LR90 as first car?

So I've been a fan of LRs for quite a while, and have driven a few. Ideally I would like a Defender 90 soft-top as my first car (had a license for several years, but never actually owned my own car). I'm 23. Am I going to be paying an arm and a leg?

Also what would your recommendations be as regards model, year, private or ex-MOD? I'd really like a V8 but, well, that's just not feasible really, is it.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers

Colin

Reply to
colin.
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First car I owned was a 110, I was 20 and paid around £400 to insure it, that was 8 years ago and I lived in a real rough area.

Everyone has their favourates, personally I like early one-tens and ninetys. I'd point you towards a swb model unless you have need for the space, the rest is down to your budget.

£2000 should get you a series 3 88". £3000 should get you a 90.

If your budget is tighter you could get something rougher and work on it yourself. about a year ago I got a 1984 110 csw for £2000 and spent maybe £300 on it, it's now basically solid and how I want it (doing work on it myself, was roadworthy in the meantime).

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Reply to
Mr.Nice.

That's good to know. I live in a quiet, semi-rural area, so in that case I would probably expect to be paying around the same.

| >Also what would your recommendations be as regards model, year, private or | >ex-MOD? I'd really like a V8 but, well, that's just not feasible really, is | >it. | | Everyone has their favourates, personally I like early one-tens and | ninetys. I'd point you towards a swb model unless you have need for | the space, the rest is down to your budget.

SWB is what I want; I have no need for a 110, since the most that I expect to carry in at any one time it is my girlfriend and my dog. Besides, I just prefer the way they look, though that's just my own opinion and is therefore entirely subjective.

| >Any advice would be gratefully received. | | £2000 should get you a series 3 88". | £3000 should get you a 90. | | If your budget is tighter you could get something rougher and work on | it yourself. about a year ago I got a 1984 110 csw for £2000 and spent | maybe £300 on it, it's now basically solid and how I want it (doing | work on it myself, was roadworthy in the meantime).

What kind of fuel economy could I expect from a early 90 2.5N/A.D? What would you recommend as to the fitting of other diesel engines (Transit, Perkins, Nissan) ? Is it a good idea, or is it sacriligeous? (wouldn't want to offend anyone :-) )

Reply to
colin.

| What kind of fuel economy could I expect from a early 90 2.5N/A.D?

PS, I don't anticipate having to do any towing, though I do plan on learning off-road driving.

Reply to
colin.

My '84 110 could achieve 25mpg or maybe 28 if driven carefully on road. Currently it averages less than 15mpg.

A TDi would be more economical and be nearly twice as powerful. These old indirect injection engines are dreadfully inefficient by today's standards.

Huw

Reply to
Huw

we paid £2000 for our c reg 90 V8. It needed tidying (depends how rough you like 'em!). The chassis had some holes which could have been patched but I did a complete rebuild on it. As for insurance its only £140 a year on a limited mileage policy. Richard

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Reply to
Richard

Not at all. Although they may seem a bit pricey to buy they hold their value and are good on things like tyres and brakes. On a series you can do a lot of work yourself compared to modern cars and actually save your arm and leg in garage bills.

On the downside the diesels are noisy but economical. Soft tops are easy to beak into for theives but if you are in a safe area then go ahead. Insurance is better than a hot saloon too. All in all, I'd say they are a reasonable choice for a first car but you could get better fuel economy from a saloon car. TonyB

Reply to
TonyB

Sure that a n/a is not a bit slow? My wife has a 90 2.5TD (63kW/86PS), and this one is not a racer, but it is OK; I could not imagine less power with this kind of car.

regards - Ralph

Reply to
Ralph A. Schmid, DK5RAS

I forgot, the Defender 90 2.5TD drinks around 10l/100km at normal driving, city and motorways mixed. Offroading takes a bit more :)

regards - Ralph

Reply to
Ralph A. Schmid, DK5RAS

I've found landrovers to be one of the cheapest cars to insure (ignoring boring little sensible cars!). Ive had mine since i was 20 or so. If you get a series one you can get classic car insurance, and have limited miles if you want to save a bit of money. Mine has never cost me more than £250 quid a year even when i first got it.

In my experience you can't go far wrong with an ex-mod landy. Also, a V8 with LPG kit on apparently costs about the same to run as sensibly engined landy (and sounds much nicer)

Reply to
Tom Woods

I'd expect insurance in a rural area to be less, easy to get a quote online before you buy.

90 would suit you down to the ground.

in a 90 you'd get maybe 25-28mpg I happily drive my heavier 110 csw with a n/a engine, it's what you are used to I suppose, the more power you have the easier it'd be to drive but I have driven n/a 110's through some really rough off-road places as well as 100's of miles accross europe, the engine is quite capable.

As for transplanting other engines, I drove a 110 with a 2.8 n/a nissan diesel engine once and it was jolly nice.

I've also driven a series 3 lwb with a 2.5 transit diesel engine which was very good on-road but struggled off-road, problem with low-rev torque I believe.

If I was changing engines then I'd go for a 200 or 300 tdi or if I had the money that 2.8 vestion of the 300tdi made in brazil mated to a zf auto, I reckon that'd be really nice on and off road.

Regards. Mark.(AKA, Mr.Nice.)

Reply to
Mr.Nice.

So colin. was, like

I used to get 22-25 mpg (1986 2.5 n/a diesel 90). Always got there, never let me down, and had enough beans to keep up with the traffic. Favourite engine with the military, and there's got to be a reason for that.

200/300Tdi engines are more powerful, more economical, but make a vehicle much more pricey.
Reply to
Richard Brookman

In message , Huw writes

200 Tdi is a good upgrade and not to expensive these days.
Reply to
hugh

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