Overlander Interview - Peter & Esther Bühlmann
Date: 8 August 2008
Location: Cusco, Peru
Overlanders: Peter & Esther Bühlmann
Nationality: Switzerland
Expedition: North, Central & South America; Southern Africa; ?
Expedition duration: 5/2007 to ?
Vehicle: 2003 Land Rover Defender
Engine: 2.5L Turbo, 5 cylinder diesel
Total Vehicle Kilometers: 88,000
Current Expedition Kilometers: 56,000
Fuel Effeciency: Trip average to date is 10.3 liters per 100 km / 22.8 mpg.
Vehicle notes: Peter and Esther bought the Defender from the manufacturer. It was a former trade show, photo model and demo unit. The vehicle had 26k km when it was purchased. Travel with two mountain bikes on a swing out storage box/rack on the back.
Trip notes: Shipped to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Traveled across Canada, up to Alaska, down the western U.S., and Baja California. They took the ferry to mainland Mexico, explored the colonial areas there, then came down through Central America. They shipped from Panama to Ecuador due to the border unrest between Columbia and Ecuador at that time. They cleared their vehicle from the port in Ecuador in 1.5 days. Outside of Guatamala, they did not find Central America as interesting as Mexico or South America.
Comments: Have had only one problem with the LR Defender, the replacement of the front (driveshaft) seal on the rear differential. They have had no issues or problems with the Langer & Bock conversion components. Esther feels that if the vehicle had a little bit more room it would be perfect. The soft top can be an issue in areas that are loud, windy and cold.
Web site:www.yakontour.ch
Shipping Company: SeaBridge (motorhomes between Europe and USA/Canada) www.sea-bridge.de seabridge@t-online.de ; Transcanal Agency, S.A. (Panama to SA shipping) www.transcanal.com agent: Evelyn Batista evelyn.batista@transcanal.com
[editor comments: The quality of components and materials; assembly and craftmanship of the Langor and Bock conversion is equal to a top tier yacht. I have carefully inspected scores of new and used top tier sailboats and this work is equal to products in the top 33% of that market. It is by far the best I have ever seen in an expedition vehicle. ]
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