Lots of Land Rovers + Current G wagen
Discussion
Hi
New here so be kind- Haha
Little bit of my car history plus the updates of my latest one. Although I say car history they have actually all been 4x4's.
I've used them for my work with a bit of light towing, but mainly because I enjoy them and like the driving position. Luckily I shouldn't need to justify car choices on here though!
Anyway started with my first car 5 years ago. Being the odd sort I am and having parents who must think similarly it came the time to look for a suitable car for a 17 year old.
Somehow our results turned out a 1981 series 3 land rover hard top which the owner had part ex'd for a heritage 90 at the local garage. It was scruffy and a bit unloved, but most importantly had a replacement galvanised chassis fitted, a lovely original 2.25 petrol with overdrive and at some stage had had a very nice respray. The bad bits were since then it had certainly been used and not cared for. Being a bit of land rover nuts though it was nothing so the deal was done and home it came.
After convincing me to keep it original I got a bit carried away and it turned out very nicely. (I also converted it to soft top. you'll see a pattern that follows with my car) any way here it was in its full glory as I remember it
Like all first cars It seemed the best thing in the world and loved every minute of owning it, sadly though old cars do tend to be thirsty so decided as my insurance had come down to get a td5 like I wanted originally. (the restored series sold in a day for over 3 times the purchase price) As soon as it sold I went and got this;
2002 td5 90 csw. was in really good condition at a good price so snapped it up. This was the only car Ive ever owned that I hated. There was absolutely no reason for this as never let me down, but never connected with it and felt it had no charm or anything. I think it was the silver that I disliked the most. It was treated as a money making car and sold not quite a year after it was bough. One of few cars Ii felt nothing of selling. I decided what I really needed was a 110, The only thing I liked about the silver one was the td5 engine so set out to find a low mileage 110 xs in anything but red or silver. more to follow
New here so be kind- Haha
Little bit of my car history plus the updates of my latest one. Although I say car history they have actually all been 4x4's.
I've used them for my work with a bit of light towing, but mainly because I enjoy them and like the driving position. Luckily I shouldn't need to justify car choices on here though!
Anyway started with my first car 5 years ago. Being the odd sort I am and having parents who must think similarly it came the time to look for a suitable car for a 17 year old.
Somehow our results turned out a 1981 series 3 land rover hard top which the owner had part ex'd for a heritage 90 at the local garage. It was scruffy and a bit unloved, but most importantly had a replacement galvanised chassis fitted, a lovely original 2.25 petrol with overdrive and at some stage had had a very nice respray. The bad bits were since then it had certainly been used and not cared for. Being a bit of land rover nuts though it was nothing so the deal was done and home it came.
After convincing me to keep it original I got a bit carried away and it turned out very nicely. (I also converted it to soft top. you'll see a pattern that follows with my car) any way here it was in its full glory as I remember it
Like all first cars It seemed the best thing in the world and loved every minute of owning it, sadly though old cars do tend to be thirsty so decided as my insurance had come down to get a td5 like I wanted originally. (the restored series sold in a day for over 3 times the purchase price) As soon as it sold I went and got this;
2002 td5 90 csw. was in really good condition at a good price so snapped it up. This was the only car Ive ever owned that I hated. There was absolutely no reason for this as never let me down, but never connected with it and felt it had no charm or anything. I think it was the silver that I disliked the most. It was treated as a money making car and sold not quite a year after it was bough. One of few cars Ii felt nothing of selling. I decided what I really needed was a 110, The only thing I liked about the silver one was the td5 engine so set out to find a low mileage 110 xs in anything but red or silver. more to follow
Edited by SailingTom on Tuesday 19th January 22:11
That led to a late 2005 110 in black named the hearse
fantastic car and very practical. I cant upload a pic for some reason at the moment as the files are all to big but will when I can.
At the same time I bought an old Cherokee for a trip to morocco with a couple of mates. They had to bail though so ended up just me and my best mate going anyway. we didn't make it to morocco due to heavy rain but had a good tour round spain offroading
Great car but had no reason to keep it with the 110, it was bought so I didn't mess the 110 up and wasn't as worried about leaving it anywhere I parked it. A real old barge that took a hell of a lot of abuse and never gave the slightest issue. Interestingly the previous owner ran it on chip fat and even after 2 weeks of solid driving 4600 miles it still stunk of chip fat when it got home! We very nearly kept it as a run around and in may ways we should of.
Working locally it got to a stage I didn't really need the 110 for its practicality anymore so exchanged it for a 2011 90 I planned to make into a soft top summer toy that had its uses aswell.
fantastic car and very practical. I cant upload a pic for some reason at the moment as the files are all to big but will when I can.
At the same time I bought an old Cherokee for a trip to morocco with a couple of mates. They had to bail though so ended up just me and my best mate going anyway. we didn't make it to morocco due to heavy rain but had a good tour round spain offroading
Great car but had no reason to keep it with the 110, it was bought so I didn't mess the 110 up and wasn't as worried about leaving it anywhere I parked it. A real old barge that took a hell of a lot of abuse and never gave the slightest issue. Interestingly the previous owner ran it on chip fat and even after 2 weeks of solid driving 4600 miles it still stunk of chip fat when it got home! We very nearly kept it as a run around and in may ways we should of.
