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Thread: Cheap RRs (is it asking for trouble?)

  1. #1
    DionM Guest

    Cheap RRs (is it asking for trouble?)

    I've asked this question on another forum, but will ask here too ...

    My wife and I are more than happy with the Freelander. However we have been considering a second car, as often she needs a car when I have the Freebie at work, or she needs a car to take to her work when public transport is unreliable - and as she works at a University, the provided parking is fairly subpar and is not the place to park an expensive, new Freelander (as we have learnt once already).

    I've also been wanting to go places where the Freebie will have difficulty getting to, and also doing beach/Fraser Island runs and camping - something I would not subject the Freebie to.

    So the logical conclusion is to consider merging these two needs, and pick up a cheapish 4WD ...

    Enter a RR. I'd prefer an auto as my wife only has an auto licence, and as it will be for commuting an auto is far better in traffic. Budget is tight, so sub 5k is the go.

    Thing is, are we asking for trouble in buying a cheap RR? A quick glance at the trading post reveals a late 70s/early 80s model will fit. Often there are one or two mods done, and sometimes an engine conversion (replacing the original V8).

    Is there anything I should look out for or keep in mind if and when I go looking? I get the feeling that a conversion to a popular engine will alleviate concerns with the venerable V8, and then its just the transmission and drive-train that are LR. I'm not averse to a bit of vehicle maintenance myself, and have some nous with electrics, but ...

    Of course, it's all just theoretical at this stage, but I need some facts before approaching the wife with the suggestions [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

  2. #2
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    mate,

    if you are a tinney sort of guy then a play with a 25yr rangie could be a fair bet.

    if you are not early rangie savvy then be very very wary.. find someone who is. read the many faqs on buying classic rangies. some points i have picked up include:

    prior to 86 they dont have efi and that cuts a lot of the gismo heartaches out as well as some fuel economy.

    they tend to rot in a few specific spots so if you get to know the spots you can quickly pick the good from the bad.

    the 3.5l v8 rover motor is a good motor if the oil was replaced very regularly, weakest point == camshaft.

    i know guys that swear by them and wouldnt trade them for quids but i know some people that have suffered terribly because they didnt check them out as good as they should have.

    it pays to know the enemy, so to speak [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/img]
    1998 Discovery 300TDi Manual SE7
    1996 Discovery 300TDi Auto
    2012 SZ Territory TX 2.7TDCi

    "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- a warning from Adolf Hitler
    "If you don't have a sense of humour, you probably don't have any sense at all!" -- a wise observation by someone else
    'If everyone colludes in believing that war is the norm, nobody will recognize the imperative of peace." -- Anne Deveson
    “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles
    "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." Marcus Aurelius

  3. #3
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    I dont think it matters what you buy for less than 5K, do a lot of looking around beforehand and expect to spend money on it afterwoods 8O
    If you stick with the V8 dont expect more than 10mpg around town.
    They will probably be more comfortable than the Freelander to ride in though.
    :wink:
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
    '16.5 RRS SDV8
    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

    [IMG][/IMG]

  4. #4
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    I know that you are thinking of a Rangie, but i have seen some ok early V8 auto disco's in sydney for $6999.

    Perhaps the early V8 disco auto may be another option, little later model than a Rangie, possibly little less rust, same base mechanicals as the Rangie ....

    food for thought anyhow.

    merry christmas everyone

    mick

  5. #5
    DionM Guest
    Mick,

    That's an interesting thought, and I had looked at the Discos, but I think I will stick with a classic RR - if only for 4 doors.

  6. #6
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    DiomM,

    You can pick up a 4 Door Disco for 5K or less.

    I owned a V8 1996 Disco that was my wife's first introduction to Landrovers.
    First off she said it was too big but after a month you could not remove the smile from her face and it became one of her best loved cars.


    It was damaged in the hail storms in Perth 6-8 years ago and the payout from insurance could not be passed up

    Do't get me wrong I love my classic Rangie, but if its for your wife and a tourer a late model 96 - 99 Disco (with a service history) aren't bad value.

    Cheers

    Baggy

  7. #7
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    I really need to look at dates of posts ......

    Cheers

    Baggy

  8. #8
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    does us all good to see the old resurrected sometimes...

    and you own a red rangie so you cant be all bad
    1998 Discovery 300TDi Manual SE7
    1996 Discovery 300TDi Auto
    2012 SZ Territory TX 2.7TDCi

    "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- a warning from Adolf Hitler
    "If you don't have a sense of humour, you probably don't have any sense at all!" -- a wise observation by someone else
    'If everyone colludes in believing that war is the norm, nobody will recognize the imperative of peace." -- Anne Deveson
    “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” - Pericles
    "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." Marcus Aurelius

  9. #9
    Join Date
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    Do we know how Dion got on?
    "How long since you've visited The Good Oil?"

    '93 V8 Rossi
    '97 to '07. sold.
    '01 V8 D2
    '06 to 10. written off.
    '03 4.6 V8 HSE D2a with Tornado ECM
    '10 to '21
    '16.5 RRS SDV8
    '21 to Infinity and Beyond!


    1988 Isuzu Bus. V10 15L NA Diesel
    Home is where you park it..

    [IMG][/IMG]

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