Old Rovers Too Feeble?

[1911]

I love old trucks of all sorts, I just happen to be a series fan. I liken it to being a true baseball fan. I love the RedSox. Hometown team and all that. But even when the yanks come to town I can truely appreciate a good baseball player like Jeter. I'm a bigger baseball fan than I am a RedSox fan. Same with old trucks.

I'm not a sports guy, but I still get and like your analogy; I feel the same way about old machinery of all kinds. My individual taste just happens to run to Land Cruisers and Indian motorbikes, but I still appreciate all the rest. A (motorbiking) friend of mine says it this way: "It's all the same wind, but you have to want to be in it".

I even read threads in the Rover sub-forum and enjoy them without feeling defensive or threatened. I hardly ever barge in on one though; sorry to have done so this time.

 

[I Leak Oil]

Your friend is wise...
I visit threads of different makes too. Never really had the urge to go in and start crapping in one though so perhaps that's why I don't get it...
I've never given a rats ******** as to what someone else drives though so I can't comprehend why others perspecives would be different. Does it really matter....?

 

[MattScott]

I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a white FJ40 in the "for sale" section in about a year.

Likely, I'm a serial car buyer.

 

[shogun]

Likely, I'm a serial car buyer.

Likely, I'm a serial car buyer.

Folks;

This is sounding like republicrats screaming at each other, nobody stops to listen.

My sister recently asked whether I thought a toyota fj-whatever (the new incarnation) was a good vehicle. I would consider that opinion mostly based on technical performance and design. She, however, buys cars like most women buy shoes; they look good. So it would be like two people talking at each other from 10 miles away; whatever I thought wouldnt really matter to her (except on the envy level) unless it could be used to rationalize her decision.

Matt has admitted he likes to buy vehicles. Its kinda obvious that he likes to immerse himself in the aura and romance of a vehicle with heritage; thats his gig. It isnt so much the technical, engineering aspects, mechanical reliability and performance that make his purchasing decisions. At least he is buying some cool stuff, and using it a little more than at the shopping mall, and entertaining us with his writing.

That being said, if a prettier girl enters the room, he should probably refrain from putting down the one he came with. Simply admit the romance has grown old and move on.

 

[1leglance]

Now we are getting into some truth...
Matt likes cool rigs.... me too.
Since 2007 when I got my FJ Cruiser and got bit by this off road bug I have owned:
A Sportsmobile, a 75 series Troopie and now a 1970 Suburban.
With the SMB I got it to help others and enjoyed the rig but not the payments.
With the Troopie I loved everything about it except the manual trans which killed my fake leg.
Now with the Burb I have the best of all worlds...lots of space, a rig old enough that I can work on it and all kinds of vintage cool points as it matches my granddads 72 truck in the driveway.
The real test will be how long I keep this rig...that new v6 diesel Ram as my eye But while it is new,shiny and cool it doesn't make me smile like that old burb.

Glad to see Matt admit the vehicle ADD vs making an excuse like "feeble"

 

[MattScott]

Glad to see Matt admit the vehicle ADD vs making an excuse like "feeble"

Old Rovers are feeble, and I have terrible vehicle ADD. That's only because my heart has been truly taken by the Alfa Romeo I've had since birth...

Anyways, for those who don't actually know the definition of the word "feeble", here it is—lacking physical strength, esp. as a result of age or illness. I'm not discrediting the heritage of the vehicle, 70-80 hp and 10 splines just gets old in a world where you need to cruise down the highway at 65 for a few hours then roll down the trail.

 

[Antichrist]

I've cruised a fair few miles at 65 on 10 spline axles.
I've hauled well over a ton of firewood up steep rough trails with 10 spline axles, many times.

 

[Viggen]

Old Rovers are feeble, and I have terrible vehicle ADD. That's only because my heart has been truly taken by the Alfa Romeo I've had since birth...

Anyways, for those who don't actually know the definition of the word "feeble", here it is—lacking physical strength, esp. as a result of age or illness. I'm not discrediting the heritage of the vehicle, 70-80 hp and 10 splines just gets old in a world where you need to cruise down the highway at 65 for a few hours then roll down the trail.

