Decent running Landy for around £1000, possible?
Discussion
In need of a run around and though I'd finally get the Land Rover I've been hankering after for a while. There does appear to be a few options in my budget. I'd love a Range Rover classic but the prices of these seem to have jumped up a fair bit of late, and I have seen the odd Freelander in my budget but only the older 1.8 models, which I'm a little put off by due to the usual K Series related issues. So that leaves either a Disco 1, Series of some sort. Would a running example of either (with test) be a complete liability or is it possible to get a decent, if slightly tatty example for around a grand?
I have just bought a series3 land rover, and I don't reckon you can buy a reasonable one for £1k. The only ones for that value needed work/money/time spent on them. You might get lucky I suppose, but even £1.5k is a struggle.
According to LRO £1k buys you a 'price 1' series3. £1300 is a 'price 1' early freelander. £1k should get you a 'price 2' discovery1 (either mpi engined or V8) or a 'price 2' range rover classic (2.4VM turbo diesel)
price 1 = with an MOT but won't pass the next. Shabby/uncared for example.
price 2 = should give a few years of hassle free motoring. Don't expect it to be fault less, but no major bills. Straight body work.
According to LRO £1k buys you a 'price 1' series3. £1300 is a 'price 1' early freelander. £1k should get you a 'price 2' discovery1 (either mpi engined or V8) or a 'price 2' range rover classic (2.4VM turbo diesel)
price 1 = with an MOT but won't pass the next. Shabby/uncared for example.
price 2 = should give a few years of hassle free motoring. Don't expect it to be fault less, but no major bills. Straight body work.
Edited by varsas on Sunday 14th March 17:40
Ah yes, I'd forgotten LRO has a price guide, I've dug out a copy to give it a look. Sounds like a Discovery 1 is my best bet, though quite a bit of what I've found around my budget are MOT failures. There's a few I'm hoping to have a look at in the next few days that look like good bets, crossing my fingers...
norman156 said:
In need of a run around and though I'd finally get the Land Rover I've been hankering after for a while. There does appear to be a few options in my budget. I'd love a Range Rover classic but the prices of these seem to have jumped up a fair bit of late, and I have seen the odd Freelander in my budget but only the older 1.8 models, which I'm a little put off by due to the usual K Series related issues. So that leaves either a Disco 1, Series of some sort. Would a running example of either (with test) be a complete liability or is it possible to get a decent, if slightly tatty example for around a grand?
I suppose the bigger question is, what do you want it for and what do you want to do with it?Classic RR's can still be had for this money, but they'll want TLC at best. But I'm sure there are some sound, but tatty examples about if you look hard enough.
Freelander's are cheaper these days. The 1.8 is a fine engine, just treat it gentle until it warms up, but a diesel will be more frugal.
It's also worth noting that a HG failure is cheaper to fix on a Freelander than doing the cam belt on a V6 Pug 406.
Only real downer is cheap Freelander's won't have HDC or TCS, so will be pretty pants off road without them. They also suffer issues with the AWD system, and many are sold running in 2wd only with the rear prop removed.
Disco's are probably not a bad bet, but you are still in the cheap price range.
Remember a Disco is in many ways just a re-bodied Range Rover using a Defender style transfer box instead of a viscous unit.
Rust will be your biggest issue here, so go prepared and buy sensible. But I think you should be able to get something half descent. And all of the rusty bits are fixable.
I don't have any proof of this, but it might be worth looking at 200Tdi pre face lift Disco's, they seem to have survived better than some of the latter 300 series ones.
As for Series vehicles, I think you should be able to get something solid'ish and usable for around £1k.
But you need to remember they are an old vehicle using even older tech. They will be noisy, leaky and crude.
But it all depends how tidy a vehicle you want, and how handy you are with some spanners.
If its just for off roading (rather than towing or hauling), one could argue that a ~1998 Suzuki Jimny would be a better bet. In many ways they are a modern coil sprung series 1 80" Landy.
Yes.
I bought a 1983 Series 3 109" hardtop ex-mod 24v FFR on ebay for £650. Had a years MOT but I had to tax it myself. Good chassis but cosmetically a bit shabby. I ran it for a winter and sold it on ebay for £1300 (after 7 months of ownership I think).
Nothing broke, it started first time and every time! I painted it (with a brush!), replaced all 4 tyres and replaced the seats with new exmoor pattern replacements.
To be honest, i was lucky as the 24v models can be a liability, the electrics are very expensive to replace when they go wrong (this why so many are converted to 12v). I think the generator is about £2k!
If I'd kept it I would have liked to convert it to 12v (and sell the workign 24v parts), perhaps fit a 3.5 v8 (The 2.25 petrol really struggled when fully loaded) and replace the HD springs with softer parabolics.
It was the most reliable Land Rover I've ever owned apart from our current Disco 2.
I bought a 1983 Series 3 109" hardtop ex-mod 24v FFR on ebay for £650. Had a years MOT but I had to tax it myself. Good chassis but cosmetically a bit shabby. I ran it for a winter and sold it on ebay for £1300 (after 7 months of ownership I think).
