Daily Driver?

[Newbs-IIA]

Does anyone on here use their Series vehicle as a daily driver? I may/may not have to do this in the future and would like to know the experiences of others. At the moment my LWB IIA is a weekend rig (with a broken waterpump :mad:)

[dandlandyman]

My 2A 88 is my only car, and it does everything. I did spend a lot of time and money getting it to where I wanted it, but these days it only needs semi-regular maintenance to keep it reliable. I fitted a Toro overdrive for fuel economy, two ten-gallon tanks for range, quartz-halogen headlights, 109" six-cylinder brakes (less the booster), Series 3 gearbox behind a 2A bellhousing, two-speed wipers, reverse lights and hazard lights, and a military eight-blade fan. I can even take off the roof for the dry-season. I also fitted two-stage rear springs for towing - bringing the Forward Control up from Katherine on the car trailer convinced me to do it. It's brilliant. It may still look like a bit of a bomb (or so I've been told) but it isn't thief-bait and I couldn't now live without it.

Soon, I'd like to get the FC on the road, too, as a backup vehicle for when the 88's just not big enough.

Dan.
69 2A 88" pet4, 68 2B FC pet6.

[Phoenix]

Yup, I do :D

[Col.Coleman]

My Stage 1 was my daily driver for 3 years before I got my 130. I will be going back to that as I want my 130 set up to jump in and go on weekends for touring.

That is untill I get the 11a 88" rego'd and that becomes the daily driver.

I even used the Stage 1 as a pizza delivery vehicle.

CC

[Newbs-IIA]

My Stage 1 was my daily driver for 3 years before I got my 130. I will be going back to that as I want my 130 set up to jump in and go on weekends for touring.

That is untill I get the 11a 88" rego'd and that becomes the daily driver.

I even used the Stage 1 as a pizza delivery vehicle.

CC
haha you must have delivered alot of pizzas to afford a 130 :p

Sounds good, mine needs a new clutch, handbrake overhaul at a minimum I think before it will be relyable. Just spent heaps on the brakes as part of RWC so they are right. Cooling system is in good nic. Don't have a roof yet though :eek: and i rekon a better state of tune would help fuel consumption - at the moment it's worse around town that my current daily (HZ Sedan).

I do alot of hill starts where I live unfortunatly :(

[MickS]

Yep...:D

[JDNSW]

I have two cars, the 110 and the 2a - I drive the 110 on long trips and to town about once a week - but I drive the 2a almost every day, but usually not long distances (rarely over 150km).

John

[Sleepy]

Nup - My daily drive is 100km across Melbourne, in traffic - I have used the S3 a couple of times and takes me an extra 15mins compared to the Defender.

[stage1slave]

My stage1 is both my daily driver and my work rig. Wouldn't have it any other way. I like a vehicle that needs a little driver input, and not, be just a steering wheel attendant. That's despite the woeful turning circle, drum brakes and the noise due to a 4bd1 running through extractors and a 3" system.
The only real gripe I have, is that modern motor cars can out brake me. Loaded up with all my tools and kit and with a 1/2 full trailer, I know I am approaching my GVM, and so I leave adequate braking distance. Only to have some smart arse rice burner invade my safety zone! ****s me constantly.
That and the presumption of other drivers seeing an older 4wd, and automatically assuming it to be a slow poke. I try to surprise as many as I safely can, within the road rules. Old landies don't have to be slow!

cheers
Evelyn

[Blknight.aus]

I can up that braking for ya......


you're biggest problem is going to be keeping the rubber in contact with the road....


I drive fozzy every day and Im about to daily drive it up to the cape...

[pop058]

As soon as I get my 2A Workshop RWC, it will be my daily and tow my builders trailer for work 5/6 days aweek.

Paul

[Newbs-IIA]

Our stage 1 was our daily driver for about 18yrs...the one with the least distance to go used to drive it due to the amount of petrol the V8 guzzled :D We loved it :D

Best thing is how quickly you run out of 1st gear...at the lights there is always someone right up your clacker :D:D
haha i get this ALOT, I also 'rock' backwards just as i have pulled up on a hillstart to stop the car behind me getting too close - generally scares them off :D

[Shonky]

I also 'rock' backwards just as i have pulled up on a hillstart to stop the car behind me getting too close - generally scares them off :D

:lol2: I do this too!

I don't drive Ambrose every day, but the Mrs and I share the Falcon so at least once a week (often more) it gets pressed into service to get me to work.

If I can drive a bloodbox through Sydney traffic, you can do it in a GS. ;)

[Aaron IIA]

I drive a LWB diesel every day in traffic. If this is possible with the second most underpowered Land Rover, then you will be fine.

As said before, leave adequate braking distances, and anticipate the other clowns taking this as in invitation to change lanes right in front of you, just so they can be the first car off the line when the lights go green. Standard brakes will pull you up well, but it will test the strength in your braking leg.

Aaron.

[Shonky]

it will test the strength in your braking leg.

...and if you fail said test, your "braking leg" becomes your "broken leg". :D

[wozapinin]

my 2a shorty is my dayly driver and has been for 7 years. It has a 250 ford, c4 auto, early rangie diff centres, lwb brakes and booster but still looks reasonably standard. Before the brakes where updated, we had some close calls with sudden brakeing. The problem being it needed double pumping and the natural reaction is to hit the brakes hard to avoid collisions with fools;).
I like the fact you can see a track off the side of the road and investigate.

when I first bought it the missus hated it, back then it was our only car:eek:I probably spent to much time, and money, for her liking getting it sorted. But now we have so much fun in it we'll be passing it down to the kids.

