a mate has just rung wanting some ideas, as he wants to buy an old Land Rover. Not a total old nail, but fairly cheap, for farm type and occasional road use.
Anyone got any ideas, he's based in Devon, but could travel. He'd prefer a 90.
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Try www.witham-sv.co.uk for ex MOD vehicles.
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Worth you reading JC's rant about old Landies in the "other paper" - you can see it in the online edition's motoring section.
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brightwells 4x4 auction might be a good place to look www.brightwells.com/vehicles/4x4/tabid/199/Default...x
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Get an old Series II or early III, tax exempt. No electrics, meccano build, cheap bits. Get one of the Land Rover mags, good buyers guides in them plus plenty of ads. You should get something tatty but useable and solid for under £2000.
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Watch the chassis - they do rust, contrary to popular belief. Outriggers, and rear cross member, also bulkhead and front panel.
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Yes, but at least if its not terminal it can be fixed without resort to hi techiness. In fairness despite what JC says nothing comes close to these as a tool to do a job.
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Watch the chassis - they do rust, contrary to popular belief. Outriggers, and rear cross member, also bulkhead and front panel.
As already said, you can the parts cheap and a new galvanised chassis that won't break the bank and that will probaly out live most of us.
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I'm going to buck the trend here and suggest he looks at the older TDi Discoveries.
why, because the half decent Series 2 and 3 at this sort of money are very hard to find. Everybody wants them because they are everything a Land Rover is hyped up to be.
A Discovery is IMO under rated. OK some aspects of them don't make them as good at offroading as the Series and Defenders etc, but if it's his first LR then he's probably not too fussed about the real aspects. His only real problem is that the Discos aren't 'meant' to collect dents whereas the series and defenders seem to improve with each minor dent. If he can 'get over' the fact that he may dent it then this is IMO one issue ot of the way.
As a plus he will probably get fewer probs with his money on an older disco rather than the series 3. Even the older TDi is more refined than the Series 3 and the earlier defender. He will get a turbo Diesel as opposed to that normally aspirated lump.
I basically use my disco as a defender and, apart from actually getting stuck the other day, something I suspect I would have achieved in a Defender or series LR, I really don't notice the difference.
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I agree with Hugo, Disco is far easier to use everyday, far more civilized. But if you're going to do something that ends being battering the vehicle get a Defender.
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If he fancy's a mitsubishi, I've been watching mk2 shoguns/pajeros on ebay for the last few days - their price has plummeted (as have most 4x4s) - a ten-year old OK one seems to be around £1000-£1500 now.
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What mileage will he be doing in it? Shogun V6 - the last of the square body shape, about 90/91 are built like aircraft carriers, with a thirst to match - say 17 mpg running around, to 25 on a long m-way run at 65 mph.
I guess most are now long gone, but there will be a few around that have been cared for that probably won't make more than £1k. I guess the TDs might look a better deal, but I expect they've all been hammered by now.
If he looked around for a good one he'd be able to keep it running for a long time - the V6 is very under stressed.
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thankyou for the responses, keep them coming.... he's checking them on here.......who knows there might be an addition to the backroom
the vehicle is to supplement an existing 3 year old Freelander (which may be changed soon for the new one) and he's fed up with the horse smells from it, from daily horse chores.
It will be used for towing a horsebox etc, and minimal country lane mileage to and from nearby fields and similar. Any longer distance stuff the Freelander will come into it. It will need to be road legal though for obvious reasons, although his quad is taxed as a farm type vehicle, so not sure if he can do something there, with the tax side of things, can't remember.
and quite possibly when i visit we'll whizz out and 'green lane' it.
The Discovery advice above sounds interesting.
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Like Hugo I'll go with an early Discovery TDi as well. Have one for just the use you mention... after 20yrs of Series2/3 and Defender/90 models it is like heaven.
So much better to have comfy seats and a good heater if you take folks with you from time to time.
These days £2K will usually buy a better Disco than SWB LR.
DW
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Having owned a 90, a tdi Discovery and a Series 2a, I'd recommend he gets a 110.
110s are generally cheaper than 90s, better load capacity, bigger tow vehicle, but look for a tdi.
Discovery, watch out for rot in the sills, inner wings, rear arches, boot floor..
2a, very simple to work on, very cheap parts, but such hard work to drive. Noisy, bumpy, turning circle of a barge.
Just my opinion.
Chris
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As it's only going to be used as not much more than an agricultural vehicle with minimal road mileage, I'd get a 2a. It'll outlast any Disco and is much more robustly built, particularly the interior. You're going to use it as a glorified tractor so buy one!
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And another thing...... a 2a will be free road tax. It's only going to go up so why pay nearly £1000 in 5 years when you don't have to? You'll get classic insurance too, you shouldn't need to pay much more than £100 to £150 for that. Add to that zero depreciation and for me it would be a no-brainer. If you were doing any serious on-road mileage I'd say a Disco too but as a countryside tool, nothing is better than an old Landy.
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"...as a countryside tool, nothing is better than an old Landy"
Now come on, he's made quite clear that nothing is not an option. :-)
I'll get my coat.
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Much as I have enjoyed the old LRs over the years it was the impractical aspects of using them on a daily basis for "horse support" and trailer duties that moved us to a TDi Disco. Our need is for unmade track, field and 3mls of road a couple of times a day 365 days a year.
The 2a/3 LR downsides compared to the Disco...
Almost never clear their screens/side windows when wet. Miserable cold vehicle to use on a frosty night. There is no HRW or rear wipe for looking to reverse onto the trailer. Hopeless lights. Hopeless wipers. You can't wind down a window to chat to someone. The driver can't elec down the passenger window to chat to someone on the nearside. So so noisy. Petrol drinks fuel. Diesel so so slow for towing... will not safely keep up with traffic. Rubbish brakes to the point of dangerous unless the trailer's are spot on. Usually only suitable for driver plus one (unless a 109 bus!).
Plus points...
A cool icon that will last for ever (think broom - head/handle)... and it will not matter when the horse kicks it.
DW
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My SIII costs me £95 to insure on classic insurance with a 1500 miles pa limit via Footman James - recommended by another BR contributor. I doubt I could insure a Disco for that.
I'd have thought that £ for £ it's a choice between a good Series or a tatty Disco.
A Series is an experience, in a way that Disco even a Defender just isn't. If your mate was contemplating doing a lot of miles my advice would be different.
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The sliding windows were the quickest possible way of getting to chat to someone. Very easy to lean across and slide the passenger window. Also obligatory for resting your elbow on the ledge at all times. Look at the rub marks from generations of farmers' elbows.
You don't need a rear wash-wiper with an open back or canvas tilt.
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