Perth, WA, October 2010: A total 4WD newbie, starting out on a 13-month work and travel holiday in Australia having no plan – that was me, Tobi, ’87 model. Despite the non-existence of a plan one thing was clear: that a car would need to be found. In the beginning, my heart was set on a Land Rover Defender. As it turns out however, these “masterpieces” of British engineering are not easy to find Down Under, in fact, they are almost impossible to find – especially if you are after a used one. With this realisation, so began my search, in that most remote of metropolises, for the perfect car that would  take me on a journey of discovery around this wild and beautiful continent.

As a 4WD newbie you have to be careful not to get talked into making misguided decisions: after trying out many makes & models, including a Lada Niva, a Nissan Pathfinder, and some pathetic Suzuki 4×4 that actually broke down during the test drive, I was starting to get frustrated. This wasn’t helped by one unscrupulous salesmans attempt to con me into leasing a Ford Freelander (really?!)

After some time, I became a bit more savvy: figured out the right questions to ask, and how to spot a competent dealer.  Now I knew I was looking for a “rough as f***” (as the Aussies are fond of saying) diesel that wouldn’t leave me stranded in the Outback. The first to catch my eye was a beautifully looked after Ford Maverick. Unfortunately AU$ 7.000 were out of the question, however, through the 4WD grapevine, I discovered that Nissan build the exact same car, for a much more reasonable price.

A quick internet search revealed a Nissan Patrol on sale for AU$ 6.000. Still too much, but already a better starting point for negotiations. This could be the one! The car was not, lets say, in top condition. Nevertheless, once the ignition was turned and the 4l 6 cylinder engine started roaring with a confidence that was beautiful to the ears, I knew that this engine, made in good old Japan, would do the trick. Due to its less-than-perfect condition, a sum of AU$ 5.000 was agreed to in exchange for the keys. Obviously the car had to be named and thanks to its solid steel bulbar, a name was quickly found: “Kangaroo killer” a.k.a. “KK”

Maybe it was a coincidence; maybe it was destiny that the famous trade fair Abenteuer Allrad 2013 in Bad Kissingen was about to kick off just a few weeks after getting addicted to the idea of joining the 4WD community once again. The drive to Bad Kissingen proved to be worth it: a beautiful HZJ 76 on sale was soon to be found, test-driven, and negotiations were started with the dealer right away. The signing of the contract took place only a few days later… On June 25th, 2013 the LC was picked up and given the Arabic name “Qadir”, which means “capable, powerful” – a very fitting description.

Due to Europe’s over-civilisation it is not easy to escape into untouched nature, like it is in Australia. Therefore many offroaders get together in forums or online communities to share their favourite spots, trips and (insider-)knowledge. Some set up websites like this one, to make the 4WD-experience available to everyone. And exactly that is this page’s purpose: to give anyone interested the possibility to take a closer look at a very exclusive, but truly beautiful hobby.