Strange Day. Opinions needed?

[chadwicksavage]

Looking for opinions. My wife has been wanting me to get a new car, I currently drive a 2001 Land Cruiser that just turned 300k miles. She drives a 2021 gx460.

But a few nights ago, she had the bright idea that maybe since the Toyotas are a hedge against unreliability, we could purchase a fun car. Her specific suggestions were “old Porsche”, classic Range Rover, p38, discovery, or LR3.

For context. We live in Phoenix and have a toddler if that matters.

Which way would you take this with a 10-15k budget to purchase / get it reliable ish?

 

[FrenchieXJ]

I do not know anything about you or your lifestyle. I do not know about income and expense's. I do not know if any information you would get from this group would amount to much.

What hits me first, is that you said you have a toddler. Children do not get cheaper by the dozen. We do not know your goals in life.

I can only give you my prospective from my upbringing. It is a little late to do the game of playing a couples only marriage you have a family now. I believe that the child should be first priority. If you have a stack of money stashed away and can afford the toy's then, I would stash away some rainy day money. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Again this is from people not knowing you or your family. I would recommend that you have parents on both sides of your family. They know you and your wife much better then anyone on this forum probably does. They know both of you and their would recommend that you ask their advice.

We are separated by more then one generation. What ever that you decide to do, I hope it works out best for your family.

Frenchie

 

[gabrielef]

Looking for opinions. My wife has been wanting me to get a new car, I currently drive a 2001 Land Cruiser that just turned 300k miles. She drives a 2021 gx460.

But a few nights ago, she had the bright idea that maybe since the Toyotas are a hedge against unreliability, we could purchase a fun car. Her specific suggestions were “old Porsche”, classic Range Rover, p38, discovery, or LR3.

For context. We live in Phoenix and have a toddler if that matters.

Which way would you take this with a 10-15k budget to purchase / get it reliable ish?

LR3, hands down. Mine has 313K miles and the motor is strong. The best Land River has ever made. It has its quirks but if you are a DIYer, it’s such a good value proposition. $5K initial purchase, then outfit it. I think the Classic and P38 would be fun options too but more work. The LR3 is super comfy and goes anywhere. Seats 7 if needed, or take the rear seats out for additional weight savings.

I could go on and on about the L319 platform. Ping me if you need so help finding a good one. @narwhal.roverland has my Rover stuff on IG.

I drive a Grenadier mostly now but I’ll NEVER get rid of my LR3.


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[ThundahBeagle]

Looking for opinions. My wife has been wanting me to get a new car, I currently drive a 2001 Land Cruiser that just turned 300k miles. She drives a 2021 gx460.

But a few nights ago, she had the bright idea that maybe since the Toyotas are a hedge against unreliability, we could purchase a fun car. Her specific suggestions were “old Porsche”, classic Range Rover, p38, discovery, or LR3.

For context. We live in Phoenix and have a toddler if that matters.

Which way would you take this with a 10-15k budget to purchase / get it reliable ish?

I agree with Frenchie in that putting money away for a rainy day or college education is very important. I wish I had done more of that when I was younger, I just didn't think I would make it to this age.

Since your finances are not my business, I'll take your question at face value...

You have two "newer" vehicles. The LR3 has always seemed too modern to me, and the p38, as I understand it, is a catastrophe on wheels. Old Porsche sounds nice but I'd rather roll up to the Old Mill restaurant in a classic Range Rover, but $15k might be low for a good example

Discovery I, 1994 and later in the US, or Discovery II would also be great, as their first real family SUV for the masses. Same underpinnings as the classic.

Disclaimer: I may have ridden in a couple, but have never owned, driven, or worked on a classic or Disco 1 or 2.

 

[gabrielef]

I agree with Frenchie in that putting money away for a rainy day or college education is very important. I wish I had done more of that when I was younger, I just didn't think I would make it to this age.

Since your finances are not my business, I'll take your question at face value...

You have two "newer" vehicles. The LR3 has always seemed too modern to me, and the p38, as I understand it, is a catastrophe on wheels. Old Porsche sounds nice but I'd rather roll up to the Old Mill restaurant in a classic Range Rover, but $15k might be low for a good example

Discovery I, 1994 and later in the US, or Discovery II would also be great, as their first real family SUV for the masses. Same underpinnings as the classic.

Disclaimer: I may have ridden in a couple, but have never owned, driven, or worked on a classic or Disco 1 or 2.

D1 or D2 would be the true disaster. There’s a reason Land Rover got away from the naming convention of the D3 here in the US. They are not fun vehicles without A LOT of maintenance and frustration.

The LR3 has just the right amount of modern in it, and mechanically it outshines most Rovers. The new Defender, while having more tech, is turning out to be a pretty solid Rover.

Now if we talk design, it’d be hard to compete with the RR Classic, I mean it’s in the Louvre after all.


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[ThundahBeagle]

D1 or D2 would be the true disaster. There’s a reason Land Rover got away from the naming convention of the D3 here in the US. They are not fun vehicles without A LOT of maintenance and frustration.

