europe for 10k trouble free miles. Really basic and dead reliable, could do with a little more ooomf for getting up hills though. I dont think 30 mpg is bad at all I think we averaged just under that when fully loaded!

[scooters]

top trip!

 

well done slogging it out in an old van.....

 

As you know I frequently press my shite into long distance trips and there is nothing like one to get to know your vehicle very well indeed.

 

I've noticed with my Sherpa camper that the running gear has all 'freed up' a bit since the big 1000 mile week 2 weeks back and the van now behaves itself - I also know excactly what needs sorting.

 

OK your nissan has gear linkage issues and the ignition has been playing up but it is essentially a simple vehicle - no EFI, no CPU to go wrong - I had an ignition fault in a Volvo 960 last year and spent over £400 on parts trying to trace it until giving up and flogging the car for sweeities.

 

I bet, once you get the linkage sorted you will start to lurve the old bus!