Nothing broke, it started first time and every time! I painted it (with a brush!), replaced all 4 tyres and replaced the seats with new exmoor pattern replacements.
To be honest, i was lucky as the 24v models can be a liability, the electrics are very expensive to replace when they go wrong (this why so many are converted to 12v). I think the generator is about £2k!
If I'd kept it I would have liked to convert it to 12v (and sell the workign 24v parts), perhaps fit a 3.5 v8 (The 2.25 petrol really struggled when fully loaded) and replace the HD springs with softer parabolics.
It was the most reliable Land Rover I've ever owned apart from our current Disco 2.
Thanks for the info chaps. In regards to what I want to do with it, I'm hoping to try a bit of offroading, there's a couple of good pay and play type places near me that I'd like to go to. It'd have to get me to work and back but that's only a mile away so if it was something a little basic like an old series, it wouldn't be too much of an issue.
I'm wondering if it's worth waiting until I have a little more wonga to play with, I'm struggling to find much in my budget at the minute. If I could get a half decent series 3 that's perhaps something I could run at the same time as my other car when it's up and running, with the aid of cheap classic insurance.
I'm wondering if it's worth waiting until I have a little more wonga to play with, I'm struggling to find much in my budget at the minute. If I could get a half decent series 3 that's perhaps something I could run at the same time as my other car when it's up and running, with the aid of cheap classic insurance.
A Series motor is def doable. And with a bit more budget it'll open it up to condition wise. But do remember a Series is fairly basic, and while capable off road, the leaf suspension has more than one short coming compared to other off roaders. Also the axles, diffs and gear boxes are all quite weak, and if you intend to somewhat "abuse" it at a pay and play site with some decent tyres, do count on breaking something once in a while.
This isn't to do a Series Landy dis justice but the lack of power, power steering and non compliant suspension don't make them quite as good off road as we would like to believe. At least not as comfy or easy to drive as others at any rate.
Disco's are at the other end ofthe spectrum. Good engines and suspension, although they still suffer with weak axles and diffs. But the down side here is the bulk and size of a Disco. It really will feel twice the size of a swb Series motor off road and be much harder to navigate in tight quaters. Also the reduced approach and departure angles can be somewhat more of an issue. Over all it means you are much more likely to take a knock or bash it into a tree.
A 90 (Defender) is obviuosly the best mix of a Series size and more powerful engines and coil suspension that you find on a Disco. But they are also a lot more expensive than either.
It is possible to fit newer engines into a Series or chop down a Disco into a pick up Bob tail. But this may not be your thing.
I know it will upset some on here. But seriously take a look at a Suzuki Jimny. Underneith they are very similar to a Land Rover, with a ladder chassis and live axles. Being small and light they are easy to use off road and can walk a bit of terrain that may well stop even a Defender. Petrol engines are peppy and not bad on fuel either.
Lastly, it might be worth looking out for a YJ Wrangler. These are almost the same size as a Defender 90
but you can pick them up cheaper. Still leaf suspension, but generally of a better design than that of Series Landy's.
HTH
This isn't to do a Series Landy dis justice but the lack of power, power steering and non compliant suspension don't make them quite as good off road as we would like to believe. At least not as comfy or easy to drive as others at any rate.
Disco's are at the other end ofthe spectrum. Good engines and suspension, although they still suffer with weak axles and diffs. But the down side here is the bulk and size of a Disco. It really will feel twice the size of a swb Series motor off road and be much harder to navigate in tight quaters. Also the reduced approach and departure angles can be somewhat more of an issue. Over all it means you are much more likely to take a knock or bash it into a tree.
A 90 (Defender) is obviuosly the best mix of a Series size and more powerful engines and coil suspension that you find on a Disco. But they are also a lot more expensive than either.
It is possible to fit newer engines into a Series or chop down a Disco into a pick up Bob tail. But this may not be your thing.
I know it will upset some on here. But seriously take a look at a Suzuki Jimny. Underneith they are very similar to a Land Rover, with a ladder chassis and live axles. Being small and light they are easy to use off road and can walk a bit of terrain that may well stop even a Defender. Petrol engines are peppy and not bad on fuel either.
Lastly, it might be worth looking out for a YJ Wrangler. These are almost the same size as a Defender 90
but you can pick them up cheaper. Still leaf suspension, but generally of a better design than that of Series Landy's.
HTH
300bhp/ton said:
Useful stuff
Thanks for another very helpful post, lots of good info there. I have heard that little Suzukis like the Jimny are supposed to be very good off road, but I'm still after a Land Rover really. As much as looks shouldn't really come into it, I find bobtailed discos to be particularly ghastly to look at. Would love a bobtail Range Rover though. What you're saying about the Disco off road makes sense, though I have heard with a bit of a suspension lift and some different tyres their capabilities are extended by a decent margin. As mentioned before, I'm struggling to find much in my budget besides rusty Disco 1s with no MOT, so I think the best option is to wait a little until to increase my budget a bit. I'll keep looking just in case, but things are looking a bit more positive with my other car so I may not need a run around, meaning if I do get a Landy it'll solely be a plaything.A Series motor is def doable. And with a bit more budget it'll open it up to condition wise. But do remember a Series is fairly basic, and while capable off road, the leaf suspension has more than one short coming compared to other off roaders. Also the axles, diffs and gear boxes are all quite weak, and if you intend to somewhat "abuse" it at a pay and play site with some decent tyres, do count on breaking something once in a while.
