I know it's wrong...

Joshy

Joshy

Joshy

Soldato
Joined
15 Jun 2009
Posts
5,016
Location
London
I know that they are awful on Fuel.

I know that the performance on road is hideous.

I know that they aren't the best built cars in the world.

I know that I only want one because of the tiny bit of snow we get each year.

I know that living with one day to day would be hell, especially in London.

But...

I've been having a rather large "Do Want" moment with old Land Rovers at the moment, most notably very early defenders (Series Landys might be a step too far :D)

Land_Rover_Defender_110_Crew_Cab.jpg


The thought of owning a rough and tumble car that will go anywhere whilst hauling anything really appeals to me for some reason, despite me not having anywhere to go or anything to haul :D.

This is probably just another passing phase, but in anyone has any info on them I'd be happy to hear it.
 
Bit of a crap idea if you have no intention of going off road? If you plan on going out and getting mucky than it might be a brilliant idea. Will it be a second car?
 
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Janesy B said:
Bit of a crap idea if you have no intention of going off road?
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You're probably right, although if I ever ended up with one (or any other 'proper' off roader) it would no doubt end up with lifted suspension and knobbly tyres, Despite the fact that the closest decent Green Laning site is over 20 miles away :p.

I suspect this is just the insecurity of driving a small car kicking in again :(
 
If I had to drive in a city I'd love one of these, so much easier to bully your way through traffic :D

Though whether I'd enjoy living with one day to day would be an entirely different matter..
 
Go for it, if an when you decide it's not for you you can sell it for a minimal/no loss (asssuming you don't crash it).
 
Have you ever driven one? My Mum has one as a work car (A 110 pickup) and whilst its off-road capabilities are astounding my god its hard work on the road. You want to jump out the window after 15 minutes at 70mph.

Get a Discovery or something.
 
What do you want to know??

I can probably assume the guru position on landrovers around these parts having owned several, repaired, destroyed, built from scratch and competed in them :)
 
[TW]Fox;15594997 said:
Have you ever driven one? My Mum has one as a work car (A 110 pickup) and whilst its off-road capabilities are astounding my god its hard work on the road. You want to jump out the window after 15 minutes at 70mph.

Get a Discovery or something.
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Really that bad huh? I have heard that they are god awful to drive, but in a good way (that doesn't make much sense to be either).

Old Discoverys are supposedly unreliable, poorly built junk at this sort of money.

Slime101 said:
What do you want to know??

I can probably assume the guru position on landrovers around these parts having owned several, repaired, destroyed, built from scratch and competed in them :)
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Brilliant! I really do need to ask one question before I proceed giving this idea any thought - An old Landy on London Streets, is it ever going remotely work? It wouldn't be my daily (Go-Go Gadget Bus Pass), but it would be my only car.
 
Joshy said:
Really that bad huh? I have heard that they are god awful to drive, but in a good way (that doesn't make much sense to be either).
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Yea, its a 2008 one as well! Get it in the mud and its absolutely outstanding. Thats what its for. For road use only I'd really buy a Range Rover or a Discovery if you want the whole Land Rover thing.
 
Old Discoverys are ok if you know what you are looking for.
Defenders are a bit more reliable (Just) but are liked because they are very good off road and everything can be replaced easily (almost).

Have a test drive (Which i'm sure you were going to do anyway ;)), in regards to Foxs comment about driving at 70mph, i doubt you will get much more from it tbh.
 
London & landrovers dont mix - they have heavy steering, brakes and clutch. You will get shafted on the road tax, and the congestion charge and watch out for environmental taxes too!!!

Old landrovers arent known for their reliability, but it does depend how old, ive never had any problems with any of mine but they were mostly the TD5 defenders which are excellent. My old 200tdi was run on veg oil all the time, but the price of that negates its use now unless you have a source of it for 50p a litre.

Landrovers arent bad to drive, but you do have to love them because they are not comparable to a normal car, the seats generally arent overly comfortable, they arent fast, they arent cheap to buy or run, they leak (oil out and water in) and creature comforts are lacking - you either love em or hate them :D
 
I have a friend who owned one, it was a 1989 model.

They are an absolute money pit. Things will break all the time. if you buy one which has been "restored" you will pay through the nose to begin with, and then things will break less often.

He owned his from this time last year until this summer. In that time it had:
new engine
wheel bearing
rear part of chassis replacing
exhaust mounts replacing
There was much more, but I cannot recall off the top of my head. He did the work himself, being an engineering student who lives on a farm. if he hadn't done it himself it would have cost him an even more ridiculous amount.

The whole time that he owned it he wished that he had bought a discovery, it would have been more comfortable, more reliable and overall a better buy.
 
Slime101 said:
London & landrovers dont mix - they have heavy steering, brakes and clutch. You will get shafted on the road tax, and the congestion charge and watch out for environmental taxes too!!!

Old landrovers arent known for their reliability, but it does depend how old, ive never had any problems with any of mine but they were mostly the TD5 defenders which are excellent. My old 200tdi was run on veg oil all the time, but the price of that negates its use now unless you have a source of it for 50p a litre.

Landrovers arent bad to drive, but you do have to love them because they are not comparable to a normal car, the seats generally arent overly comfortable, they arent fast, they arent cheap to buy or run, they leak (oil out and water in) and creature comforts are lacking - you either love em or hate them :D
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Hmm, is it bad that your words still haven't put me off?

I currently drive a 205 with a aftermarket sunroof, so "heavy" steering and the occasional leak isn't anything that I haven't experienced already :p.

The way I see it, Road tax is exactly the same as any other car, as is any other taxing costs (unless a Defender is seen as a Van, then the Low emission zone rule may come into play?).

Reliability - I certainly don't mind getting my hands dirty, it's all a part of the fun.

Running costs - Without daily use, I wouldn't use a car very often. To be honest, they can't be much more expensive than the old BMW barges I'm also considering :p.

When I got the 4x4 bug previously I decided that the realistic option was a Shogun (I never nearly bough a SWB 2.5 TD, but at the last minute I decided it was LWB or bust), but they seem to lack the 'charisma' & 'X Factor' an old series or Defender seems to be dripping in.

For a passing interest, I'm certainly trying very hard to justify one to myself :o
 
Road tax is upto £400+ depending on age so certainly more than some cars, the exception is that some are commercial and cheaper :)

Occasional leaks arent ocassional, they are persistant and permenant, it will ruin your drive with oil leaks and youll have wet carpets/floors year round!

I love them, but buy carefully, chassis and bulkhead rot plague older defenders and discos suffer that along with sills, doors and footwells.
 
our defender has proved very useful at these times of years. the iciest of roads are no trouble.

brilliant tool for when its like this.

but thats it, its a tool. you will hate it most of the time unless you regularly offroad etc. up to you really.

oh and it takes about 15 minutes to change gear :D

think our 300tdi returns around 25-30mpg on mixed driving. and watch the rot.

on upside, its a dream to work on obviously, so much room. :)
 
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