Looking for first hand Pinzgauer info.

[bpj911]

Comparo

Series Rover to Pinz? I have a 66 IIa 109.

The Rover is really a POS compared to a Pinz in almost every way.
My 109 rides like a shopping cart compared to a Pinz and is constantly needing something. Despite these issues, I really enjoy the Rover. I am not sure why really.

 

[Ruffin' It]

Great, thank you for the perspective. I've only ever seen them in real life twice and I have never even sat in one, let alone driven one. I was actually just cruising eBay looking at Series Rovers. I'm not really sure why either, I'm in the process of selling my Disco II to get out of Rovers and I just get sucked back in.
Originally, I was looking at Pinz's as a 2nd car/toy as I commute about 70/day in LA traffic. Now, it'd have to be a 1st car, but I think my commuting will be greatly decreased in the near future and my girlfriend has a Honda for normal people stuff.

Crap, that is an equation that requires algebra and a calculator.

I think with a small RV roof mounted A/C unit, I would be fine driving it as my daily driver, but ... I have never driven one and I am prone to bad decisions.

My other option that I was planning on going with is a 62 series Land Cruiser with a diesel. Decisions, decisions.

 

[bpj911]

A/c

I would assume you would need to look at some significant upgrades to run a roof top a/c. I know there are 24 volt ones available but I think you might be shocked by cost...

 

[zimm]

How loud are they? loud How smelly? like gas How drafty? have an espar (sp) installed for winter How rough? like a defender if loaded How tireing to drive on long trips? exhausting How prone are they to prompting roadside adventures (i.e. breaking down)? not very, but, be near an old v-dub shop when you break.

hth....

 

[zimm]

-comfort-pretty subjective. I would consider the comfort to be above an FJ40 but not the heater.

absolutely not. the visibility up towards traffic lights is for 5'-8" men... along with pedal positioning and cockpit space. its tight. think series III tight. if you have legs over 30", 1st gear is in your knee, and its a pain. the engine drone will split your head after a while on the highway. dont kid yourself, this is a mill spec vehicle without civilian concessions. you will find theres more to comfort than coil springs

-steering-PINZGAUER ALL THE WAY.

steering isnt power assisted, and it aint easy to adapt. its not hard at speed, but on long trips the armstrong steering will get old. and do something like pull your back out, or tweek an elbow on a long adventure, and your misery is now x10.

you were bit on the bandwagon bias here. i dont think youre pointing a pinz newb in the right direction. too much sugar coat in my opinion.

 

[bpj911]

Sugar coat?

It's a subjective thing. It's an old army truck. It's cold when it's cold, it's hot when it's hot and it's noisy whenever it's running. It is head and shoulders above a deuce or a m37 or a series rover in all of the areas of comfort. First gear is in your knee but at least the clutch doesn't put your knee in the door handle. I drove a Pinz home 1600 miles and it was not a big deal. It's all what you're used to I guess.

 

[bpj911]

Question for Zimm

What Pinz experience do you have? Just curious as I don't find them to be nearly as awful as you are indicating and I have had a LOT of Pinzgauers and other old trucks. I wouldn't think twice about rolling a 1000 miles in a Pinz.

 

[zimm]

What Pinz experience do you have? Just curious as I don't find them to be nearly as awful as you are indicating and I have had a LOT of Pinzgauers and other old trucks. I wouldn't think twice about rolling a 1000 miles in a Pinz.

best friend has one, and a fine example at that. i love it. i have right of first refusal if he sells.

i didnt say it was awful, im just saying it doesnt compare to a street going civi 4x4. the nvh isnt nice. it was designed to be off road, with a loaded nato pallet in bum. it does that well. but it doesnt do any of the things people take for granted in vehicles designed post 1960.

it will do 60. hell itll do 65... but it aint happy above 45. the noise will get to you.

it has two zenith carbs, and the motor is "in" the cab. you will get fuel smell.

it doesnt have power steering. neither does an acura nsx... but it doesnt have 33" meats stuck in the mud either. my primary wheeler is unassisted, and i dont mind it for a day of fun. i wouldnt be taking adventures in it though.

it will cook you on a hot day.

it seals out the elements like an MG product.

youll want an aux heater for sure.

you like your truck, thats great. this guy may like it too, but if you look at what the guy is shopping it against, its clear he really doesnt have much of an idea of what its like.

its not just a "different" ride... its a "harder" ride... and for most people it gets to be mentally and physically tiring. and to suggest its as civil as an fj40 is crazy. its the opinion of a dihard pinz guy, which is fine as long as this guy has a proper filter on.

 

[Ruffin' It]

Thanks for all the good advice everyone (and I do think it is all good advice). Zimm is right, I don't really know what they are like. My DD for years was a fully race prepped MGB that had almost no suspension, a half cage, straight exhaust, 5 point harness, aluminum seat, no heat and no top at all in summer LA rush hour traffic. So I'm not too worried, but I have two old dogs now and they are what I am really thinking of. I'd build a floating platform on inner tubes and sound deaded the he'll out of it, but what I really want is all the opinions pos and neg to help me get a better idea. I'm not worried about heat, but A/C is essential for me.

Thanks again everyone!

 

[zimm]

Thanks for all the good advice everyone (and I do think it is all good advice). Zimm is right, I don't really know what they are like. My DD for years was a fully race prepped MGB that had almost no suspension, a half cage, straight exhaust, 5 point harness, aluminum seat, no heat and no top at all in summer LA rush hour traffic. So I'm not too worried, but I have two old dogs now and they are what I am really thinking of. I'd build a floating platform on inner tubes and sound deaded the he'll out of it, but what I really want is all the opinions pos and neg to help me get a better idea. I'm not worried about heat, but A/C is essential for me.

Thanks again everyone!

its a differnt kind of hard driving, but if that didnt get on your nerves in 65* rainy temps on a highway, you may have the iron *** for this...

the stock pinz alt is 35a 24v i believe. i dont know of anyone adding an ac compressor and id imagine an all electric big enough to cool the cab and the area behind the bulkhead in the hard top would need more juice...

contact this guy.... he knows pinz's http://www.pinzgauersrus.com/

or this guy dennis.... http://www.lindenengineering.com/

there was someone here selling one with all the mods you want already worked out, i think, for 45k. looked awesome, and, wile im not much for rating a rigs value on its mods... its prolly worth it if youre gonna go about changing everything.