Land Rovers

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:27 am

I have a hankering (again!) for a jeep. The Ka does sterling work as a commuter car and, with snow tyres, will get through just about the worst snow, but I still want a jeep.

I'm between a Fourtrak Daihatsu (2.8 diesel) or a Defender.

Budget would be 2k.

Anyone any experience/advice?

(We own a farm too so I have plenty of off-road possibilities and with impending house renovations, a jeep'd be a handy tool.)

cheers
John

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:32 am

Thinforth is your man, but he is doing his best Quagmire impression in Shanghai AFAIK.

Landy every time as it is British (Ish)

Preferably an old S1 but not a diseaseal cos they are crap

(Mine still needs a new fuel tank but I object to paying for a new one!

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 11:49 am

it'd be a diesel i'm afraid as we buy diesel (white, not red before anyone asks!) in bulk and get it at a far cheaper rate than pump price.

i'd run it day to day so a Defender-ish would be needed as there's no way I'm doing 45miles a day in an S1! My back's knackered as it is!

111Robin · Post by **111Robin** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:32 pm

A friend recently bought a Defender 50th anniversary. 4 litre V8 automatic. I had the "pleasure" of using it for a week and I'll soon be driving it to London for them. Obviously the V8 isn't economic (18mpg if you're lucky) but otherwise the Defender impressed me. That said I couldn't live with it as a daily driver, each to their own I suppose.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:42 pm

I wouldn't fancy a long trip in mine either...

My mum keeps trying to get me to fix it and drive it up to preston but I'm fairly reluctant!

The only problem if I'm honest is that a defender is utterly basic and the fourtrak isn't.

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:29 pm

You'll get a decent diesel Cherokee for 2 grand.

Then at least you'll have a Jeep to call a "jeep" and not some Jap/Brit imitation

Titanium S1 111S (gla) · Post by **Titanium S1 111S (gla)** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:16 pm

Just been through all the various options and came to the conclusion that a S1 Disco was the one for me.

My budget was £3k max and looked at what I could get for that. Any Defender in that range is as rough as a badgers and I reckoned that it would end up broken most of the time.

Looked at the Jap stuff and was unimpressed. Looked at Jeep and quite liked but parts cost the earth.

For my £3k budget I have bought a S1 Disco 3.9 V8 ES (Leather + bells and whistles) it is LPG converted and came with the benefit of a blown cylinder head gasket. E-Bay cost £1000

Have now striped and replaced gasket, all looks to be in good shape and the rest of the engine looks mint. Still have to put the inlet manifold, alternator and a few other bits back on but should be finished with a couple of hours work.

Balance of the budget to be spent on,

Tubular front bumper / bull bar + winch (say £600)
Side rock slides (£150)
Full roof rack (£250)
Spot lights (£100)
Big old tyres (£250)

3 inch suspension lift (inc new shockers / springs etc) £500 â€“ if I can be bothered.

£500 new suspension for Elise

For that I get a 200 horse off road beast which gets 32 mpg (cost equivalent), which is reasonable on the road, will tow small islands, can carry 7 people at a push and is reasonably cheep to fix when it goes wrong.

Just my thinking â€“ and a moments e-bay madness. The TDIs are a bit clunky and slow but strong and reliable, not a bad option if you are going with an oil burner.