[stage1slave]

Best thing is how quickly you run out of 1st gear...at the lights there is always someone right up your clacker :D:D


Yeh, must admit, the auto in ours makes a big difference to driveability.

[isuzurover]

I have two cars, the 110 and the 2a - I drive the 110 on long trips and to town about once a week - but I drive the 2a almost every day, but usually not long distances (rarely over 150km).

John

Much like JD, we have a IIA and 110. When I was at uni the IIA was my only vehicle, and therefore daily driver.

The 110 was off the road for a while for a turbo install, and again now for some repairs and upgrades, and the IIA is our daily driver again.

[The ho har's]

Well I will learn all these things soon I suspect.."zara" is a S3 but she will be on the road regularly soon...she runs fine just needs some minor adjustments like a bit of rust prevention, new radiator installed and brakes looking in too.

looking foward to it:D:D



Mrs ho har:angel:

[isuzutoo-eh]

The sooner 'Dirty Mary' is registered, the sooner I can be rid of my corolla abhorrence!

Any tips for budding daily drivers of series vehicles? I don't want to do major mods, it'll always be 2.25 powered, leaf sprung etc, but what can be recommended to make life a little easier?

Cheers,
Mark

[stage1slave]

The sooner 'Dirty Mary' is registered, the sooner I can be rid of my corolla abhorrence!

Any tips for budding daily drivers of series vehicles? I don't want to do major mods, it'll always be 2.25 powered, leaf sprung etc, but what can be recommended to make life a little easier?

Cheers,
Mark


Nothing really, just HTFU and stop being a bitch to the jappers an live a litle outside the square.......like the rest of us!

[JDNSW]

The sooner 'Dirty Mary' is registered, the sooner I can be rid of my corolla abhorrence!

Any tips for budding daily drivers of series vehicles? I don't want to do major mods, it'll always be 2.25 powered, leaf sprung etc, but what can be recommended to make life a little easier?

Cheers,
Mark

A few suggestions - stick to standard size tyres, and watch the tyre pressures - you don't have power steering!

Keep the engine in tune.

Brakes need adjusting every service - unlike disc brakes, they are not self adjusting.

Don't worry about everyone passing you - you'll catch up at the next lights.

John

[djam1]

I use my Stage 1 V8 daily to drive to work and back.
It can keep with the traffic easily but I struggle with the fools
that insist that my safe breaking buffer is their domain I wouldnt change it for the world.

[series3]

Don't worry about everyone passing you - you'll catch up at the next lights.

I love it when that happens

[isuzurover]

The sooner 'Dirty Mary' is registered, the sooner I can be rid of my corolla abhorrence!

Any tips for budding daily drivers of series vehicles? I don't want to do major mods, it'll always be 2.25 powered, leaf sprung etc, but what can be recommended to make life a little easier?

Cheers,
Mark

What JD said. Though I have 285s on my IIA and would never go back to 7.50's.

Also, remember that series landies will leak despite your best efforts...

[MickS]

The sooner 'Dirty Mary' is registered, the sooner I can be rid of my corolla abhorrence!

Any tips for budding daily drivers of series vehicles? I don't want to do major mods, it'll always be 2.25 powered, leaf sprung etc, but what can be recommended to make life a little easier?

Cheers,
Mark

Keep it as is, stock. I'd tell you to smile as you drive, but that will happen automatically!! :)

You'll see other drivers point at you in awe, usually females. I can tell you my Basil holds his own once in third and fourth. Surprises the hell out of some drivers. Most of all remember you are driving a piece of motor vehicle history. Once it is on the road, it will outlast many that have come after it....:D

[isuzurover]

Everyone at my wife's work has been very impressed that she drives a IIA.

[Newbs-IIA]

Keep it as is, stock. I'd tell you to smile as you drive, but that will happen automatically!! :)

You'll see other drivers point at you in awe, usually females.


I can tell you that I get both of those things. Many a schoolgirl has looked in awe as i drive past in my truck hahaha, open tops are great things :D

Always have a smile on my face - unless I'm approaching a slight gradient where that smile turns to a face of determination as i urge the old girl up the slope :p

but hills... saddness as i double clutch back to 2nd (or even first :eek:) for the really big ones

[MickS]

I can tell you that I get both of those things. Many a schoolgirl has looked in awe as i drive past in my truck hahaha, open tops are great things :D

Always have a smile on my face - unless I'm approaching a slight gradient where that smile turns to a face of determination as i urge the old girl up the slope :p

but hills... saddness as i double clutch back to 2nd (or even first :eek:) for the really big ones

Mine was a bit like that...replaced the carby and now I'm hitting the top of some hills in fourth. Love it. :)

[Newbs-IIA]

Also helps when your vaccum advance hose has not melted on your headers... :angel:

[NikolaiV]

I use mine as a daily driver, down here in Dunedin, NZ. While I had the roof in the garage fixing the leaks (finally), and was waiting on new glass for the doors, I took it for its WOF - your RWC without door, or roof... Despite the best efforts of the inspectors it passed :)

If you want to get funny looks try driving a fire engine red landy in the rain, with no roof or doors - in a suit :p

Awesome at 120 km/hr on the motorway passing a corolla or similar and looking down at the passengers in it through where the door should be :eek:

Oh and 'rain' is like being in the shower but outside, I know you buggers don`t get much of it so it might be hard to visualise.

I think an 88 is a great town vehicle, short to fit into parks, high enough to see over other vehicles and big and solid enough to put the fear of god (or my 6mm plate bumper) into boy-racers...