buying advice (and an introduction)

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glor

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hi all, Gloria here i just joined up and was hoping to get some advice, id like to get a land rover, but i can't seem to get some solid answers to some questions i have and was hoping you guys could help me out.

I'm after a SWB landy looking for something tax exempt with a good MPG, for every day use also i drive from the south east to my daughters in the midlands fairly often so the MPG is pretty important when i have to do a 3 hour drive there each way.

I've looked at quite a few land rovers online and trying to find out an average MPG is proving hard work.

other thing I'm a little confused on is what the exact differences are between a series 2 and a series 3, I've been looking at two land rovers both land rover 88'' but one is a series 2 and the other a series 3 yet i dont see a difference between the two, apart from shape, can someone tell me if theres anything else in it?


what do you recommend would be the best model for me?

thanks in advance for looking.
 
glor said:
hi all, Gloria here i just joined up and was hoping to get some advice, id like to get a land rover, but i can't seem to get some solid answers to some questions i have and was hoping you guys could help me out.

I'm after a SWB landy looking for something tax exempt with a good MPG, for every day use also i drive from the south east to my daughters in the midlands fairly often so the MPG is pretty important when i have to do a 3 hour drive there each way.

I've looked at quite a few land rovers online and trying to find out an average MPG is proving hard work.

other thing I'm a little confused on is what the exact differences are between a series 2 and a series 3, I've been looking at two land rovers both land rover 88'' but one is a series 2 and the other a series 3 yet i dont see a difference between the two, apart from shape, can someone tell me if theres anything else in it?


what do you recommend would be the best model for me?

thanks in advance for looking.
Click to expand...

a vw.

From your questions it sounds as if you are not mechanically minded or have deep pockets. If so, stop searching and go get a cheap modern car.

Seriously, these are old and require some tlc and the engines were designed 60 years ago.. mpg? With a 2.25 diesel you could probably get 22-28. Petrol.. 15-20ish?

Good luck! :)
 
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Can't say about the difference between the two. But forget MPG with a land rover. 20 MPG is good for a petrol and 30 if you get a diesel. Don't even look at a V8 if you even consider MPG into buying a landrover.
 
And if you are driving it daily plus 3 hour trips occasionally you need some very good breakdown cover.

I can recommend Green Flag

Anyhow, going on the back of a truck will help with the MPG :D:D

Oh and welcome :D
 
If its definitely a series your after, there's a half decent series 3 for sale on the series2club forum for sale section, and the best bit is............... its already got a 200 Tdi fitted :) 11mths MOT and Tax till end of month................ started at £2000 but its been for sale a while, its now at £1650 but there may still be a bit of room in it ;) worth a look if that's what your after
 
You wont like a 3 hour drive each way in an old Landie without some ear plugs or a very loud stereo and they are bumpy and very draughty do wrap up warm.
They are also very slow with the original engines in them especially the diesel and very poor on fuel.

You could get one with a newer TDi engine which will be better on ful and a bit quiter but not much and it could be difficult to insure depending on your circumstances.

You may be better with something like a Discovery as the comfort and better economy will outway having to pay road tax if you do a fair bit of mileage.
 
glor said:
hi all, Gloria here i just joined up and was hoping to get some advice, id like to get a land rover, but i can't seem to get some solid answers to some questions i have and was hoping you guys could help me out.

I'm after a SWB landy looking for something tax exempt with a good MPG, for every day use also i drive from the south east to my daughters in the midlands fairly often so the MPG is pretty important when i have to do a 3 hour drive there each way.

I've looked at quite a few land rovers online and trying to find out an average MPG is proving hard work.

other thing I'm a little confused on is what the exact differences are between a series 2 and a series 3, I've been looking at two land rovers both land rover 88'' but one is a series 2 and the other a series 3 yet i dont see a difference between the two, apart from shape, can someone tell me if theres anything else in it?


what do you recommend would be the best model for me?

thanks in advance for looking.
Click to expand...

It sounds to me like you want to have your cake and eat it.

I reckon you'd be better off going for a newer landy that you were thinking so not tax exempt. a 2.5 N/A diesel of the era your looking for will only give a return of around 18-25mpg. The 26-30mpg economy of a 300tdi will soon make up the £200 a year tax that will need paying. The power steering and smoother ride of the coil springs over leaf springs will be a big advantage too.

Before leaping into buying, It might be worth your while checking out a discovery instead of a defender. The gear ratio/motorway speed of a discovery is better than that of a defender.

If you are dead set on a defender/series then an overdrive or disco transfer box may be a good upgrade in the future.
 
If you need the off road capability then get something newer, more reliable and less thirsty. Or buy a diesel road car for the long journeys and get a series for fun - you can probably buy a series with the fuel savings over a year or two.
Brakes and steering are positively primitive and driving them is an art in itself. As older vehicles they need a lot of maintenance and will always have suspect reliability. On the plus side, they're easy to work on and parts are still widely available.
Series 2, less sophisticated cabin, crap heater, less friendly gearbox. Series 2, more modern dash, comfier seats (optional) better heater (if it works) synchro on all the forward gears. Petrol swbs can be quite nippy, diesel uses a bit less fuel. Many series have newer engines but I think it rather negates the point.....
Loads of guides on buying series landys on the site.
 
Hi Gloria , first thing , have you ever travelled in a series landy , if not then first thing is to do so as this will give you an insight into what travel by series is like . I am sure a series owner near you would be happy to help you in that respect , and give you all the input you are likely to need for your decision . HTSH
 
Lots of good advice here already, definitley drive before you buy, if ya still set on it then also ask for someone to look the vehicle over for you, am sure someone near you would offer, you need to know what you are getting, even if its cheap.
Good luck :bounce:
 
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