Double Eviction: It's time to go.......Treads & Tulip

[Treads]

Well after 5+ years of owning 3 different LR products we're moving away from the Marque. A brand new MY14 NW Pajero GLX-R will call the garage home for the next five years (at least).

The defender has recently had a fair bit of stuff done to it including a brand new gearbox/transfer case; but I'm just getting a bit over the constant worry about 'will we make it without a breakdown?' every time we do a trip away. I'd hate to think how many hours I've spent tinkering on Land Rovers for the past 5 years. Sure, some of it was fun; but not always :p

I've had a great time meeting some of you and getting away on a few trips. I especially enjoyed the AULRO Sundown NP trip a few years back and of course it was awesome to be part of the 60th at Cooma.

Thank you to all those that provided advice when I had 'issues' and I just want to say that the general camaraderie of this place is second to none.

The old girl will pop up in the markets in a month or so at a pretty realistic price. She's got 374,000k's on the clock; but needs to complete one more trip from the mid north coast of NSW to Wang next week. Once we're back from our current holiday she'll start having a rest and recuperate before she goes on sale.

[87County]

It doesn't mean you have to leave here you know - we've enjoyed reading about the deer stalking and the (informed) uniformed experience

all the best to you all anyway - Laurie

[Chops]

All the best Treads, hope the sale and the new vehicle goes well for you.

Don't forget, if your out on the road, feel free to pull us up for a chat :D,, its not like you'll have any other reason to pull us over,, like for speeding ;)

[VladTepes]

Sorry to hear that Treads but always nice getting a new 4wd of any kind eh !

See you 'elsewhere' ;)

[weeds]

Drop in and post your hunting trips......always a good read

[PAT303]

Don't leave mate,the more different model vehicles we get here the better IMHO. Pat

[V8Ian]

All the best with the Pajero, they're soulless but reliable. As stated by others, no reason to leave here; your input has been enjoyed and would be missed.

[solmanic]

Don't go! I sold my Defender but I never left. Just think of yourself as being "between Land Rovers".

[Disco Muppet]

We've knocked heads a few times but that doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed the experience :D
Don't go mate, and enjoy the Pajero, they're a great car.

[The ho har's]

Sorry to hear that you are leaving:(

That Sundown Trip was a cracker wasn't it. And thank you for the time you rescued us from Tamworth with 2 drivable vehicles and 3 trailers:D

Best of luck with the upcomming bub:)

As has been said you don't HAVE to leave here just add from time to time:cool:

[amtravic1]

I can understand the move away from Landrovers. I retired my Rangie from work duties nearly 3 years ago and bought a Dmax. In 3 years and 100,000 kms I have put a set of rear brake shoes in it. Nothing else. It is very reliable, has a fantastic engine but is soulless. I dont miss having to work on my Rangie nearly every second weekend to fix some minor issue. A new Defender was my preferred work vehicle however I am just getting tired of working on cars and I now have free time that was once taken up fixing Range Rovers

[Utemad]

Just think of yourself as being "between Land Rovers".

My thoughts exactly.
I don't know when my next one will arrive but I'm keeping some of the last one just in case.

In the interim I bought the same as you but in VRX a couple of months ago.
Hard to beat on price and will handle the everyday driving and camper towing duties for a while.

Enjoy the new car.

[Chucaro]

I always have valued your inputs, just because you do not have a LR horse it does mean that you have to leave.
I sold my Defe and got a Peugeot 406 coupé but I still here, I cannot say good bye to so many good people in AULRO.I learn and have learned to much from them :)
On top of that if I leave life will be to easy for Dave and the moderators :p

[Ausfree]

Agree with all the above comments. I enjoy your posts and as I am also "LandRoverless" since I sold my FL1 eighteen months ago because it was burning a hole in my pocket with repairs.
I have stuck around because I have met a few AULROlians and enjoy the chatter on the Forum.:D:D

[Treads]

We made it back from our 3150km trip safely and without incident. The Deefer was fully loaded, towing a 1t camper and still returned an average fuel consumption of 12.25L per 100km. Between the last two fills I got 1050km out of the 125L LRA tank. Got to be happy with that!

I can't bring myself to not check the forums every couple of days, so after the encouraging posts above I've decided to stay :angel:

It's still another week or so until the new tug shows up in the driveway and the old girl is away on yet another trip to the snowies while I'm on night shift (the defender went too :wasntme::twisted: )

[dullbird]

Treads you of all people should know (you have been here long enough) that we would welcome anyone here whether they had a Land Rover or not, so not having a Land Rover is not excuse not to drop in and say hi or even visit and still put your two pence worth in..

you still have Green blood and still have experience to offer regardless of whether you're driving one or not:)

[Treads]

We've had the new rig for a couple of weeks now. Very happy so far :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/914.jpg

Hopefully I'll have some word from ARB soon as to when they can fit the sahara bar and hayman reese hitch.