Working locally it got to a stage I didn't really need the 110 for its practicality anymore so exchanged it for a 2011 90 I planned to make into a soft top summer toy that had its uses aswell.
Edited by SailingTom on Tuesday 19th January 22:05
This was just as I wanted with 15,000 on the clock it was like new. (it was a pickup when I bought it) I really liked everything about it except the colour. what I really wanted was the same car in Keswick green. which I maintain is the best colour land rover has ever done a defender in.
Anyway all sense went out the way and I part ex'd it for CSK land rovers old demo van which was a bit special but I had big plans for it
here it is when it arrived. (Ill shorten this and just put 2 further pics up, but I have the full build here; http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic27013.html
Edited by SailingTom on Tuesday 19th January 22:16
That 90 was my favorited car I've had. It was completely stupid with a full cream leather interior, but was completely unique. It got comments from people of all ages anywhere I went in it. Although it was the first car I only broke even on selling as spent a lot, id do it again as loved it.
My only reason for selling was to get a cheaper car for a house deposit. Heres some pics before I sold it
My only reason for selling was to get a cheaper car for a house deposit. Heres some pics before I sold it
As I was on the look out for a cheaper vehicle I decided to go back to a td5 as always had liked the other ones (more than the 2 2011 2.4's actually)
I wanted to get a 110 that looked good but I could actually use rather than worry about getting cream leather dirty. The other thing I wanted was more than 2 seats so decided on a double cab. The build thread is; http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic35523.html
Started like this
changed to this
and ended up looking like this before I sold it
Then I changed jobs so wanted a toy again haha
I wanted to get a 110 that looked good but I could actually use rather than worry about getting cream leather dirty. The other thing I wanted was more than 2 seats so decided on a double cab. The build thread is; http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic35523.html
Started like this
changed to this
and ended up looking like this before I sold it
Then I changed jobs so wanted a toy again haha
Edited by SailingTom on Tuesday 19th January 22:17
For my replacement I had a few criteria;
-It had to hold its money/ not loose a lot
-Be a bit different
-Be a 'proper car'
-Not be a defender as the thefts are getting silly
I wasn't fussed about age or make. After eliminating Range Rovers (probably ideal) and discovery's due to looking like a drug dealer or having a big family for the latter along with residuals I came up with a few choices (list stats as they were rounded out)
- Porsche 911. I'd of liked one and will have one in time, however at the moment the insurance is silly money which I wouldn't have been happy to pay so wasn't an option.
- Lotus Exige. A lovely car, but being honest im not the best driver anyway so could see it would end in bits of fibreglass in a ditch on a backroad somewhere!
-Morgan plus 4. Perfect- no real reason against at all. I know im odd as a youngster wanting one, but really like them. Must admit nearly bought one I went to see.
-Mercedes G wagen. Not one i'd even thought about. I'd always admired them but for some reason never considered it. When I looked though it was the perfect cross between a defender style with character and a more refined range rover, without the stigma attached.
It went off to a bad start as went to see a modern one in Holland (left hand drive didn't bother me) but it was a real heap so a bit of a wasted trip.
When I got back, my Dad sent me a link to one on ebay. It was older than I had considered but was a Japanese import and apparently perfect condition.
After a long drive from Essex to Yorkshire the deal was done. It was absolutely mint and the perfect base vehicle
Its a 1993 300GEL petrol with low mileage, like new condition and not silver! Heres a couple of pics
First impressions are its great! Ii had a lovely drive back in it then started taking it to bits. I'll be keeping all its original parts so I can put it back to factory if I sell it but am giving it a bit of a makeover.
No Amg kits though as not a fan of the look so ill be upgrading it like a later basic spec one, so just colour coded bumpers ect. using genuine Mercedes parts.
-It had to hold its money/ not loose a lot
-Be a bit different
-Be a 'proper car'
-Not be a defender as the thefts are getting silly
I wasn't fussed about age or make. After eliminating Range Rovers (probably ideal) and discovery's due to looking like a drug dealer or having a big family for the latter along with residuals I came up with a few choices (list stats as they were rounded out)
- Porsche 911. I'd of liked one and will have one in time, however at the moment the insurance is silly money which I wouldn't have been happy to pay so wasn't an option.
- Lotus Exige. A lovely car, but being honest im not the best driver anyway so could see it would end in bits of fibreglass in a ditch on a backroad somewhere!
-Morgan plus 4. Perfect- no real reason against at all. I know im odd as a youngster wanting one, but really like them. Must admit nearly bought one I went to see.
-Mercedes G wagen. Not one i'd even thought about. I'd always admired them but for some reason never considered it. When I looked though it was the perfect cross between a defender style with character and a more refined range rover, without the stigma attached.
It went off to a bad start as went to see a modern one in Holland (left hand drive didn't bother me) but it was a real heap so a bit of a wasted trip.
When I got back, my Dad sent me a link to one on ebay. It was older than I had considered but was a Japanese import and apparently perfect condition.
