Noob alert - what do you guys think of this?

[Sway]

http://mobile.pistonheads.com/sales/1666607.htm

Just written off my Focus C-Max, so thinking of splitting the insurance between two cars - a regular focus for the missus, and a commuting/workhorse/toy for me, and saw the above.

Heard a lot of good things about Samurais, and thought this one looked pretty good, but as I've never had a 4x4 before, and I'm a couple of hundred miles away from it, I'd get your thoughts.

I've emailed the seller to register interest as he's on holiday til next Monday (so no cuts!!), just waiting for him to ring.

Are there any particular pertinant bits of info I should ask for?

Is there anything I need to worry about checking for?

Any help greatly appreciated!

Sam

[jesta1865]

looks good, seems to be in decent shape, and the extra wide wheels should stop it falling over

actually i would be tempted myself if i had the money, i am a big landy fan, but that looks lots of fun and the guy seems to have done lots to it and looked after it.

[Hooli]

Sway said:

Is there anything I need to worry about checking for?

Rust, but it's appear that one has been sorted out pretty well.
I'd be curious about the props considering the lift, have they been lengthened? if not I've seen standard props slide apart as axles drop on very lifted cars. The SPOA conversion on that is about 4" of lift before anything else happens so I bet it's got longer shox allowing more droop too.

[Gafferjim]

Looks OK, but be aware that it's illegal due to the tyres sticking out further than the wheel arches. Law says that the tread width (not the whole tyre bulge) must be covered by the wheel arches. most BiB won't know, but you may just get one that's clued up.

[OllieWinchester]

Looks nice, but I'd drive a few first, and not just a spin around the block. They are hideous to drive on the road as standard, and that only gets worse the more off road orientated they become, and I know this because I've got one. You'd have to be a masochist or work from home to want to commute in one.

[Hooli]

OllieWinchester said:

They are hideous to drive on the road as standard.

I loved my 410, it was funny as hell onroad. spent most of it's life sideways with the knobblies screaming IIRC

[Sway]

Cheers guys, heard back from the seller - he's got a guy letting him know by the weekend if his wife will let him have it, but I'm potentially second in line.

Understand about the wheels, not a huge issue as we have loads of conveyor belts at work, and I can easily get some to chop and fit to cover the tread for nowt.

Regarding road use, I do 5 miles each way, on b roads, and rarely get above 25 mph. Would it really be that bad? Considering the amount of work I'm doing at home and in the garden, a key reason for wanting one is to act as a mobile skip, which I thought it would be ideal for. (not worried about it's limited load space - the tip is 30 seconds drive away so can do lots of trips in a day).

I also want to learn how to drive off road, and have heard how good they are for this.

In other words, what else could I get for similar money that fulfills the above criteria and won't be a money pit or need stupid amounts of welding?

Cheers,

Sam

[Hooli]

For what you describe there it sounds ideal. Don't ever consider motorway trips in it though, that's when they get a bit st on road.

[MaximumJed]

Sway said:

a key reason for wanting one is to act as a mobile skip, which I thought it would be ideal for. (not worried about it's limited load space - the tip is 30 seconds drive away so can do lots of trips in a day).

Check if your local tip has a height restriction, it may be too low to get a lifted 4x4 in.

[RB Will]

If you dont buy it I might

[Sway]

RB Will said:

If you dont buy it I might

Sorry, it's looking more and more that I'll be driving the long, slow journey home in it on Saturday...

Already found a proper high steer kit and rear traction bar kit to go on (really helps having a fabricator for a best mate!) and make it a little more civilised, just trying to figure out the best way to widen the arches without it looking rubbish.

Oh, and although not mentioned in the ad, it's also coming with a (slight delivery damaged) external cage, spare axles, props, etc., so feeling pretty chuffed!!

Just need a mahooosive fk off PH smiley to go on it, change the V5 for the change in colour, and find someone local to show me the ropes off road (I've heard there are 3 or 4 decent pay and play sites near me.

Anyone on the South Coast willing to show a noobie how not to go about this off road malarky?

[OllieWinchester]

I've got an SJ I share with my brothers, we are always up for getting muddy. There is a good pay and play site near you operated by Core4x4 (google them) so we could try and meet up with you down there at some point? We also go up Salisbury Plains quite a bit, NormalBloke is around on here and quite local too, he is a legend and has the most awesome Unimog I have ever seen. Good luck with it!