Bought a rover 75 from a dealer... couldnt get it into 2nd gear so I took it back. Didn't like the low driving position though... I'm only little and like to sit up high.
Considering my options..
- Thread starter Land_girl
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
I thought it was after the game "Hungry Hippos" because the raised roof at the back and the (for what they are) relatively low bonnet, makes them look like the plastic hippos in the Hungry Hippos game!Think it was from a photo taken very early in water and a reporter likened it to a hippo. And there you go stuck with it for life.
I don’t have the pic but @Hippo will have it ,or somebody else. It’s been posted many times
J
You don’t realize how good the high driving position is till you sit in something low and little.
We always feel vulnerable if we have to hire a normal car.
J
Few vehicles feel as high as the Hippo, except other large 4X4s.
The Hippo does have a good driving position, especially if the driver is under 6 foot.
Don't think I'd go back to a 'low' motor now.
I'm only just over 5ft.
Mondeo
Treachery!
@Land_girl, they say if you have to ask the question, then you already know the answer.
You clearly love the FL but it's not ticking the 'practicality' boxes. Accessories aren't necessarily the way forward (trailer, roof box, etc) and you'll likely outgrow them, too.
I'm relatively new to Land Rover but have had VW vans for a while. A VW T4 Syncro (4x4) would make an ideal vehicle for a family with a with a proclivity for the outdoors and a bit of the muddy stuff.
Yeah!
The interior space on an FL1 is not bad - just a rather tiny boot. Need a big roof box if taking it on Holiday!
We've just got a Disco Sport for the family. That's massive inside and a much larger boot. But when we go camping, I suspect that we shall still be fitting a roof box!
(PS the first owner of this car lost in excess of £20k in 18 months: you're FL1 running costs are small beer in comparison with that!!!)
We've just got a Disco Sport for the family. That's massive inside and a much larger boot. But when we go camping, I suspect that we shall still be fitting a roof box!
(PS the first owner of this car lost in excess of £20k in 18 months: you're FL1 running costs are small beer in comparison with that!!!
)
Interceptorxj
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 1,718
- Location
- Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Yup get rid of the hippo and buy another proper Land Rover.
1988smithy
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 4,044
- Location
- West midlands
The interior space on an FL1 is not bad - just a rather tiny boot. Need a big roof box if taking it on Holiday!
We've just got a Disco Sport for the family. That's massive inside and a much larger boot. But when we go camping, I suspect that we shall still be fitting a roof box!
(PS the first owner of this car lost in excess of £20k in 18 months: you're FL1 running costs are small beer in comparison with that!!!
What's your thoughts on the DS mate? What year is it has it got the ingenium diesel?
1988smithy
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 4,044
- Location
- West midlands
@Land_girl if you were to get another car what would your budget be?
Last edited:
Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,847
A Freelander seats 5 people and has a boot. Compare the size of that to what yer parents drove int 1980's and managed ter get by. We had a metro and went ont holiday ter polppero with 2 adults and 3 kids. One large suitcase ont roof rack. Clothes int bin bags int boot. Then think about the junk yer carry about with yer and what yer dun't need. Failing that ratchet strap the kids ter the roof. They'll love it.
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 9,870
- Location
- Thatcham
Discos and rangies need big boots to carry all the tools and equipment needed to get them from a to b. There's a thread on here somewhere, it's staggering what they carry around.
Col
Col
Metro?! LUXURY! When I were a lad, it were a Reliant for our family of 5!
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 9,870
- Location
- Thatcham
Reliant! You lucky, lucky b@stard, we were a family of 18 and we only had a bike between us and that was missing the left hand peddle
Col
GrumpyGel
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 26,390
- Location
- Christchurch, New Zealand
Yeh, that's right. This is my grandad's one that we all used to pack into to go down to Leysdown for the summer holiday.
It was a Triumph 1500 TC for me and my 3 sisters, after that came an Austin Maxi 1750HL. Imagine the squabbling with 4 kids in the back seat, of a car made for 2/3 adults in the back. We all went away on long holiday drives to Devon and Cornwall, managing to get everything in the car.
Today space is better, especially for the passengers, safety is much better too.
Colthebrummie
Well-Known Member
- Posts
- 9,870
- Location
- Thatcham
I had a maxi, they were quite roomy cars as I remember. I suppose they were the first, or one of the first hatchbacks. The early ones had cable control for the gear selector and it was a nightmare adjusting them.
Col
Turboman
Mab An Gov
- Posts
- 60,151
- Location
- Lathrowda, Kernow
My mum had an 1800 Maxi. Very useful. Never broke down, and the front wheel drive was handy in icy weather, which was more common in those days.
On one occasion my BSA 250 broke down, and we folded down the back seats,lifted the dead bike into the back, and took it home for repair.
Last edited:
It’s a late 17/ early 18 with Ingenium diesel (25k miles currently). I like it, but it’s taking some acclimatisation: it’s very 21st century. Automated everything. I prefer manual everything ‘coz I’m like that. The Adblue is annoying, but necessary for ULEZ compliance. I plan regular oil replacements to counter the apparently inevitable diesel dilution issue - but so far I think it’s great!
I’ve bought some cheap 17” Evoque wheels to put some decent AT tyres on for the off road adventures: 20” on road tyres are great for just that: road only.
Thankfully, terrain response gets the best out of summer road tyres even in snow:
Last edited:
It’s a late 17/ early 18 with Ingenium diesel (25k miles currently). I like it, but it’s taking some acclimatisation: it’s very 21st century. Automated everything. I prefer manual everything ‘coz I’m like that. The Adblue is annoying, but necessary for ULEZ compliance. I plan regular oil replacements to counter the apparently inevitable diesel dilution issue - but so far I think it’s great!
I’ve bought some cheap 17” Evoque wheels to put some decent AT tyres on for the off road adventures: 20” on road tyres are great for just that: road only.
Thankfully, terrain response gets the best out of summer road tyres even in snow:
View attachment 180671
Hi
Just wished to say nice motor
I’ve got a horrible feeling evoke and D5 have different rim PCD patterns , but I’m more than likely thinking of something else
Happy motoring