[superquag]

Of all the Jap 4WDs, the Pajero is and always has been, a vastly under-rated vehicle.
Indeed, it was the first Pajero that was instrumental in getting LR off and running with the Disco. - Just look at a Gen I Paj and a Disco. The Paj shape, size (longer wheelbase) and creature-comforts. - Not to mention a side-opening rear door, as opposed to the ridiculous double-split thing on my Classic...

Mate of mine sold his - or rather his WIFE did - much loved and pampered Disco II. - It broke down just once too often when interstate. She bought them a similar/later model diesel Paj. They both love the larger interior, quietness and engine power/fuel use over their chipped td5.
Reliability? Dunno, but they're out and about in the caravan a LOT more these days, and for longer each time. :D

[numpty]

Sorry to hear that you are leaving:(

And thank you for the time you rescued us from Tamworth with 2 drivable vehicles and 3 trailers:D

:cool:

X2 ;)

Glad to hear you've decided to stay.

[catch-22]

I've really taken a liking to the Mitsu...

[d2dave]

X2 ;)

Glad to hear you've decided to stay.

X3, although I have only just found out that you were going to go. I must have missed the start of this thread.

Being almost neighbors I was hoping to catch up one day.

[schuy1]

We've had the new rig for a couple of weeks now. Very happy so far :)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/11/914.jpg

Hopefully I'll have some word from ARB soon as to when they can fit the sahara bar and hayman reese hitch.

Cripes 2 weeks and your happy? I should hope so! :o Call back when it has rolled over 350K Kms :D But no, they are a good buggy, Dont win Dakars if they are not! Good to see ya stick around.
Cheers Scott

[Treads]

Cripes 2 weeks and your happy? I should hope so! :o Call back when it has rolled over 350K Kms :D But no, they are a good buggy, Dont win Dakars if they are not! Good to see ya stick around.
Cheers Scott

Actually not as happy as I thought....

We did a trip up to Mt Buffalo yesterday, which included some gravel roads and dirt tracks. The ride from the stock suspension and tyres is nowhere near as good as I expected from a brand new car. Coming from a '95 Deefer I was expecting better; this thing is rough! I can imagine it won't get any better when the bullbar, winch, driving lights, extra battery, cargo barrier and towbar go on :(

I've joined the Pajero forum and after a bit of research it seems the consensus is that immediately fitting aftermarket shocks/springs/tyres is definitely the go for these to be a decent tourer.

[sashadidi]

Of all the Jap 4WDs, the Pajero is and always has been, a vastly under-rated vehicle.
Indeed, it was the first Pajero that was instrumental in getting LR off and running with the Disco. - Just look at a Gen I Paj and a Disco. The Paj shape, size (longer wheelbase) and creature-comforts. - Not to mention a side-opening rear door, as opposed to the ridiculous double-split thing on my Classic...

Mate of mine sold his - or rather his WIFE did - much loved and pampered Disco II. - It broke down just once too often when interstate. She bought them a similar/later model diesel Paj. They both love the larger interior, quietness and engine power/fuel use over their chipped td5.
Reliability? Dunno, but they're out and about in the caravan a LOT more these days, and for longer each time. :D
Yes I watched the long way round with Ewan Mcgregor and the Pajero (sponsored) did really well in eastern Siberia roads ( I know he had backup but it really did well on the rough roads) see how they loaded it up with gear and drove a few thousand km on really bad roads and I suspect the driver was not that good at four wheel driving.
Watch them tow the Pajero across a river at 5 minute 24 seconds time in the video , also features a grey russian UAZ-452 van( Bukhanka). these are really capable off road and very simple and reliable especially in the very cold weather where our landrovers and toyotas are not so reliable.
The River Crossing - Long Way Round - YouTube

[Utemad]

Actually not as happy as I thought....

We did a trip up to Mt Buffalo yesterday, which included some gravel roads and dirt tracks. The ride from the stock suspension and tyres is nowhere near as good as I expected from a brand new car. Coming from a '95 Deefer I was expecting better; this thing is rough! I can imagine it won't get any better when the bullbar, winch, driving lights, extra battery, cargo barrier and towbar go on :(

I've joined the Pajero forum and after a bit of research it seems the consensus is that immediately fitting aftermarket shocks/springs/tyres is definitely the go for these to be a decent tourer.

My Pajero has the standard suspension with the ARB bullbar and 18in wheels.
I thought the ride was excellent compared to my work car 150 Prado.
The ride and handling has got me into trouble before. Going down dodgy dirt roads in the Prado and you are speed limited by the car trying to throw you off the road. Whereas the Pajero although a bit noisier rides well so when you get to the bends you can be going a lot faster than you think.

In real offroad situations though you are going to be lifting wheels all the time. Something that a Defender or my old Disco1 would not often do if at all in similar terrain. That would make the ride feel much rougher that a long travel coil setup. I doubt a suspension lift would help here as the travel won't improve on sn independent suspension.

Let it settle in and see how it goes.

I am trying to keep mine as standard as possible. Conscious of not modifying it to better handle the 10% at the expense of the 90%.

Also keep in mind that when you say "brand new car" that the suspension is largely unchanged since 1999. That's 14 years!
A drop in the ocean though in Defender suspension which can trace its design back to the first Range Rover in about 1970.