LR virgin needs advice!
Discussion
Hello all!
Would really appreciate a bit of 'seasoned opinion'. I'm looking to buy a 110 stationwagon (5 seats) & have up to £20k to throw at it. I'm not planning on any 'real' off-roading, the motivation comes from having 8 dogs, so mainly day-to-day stuff with maybe the occasional trip across the channel - a 'proper' car just isn't going to cut the mustard! I've thought about a Disco 3 but they just aren't big enough in the back, don't hold their value as well & potentially too expensive to fix!
My question: do I go for the newest TDCi I can afford to take advantage of potentially better condition/creature comforts & lower milage, or would a TD5 be more sensible to get an engine I can work on myself as much as possible. I'm not a master mechanic but I've got ALL the tools a 'normal' diesel engine would ever need. I want to get as much truck as I can for my money without buying problems.
The more I spend the more likely it will be that the LR will be my only vehicle, a cheaper one will mean a back-up car may be possible - am I being over cautious/pessimistic that I'll need one..? Not planning on doing massive miles but it won't just be sitting on the driveway!
Have also considered the 110 Utility but I'd rather have windows so the hounds can have a view! 5 seater SW's seem like hens teeth lately...
Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely?? I really love the 110 but is there another vehicle out there that would suit better (other than a van!) - I know I'm not going to get all 8 dogs in at once (whippets, lurchers & greyhounds), but it will be a vast improvement on the Audi TT parked out front at the moment!!!
Thank you all in advance.
Would really appreciate a bit of 'seasoned opinion'. I'm looking to buy a 110 stationwagon (5 seats) & have up to £20k to throw at it. I'm not planning on any 'real' off-roading, the motivation comes from having 8 dogs, so mainly day-to-day stuff with maybe the occasional trip across the channel - a 'proper' car just isn't going to cut the mustard! I've thought about a Disco 3 but they just aren't big enough in the back, don't hold their value as well & potentially too expensive to fix!
My question: do I go for the newest TDCi I can afford to take advantage of potentially better condition/creature comforts & lower milage, or would a TD5 be more sensible to get an engine I can work on myself as much as possible. I'm not a master mechanic but I've got ALL the tools a 'normal' diesel engine would ever need. I want to get as much truck as I can for my money without buying problems.
The more I spend the more likely it will be that the LR will be my only vehicle, a cheaper one will mean a back-up car may be possible - am I being over cautious/pessimistic that I'll need one..? Not planning on doing massive miles but it won't just be sitting on the driveway!
Have also considered the 110 Utility but I'd rather have windows so the hounds can have a view! 5 seater SW's seem like hens teeth lately...
Or am I barking up the wrong tree entirely?? I really love the 110 but is there another vehicle out there that would suit better (other than a van!) - I know I'm not going to get all 8 dogs in at once (whippets, lurchers & greyhounds), but it will be a vast improvement on the Audi TT parked out front at the moment!!!
Thank you all in advance.
If the Disco isn't big enough then I doubt the 110 will be either.
The Disco is a LOT easier to live with as it is more of a car... It also has a decent turning circle. I've seen 40' trucks with tighter turning circles than my 110!!!!
Before you set your heart on a 110, take one for a test drive.
However, for the money, I'd get a TDCi... Much nicer interior.
M
The Disco is a LOT easier to live with as it is more of a car... It also has a decent turning circle. I've seen 40' trucks with tighter turning circles than my 110!!!!
Before you set your heart on a 110, take one for a test drive.
However, for the money, I'd get a TDCi... Much nicer interior.
M
Thanks guys.
I've test driven a 110 hard top - was pretty much what I expected.. I'm 6'2" so wasn't expecting too much, no pleasant surprises - but isn't that what the Defender is all about? I know the Disco will be much easier to live with & the Commercial looks like a better idea than the straight 3, but the wife doesn't like them (so that's pretty much that!) & I want something I'm not going to cry about too much when the dogs 'anoint' it. Also, I want the vehicle to be around for the next 20 years, so the more bomb-proof the better.
If it's going to be a LR, it's got to be a 110 I'm afraid!
