Getting itchy feet...
Discussion
I can't help wanting to buy another car. This is largely due to the fact the engine went south in my Impreza. So I'm looking at maybe getting rid of it (or parking up until I decide what to do with it). And chopping in one of the Land Rovers too.
The car needs to sort of fill the family car role. But only in so much as being able to seat people. Number of doors is probably important, but I'm happy to over look it or completely ignore it for now
MPG isn't directly an issue as I probably won't use it for lots of miles a year. But that said, the more frugal a vehicle is, the more it'll get used. So it is a point I need to consider.
Oh and it has to be a 4x4 and off road capable. As that will fulfil what it will be used for.
Budget wise I was thinking of around the £10k or under mark.
With my sensible head on I'd really like a Discovery 3. But I'd lift it and chuck some MT's on it. Something like this, but more...
Trouble is, I don't want a diesel auto. I'd opt for a diesel manual or a V8 auto though. But the real snag is, if I'm buying one I want one with the optional rear locking e-diff, which sadly is very rare in the UK.
Also it is reasonable to assume that a D3 will continue to shed money at a rapid rate. I've never bought a car before that has lost lots of money, so I'm not sure if I'm comfortable doing it now.
I also really really would like to own something like this.
It's a Chevy CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle). Which is basically an over axled, under engined Chevy truck built for the US army in the 1980's. It has a 6.2 V8 diesel in it and a 3 speed auto. I'd also want to chuck a 6.5" lift on and some 38" tyres like the one pictured above. The trucks can be picked up for $6500 +-. Downsides are evidently finding one and maybe the need to visit the US and import one. And yes, if you've counted the doors you'll note it only has two! But it does have 3 seats, which for the most part would probably suffice. But might take a bit of persuading....
I'm also a big fan of a certain Volvo. More practical than the Chevy, but probably harder to find. I know of a soft top version for £7500 at the moment, but I'd want a hard topped version of the C303.
One of these is ultimately the most practical, but probably the most compromised too.
Sticking with the US trucks. I've always wanted a Dodge Ram. Although I'd want a very specific one. A 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins motor, 4wd and manual. As far as owning a truck as family car can go, this is probably the most sensible. But finding one again might be an issue in the UK and to buy one, lift it and mod it slightly might well push my budget a little bit too much. But I'd want something looking like this.
I like newer Ram's too, but they won't be in budget.
Another vehicle to have taken my interest is the Santana PS-10. A development of the Land Rover Series 109 and in a number of ways superior to a Defender. Good value for money too with prices around the £5k mark. But a few issues with certain spares that are no longer available. And compared to the trucks above, just seem a little lacking maybe.
The last idea is to say sod it and buy something cheap instead. Such as a Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee. On face value it'll do everything the D3 can, but at a fraction of the price. I admit I'd rather a 5.9 litre V8 one, which are rare in the UK. But you can pick up ZJ's from about £800 though and V8 ones do exist. Or would this just be a 'meh' compared to the others? However I'd hate to end up with that feeling of having bought the wrong vehicle.
A Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK would seem to tick most boxes. But sadly are out of budget and the UK ones have a piss poor spec.
Hummer H3 and Toyota FJ Cruisers appeal, but are also way over my budget.
Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions??
The car needs to sort of fill the family car role. But only in so much as being able to seat people. Number of doors is probably important, but I'm happy to over look it or completely ignore it for now
MPG isn't directly an issue as I probably won't use it for lots of miles a year. But that said, the more frugal a vehicle is, the more it'll get used. So it is a point I need to consider.
Oh and it has to be a 4x4 and off road capable. As that will fulfil what it will be used for.
Budget wise I was thinking of around the £10k or under mark.
With my sensible head on I'd really like a Discovery 3. But I'd lift it and chuck some MT's on it. Something like this, but more...
Trouble is, I don't want a diesel auto. I'd opt for a diesel manual or a V8 auto though. But the real snag is, if I'm buying one I want one with the optional rear locking e-diff, which sadly is very rare in the UK.
Also it is reasonable to assume that a D3 will continue to shed money at a rapid rate. I've never bought a car before that has lost lots of money, so I'm not sure if I'm comfortable doing it now.
I also really really would like to own something like this.
