Hello! W213 Estate and I've been halfway around the world in a car!

[Janchee]

Hi all - introducing myself after getting a 2016 W213 estate (soooo much car for the money!) In love with it!

Bit of background about me ... I currently work in leadership around the subject of data. I go into companies and help them get profit from data. It's amazing what simple steps can be done in a company to return such big value from it.

On a personal note ... I've always loved cars and travelling. In 2016, two friends and I took part in the Mongol Rally which saw us drive a 1.2l, 15-year-old Vauxhall Agila to Mongolia and back from the UK. It was 20 countries in 58 days haha ... all the way through the stans. We raised over £4k for air ambulance so I was happy as Larry! We had moments such as a bearing in the gearbox exploding in the middle of Russia.

We professionally filmed a doc ... so if you have time to burn feel free to watch the adventure!
Part 1
Part 2

Here's a photo of Annie the Agila in the Turkish Mountains (13 previous owners!)

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome, great story..

 

[Wighty]

Welcome Jan, great picture

 

[Srdl]

Hi Jan and welcome to the forum

 

[A.J.]

Hi Jan, welcome to the forum. That is a great intro, loved the Vids

 

[Janchee]

Hi Jan, welcome to the forum. That is a great intro, loved the Vids

Glad you enjoyed them! And thanks everyone for the welcome

Which part did you like the best?

 

[mercmancdi]

Hi and welcome

 

[JBell]

Welcome Jan

I did the Mongol Rally in 2009, amazing adventure

 

[Janchee]

Welcome Jan

I did the Mongol Rally in 2009, amazing adventure

Ahh amazing! What a difference it must of been in 2009 compared to 2016 when we did it!

What was the mighty machine??

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome, Jan.

 

[JBell]

Ahh amazing! What a difference it must of been in 2009 compared to 2016 when we did it!

What was the mighty machine??

Very different apparently, loads less roads!!!!​

In the middle of the Gobi Desert having a nice warm beer!!!!! Our roof rack fell off shortly after!!!!



I have also done the Rickshaw Run from Cochin to Shillong in 2011

 

[Janchee]

Very different apparently, loads less roads!!!!​

In the middle of the Gobi Desert having a nice warm beer!!!!! Our roof rack fell off shortly after!!!!

View attachment 55401

I have also done the Rickshaw Run from Cochin to Shillong in 2011

Wow! Hey she’s a beauty! Haha yes - we had major problems with Mongolian customs during the rally... only way to get in was to pay $5k in CASH ... and you apparently got it back when you left?? Ha.

Did you drive back??

 

[Rappey69]

Great mini epic. Watched it this afternoon. Your car already wanted to be a Mercedes by keep snapping its suspension springs !
Why such small cars? Was that a requirement?

 

[JBell]

Wow! Hey she’s a beauty! Haha yes - we had major problems with Mongolian customs during the rally... only way to get in was to pay $5k in CASH ... and you apparently got it back when you left?? Ha.

Did you drive back??

We were delayed for 36 hours at the Mongolian Border, the toilet was a treat!!!!!!! Went from +25 to -15 at night. We flew back, those were the days they sold the cars and gave the money to charity.

 

[Janchee]

Great mini epic. Watched it this afternoon. Your car already wanted to be a Mercedes by keep snapping its suspension springs !
Why such small cars? Was that a requirement?

Ahh glad you loved it!

haha when we drove back ... there was only one spring that hadn't snapped

The Adventurists (Company that runs the rally) have a slogan: Make the world less boring...

It is meant to be a challenge and that’s why they set the limit. Plus it makes it lots fun! You should do it

 

[Rappey69]

Ive done journeys of a 1000 miles non stop, done a lot of offroading (not with a long journey) and sail across the channel on a yacht. Add that little lot together and I feel like I could have done it, even if I have not

 

[Jim2]

Welcome Jan, great videos. Brought back lots of memories for me...travelling in out of the way places ( in out of ordinary time's too ) Mountains around Sarajevo in the depths of winter, and all through the Balkan's. Across Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran, Tashkent, Northern Caucasus in Russia, Liberia, Libya and Darfur in Africa...and lastly ( but definitely not least ) Syria.