RRC 200tdi or series 3 200 di

Hi all

Here is the score me and the Mrs are planning a trip through Europe to lake garda next summer over say ten days as our first venture and hopefully further away the year after.

Now I currently just picked up the RRC with a factory fitted tdi and tax and test for a steal, but she is a bit tattered, and the body is requiring a lot of welding, wheel arches, b posts, sills etc, chassis is solid, but here is my question, do spend on getting the welding done as well as new tyres ready for the trip and other overland prep

Or

DO I buy a series 3 (used to own one) and drop a tdi into it, and use that as my overland blank canvas so to speak?


I'M not to clever with spanners but wanting to learn and just after peoples experiences, views etc
Cheers all

Hi went to Morroco years ago in a Classic 300tdi and now do same in a 300tdi 110 Defender. Both brilliant engined vehicles, but would hesitate to do it in a series vehicle.

Thanks for the reply, must admit like the comfort of the RRC but just worried about the cost of the welding, might just buy an electric glue gun and have a bash myself, prob couldn't make it any worse!

If I may ask what prep did you do and what did you find useful or would do differently

Cheers in advance

None on first trip - just bought a fridge and loaded up - all that happened was it overheated in hot weather so kept heater on full blast and rear lights didn't work. Now more careful - full service, loads of spares, split charge, all terrain tyres, roofrack. My view is leave the vehicle bog standard - no lifts , no electric fan etc. Best of luck and pm me if you want more detail.

THanks for the reply, pulling the interior out next week, to see just how bad the rust is , incidently anyone know a good weldep in the newmarket area?

OLDUN said:

Hi went to Morroco years ago in a Classic 300tdi and now do same in a 300tdi 110 Defender. Both brilliant engined vehicles, but would hesitate to do it in a series vehicle.

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Love overlanding in our Series...with a 2.25 petrol

But out RRC V8 was an equally good vehicle when we took it to Algeria and back...more comfy on road. But I have to say off road driving at speed I prefer the Series! Especially on our old friend, corrugations.

Corrugations grim in both vehicles - with the Classic the boot lid always opened and with the 110 it was like skating on ice - one had to slow down dramatically to a crawl. How can it be better in a Series - or should I say how can it be worse.

Corrugations - the trick is to drive as fast as you can (all within reason, of course...as fast as you can in a Series is a bit different to other vehicles!). Then you barely feel them (while the RR feels like the dash or something else will fall out!) On the leafers, I don't think the suspension has enough time to react so you just sort of scoot over them! That is what I have found anyway

On corrugations any speed seems too fast. Don't think I've done over 30mph. Turned 180 degrees while trying to drive in a straight line at what I thought was speed and very scary. What speed should I build up to. Agree if you go very slow it gets worse but driving on a fairly wide very heavily corrugated road with ditches on each side!

Depends what the corrugations are like but i'd say 45/50MPH is about usual but it does seem the faster the better. It will feel a bit mental to get up to that speed as the shaking about will get will get worse and worse - but as soon as you reach the target speed it will become very apparent. 30MPH is too slow to get over that bumpiness on corrugations infactit will feel pretty horrid at that speed as you would have found out!

p.s just my personal experience - I am sure there will be others with a different opinion. and don't do 50MPH sliding about with a ditch either side, unless you like living on the edge!