Help needed from all you Landy experts!!

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum, and after some much needed advice.

My husband and I need to arrange horse transport for pony club etc. We have fleet cars from work, which can not pull a trailor. We don't really need a horse box. So my husband came up with the idea of a series 3. Just to use for going to shows, and to pull a total weight of around 2000kg. However our total budget as we still have to buy the trailor is around £2000. Can we expect to get a reliable 4x4 for that price. How much do they cost to maintain, and if they go wrong is it an horrendous amount of money to get sorted out? What is the insurance like on them, and wot do we need to look out for when buying one. We have 8 and 3 year old daughters, so I would prefer them to sit in the back if poss. We could try and get a horse box, but it would be too old for the money we have and I would prefer a reliable safe trailor, but preferably a reliable old banger too!!

Oh this is the start of so many questions. But I like the idea of having one, but just want to research it thoroughly before parting with any hard earned cash!!!

Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

MAny thanks

WendyS

for that money i would have thought you could get a 300tdi disco cheap to run but you are better of if you are able to do your own maintenance

MMmm my husband has some car mechanical experience, but not with an aged 4x4. So I guess he would have to learn fast!!

Yep Discovery TDi would definately be your best bet and you'll get a good un for that sort of money. alternative would be a 110 CSW but for that money it would probably be a heap needing loads spending on it.

if the man about the house has an idea about mechanics he should have no problems with a disco some things a bit bigger but probably simpler plentey of threads on here about what to look for when buying good luck

and if you get stuck, competent experts with years of sage experience on here will point you in the right direction..

i agree with the others, a discovery would be a far better bet, and safer for the younguns in the back as well.

is your budget of £2k to buy the vehicle AND the trailer?

As suggested a discovery will fit the bill something like this 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY XS V8I AUTO RED on eBay, also, Land Rover Range Rover, Cars, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 02-Mar-08 17:04:47 GMT)

The reason I suggest a V8 petrol is that due to their fuel thirst they are a lot cheaper than the TDi , but the fuel is not going to be big factor for you I suggest as you will not be using as an everyday car,
They alos have plenty of ''grunt'' for towing and the auto is well suited to giving a smooth tow and is very easy to live with, also no clutch probs to worry about and are very reliable for high milkeages JMHO HTSH

Tacr2man is right. But from a personal preference I would go for the diesel as once you own a LR you find excuses to drive it more and more. and at 12mpg a V8 can soon become an expensive hobby. Auto or manual is a personal choice having driven both I like manuals but that is probably just me. been picky.

me girlfriend used my Series 3's for towing the horse box with two fat highlands in it. Had a standard SWB petrol one first, it were quite good, could pull one fat pony ok but struggled with two, brakes were good but the parabolic springs and slightly loose steering weren't too good. it was quiet and had been tarted up wi carpets, comfy seats and big windows in the rear side panels.

i managed to break that one so i got a perkins diesel engined one, that pulled ok but was noisy as hell, had crap seats and struggled to stop with two fat arsed ponies in the box, it had a tank like feeling when driving it and the girlfriend preffered it to the petrol!!! the chassis is now falling to bits tho.....

..... went in got a nice shiny, warm, none leaky, comfy, fast, dry, 3L turbo diesel toyota hilux instead tiz the shiz.......

i've still got all me landys tho

Could you not dump your hubby for someone else with more money.