Its not that you have ADD but it seems that every vehicle is the 'best thing' until its time for you to justify getting another. The Series you had was great and you raved about vintage wheeling. That is, until it wasn't. Now, you've an FJ40 and justify it being the greatest thing by describing your last greatest thing as too 'feeble.' "Lacking physical strength" is BS and I have to believe that you know it. There is not one thing that I can see you doing, based on all of your 'adventure' articles, that an FJ40 will do better, or any safer than, a Series truck. When the tub and frame find a way to rust out from underneath you, which being a Land Cruiser it will, I look forward to your next greatest thing with another reason manufactured to justify it.

You should probably return that free D2 youve been rolling around in as well. It is most certainly too feeble for your needs of cruising carelessly (you know with its penchant for three amigos, blown gaskets, leaks, and slipped liners) to the next spot off the pavement like smooth desert track where you pull out the stainless steel everything and make some kabobs, or whatever is trending in the 'gourmet' camping, sorry, overlanding scene. Once you have given it back, go pick up the 80 or 100 series that seems to be de rigueur on this place. Ill warn you though, the 80 series is getting quite old and soon too might be considered feeble.

If your heart belongs to Alfa, what the hell are you doing screwing around with everything else?

 

[JackW]

I've logged hundreds of thousands of miles in Series Land Rovers and owned around ten of them. I like the way they make you slow your pace down to adapt to the vehicle - you tend to enjoy the journey a little more and pay more attention to the world going by your windows. They encourage you to take the back roads and relax and enjoy the trip. Once you venture back into the country lanes you never really notice the lack of power and especially once you leave the smooth pavement for a dirt road. The sheer simplicity of the trucks has a very real appeal and you appreciate the fact that there is a whole lot less that can go wong on an old Series Land Rover than most modern vehicles.

I saw my first 109" Land Rover station wagon when I was around 13 years old (back in 1964) - I thought it was the coolest car I'd ever seen up to that point (even cooler than a 1963 Stingray Coupe) and I still sort of feel that way. Car guys seem to select the vehicles that really make an impression on them at a fairly early age - for me it was Land Rovers, Alfa Romeo Guiliettas, Porsche 356's, BMW 2002's and dune buggies.

 

[toylandcruiser]

Its not that you have ADD but it seems that every vehicle is the 'best thing' until its time for you to justify getting another. The Series you had was great and you raved about vintage wheeling. That is, until it wasn't. Now, you've an FJ40 and justify it being the greatest thing by describing your last greatest thing as too 'feeble.' "Lacking physical strength" is BS and I have to believe that you know it. There is not one thing that I can see you doing, based on all of your 'adventure' articles, that an FJ40 will do better, or any safer than, a Series truck. When the tub and frame find a way to rust out from underneath you, which being a Land Cruiser it will, I look forward to your next greatest thing with another reason manufactured to justify it.

You should probably return that free D2 youve been rolling around in as well. It is most certainly too feeble for your needs of cruising carelessly (you know with its penchant for three amigos, blown gaskets, leaks, and slipped liners) to the next spot off the pavement like smooth desert track where you pull out the stainless steel everything and make some kabobs, or whatever is trending in the 'gourmet' camping, sorry, overlanding scene. Once you have given it back, go pick up the 80 or 100 series that seems to be de rigueur on this place. Ill warn you though, the 80 series is getting quite old and soon too might be considered feeble.

If your heart belongs to Alfa, what the hell are you doing screwing around with everything else?

That's funny you are trying to claim that land cruisers are prone to rust. Funny thing is so are rovers . It was entertaining watching you go into defense mode. Kinda like the other guy bragging about how is 10 spline axles have been so strong and he's carried 100s of thousand of pounds or whatever it is he said and his trusty 10 splines haven't failed him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

[madmax718]

Now we are getting into some truth...
Matt likes cool rigs.... me too.
Since 2007 when I got my FJ Cruiser and got bit by this off road bug I have owned:
A Sportsmobile, a 75 series Troopie and now a 1970 Suburban.
With the SMB I got it to help others and enjoyed the rig but not the payments.
With the Troopie I loved everything about it except the manual trans which killed my fake leg.
Now with the Burb I have the best of all worlds...lots of space, a rig old enough that I can work on it and all kinds of vintage cool points as it matches my granddads 72 truck in the driveway.
The real test will be how long I keep this rig...that new v6 diesel Ram as my eye But while it is new,shiny and cool it doesn't make me smile like that old burb.

