18 Comments
Aug 31, 2023Liked by John Birmingham

I'm pretty much sold but I will look a full tool driving one of these around the hipster capital of Australia.

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So how does it compare price wise to the Jeep?

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Sep 2, 2023·edited Sep 2, 2023

In Aus Jeeps are stupid expense, around $90kAUD. I'm looking for a compact 4x4 at the moment and googled Roxor for Aus in hope, doesn't look like they sell them here. but Mahindra Aus sell a 4X4 ute cab for $40kAUD

edit: wow, looks like Jeep are stopping them for being sold in Aus because of the design. Ass holes!

https://www.drive.com.au/news/mahindra-thar-may-be-back-on-the-cards-for-australia/

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Crummy Jeepholes .

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Bastards. This is a clear case of squashing the competition.

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This is a good question, Bill, and difficult to answer. Just for you, I went through Jeep's model builder and tried to build a Roxor-like modern Jeep. It's not easy. In fact, it's impossible. It really is an apples-to-oranges comparison. For one, almost all Chrysler Jeeps are gasoline engines. Also, their least expensive Jeep is the Wrangler two-door Sport with a V6 gas engine and six-speed standard. It comes in at 33,690. This is the least expensive trim you can order. The Roxor starts around 20K and a top-of-the-line model is about 29K. However, the Jeep is a highway-certified, modern safety standards vehicle, and the Roxor is not. The Roxor is intended for limited road and off-road use. The Jeep has no such restrictions. I guess the best answer is that it all depends on what you want this vehicle to do, what your realistic usage will be, and what level of creature comforts you want. For some, the Chrysler Jeep is a better fit. For me? Not so much.

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Thanx for the intell. I had a wrangler for 20 yrs . Took it into some sketchy places here in Colo . Great fun . Great hunting vehicle. I just don’t hunt or fish as much . Problem is it there’s nothing better than Elk and only one way to get it. This Roxor looks like it could get me there.

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Bill, a few days ago, I closely examined my new Roxor (seeing as how I bought it), and I was deeply impressed. I have intimate knowledge of the old Willys CJ5 design, and the Roxor is very similar, all the way down to the body reinforcements and stampings. The wheelbase, etc, are Willys dimensions, and I have heard that there is a high degree of parts commonality with the 40's Willys. I know that the rims will bolt up. I was most impressed by the sheet metal- NO ONE still makes 50's gauge sheet metal, but the Roxor is constructed of that tough old stuff. Actually, in some respects, the Roxor is better than the old CJ. I'll give you an example. The front bumper. On my old 5 the front bumper was made of very stern stuff, you could wrap a chain around it and come-along it out of a hole no problem. I didn't think there was any chance the Roxor would have a similar bumper, so I discussed an HD bumper with the dealer. After examining the stock bumper on the base Roxor, I decided there was zero need to get the HD unit. Not only was the bumper constructed as well as my old 5, but Mahindra improved it by running a no-kidding steel pipe through the front frame horns directly behind the bumper, and they welded it in place! It is actually STRONGER than the forties Willys! Holy crap. Plus, there can be no doubt that a four-cylinder diesel is a vast improvement over the old gas engine in my Willys, and it has a five-speed. Much, much better than my old three-speed. Same two-range transfer case as well. As a plus, it gets factory 32-34 mpg with a sixteen-gallon tank. In the east, the five gallon tank on my Willys was no big deal, but out west like I think you are, that can be a problem. Well, the Roxor has a 500 mile range on one tank. Deeply impressive. The only fly in the ointment is the whole limited street-legal thing, and I'm not sure how that works for you. Around here it's fine as long as I don't take it on the interstate.

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I like the diesel. It’s not legal for the roads according to the state of Colo. But it’s mostly up to the local county. Most counties allow off road vehicles . Too many side by sides etc driven by farmers and ranchers and hunters .

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Same here- I talked with the Sheriff and Highway Patrol, and they said it's fine as long as I don't take it on the interstate. I don't plan on it anyway. Just local jaunts to get to trails. This was how I used old Jeep anyway- no way was I going to take the old Willys out on US 70. No reason to do it with the Roxor.

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bloody standard. As per usual Australia chrysler has things sewn up so the roxor cant be sold here. We get a suv and a ute, and thats it - not the knock about beat up machine.

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I can think of worse rides😀

For me less is more when it comes to a 4x4….

The closest to a mud pool most of those monster trucks you see around town get is the skid marks in their owners pants when they get the fuel bill!!!

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Miss read the sentence as "These hard-ons are the bare..." and my narrative was completely derailed - I blame starting reading Chuck Tingle's Camp Damascus.

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Ah the mighty Jeep - we've had a few in the family, and long story short I was the proud owner of a 1944 Ford GPW (same as the Willys MB....I could bore you with details!) for some 20 odd years and loved it. Bare bones but great off road, max speed a good 47 MPH up or downhill! I used it as my daily and only car for 2 years at one point. Sadly I had to let it go... As regards Mahindra, I did have one rear axle from that firm in the Jeep for a time, probably one or two other bits I can't recall.

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Yeah, I eyeballed my new ride today; there's plenty of the old Willys DNA in there. The sheet metal alone was astounding. I didn't think ANYONE still built things with 40's type tin anymore, but Mahindra does.

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India does! Not only Mahindras but various scooters (LML/Bajaj which are Vespa copies and the now gone Scooters of India Ltd making Lambretta clones), motorbikes like Royal Enfields, Hindustan Ambassador which was a Morris Oxford clone....it's a big list!

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