I can totally relate to where you are coming from - been there several times over the years with a variety of cars. It can destroy what love you once had for it.

I've come round to a theory that I apply to my cars - they split into tools and toys -
tools - these are cars which you use on a daily basis, they must be first and foremost reliable. We have a '93 Jap built toyota carina that fits this - it refuses to die, never breaks down, is comfortable, cheap to run, quick and utterly utterly reliable. It is also dull, anonymous, and very tedious to drive

toys - speaks for itself really

The problem with using toys for tools is that IF you suddenly require regular, reliable, cheap, warm bullet proof transport then toys cannot be relied upon to perform this and you can rapidly destroy what love you once had for the toy by making tool like demands on it.

It's a pig when you have to split your resources thus.

Although you have had huge challenges and are now at your wits end the Landy S3 does represent pretty sensible classic car ownership. I have run and owned and own several classics and the s3 is one that, once on the road, can usually be relied upon to deliver albeit slowly, noisily and coldly. Mindy you they can also be frustrating money pits. They do fall between the tool and toy category as well but I would not own one without a back up vehicle.

the toyota - well that will never by a toy, cost £350 2 years ago and just keeps going contrast to my wife's P38 - well, I'm looking forward to yet another Sunday of air suspension fun!

If you can it might be an idea to mothball the project, get summat boring like my toyota and in 6 months/years time you may have the time/funds/knuckle skin etc to give it another crack. I've lost count of the cars I have sold in frustration after pouring in years of sweat, cash etc and then regretted the decision later. I did this with at least 2 Citroen CX Gtis about 7 years ago when you could buy them for buttons. Regretted it and 3 months ago bought a 1985 CX Gti which cost me 4 times what I sold the last one for due to huge increases in the value over that time period. Toy wise I now chose between the S3 and the CX for a jaunt - chalk and cheese indeed!
 
its currently having its MOT prep work done before i sell the bugger .....cough .....point finger ......yep i said it ........yep i mean it ........ so ill repeat it .......im selling up ........:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

so has anyone got any idea what shes worth with a full MOT

just please no silly offers such as half a toffee apple and a bag of quavers

shame, when things are a constant uphill battle, it wears you down.

put all the receipts and pics together showing the rebuild and stick on the highest number you think you can get away with. You can always lower it.

you can start it all again, with a new series, in a few years when you have forgotten about the pain ;)
 
shame, when things are a constant uphill battle, it wears you down.

put all the receipts and pics together showing the rebuild and stick on the highest number you think you can get away with. You can always lower it.

you can start it all again, with a new series, in a few years when you have forgotten about the pain ;)

just waiting for the logbook coming back with a few ammended changes ie: engine number and change the colour from green to blue ( fekkin DVLA didnt change it last time )

meantime shes just had a bit of a spruice up as far as the mechanicals go such as

new washer pump
brand new landrover original rear crank main oil seal ( and a spare front one goes with her to her new owner
brand new flexi hose for the clutch with new seals in the master and slave
full water system flush and thermostat with a new temp sender unit
propper kill switch for the fuel solenoid ( instead of the henry hoover switch on 2 wires i was using )
new track rod end rubbers and all the brakes have been cleaned out set to perfection on the snail cams and the full fluid system flushed through with clean fresh fluid ( brakes are fekkin awesome now )
used but in bloody good condition plastic headlight back bowls
and tightened the adjuster on the steering relay box and now shockingly the vehicle goes in a straight line without juggling the steering constantly correcting the wheel ( only ever seen a series do that this one and only time )

seems to me the way shes running she knows im getting shut of her so shes starting to behave herself

giving proof to my suspicions that cars do really have a personality and a mind of their own ( guess this one just doesnt like me )

anyway soon as the logbook is back shes going up fer sale and an MOT will be going on her ;);)
 
just waiting for the logbook coming back with a few ammended changes ie: engine number and change the colour from green to blue ( fekkin DVLA didnt change it last time )

meantime shes just had a bit of a spruice up as far as the mechanicals go such as

new washer pump
brand new landrover original rear crank main oil seal ( and a spare front one goes with her to her new owner
brand new flexi hose for the clutch with new seals in the master and slave
full water system flush and thermostat with a new temp sender unit
propper kill switch for the fuel solenoid ( instead of the henry hoover switch on 2 wires i was using )
new track rod end rubbers and all the brakes have been cleaned out set to perfection on the snail cams and the full fluid system flushed through with clean fresh fluid ( brakes are fekkin awesome now )
used but in bloody good condition plastic headlight back bowls
and tightened the adjuster on the steering relay box and now shockingly the vehicle goes in a straight line without juggling the steering constantly correcting the wheel ( only ever seen a series do that this one and only time )

seems to me the way shes running she knows im getting shut of her so shes starting to behave herself

giving proof to my suspicions that cars do really have a personality and a mind of their own ( guess this one just doesnt like me )

anyway soon as the logbook is back shes going up fer sale and an MOT will be going on her ;);)

just had a look over the resto thread again, you really did put some work into her :)
 
just had a look over the resto thread again, you really did put some work into her :)

ive only done this bit of fettling as im one of those people who have bought a wrongun sooo many times in the past ( like when i first got this un ) and wished i hadnt :mad:

im always determined to never sell a vehicle full of problems :D

i just couldnt sleep at night knowing id sold a vehicle with a niggle or a fault ;)
 
Sorry to hear you're selling, but totally understand.
I sold mine after spending £7k on parts, and doing a full ground up rebuild myself. I just couldn't afford the 15mpg, although I still miss her dearly.

You obviously have high standards, and it's hard to apply these to an elderly vehicle. As mentioned above, to keep a vehicle like this, you have to accept it will be a hobby vehicle. If you apply high standards, it will probably be an expensive one.
You should accept that you will almost certainly want another one though.
I've bought two other's since, but none will ever be like the one I built.
Keep the faith! :)
 
Used to own a 1954 series 1 86" and was away one winter with a bunch of mates going out on the fells and let one of the other lads drive after 40 miles he turned off the major road into a minor road snowing at the timne and the landroover just stopped would not start for him for love nor money .
Told him to shove over and I would drive so he got out and back in passenger door I kissed he steering wheel and said come on old girl .
Started 1st time and drove on no problem he was going mad I said well you have been treating it like glass wheras I always put my foot down and drive the bloody thing.
 

Similar threads