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I've been thinking that a Land Rover Series III, early 70s model, would be useful for winter and when I need to dump large amounts of garden rubbish, etc. Cheap to buy, easy to repair/maintain, and tax exempt if you get one registered before 1973. And they qualify for classic car insurance, so that might not be too expensive either.
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a few months back we bought a big jeep for this reason. the jeep hemi is used on the weekends and in poor weather. Otherwise i stick to the Merc s600
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I have a sports bike for the warmer weather and an old 650 single for poorer weather as a sacrifice to the rust god. The car stays in the garage unless it is precipitating it down.
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JCoventry.
We have done just this on and off over the past 25yrs. With a Series III SWB Safari, Series IIa SWB, Series II SWB & Series III SWB. They were run as a third vehicle and only used when they were needed (small scale farm type use mainly) or when I fancied a laugh.
By the time we had the last two our need was on a serious daily basis and I realised there were big downsides during winter to having this extra vehicle that was only used a few miles a day. They had been sitting chilled all day and with their primitive heaters never got fully defrosted on short runs and they were freezing to be in untill they'd been driving for ten miles or so... which they rarely were. They were also prone to flat batteries as they never got long runs to recharge. Despite their low mileages there was still maintenance to do and it did sometimes seem a waste to do this on a third vehicle.
Diesel versions were pathetically slow and the petrols probably did less than 20mpg on short runs.
For years though when they came into their own off-road/winter it all seemed worthwhile until, as I said, the need became serious and we had to rethink.
Eventually we sold the last of these Series LRs plus one car and bought one of the original Discoveries. This meant that our "off road" vehicle had been driven already throughout the day and was warm, defrosted and most important had all modern comforts. It was a diesel, economical, very reliable, a very practical family daily transport and useful fun holiday vehicle.
Ran this for a couple of years until our off-road need ceased and wouldn't hesitate to have one again should the need arise.
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Depends on where you live and on what driving must be done?
For most city/town drivers who dont venture out then surely all is needed is an older low value reliable lump that can be disposed of in spring?
Old enough to not worry if you have to abandon it, low value enough not to worry it if it gets damaged, low powered enough to avoid classic excess right foot winter syndrome, cheap enough to afford some decent tyres so it might get grip (doesnt matter what vehicle you have; its tyres that provide the grip!).
If you are venturing further than that in snow and ice then ask yourself why you are doing it and get a vehicle accordingly?
I get called out to a lot of breakdowns in this snow stuff, I run about in a little old diesel Fiesta with thin (but new) tyres on it. Aint got stuck yet, and pulled a few people out of trouble etc!
If you "need" a jeep type then maybe you have a few fields to cross; I dont have that need personally!
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I've often toyed with the idea of buying something just to use if I need to go out when it snows here - we generally get a couple of 'episodes' per winter - and they don't salt the roads. Don't want a 2CV but I quite fancy the idea of a Renault 4 on M and S tyres. There's still loads of them around here.
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>>t I quite fancy the idea of a Renault 4 on M and S tyres. There's still loads of them around here.
I worked on a construction site for a year when I was 19. The vehicle least likely to get stuck, other than the tractors, was the site foreman's R4 van.
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>>I've been thinking that a Land Rover Series III, early 70s model, would be useful for winter
Not really a practical everyday vehicle IMO, if your journeys are more than a few miles. Nor would I have wanted to use mine last week in the snow, in preference to the CRV. The brakes are likely to get you into trouble (the rears lock easily).
Had the snow been a foot deep, and it had been essential for me to get out, I might have had a go with it.
Fanatics might tell you otherwise, but the Series Land Rovers are as near to a tractor as a modern car (less difference 30 years ago perhaps). They are also very heavy on fuel, even the diesels. Most of them get wet inside when it rains too. The 4WD shouldn't be used on a normal road surface unless there's ice or mud on the road, as there's no centre diff.