Does the TDCi's interior (which I really do prefer) offset the more complicated/thirsty (albeit smoother) engine?
I've test driven a 110 hard top - was pretty much what I expected.. I'm 6'2" so wasn't expecting too much, no pleasant surprises - but isn't that what the Defender is all about? I know the Disco will be much easier to live with & the Commercial looks like a better idea than the straight 3, but the wife doesn't like them (so that's pretty much that!) & I want something I'm not going to cry about too much when the dogs 'anoint' it. Also, I want the vehicle to be around for the next 20 years, so the more bomb-proof the better.
If it's going to be a LR, it's got to be a 110 I'm afraid!
Does the TDCi's interior (which I really do prefer) offset the more complicated/thirsty (albeit smoother) engine?
thecynical1 said:
Does the TDCi's interior (which I really do prefer) offset the more complicated/thirsty (albeit smoother) engine?
I've had a TD5 and have had a Puma for 4 years and can think of nothing I preferred with the TD5, engine or otherwise. If you are VAT registered you may as well have a new one, the road tax will be cheaper.camel_landy said:
If the Disco isn't big enough then I doubt the 110 will be either.
The Disco is a LOT easier to live with as it is more of a car... It also has a decent turning circle. I've seen 40' trucks with tighter turning circles than my 110!!!!
Before you set your heart on a 110, take one for a test drive.
However, for the money, I'd get a TDCi... Much nicer interior.
M
Sounds like you need to adjust your steering stops and maybe fit some wider offset rims.The Disco is a LOT easier to live with as it is more of a car... It also has a decent turning circle. I've seen 40' trucks with tighter turning circles than my 110!!!!
Before you set your heart on a 110, take one for a test drive.
However, for the money, I'd get a TDCi... Much nicer interior.
M
The Td5 is a well proven engine. In fact that's the great thing about Land Rover's, everything is fixable on them.
For example you could look at buying a much older Tdi powered one, or even older still. The engine is less refined, but the vehicle is surprisingly similar in most respects. Very little has changed. These will cost a lot less to buy, but you could then spend some money making them just right. Prices are pretty solid, so you'd be unlikely to lose much if anything at all.
The 2.4TDci is an ok engine and the 6 speeder offers some good plus points over the older R380, although I've heard of several boxes failing. Logic says the newer the vehicle the tidier it will be and I see no reason to not follow this if all you want to do is hand your money over for a tidy one.
Best bet is drive a couple, new old and something in between, that way you can answer your own questions really.
If leg room is an issue in the front look at fitting a NAS spec tubular centre bulkhead, it'll give you more room in the front.
Oh yeah, Land Rover's leak - all of them. Oil out and water in. If it isn't doing this something is wrong with it.
For example you could look at buying a much older Tdi powered one, or even older still. The engine is less refined, but the vehicle is surprisingly similar in most respects. Very little has changed. These will cost a lot less to buy, but you could then spend some money making them just right. Prices are pretty solid, so you'd be unlikely to lose much if anything at all.
The 2.4TDci is an ok engine and the 6 speeder offers some good plus points over the older R380, although I've heard of several boxes failing. Logic says the newer the vehicle the tidier it will be and I see no reason to not follow this if all you want to do is hand your money over for a tidy one.
Best bet is drive a couple, new old and something in between, that way you can answer your own questions really.
If leg room is an issue in the front look at fitting a NAS spec tubular centre bulkhead, it'll give you more room in the front.
Oh yeah, Land Rover's leak - all of them. Oil out and water in. If it isn't doing this something is wrong with it.
camel_landy said:
Nope... Just a feature of radius arms on a live front axle.
M
Yeah, but as standard the steering stops will prevent the tyres hitting the radius arms and often by quite a margin. So adjusting the stops can give you more lock. Also by moving the wheels out, either via wheel spacers and/or wider off set rims, it will increase the distance between the tyre and the radius arm on full lock, so you can adjust the stops even further and get even more lock.M
The 110 suffers mostly due to it's wheelbase, but you can get them turn a lot tighter than standard.
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