Is a series suitable as a first car?

My twins (unlike my daughter) would like a car, they have little idea what to get but want something interesting.

Of course a camper van is too expensive, so I am considering a series 3 and doing it up.

Would this be a good idea?

Would it be insurable?

yes

No

don't listen to bitch tits, he just cant handle the leaf springs

My second car was a Series 2 109 (first was a Hillman Imp). Lovely times, learned how to handle a vehicle, how to do maintenance, that speed isn't everything, that a sound system is over-rated (as indeed, is hearing...).

Can't advise on insurance, as I have no idea what chicken entrails the insurers cast to determine rates. But as a vehicle, I'd say it would be excellent as a first car.

Ask sam88c he has one as his first car

Well they love our D2 TD5 but they are not having that!

Thanks all, will keep a look out locally for a restoration job.

How tough is the 3 bearing crank?

It will get a sound system of a type. And of course a few sympathetic upgrades (poss power steering), front discs, parabolic springs.

BTW they are nearly 15 so time to start looking.

What is interesting are the engine transplants. In case we find one with a knackered engine.

To be honest a 5 bearing one would be fine.

But

Rover 16v, TDi200.

Some cheap 2.6 6 cylinders available.

Somehow I don't think a certain 5 cylinder lump would work!

Got a 300 here thats just been removed from a 90 if you want an engine, does mate up to the series box but requires new engine mounts welding in

MJI said:

My twins (unlike my daughter) would like a car, they have little idea what to get but want something interesting.

Of course a camper van is too expensive, so I am considering a series 3 and doing it up.

Would this be a good idea?

Would it be insurable?

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My first car was a rwd Escort estate, but I quickly moved on to a 109" Series 2a. Liked it so much I am still driving landies 30 years on

As far as I know they are quite reasonable to insure compared to many small cars, probably because they aren't involved in many accidents.

My brothers first motor was a series 1 with a straight six in

we used to bomb round with the screen down ,no doors or roof no belts no seats in the back

I dont know but would have though it would be best to stick to the original engine and no mods to start off there insurance life

If the government carry on with the roll over tax exempt thingy you may be able to get a motor that is eligable in time for them to drive it

Or you could have it

Dr_evil said:

Got a 300 here thats just been removed from a 90 if you want an engine, does mate up to the series box but requires new engine mounts welding in

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Interesting but this will be a long term project, I need to find a car first!

The 300 is a nice lump though, it would suit a 109 perfectly.

Plans are to find a car really cheap and local then start rebuilding.

They can learn by fixing it!

Iann said:

I dont know but would have though it would be best to stick to the original engine and no mods to start off there insurance life

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I agree, I have heard that many insurers are now not happy to insure vehicles with non standard(ie not the engine the vehicle came with from the factory) engines. And I would think this is more likely to be an issue with young or inexperienced drivers.

Iann said:

My brothers first motor was a series 1 with a straight six in

we used to bomb round with the screen down ,no doors or roof no belts no seats in the back

I dont know but would have though it would be best to stick to the original engine and no mods to start off there insurance life

If the government carry on with the roll over tax exempt thingy you may be able to get a motor that is eligable in time for them to drive it

Or you could have it

Click to expand...

Well the mods I am considering are not mad ones (power steering) or are for safety (discs), only looking at engine transplants if the one we find has an unrepairable or is the 2.25 Diesel (they are not nice), late 5 bearing 2.25 would be fine I think, but then modify to improve economy (like a head skim).

I have fancied a series for years, but the first LR I buy is a Discovery, when I was a child I wanted a Range Rover!

My boys are currently undecided in their future, both are scared of university (£45,000 of debt), one wants to do IT, the other is more practical and helps me work on cars, I think he may go modern apprentiship.

If I was doing one for me, it would be a either a V8, a tuned 2.5 or the maddest conversion of all, a TD5.

I did wonder if the old GM V6s would fit in one as they are very compact. But the one I had lying around has been scrapped.

Turboman said:

I agree, I have heard that many insurers are now not happy to insure vehicles with non standard(ie not the engine the vehicle came with from the factory) engines. And I would think this is more likely to be an issue with young or inexperienced drivers.

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If I find one with a usable petrol engine it will get used, it is a just in case.

I do not like the 2286 Diesel, yes I have driven one.

MJI said:

If I find one with a usable petrol engine it will get used, it is a just in case.

I do not like the 2286 Diesel, yes I have driven one.

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Not a huge fan of the diesels either, a bit slow and rattly when worn, and the three bearing ones are prone to crankshaft end float, sometimes gets hard to even disengage the clutch! I think the later ones were a bit better. 2.5na is a nuch nicer engine, although not standard in a series, of course. Might be better not to have too much power for your kids to learn on anyways

MJI said:

Well the mods I am considering are not mad ones (power steering) or are for safety (discs), only looking at engine transplants if the one we find has an unrepairable or is the 2.25 Diesel (they are not nice), late 5 bearing 2.25 would be fine I think, but then modify to improve economy (like a head skim).

I have fancied a series for years, but the first LR I buy is a Discovery, when I was a child I wanted a Range Rover!

My boys are currently undecided in their future, both are scared of university (£45,000 of debt), one wants to do IT, the other is more practical and helps me work on cars, I think he may go modern apprentiship.

If I was doing one for me, it would be a either a V8, a tuned 2.5 or the maddest conversion of all, a TD5.

I did wonder if the old GM V6s would fit in one as they are very compact. But the one I had lying around has been scrapped.

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As for modifications... A standard swb or lwb Series with a healthy engine and standard brakes that have been looked after and maintained are perfectly adequate otherwise why would they have fitted them in the first place? Obviously any modifications have to be declared, and modifications mean higher insurance! Although finding a friendly insurance company that will understand will help. Long story short, maintenance is key and a series would be a good one to learn about it on.

Sometimes I think that people should learn or use cars without power steering first before they get spoiled! But perhaps that's just me.

As for the university debt, under the new system I tend to think of it as more as a "university tax" when you finish, and then after 30 years poof its gone... Nothing much to worry about anyway.

The maddest wouldn't be a TD5... It would be a TDV6 perhaps?

right.. err as a first car? umm depends

it would be bloody awful to learn in and the fuel would cost a bomb (hope you aren't paying)

personally, i'd say no.. you want to get them a pile of crap as they will batter it when learning and also for a year or two after.

fabia, ibiza or something for <1500 would be my vote.. they can then destroy that car.

trax said:

right.. err as a first car? umm depends

it would be bloody awful to learn in and the fuel would cost a bomb (hope you aren't paying)

personally, i'd say no.. you want to get them a pile of crap as they will batter it when learning and also for a year or two after.

fabia, ibiza or something for <1500 would be my vote.. they can then destroy that car.

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I know very little about those sort of cars, you lift the bonnet and the engines are the wrong way round for a start. Only things with with transverse engines should have two wheels.

Reasons for a series was that they are slow without being pathetic or un cool, they are also tough and user maintainable.

I did not buy a car until I was in my late 20s, passed car test at 20. So do not know much about under 20 cars as they were not common then. But the days of cheap to run decent motorcycles has gone forever.

it will drive completely different to whatever they use for their test.

though, if they are keen, get interested and are going to be doing this as father and sons project then sod that.. it's worth it just for the memories