After a long drive from Essex to Yorkshire the deal was done. It was absolutely mint and the perfect base vehicle
Its a 1993 300GEL petrol with low mileage, like new condition and not silver! Heres a couple of pics
First impressions are its great! Ii had a lovely drive back in it then started taking it to bits. I'll be keeping all its original parts so I can put it back to factory if I sell it but am giving it a bit of a makeover.
No Amg kits though as not a fan of the look so ill be upgrading it like a later basic spec one, so just colour coded bumpers ect. using genuine Mercedes parts.
A it stands now is currently minus the bumpers, grill and lights.
Ive done like all good G wagen owners and put some big alloys on aswell.... I say big, its actually 16" so technically an upgrade from the original 15" alloys haha It will be getting some bigger all terrain tyres though to fill the arches a bit more
Ive done like all good G wagen owners and put some big alloys on aswell.... I say big, its actually 16" so technically an upgrade from the original 15" alloys haha It will be getting some bigger all terrain tyres though to fill the arches a bit more
Shakermaker said:
I do love a Land Rover, and yours are all looking pretty swell!
sadly I find myself too large to justify a classic series or even a modern defender.
So I've got an old 300tdi Discovery instead for mucking around in and don't care about being muddy!
That's the only advantage I have of being Short, although a chap I know must be 6'4 and drives a td5 110, but he cant get in one with aircon because of the extra panel. Rather him than me though!sadly I find myself too large to justify a classic series or even a modern defender.
So I've got an old 300tdi Discovery instead for mucking around in and don't care about being muddy!
SailingTom said:
That's the only advantage I have of being Short, although a chap I know must be 6'4 and drives a td5 110, but he cant get in one with aircon because of the extra panel. Rather him than me though!
Yeah, I'm 6'5, and it's just not my idea of a comfortable daily drive. Nowhere for my left leg, or my right shoulder!Maybe one day I could get one with a proper soft top and no cab at all, just a bikini top type affair
Think you either get G wagens or you don't, like the defenders really. Not sure about washing machines relevance perhaps you can enlighten me.
Anyway couple of updates to it as the new bumpers and grill are all on after painting. windows to be retinted next and a bulbar to go on.
Then some proper tyres and mudflaps
Anyway couple of updates to it as the new bumpers and grill are all on after painting. windows to be retinted next and a bulbar to go on.
Then some proper tyres and mudflaps
I see you've gone to the lengths of getting the oval fogs; are you going to do the headlights? Makes it look so much more modern, the new grill with the old lights doesn't look right.
I bought the DEPO headlights for my 2000 G500 and they were good quality, about £200 from eBay.de. They also were adjustable enough that despite being LHD the beam pattern was fine. I fitted an HID kit at the same time and it looked great.
I bought the DEPO headlights for my 2000 G500 and they were good quality, about £200 from eBay.de. They also were adjustable enough that despite being LHD the beam pattern was fine. I fitted an HID kit at the same time and it looked great.
Not to bad, there are ones about. More swb's than lwb's of that age. More of a job to find a rust free one now though Really pleased with this as the base vehicle as is spotless underneath. Ive had all the underside waxoyled and am doing it all gradually in the places like behind the light surrounds. Hopefully should keep it looking good
Really pleased with this as the base vehicle as is spotless underneath. Ive had all the underside waxoyled and am doing it all gradually in the places like behind the light surrounds. Hopefully should keep it looking good
Edited by SailingTom on Saturday 12th March 16:42
Bit of an update as you can see from the pics.
Been using and enjoying the car and still really liking it, only 2 downsides are reading the handbooks in Japanese and the fuel consumption. I wont go in to that to much as choose to ignore it as it makes me smile to drive (that means its not very good
)I managed to find it a set of G wagen AMG 18" wheels from Germany which I had posted over along with Genuine mudflaps and an old stock bull bar which I had the supports painted to match the car.
Also managed to get a parrot wired in and towing electrics.
Internally Im still not sure really although leaning towards taking it for a set of canvass seat covers tailor made in either sand colour or black to protect the fabric, although If Ii found a perfect set of the right age interior in black leather i'd probably go for it.
Other plans are to upgrade the suspension to G55 AMG springs and shocks as its a big old thing and makes you fell a bit sea sick on the backroads.
Still plenty planned though to arrive like a new wheel cover, but mainly just using/ up keeping it and enjoying it
and a final one a bit more sinister looking
Edited by SailingTom on Saturday 12th March 16:54
Edited by SailingTom on Saturday 12th March 17:03
stuckmojo said:
Love the G, from a fellow G-wagen owner.
I agree that either you get it or you don't, with these cars. I've never sat in a car that exudes robustness like the G.
Lovely colour too.
I assume the previous comment aobut stacked washing machines was in reference to the styling - it;s a product of it's original time much like the classic Range Rover ... I agree that either you get it or you don't, with these cars. I've never sat in a car that exudes robustness like the G.
Lovely colour too.
It;s another vehicle that is going to give the 109 /110 Land Rover a run for it's money in longetivity of basic design.
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