Series III as a daily?
Discussion
Is the old series still a viable everyday car? Or am a an idiot for thinking such a stupid thing!?
I've been contemplating getting one for a few years and have just seen a 1972 light utility advertised locally, assume now they are tax exempt and it's just passed its mot with money spent on the bulkhead, timing chain, clutch and water pump. It's a petrol 88 hard top. What are the things I should be wary of. I am aware they are 40 year old vehicles and come with problems, but its something I've always hankered after. The plan is to do a little gentle green laning with the kids ( and I do mean gentle!) Using in the mud/snow/farm, dropping things off at the dump, school run etc.
Also a stupid as it sounds whats the "economy" like? 15 mpg?
I've been contemplating getting one for a few years and have just seen a 1972 light utility advertised locally, assume now they are tax exempt and it's just passed its mot with money spent on the bulkhead, timing chain, clutch and water pump. It's a petrol 88 hard top. What are the things I should be wary of. I am aware they are 40 year old vehicles and come with problems, but its something I've always hankered after. The plan is to do a little gentle green laning with the kids ( and I do mean gentle!) Using in the mud/snow/farm, dropping things off at the dump, school run etc.
Also a stupid as it sounds whats the "economy" like? 15 mpg?
Edited by blueant27 on Wednesday 10th October 09:22
If you can cope with 15 mpg, no heater, just a fug stirrer, the turning circle of the Nimitiz and Paddock spares on speed dial then they are great.
When they work, your instruments will read back to front, the bulkheads will leak when it rains, as will the doors and the hard top seals.
Anything with Britpart on it will need replacing in the next 6 months, and you'll drift off to sleep with the sound of a clicking relay but no engine in your head.
They're brilliant - i love my SIII Lightweight
Well a second car for green laning and tip runs isn't really a "daily" is it?
They are great fun, but as a daily you need to be a special kind of masochist to want that in your life. But for what you have said you'll use it for in your actual post rather than title, crack on and enjoy.
They are great fun, but as a daily you need to be a special kind of masochist to want that in your life. But for what you have said you'll use it for in your actual post rather than title, crack on and enjoy.
I you haven't had one then the only thing to do it buy one.....
...think of it as a piece of vintage equipment rather than a car* and you will have a laugh, but they are not civilised for a long motorway drive.
Turning circle isn't that bad? They are just slow and noisy inside and eat fuel.
How long is your commute, do you have another car for long trips, or maybe train? Depends on lifestyle basically!
Daniel
...think of it as a piece of vintage equipment rather than a car* and you will have a laugh, but they are not civilised for a long motorway drive.
Turning circle isn't that bad? They are just slow and noisy inside and eat fuel.
How long is your commute, do you have another car for long trips, or maybe train? Depends on lifestyle basically!
- Think TVR, if you compare it to a Porsche it will always disappoint but if you see
Daniel
Labradorofperception said:
If you can cope with 15 mpg, no heater, just a fug stirrer, the turning circle of the Nimitiz and Paddock spares on speed dial then they are great.
TBF, the heater in mine is surprisingly good. I suspect there's just a hell of a lot of utterly knackered, abused and forgotten-about heaters out there...The rest? Well, yes. Bob on.
Labradorofperception said:
Anything with Britpart on it will need replacing in the next 6 months
That long? I admire your optimism.blueant27 said:
Is the old series still a viable everyday car? Or am a an idiot for thinking such a stupid thing!?
I've been contemplating getting one for a few years and have just seen a 1972 light utility advertised locally, assume now they are tax exempt and it's just passed its mot with money spent on the bulkhead, timing chain, clutch and water pump. It's a petrol 88 hard top. What are the things I should be wary of. I am aware they are 40 year old vehicles and come with problems, but its something I've always hankered after. The plan is to do a little gentle green laning with the kids ( and I do mean gentle!) Using in the mud/snow/farm, dropping things off at the dump, school run etc.
Also a stupid as it sounds whats the "economy" like? 15 mpg?
. I've been contemplating getting one for a few years and have just seen a 1972 light utility advertised locally, assume now they are tax exempt and it's just passed its mot with money spent on the bulkhead, timing chain, clutch and water pump. It's a petrol 88 hard top. What are the things I should be wary of. I am aware they are 40 year old vehicles and come with problems, but its something I've always hankered after. The plan is to do a little gentle green laning with the kids ( and I do mean gentle!) Using in the mud/snow/farm, dropping things off at the dump, school run etc.
Also a stupid as it sounds whats the "economy" like? 15 mpg?
