Next Model for New Adventures

[Northernlilywhite]

thanks Frank, I am a regular reader of a few mags so I will trawl through and see if I can find an article from Simon. I think I have read his mag as I lived in the UK for 8 years, while being LR mad, but not owning one then. Thanks for the Carnet info. completely would have not thought about that.

Ok, so my wife (damn her) just had a thought for the family car and the overlander situation. She is totally down with whatever the hell I put my mad schemes to work on, be it 110, 130 or a rocket ship. But the family rig she wants to have some say in, and she likes the smaller and more "practical" Freelander, and they are super cheap for a newer, cleaner model than a RR or Disco. I have absolutely no knowledge of Freebies except good MPG's on the diesels, and still a good car in the snow, mud, etc for a countryside living driver. What is everyone's general opinion on the Freebies? Are the absolutely wank? or are they ok, but really not great, or are most people quite happy to have one? Common issues? I am just worried about buying a freebie for her and running into 100 design faults without the total package making up for it, like it does with a Disco.

 

[Timo K]

I can vouch for Foley's. Their attitude is absolutely spot on. I recommend you contact them and tell them your needs and so on, Paul and Stuart are both very helpful. With them the sky is the limit, and considering what they can do, they're not even all that expensive. They can find a vehicle for you, or scratch build absolutely anything Land Rover. Be it a small 90 or a 6x6 Defender 150.

Compared to other companies in the UK and elsewhere who try to sell you this and that as absolutely vital for travelling, they will offer you more down to earth advice based on their (extensive) experience and offer you good insight on what you actually need vs. what you have seen in magazines and just want.

 

[Gren_T]

Hi Northern.. my .02 ..
a 130 is a very cool truck with an imposing road presence, however they are a barge to drive on the UK roads & require carefull driving off road. I've driven the 200,300, td5 & puma engine varieties, & one would think they make a good overlander but size comes with its own problems, try manovering around an african town in one, have you ever seen any magazines extol their vertues in anything except the dunes of morroco.?

A 110 is almost ideal size wise but if your in the UK then you will be doing lots of road miles to any adventure & a 110 needs to be well sorted to be as comfortable as a disco or RRC on the long road sections. If its in day to day use or an occasional hack I would prefer either a disco or a 300TDI RRC.

I run a 90 as my DD but found it wanting compared to a 200TDI D1 I bought for £400 to drive around southern europe and north africa, If I had the space I would buy a clean 300TDI RRC and spec it up for travel. after all if people can travel around the world on a motorbike what do you really need to take with you in a 110 or a 130.

The freelander is a viable choice seen a few in morroco, easy to tweek and a comfortable car as a DD they have bad points but the faults are well known and no worse than any of the other major competition.
they can't compare off road but there very few people that would push the limits on a vehicle they need to get themselves home, but they are more than capable than many pug 504's you may meet on a piste.

The carnet has been mentioned .. 8 times the value of the vehicle as a deposite made me think very hard when i was about to buy a 4x4 merc sprinter camper.! the other thing is security & shipping, not often thought about until you decide to put it in a container or on a RORO.

hence me travelling in a 25yo 90. lol poverty travel.

Have fun & regards all

Gren

 

[brushogger]

Welcome, first of all!
Personally, I would indeed sell the 2004 DII- why?

3) and the final reason- At some point your 2004 WILL slip a cylinder liner! It is inevitable. I just learned this week while searching for an 4.6 for my Sisters 04 Disco, that the company that was making the updated (lip in the cylinder wall that would not let the cylinder slip) 4.6 for Land Rover tanked in January. You cannot get the 4.6 anymore in the States sans used - and why you would do that ... I don't know because at some point ... it too will drop its cylinder sleeve!

So, get the truck you want in the UK, sell the truck you leave behind in the US ... and great luck to you as you ping pong back and forth!
D

What Dendy said x3. It seems to be a given now on '04's. Mine went at 71kmiles and it had been impeccably maintained. Other than that, it was an amazing vehicle. Whoever engineers a kit to swap in a vortec v-6 or v-8 and correctly integrate all the electronics will be a rich man. I'd be all over a new chevy crate motor and another 04 with a toasted engine.

 

[Northernlilywhite]

Wow, I am so confused now, but I think I have a few real viable options. I am still thinking defender but maybe a 110 as the project as it still needs to do some uk travel and a 130 is probably too big but I am going to test drive a few used 130s and see how they handle. Also going to try and convince the wife to have an open mind on a rrc to rebuild. We shall see....

 

[Rovertrader]

130s are the bomb- hopefully Doug will chime in too. I too have little ones, and the only drawback to the 130 is the rear seat legroom is about 2-3" less than a 110, and the overall length can be a handful in tight spots. I had a CC p/u the first time round, and a full on box this build which is better for expedition travel IMHO. I believe it is Foley's that also makes 130 wagons ... And remember the 130 overhangs much further out back than 90 and 110 models.
For DD wife duties, either a RRC Tdi, D-I Tdi, or even D-II Td5(my choice if in the UK). I would advise using this as the travel vehicle in Europe as well, and get on with the Defender build so you have the option for both types of travel. The P38 RRs are a mess unless late model years like '01 and '02, and are still Td5. The Td5 D-II will also have your CDL, and you are already familiar with said model.

 

[Northernlilywhite]

Nice thought Rovertrader, I am probably going to go the way of the Disco 1 for the DD as I can use it for play and for my wife while the Defender takes shape. D1 is cheaper than D2, comes standard with CDL, and I won't feel as bad if it ends up a bit knackered and left to makes it own way while I work on the defender project. I would love another D2 2004 but I think it is out of my price range if I also want to get a Defender 110 or 130 in the same patch of time. What engines would people recommend for a 130 for expeds? I am thinking 300 tdi for simplicity and ruggedness but what about a TD5 or possibly a completely non LR engine like a big Mazda or something eastern for reliability.