If you fancy a Land Rover for general purposes a 90/110/Defender would be more usable unless your journeys are short. They also have permanent four wheel drive.
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A SIII LR is a dreadful vehicle and falls a long way short of modern standards in every dept.
A good winter car would be an 2002-on Ibiza/Polo/Fabia fitted with a set of winter tyres. 1.4 petrol engine starts well at low temps and warms up quick, has a good heater and not too much torque so is controllable on icy roads. The TDIs can be a bit fierce on a sluippery road.
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>>A SIII LR is a dreadful vehicle
Steady on! I might want to sell it!
and falls a long way short of modern standards in every dept.
Correct!
If I wanted an additional car as a winter runabout I'd do exactly as you suggest.
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There is no doubt the Series LR is a dreadful car (which is why we gave them up for our needs) but they still are a superb vehicle if you have the slightest excuse for one. When I properly retire a LR IIa will probably sit in the barn alongside a DS Pallas.
Edited by M.M on 28/12/2009 at 14:36
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I've been thinking about a 2nd vehicle that I could chuck the Dog into and one that would 'come into it's own' come snow & ice, and I be reckoning that the Hobgoblin's Jimni would fit the bill.
I wouldn't fancy doing any miles in it mind, but to shoot down the town for a tin of beans or some condoms it would be ideal, + for those odd folk that prefer an auto, it can be had with a 4 speeder.
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I be reckoningthat the Hobgoblin's Jimni would fit the bill.
I agree with the Cornish view there P, i had toyed with the idea of contacting Stu with a view to buying his sis's Suzi for similar..only trouble is son and daughter would always be pestering to borrow it, and i might be too tempted to stick some serious rubber on and go back to fun off roading, which can get expensive.
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>>> I agree with the Cornish view there P <<<
Hehe! CornishCockerknee of course :)
I've been looking at the Suzuki Jimni on ebay Gordon, and there's all types & all prices for thee.
I've tuned and obviously road tested a hell of a lot of different types of vehicle in my time (get the Violins out!) and it used to astonish me just how uncouth the Landie's were - the old one's I mean, both 2 1/4 & 2 1/2 ... Nissan Patrol and Isuzu Trooper didn't really turn me on.
The Range Rover and the Shogun were a different class though IMO, but I wouldn't want to drive one all the time, only as a 2nd vehicle.
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I think the Subaru Forester is a good one, not too expensive 3-5 years old either. Subarus have a very good AWD system.
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I really never ever thought I would be saying this but.......my Qashqai is brilliant. It has sort of crept up on me and this recent spell of cold slippy stuff has really shown it in its best light. It's not that my other cars are inadequate or anything, far from it, just this one is better at winter duties. I could easily live without it of course but I do like it and appreciate its capabilities. A quickclear windscreen and normal wiper switches would make it more or less perfect.
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The thing with vehicles like the Qashqai and the Forester etc., is that they *can* be driven all the time ... A sort of four-season vehicle.
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I still think it would be cool to have a Land Rover though. ;-) Yes, prehistoric design compared to what we have today. But still tough (when working) and very capable off road. I am interested in it because a pre 1973 is tax exempt, and I can get classic car insurance - Adrian Flux do reasonable prices for young drivers with only a couple years NCB, like me.
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Of course Landies are an irrational choice for the majority of people Jc but I do agree that they can be cool. I had one a very long time ago and it was both great and a nightmare at the same time. If it is an itch you need to scratch then go for it I say. I'd still advise going for a slightly later model though, for eg a 90. I still miss mine sometimes but probably wouldn't want another one. Feel the cold too much now to be crawling about under things bolting stuff back on !
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I suppose they are cool if you are too young to remember them first time around. Us old 'uns are glad to see the back of these crocks, like old Beetles and the original mini. They were OK in their time, and OK now as a curiosity, but I wouldnt like to use one every day. For a winter use car you at least want ABS, and an airbag might be useful if you hit a patch of black ice.
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