Edited by blueant27 on Wednesday 10th October 09:22
I've had a TDI engined series 2a for 10 years now. Use as an everyday car depends entirely on the type of journeys, Running around town / dump runs are fine, but I wouldn't want to be commuting around the M25 in it.
As well as the TDI I have an aftermarket heater and heated front screens in mine (excellent for screen demisting). Best upgrade is a woolly hat to keep the many draughts at bay in the winter though.
blueant27 said:
Is the old series still a viable everyday car? Or am a an idiot for thinking such a stupid thing!?
I've been contemplating getting one for a few years and have just seen a 1972 light utility advertised locally, assume now they are tax exempt and it's just passed its mot with money spent on the bulkhead, timing chain, clutch and water pump. It's a petrol 88 hard top. What are the things I should be wary of. I am aware they are 40 year old vehicles and come with problems, but its something I've always hankered after. The plan is to do a little gentle green laning with the kids ( and I do mean gentle!) Using in the mud/snow/farm, dropping things off at the dump, school run etc.
Also a stupid as it sounds whats the "economy" like? 15 mpg?
It all depends on your point of view. They are perfectly usable vehicles for the most part. But they aren't overly speedy, quiet or refined. They will also leak water in and be drafty and if equipped with a heater, won't be anything like as warm as a modern car on cold days.I've been contemplating getting one for a few years and have just seen a 1972 light utility advertised locally, assume now they are tax exempt and it's just passed its mot with money spent on the bulkhead, timing chain, clutch and water pump. It's a petrol 88 hard top. What are the things I should be wary of. I am aware they are 40 year old vehicles and come with problems, but its something I've always hankered after. The plan is to do a little gentle green laning with the kids ( and I do mean gentle!) Using in the mud/snow/farm, dropping things off at the dump, school run etc.
Also a stupid as it sounds whats the "economy" like? 15 mpg?
Edited by blueant27 on Wednesday 10th October 09:22
On the flip side, they are very robust, easy to work on, huge parts supply and cheap maintenance.
Don't over pay for one though. The fashion status of the Defender sadly is affecting Series vehicles now, with clueless rich folk buying them because they think it's cool to be seen in one. This has meant some rather stupid pricing...
Bulkheads don't normally suffer that much on a Series, maybe a little on the front face near the top door hinge. But it's unusual to do much work on the bulkhead, more common on a Defender.
Footwells are steel and do rot, but can be replaced. And the chassis is prone to rot, but new chassis are available, although a rebuild isn't exactly a 5 min job.
Engine wise, the 2.25 should be quite smooth and refined in itself, although the vehicle lacks any sound proofing. These engines are quite nice to drive. A bit of oil consumption is not uncommon. I would recommend swapping out the points to an electronic ignition system, can be done cheaply. Several different carbs have been used over the years. But a poor maintained or condition carb will give you plenty of grief. And is often overlooked.
They should start easy and run well. They will trundle along at 60mph no bother and capable of shorter periods at 65mph (but aren't really geared to maintain this speed). They aren't very quick off the line, but are perfectly usable in modern traffic.
Gearboxes can be a weak point, but unless abused should be fine.
The leaf suspension if not worked will generally ride hard. Lighter duty springs or parabolic springs will help here and some regular use.
Door tops tend to rot and window channels. Doors will never seem to fit 100% and will always be a little drafty and you won't believe where water will leak in from and drip on you.
It will also constantly piss oil out. Engine, gearbox, transfer box, diffs, axles. You could spend forever chasing them and never solve them, so probably not worth fussing over too much. And only address major leaks. If it's stood a long while the fibre seals in the hubs will certainly leak, so plan on refurbing them.
The steering is non assisted, and should be fairly tight and not too heavy. At walking speed you should almost be able to palm the steering wheel. However the steering components often get very neglected and end up with lots of slop/play and also goes heavy.
There are lot of things you can do to make them more capable if you plan too. Such as adding power steering, sound proofing, disc brakes and more power. The latter 2.5 litre engine is an easy swap and can be taken out to 2.8 litres. Plus other engines such as a Tdi or V8 can and frequently swapped in.
They will always be a fairly rugged 4x4 however, but if this appeals. Then they are perfectly usable.
It's probably because I just reached 50 and I'm no longer up for such lunacy.
Using a Westfield as my only car for a year was hard enough when I was 25. I suppose you've got a bit more space in a Landy though. I only take my petrol S3 109 into work occasionally as the cost would be about £100 a week in fuel if I did it daily.
so still "No".
Using a Westfield as my only car for a year was hard enough when I was 25. I suppose you've got a bit more space in a Landy though. I only take my petrol S3 109 into work occasionally as the cost would be about £100 a week in fuel if I did it daily.
so still "No".
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