This isn't to do a Series Landy dis justice but the lack of power, power steering and non compliant suspension don't make them quite as good off road as we would like to believe. At least not as comfy or easy to drive as others at any rate.
Disco's are at the other end ofthe spectrum. Good engines and suspension, although they still suffer with weak axles and diffs. But the down side here is the bulk and size of a Disco. It really will feel twice the size of a swb Series motor off road and be much harder to navigate in tight quaters. Also the reduced approach and departure angles can be somewhat more of an issue. Over all it means you are much more likely to take a knock or bash it into a tree.
A 90 (Defender) is obviuosly the best mix of a Series size and more powerful engines and coil suspension that you find on a Disco. But they are also a lot more expensive than either.
It is possible to fit newer engines into a Series or chop down a Disco into a pick up Bob tail. But this may not be your thing.
I know it will upset some on here. But seriously take a look at a Suzuki Jimny. Underneith they are very similar to a Land Rover, with a ladder chassis and live axles. Being small and light they are easy to use off road and can walk a bit of terrain that may well stop even a Defender. Petrol engines are peppy and not bad on fuel either.
Lastly, it might be worth looking out for a YJ Wrangler. These are almost the same size as a Defender 90
but you can pick them up cheaper. Still leaf suspension, but generally of a better design than that of Series Landy's.
HTH
This isn't to do a Series Landy dis justice but the lack of power, power steering and non compliant suspension don't make them quite as good off road as we would like to believe. At least not as comfy or easy to drive as others at any rate.
Disco's are at the other end ofthe spectrum. Good engines and suspension, although they still suffer with weak axles and diffs. But the down side here is the bulk and size of a Disco. It really will feel twice the size of a swb Series motor off road and be much harder to navigate in tight quaters. Also the reduced approach and departure angles can be somewhat more of an issue. Over all it means you are much more likely to take a knock or bash it into a tree.
A 90 (Defender) is obviuosly the best mix of a Series size and more powerful engines and coil suspension that you find on a Disco. But they are also a lot more expensive than either.
It is possible to fit newer engines into a Series or chop down a Disco into a pick up Bob tail. But this may not be your thing.
I know it will upset some on here. But seriously take a look at a Suzuki Jimny. Underneith they are very similar to a Land Rover, with a ladder chassis and live axles. Being small and light they are easy to use off road and can walk a bit of terrain that may well stop even a Defender. Petrol engines are peppy and not bad on fuel either.
Lastly, it might be worth looking out for a YJ Wrangler. These are almost the same size as a Defender 90
but you can pick them up cheaper. Still leaf suspension, but generally of a better design than that of Series Landy's.
HTH
Yes, you can buy a good Series for £1,000.
I bought GRR for £1k on the nose in January. Since then, I've done around 3,000 miles in it both on road & off road. It's body is a little battered, but being an aluminium alloy, that really doesn't worry me, as it isn't going to rust. It has not let me down once. Starts first time, every time, runs beautifully & is a hell of a lot of fun.
Since buying it, the only things I have done to it are:
It's in the garage this week for a full fluids service & a general check over, as once the weather warms up a little, the lid is coming off & it will be used as often as possible.
Here is the old girl in her element a couple of weeks ago:
I bought GRR for £1k on the nose in January. Since then, I've done around 3,000 miles in it both on road & off road. It's body is a little battered, but being an aluminium alloy, that really doesn't worry me, as it isn't going to rust. It has not let me down once. Starts first time, every time, runs beautifully & is a hell of a lot of fun.
Since buying it, the only things I have done to it are:
- Replaced the front seats (a mouse had been living in the old ones!)
- Changed the engine oil
- fixed some dodgy wiring in the rear lights.
It's in the garage this week for a full fluids service & a general check over, as once the weather warms up a little, the lid is coming off & it will be used as often as possible.
Here is the old girl in her element a couple of weeks ago:
C8PPO, I've just moved down to London (was somewhere a little more rural before) so I'm not really in the market for a cheap Landy any more, thanks for the offer though. I did look for several weeks and found nothing but rusty Discos with no MOT so gave up in the end. I'm determined to own one at some point though!
Don't discount the Freelander 1.
You should get a 1.8 with HDC and ABS etc for a grand.
Fit a 40mm lift kit and proper tyres and they are very capable off road.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
An auto will make up for the lack of low range but you wont get one in budget (unless a KV6 drops in budget).
EDIT: make sure you check the VCU is in good shape!
You should get a 1.8 with HDC and ABS etc for a grand.
Fit a 40mm lift kit and proper tyres and they are very capable off road.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
An auto will make up for the lack of low range but you wont get one in budget (unless a KV6 drops in budget).
EDIT: make sure you check the VCU is in good shape!
Edited by was8v on Tuesday 11th May 15:42
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