Hatchback or Estate?
Hatchbacks will work better in the desert with less overhang than equivalent estates and shorter cars can ride over sand dunes easier than long ones.
4×4:
If you can find a cheap 4×4 MINI, then this would be the best vehicle to take. They tend to have a higher ground clearance which is good for negotiating rocky sections and soft sand, four-wheel drive helps you in slippery conditions.
Manual or Automatic?
Manual or automatic doesn’t really matter either. Autos give you more control in slow speed sections where there isn’t a clutch to burn out, but manuals give you greater fuel range, are simpler and have a better chance of being fixed in the field and can be bump started if your battery dies.
Petrol or Diesel?
As for petrol or diesel, it doesn’t really matter, but diesel is always preferred on serious expedition vehicles due to the following reasons…
- Fuel range tends to be better with a diesel engine
- Low down torque helps you negotiate slow-speed sections without the need for slipping the clutch
- Diesel fuel is safer to carry in Jerry cans
Modifications:
The following modifications will need to be done…
- Suspension - raised suspension will help when negotiating soft sand and rocky sections
- Roof Rack - somewhere to carry a fuel Jerry can
- Sump Guard - protection for the engine, probably the most important modification that needs to be done