The LR3 has just the right amount of modern in it, and mechanically it outshines most Rovers. The new Defender, while having more tech, is turning out to be a pretty solid Rover.

Now if we talk design, it’d be hard to compete with the RR Classic, I mean it’s in the Louvre after all.


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Good info. Question. Wouldn't the maintenance and frustration factor be the same as a classic, since it is built off that exact same platform, just 4 door, safari windows and many of the same components?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you get a "fun vehicle" get one that can carry the whole family.

Mine is a two seater and it is a mild PITA to include everybody in an adventure.

Beware, toddler will probably latch onto the "fun vehicle" in the most adorable way possible. They are also a "great project with dad" generator with a side perk of "adventure with dad"

My project truck was cheap and I have had it forever, build kind of has a cockroach budget where I just kinda pick at it here and there and have to fab most of my own parts... the memories and experiences I have made with my son are priceless though.

I would love to sneak up on a Classic or D1/2 some day.

 

[PhyrraM]

Unless your lifestyle is centered around a certain type of adventure, the "old Porsche" is the only one that isn't the 3rd overland type of SUV in the garage. I see a Rover as a replacement to one of the others, not an addition.

 

[gabrielef]

Good info. Question. Wouldn't the maintenance and frustration factor be the same as a classic, since it is built off that exact same platform, just 4 door, safari windows and many of the same components?

No, it’s a clean sheet design with the L319. Once you learn the annoyances of the air suspension, the rest of the rig is pretty normal maintenance. Keep an eye on the coolant pipes, thermostat housing, and water pump, and you’ll catch a problem way early before failure. That’s just a basic inspection every 5K miles or so. The other common issues are like sunroof drains, but that’s the same for any sunroof’ed car.

And going back to the air suspension, to avoid that headache, change your desiccant every 50K miles or so. It breaks down and begins to gum up the orings in the three valve blocks, that cause leak down back to the reservoir. It’s literally the beginning of all suspension issues. I kept on top of mine and my airbags finally got changed at 235K miles or so. The air suspension is solid if you take care of it.


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[Roam.Wild]

Unfortunately there's no Porsche that fits that bill. Maybe a 944, but at that price its gonna be a can of worms.

LR3 would be what I would get, for 15k you can have a nice one.

 

[SDDiver5]

What about a first gen cayenne? Since you're on this forum I imagine you'd have fun making it safari/rally/overland style.

I have 3 toddlers under 5, It's hard to find a fun car that would fit the bill. I've moved my fun car searches to suburbans and excursions.

 

[ITTOG]

I hope @Todd780 does not see this. He LOVES to spend other peoples money.

 

[86scotty]

Old Porsche......$10-15k........toddler.......

 

[chadwicksavage]

I do not know anything about you or your lifestyle. I do not know about income and expense's. I do not know if any information you would get from this group would amount to much.

What hits me first, is that you said you have a toddler. Children do not get cheaper by the dozen. We do not know your goals in life.

I can only give you my prospective from my upbringing. It is a little late to do the game of playing a couples only marriage you have a family now. I believe that the child should be first priority. If you have a stack of money stashed away and can afford the toy's then, I would stash away some rainy day money. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Again this is from people not knowing you or your family. I would recommend that you have parents on both sides of your family. They know you and your wife much better then anyone on this forum probably does. They know both of you and their would recommend that you ask their advice.

We are separated by more then one generation. What ever that you decide to do, I hope it works out best for your family.

Frenchie

Hey frenchie,

my daughter’s 529 is flush. We live in central Phoenix. Between my wife and I we bring in roughly 340k a year. Roughly 350k equity in the home, 401ks are good. Parents are healthy and still working. We waited until we were financially stable and settled in our careers to have children so I’m 37 and in my second vice president seat after a successful sell to a PE firm at the last company. My wife’s family will probably leave us between 2-3m when they pass. Financially the only consideration is my comfort spending money, which isn’t high and is how we got here.

My parents advice will be “buy a new car and take on a payment” which is why I came here - because I will not buy a 50k tundra with a ticking time bomb of an engine.

I do appreciate that this forum is taking into account that people make bad financial decisions and being careful not to feed into that divorce engine haha

To be clear this is a project car for around town mainly. Maybe boo at the zoo, zoo lights, weekends.

Chad

 

[FrenchieXJ]

I was trying to point out that the forum where people do not know about you and to give you advice is questionable.

I am 77 years old some days and 77 years young on other days. My wife and I grew up in different times. The world has changed and when I see people saying that they can not afford a new home, I used to feel sorry for them! I have less sympathy for most of them today. They do not have the money for a house but they have money for all of the toys. They have credit card debt that can take a lifetime to never pay off. When we grew up you saved your money then you bought what you wanted.In 1967 when I went into BOOT Camp we got paid $98.oo a month. Different times.

As I said, I did not know you and your wife's financial situation. That was why, I felt that your decision, I should not recommend spending your money.

As always we as people we lump people into groups. I did this when you said you have a toddler. I thought that you may be in your 20's. For that I am guilty and that was wrong on my part. You seam to have your situation under control. That is great and what ever you decide to do, enjoy it as time goes fast.

Da Frenchman