Hello there Scotcameraop. Rereading some of the posts I note nobody congratulated you on choosing the Land rover as a preferred travel wagon. Also welcome to the excellent Landyzone which has a huge amount of useful information and experience within its members.You could have chosen anything from a tradies white van through to a UniMog. The first would have stopped at the first puddle whilst the latter might have taken you a fair way up the Alps. With all the recent press about vehicle recalls in some of the top brands, the Land rover from the attributes of Series right through to the Defender, Discovery 1 and RR Classic have always delivered what was on the label. I stopped short of later models because more electronics were introduced that could make for more expensive upkeep. ( I have a 1988 90, my fun machine for playing in the rough, and a Discovery 2 which is my magic carpet where speed and off road capability is required. It is also our every day car and the wife would like to see it stay unbent ).
In no way am I taking anything away from the excellent capabilities of later models but at no point have you mentioned a few important points that can help the lads give you some solid advice. Beasty and Larry have listed some valued points. Things we do not know and you need to consider. As No 5 said.......Need input!
AMBITION. Staying away from those mind curdling 80s terms Objectives and Goals, where within the experience range of a Ray Mears basic through to Glamping do you want to endure when travelling around Europe or even in Scotland? Freedom camping or Camping grounds? How long will you be travelling and how remote? The degree of comfort you and your partner can handle is a first consideration. Basically how much "stuff" can you do without and still have a glorious time travelling in a LR. For instance easy wash / dry clothing goes some way to saving space as does compact cooking gear. You need sufficient shelter not only for sleeping but also cooking etc. Weather conditions are important particularly when setting up camp in the rain.
BUDGET. How much money do you have for the purchase of the vehicle? Do you buy cheap and spend money fitting it out. It could cost more this way if the mechanical side is iffy. OR do you spend more on obtaining a better mechanically spec'd LR and buy a decent tent setup. There are many set ups now where the tent / awning arrangement encloses the rear of the vehicle, or a roof tent.
MECHANICAL ABILITY. How are you at fixing fundamental mechanical failures? If you are a capable fundi how much gear do you take. Spares, tools etc. All this needs storage as do liquids ( oil, fuel, water ) The latter may require a roof rack or racks.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE. Using an off road vehicle differs from everyday driving. Gear and engine use differs from pulling a stick into D and leaning on the throttle along a black strip of tarmac. Contact a local enthusiast group and see if you can go on a few runs.
Owning and driving a Land rover is a viral affliction that gives both pain when it packs a mechanical sad and utmost pleasure when it plays ball. The Series through to the Defender, D1 / D2 and the RR Classic are icons that really put you outside the bland wheeled tin crates that swamp the roads these days. ( This is not to say the later models do not have an imposing presence on the road, but they may be in the too expensive range for your plans. ) Seeing the lumps and bumps being added to one of the latest models by Mitsi to appeal to the urban dwellers unlikely to leave the tarmac, is real finger down the throat stuff.
Whilst I hope Land rover have got it right with the new Defender, which will obviously be too expensive to start with, there are luckily many of the older model out there for you to choose from if that becomes your choice.
The experience of being in a vehicle that you drive rather be driven will do wonders for your mind as well as for the muscles that put a broad smile on your face. So stick with it. But don't burn sunshine making your choice. Start off basic and work up maybe even as far as joining one of the urban rescue groups in Scotland. There are bureaucratic maggots immobile at their desks dreaming up ways to restrict the use of these older models of vehicles and the pleasure they give. VW and now Mitsi have temporarily nobbled them as well as other major companies who are having to recall millions of vehicles. It was disappointing to see the Latest Range Rover was in the list of vehicles with higher than desired Nitrous Oxide levels. With various factions keen to smack each other over the head with rolled up newspapers, there may even be further conflicts in Europe.
I will now put on my flak jacket and trust this reply to your post has been of some help.