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If you can find a sound one for that money an old Disco makes sense. Easy to work on (though you'll need to!) and cheapish bits with plenty of suppliers. But they do rust badly and for that money it's likely to be a shed. See any of the Land rover magazines. Until you mentioned comfort, I would have said an old 'Series' Landy, the cheapest way into off-roading. Series IIA or III are cheapest and £2000 should get you a very sound example. A doddle to work on, silly cheap bits, good fun and as tough as old boots.
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I'm not scared of getting the spanners out, infact I want to work on it, as I can't do that on my/SWMBO cars as we need them everyday.
If the bodywork is a bit carp, that doesn't matter as long as it's not too bad, but needs a relativley sound engine and has a good chassis.
If it was just for me I would like a LR, but, comfort may be the wrong word, but a LR proper is too basic for SWMBO.
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Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
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The small Suzukis are great because they're so small and light. They go easily where larger, heavier vehicles fear to go. If you get it bogged down half a dozen big men can just about lift it out.
On the road, they're gutless (perhaps just as well!) thirsty, noisy, uncomfortable and have appalling handling and brakes. You can't have everything.
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Something along these lines would do the job wouldn't it?:
tinyurl.com/3ax7d5
I'm surprised someone would go to the expense of these modifications but not have a play with it off road?
;o)
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The small Suzukis are great
I second that. Try with Suzuki Jimny first. However, its on road behavior is not that good :)
Or try with Suzuki Ignis 4Grip. It's not really a 4x4 (has viscous coupling) but it is good on tarmac at least.
They are both cheap to start with.
How serious are you doing off roading? Some of my friends have thought about 4x4 in the past! They bought expensive 4x4s. Did some adventure for first few months. Then enthusiasm died down. 4x4s gathered dust on driveway. Finally got rid of them with pretty low price - suffering considerable depreciation.
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i'm fairly serious, which is why i don't intend on spending a huge amount to start with.
Get a 4x4, do some driving in it, see how i get on then so I don't waste a huge amount of money, then start with the modifications.
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Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
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Recent discussion on the proc and cons of an old Discovery:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=54016&...e
I would go for a Series 3 Land Rover - cheap and easy to work on and a useful improvement on the Series 2 and 2A, most significant is the much stonger five bearing crank engine.
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"so I was thinking of spending up to £1500/£2000."
Ignis4grip - don't think so !
The Disco on fleabay looks like a good risk, if it's a bad un you can always punt off the bits !
Add a snorkel kit and it will be flood proof as well.
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And now for something completely different:
www.rrservices.co.uk/index2.html
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I didn't think of the smaller stuff, but mainly the Disco sized stuff.
Will look into a suzuki too I think, as people keep mentioning them.
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Aim low, expect nothing & dont be disappointed
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Sim-O,
Go for the Jimny, 2k should get you one with some good life in it. One of the 4x4 mags did a 'Buying used' guide not that long ago, and the only main gripe I can remember is to check the front suspension and hubs / bearing at approx 30K. Depending on the treatment there was some bushes needing done, and at worse, front bearing - IIRC. Nothing dramatic, and lots apparently done under warranty.
There was a review done by one of the bigger mags that put the Jimny up against the Porsche Beach Buggy and guess which they gave the thumbs up to off road? Yup the Jimny. It may not be flash, and fast it certainly isn't but mine could certainly handle many a green lane, and gotme home through 25 miles of really bad snow the other winter - drifts over 2 feet in bits. It really paid for itself that day. Many drivers of bigger vehicles seemed really impressed with the progress it made.
Proper selectable low range, part time four wheel drive, and ladder chassis, separate body. Loads and loads of mods available if you want to. I loved it, but had to move up due to needing to carry more. Great for just two folks and a packed lunch.
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I was at on off-road event with quite a demanding course and when a Jimny took its turn all the Landy guys prepared their heartiest laughs for its inevitable humbling. Cue slack jaws at it ate the course up. The only thing it backed out of was the water obstacle but it was a really nasty, deep one.
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