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hi @neilly has done an excellent D2 buyers guide
may i ask was the quotes manual / diesel , auto, manual
So far I’ve done several trips laning up in Yorkshire and Northumberland, next up is Wales which is going to be the most technical I’ve done. All have been organised tours, have done a couple of lanes with a mate but not much. Probably should explore locally really, I’m in Essex but like to use it as a way of exploring the prettier parts of the country! You could consider something like a jimny, as amusing as they look they are really capable.
I’ll give you some advice I’m 22 so understand the difficulties with insuring a Land Rover at a young age. Series and defenders are very expensive to insure although you might save money on tax with tax Exempt examples but due to their complete lack of anything safety related they are costly to insure. Also due to their popularity by thieves in recent years this also makes them expensive. Most insurers won’t give you a proper classic insurance policy until you’re 24/25 years old.
The first Land Rover I could afford to drive was a discovery 2 td5. Buy a pre 2001 model as you get the cheaper tax bracket. I’ve had mine for a year and although it’s needed maintenance it didn’t all come in one go and bankrupt me. It’s a very nice vehicle to drive on and off-road, I was lucky to get 1999 model top spec es for £950. It did however need welding.
With any Land Rover you’ll need to learn to weld you cannot run a Land Rover on a budget without this skill. All I did was buy a cheap gas and gas less mig welder, mine was made by wolf weld. Get any scrap steel and practise welding, you have to actually do it to learn it. You can probably get all the kit for under £300.
Lastly remember that It’s a big heavy old 4x4. It’s not quick in any way, they don’t handle amazingly but they are great fun. Very comfortable and very capable off-road the traction control works very well and pre 2001 have a centre diff but no lever to lock it. Get out and try some and see if you like it. Otherwise get a cheap crap box car and get a years no claims and the insurance will be cheaper.
One of the problems I have heard about with the FL1 is that some owners remove the rear propshaft and throw it away, effectively turning it into a front wheel drive vehicle, in which case you might just as well get a Mini. Why people do that, I don't know. Maybe a problem with the VCU or the IRD. Maybe it's in the misguided assumption that it will return an improved MPG.
Who knows?
The K-Series engine can overheat and throw out its coolant if it isn't really looked after.
£127 delivered
Freelander section on ere has loads of good info on them.
It wasn't the mirror so much as watching the telegraph pole through the alpine light as I inched past it with three burly blokes hanging off the opposing corner to stop me stoving the roof and glass in
Really should carry that pick axe and shovel for such eventualities.
Lastly remember that It’s a big heavy old 4x4. It’s not quick in any way,
they don’t handle amazingly but they are great fun.
Very comfortable and very capable off-road the traction control works very well and pre 2001 have a centre diff but no lever to lock it.
On steep side slopes my anti roll bars lock up to keep it stable
No lack of stability, just a bloody telegraph pole in the way.
ARBs hinder axle articulation by their very nature, no problem to have one fighting your suspension when you've got TC but I would rather my wheels tried to get to terrafirma to gain traction, once we've got transverse locks we're golden.
Mine don't, one of the clever tricks on D2, they lock on side slopes and disengage on very rough terrain
Eh?
Better post some pictures, seems there are thousands of us who seem to have the wrong idea about D2 ARBs, only ones with any difference are ACE equipped vehicles as far as I am aware, not exactly a locking or unlocking function.
ARBs do assist a little on side slopes as they attempt to maintain body levelling relative to the axle, wouldn't have helped in my skirmish with said telegraph pole as there was a hole that you suddenly dropped into right next the pole.