It's a Chevy CUCV (Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle). Which is basically an over axled, under engined Chevy truck built for the US army in the 1980's. It has a 6.2 V8 diesel in it and a 3 speed auto. I'd also want to chuck a 6.5" lift on and some 38" tyres like the one pictured above. The trucks can be picked up for $6500 +-. Downsides are evidently finding one and maybe the need to visit the US and import one. And yes, if you've counted the doors you'll note it only has two! But it does have 3 seats, which for the most part would probably suffice. But might take a bit of persuading....
I'm also a big fan of a certain Volvo. More practical than the Chevy, but probably harder to find. I know of a soft top version for £7500 at the moment, but I'd want a hard topped version of the C303.
One of these is ultimately the most practical, but probably the most compromised too.
Sticking with the US trucks. I've always wanted a Dodge Ram. Although I'd want a very specific one. A 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins motor, 4wd and manual. As far as owning a truck as family car can go, this is probably the most sensible. But finding one again might be an issue in the UK and to buy one, lift it and mod it slightly might well push my budget a little bit too much. But I'd want something looking like this.
I like newer Ram's too, but they won't be in budget.
Another vehicle to have taken my interest is the Santana PS-10. A development of the Land Rover Series 109 and in a number of ways superior to a Defender. Good value for money too with prices around the £5k mark. But a few issues with certain spares that are no longer available. And compared to the trucks above, just seem a little lacking maybe.
The last idea is to say sod it and buy something cheap instead. Such as a Jeep ZJ Grand Cherokee. On face value it'll do everything the D3 can, but at a fraction of the price. I admit I'd rather a 5.9 litre V8 one, which are rare in the UK. But you can pick up ZJ's from about £800 though and V8 ones do exist. Or would this just be a 'meh' compared to the others? However I'd hate to end up with that feeling of having bought the wrong vehicle.
A Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK would seem to tick most boxes. But sadly are out of budget and the UK ones have a piss poor spec.
Hummer H3 and Toyota FJ Cruisers appeal, but are also way over my budget.
Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions??
300bhp/ton said:
I'm also a big fan of a certain Volvo. More practical than the Chevy, but probably harder to find. I know of a soft top version for £7500 at the moment, but I'd want a hard topped version of the C303.
One of these is ultimately the most practical, but probably the most compromised too.
Seen two of these today now. Wasn't aware of them before. The other is in the Classic Volvo section of a certain auction site....One of these is ultimately the most practical, but probably the most compromised too.
(bit pricey though)
St John Smythe said:
I thought you had cars already that needed fixing up. Wouldn't it be better to spend the money getting those sorted first?
One is almost done, but it's strictly a 2 seater and really a competition vehicle. The TR has just had an engine swap, although currently tearing the new motor down due to a noise. But again it's a two seater and a part from putting the motor back together it's mostly done as a project for now.Really I'd be looking at downsizing by getting rid of a Land Rover and the Impreza and replacing with one vehicle to do both roles.
The T-Bird is still a long running project. But one that can't fulfil this role, so it can remain on the back burner for now. Or at least until spring time.
If I might offer a shameless plug: 80 Series Landcruiser 4.2 turbo diesel
Big - check
Powerful - check
Good noise - check
Good economy - check
Off road capable - Oh yes.
Also there are the M1009 station wagon variants of the CUCV which might be more practical as they have more seats and a longer diff ratio than the M1008 which I think tops out at under 60mph (could be wrong there). I looked at buying one myself before deciding that the Landcruiser was better in every measurable way and going with that.
Big - check
Powerful - check
Good noise - check
Good economy - check
Off road capable - Oh yes.
Also there are the M1009 station wagon variants of the CUCV which might be more practical as they have more seats and a longer diff ratio than the M1008 which I think tops out at under 60mph (could be wrong there). I looked at buying one myself before deciding that the Landcruiser was better in every measurable way and going with that.
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300bhp/ton said:
These look kinda cool. Although I think buying one would prove a challenge, as would maintaining one. I have no idea where you'd find spares.
Also I suspect the look and coolness is only skin deep.
The snow assists with the "coolness." I suspect you'd tire of it on a daily basis.Also I suspect the look and coolness is only skin deep.
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