Glad to see Matt admit the vehicle ADD vs making an excuse like "feeble"

Thats because you live in AZ. If you lived on the east coast, its a monstrosity to maintain because of the salt used on our roads, and the condensation from humidity. It rusts our trucks out really badly, and is a constant battle to do rust repair. In 2004 I looked at a range rover- because it was listed as "750". I thought surely this was a mistake. Car was from CT. I called the owner. This is how the convo went:

"I see you have a range rover for sale. Is that price correct?"
"Yes it is. "
"Whats wrong with it?"
"Well you ever watch the flintstones?"
"Er.. ya?"
"well the floor board isn't quite that bad, but its close.".

I forget what year LR's started to get galvanizing from the factory but I know it wasn't until mid 90's at least for the range rovers. (I dont think the classics ever came with it).
GM didn't start to galvanize their trucks until I think 1988 or 1989. You can tell the GM trucks of that era because they all pealed paint due to a bad bond between the galvanized surface and the paint. But the pealed area didn't rust, so I guess thats a good thing.

Like anything old, if it once got the job done, it can STILL get the job done- provided that the vehicle was kept in its original shape. You can't take a neglected vehicle and expect it to perform the same as new. Fuel line, fuel systems, o rings, hoses.. they all age and deteriorate. they must be maintained.

I have no doubt a properly maintained old vehicle can do the same job. Perhaps not in as much comfort, perhaps not as quietly, but also perhaps, won't leave you stranded due to some electronic module failing. Crank position sensor? wahts that? )

 

[madmax718]

That's funny you are trying to claim that land cruisers are prone to rust. Funny thing is so are rovers . It was entertaining watching you go into defense mode. Kinda like the other guy bragging about how is 10 spline axles have been so strong and he's carried 100s of thousand of pounds or whatever it is he said and his trusty 10 splines haven't failed him.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

All vehicles from that era are prone to rust. They didn't do main stream hot dip galvanizing until the late 80's. Now they use epoxy paint to encapsulate the metal (frame areas). Many manufacturers use hot dipped on all body panels before the epoxy primer and then paint. It does a lot for the vehicle.

this is why the restoration folks (not just the LR folks, its done in the hot rod business as well) is to blast down to bare metal (or dip) and then epoxy coat, or powder coat.

Its just not fair to punt one vehicle mfg to another of the same era- I've seen plenty of rusted out EVERYTHING.

(and then plenty of non rusted out ones out west).

 

[Viggen]

That's funny you are trying to claim that land cruisers are prone to rust. Funny thing is so are rovers . It was entertaining watching you go into defense mode. Kinda like the other guy bragging about how is 10 spline axles have been so strong and he's carried 100s of thousand of pounds or whatever it is he said and his trusty 10 splines haven't failed him.

Its not defense mode and I will be the first to point out, as I did, that Rovers have their issues but 'feeble' they are not. You also missed the point. The next thing will be coming along shortly and he will claim the FJ40 to be too rough and spartan, or something like that, in order to justify that next greatest thing. Whats really funny is why is justification needed? The 40 series is every bit a rough and feeble as the series. Blah blah blah 10 spline axles and 70 horsepower. The bottom line is he didnt like it anymore but he needed to justify it by manufacturing some reason. There will be a safari themed photo shoot, followed by a for sale ad soon enough.

 

[MedicalCowboy]

Wow this escalated quickly lol guys I thought we were all here to help each other and provide helpful knowledge to others. Instead we just argue and kick each other. I hate to say it, but what's the point lol. So what if Matt bounces from one car to the next and calls one feeble? He can do whatever in the h*ll he wants. To tell you the truth I would probably do the same thing if i could. Now here I am complaining about you guys complaining. Thanks a lot lol.

 

[David Harris]

I can understand the serial car ownership phenomenon. My personal problem is more that I tend to add more vehicles onto the several I already own, and then don't have time to deal with them all. Trying to cut back at the moment, but it's an ongoing battle each day. . . :ylsmoke: