Series 3 My SWB series 3 HELP PLAEASE!

how much mpg do u guys get

2.25's are terrible on fuel. At the age of 14, you probably won't understand the impact paying for fuel has. This is no insult on you, I didn't at 14 either. But when you have to physically put fuel in a vehicle, to cost becomes apparent. And few 17 year olds are likely to be earning much, even less so if still in higher/further education.

As for mpg, 15-20mpg is a good ballpark for a good running one. Although one not running right could be worse. And to top it all, they have tiny fuel tanks, so you'll always be putting fuel in.

That said, there is a big difference in getting 15mpg vs 20mpg. At a weekend it's really easy to notch up 100 or even 200 miles just buzzing about from place to place. But maybe working on an annual mileage helps realise fuel costs better.

Say you do 5000 miles a year (which isn't many miles, I do approx 25,000+ miles a year).

15mpg = £1773 a year or £148 a month
17mpg = £1564 a year or £130 a month
20mpg = £1330 a year or £111 a month

Obviously for 10,000 miles a year, just double the numbers.

MPG also isn't a constant, so your 'mode' average will be dependant on use and driving style.

Good question, I have no idea! When it needs fuel, i pour some in! :/

Just did a quick guestimate and got 15mpg

John S said:

So...to get back to the landy restoration. As a londstanding series driver I agree totally with Bobstickle. I'd avoid doing all the fandango conversions with RR bits etc. Get it road legal with authentic S3 parts and chug around for a while. There's nothing worse than a period landy all pimped up to look like something it isn't. Good luck...you've got three years to get the job done!

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I agree, keep it standard, get it in good nick. Drive and enjoy!

Three years if he passes his test first time, that is!

think i will keep it standard and if i have real issues i will change what is needed as i am quite against selling!
thank you for all your help will probably be back on asking more questions!

is it worth to rebuild the engine if i am keeping the standard one. I want best fuel economy i can get but wan to keep orignal, any sugestions

keep the engine for the engines sake if you want originality, and a bulletproof reliable engine, if you want economy it doesn't matter how well you refurbish the engine you won't get it.

do you have one with original engine, what do you get for mpg??

alfie dobson said:

do you have one with original engine, what do you get for mpg??

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Seriously, what's wrong with the figures I already posted for you?

just wanna see what others get

alfie dobson said:

is it worth to rebuild the engine if i am keeping the standard one. I want best fuel economy i can get but wan to keep orignal, any sugestions

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No, those engines are tough as old boots. Service it up nicely and off you go, when you have got a licence.

alfie dobson said:

do you have one with original engine, what do you get for mpg??

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alfie dobson said:

just wanna see what others get

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Silly questions, fuel economy is partlyabout how well set up your engine is. But even more, it is to do with the individual driver. Drive heavy footed, you might get down to under 10 mpg, drive very smooth with an egg under the throttle, you might get well over 20.

Honestly, fuel economy doesnt matter once you drive these things. Its a big old vehicle that takes time to get anywhere and even the gear changes need to be slow and thought out.

You're 14, you have three years before you can learn and probably 4 before you get your licence so, start now and rebuild it standard, paint, clean and replace what you feel is necessary, buy a cheap welder and learn how to plate and repair and then get it rebuilt. Hopefully in time for your full licence and then learn what you do and dont like about it and either change those parts or sell the series (which will be worth a lot more if you do a good job) and move to the defender which has a bit more refinement.

Put some pictures up nere and we may be able to identify and give a few tips on where to start and go about these things.

monkfish24 said:

Honestly, fuel economy doesnt matter once you drive these things. Its a big old vehicle that takes time to get anywhere and even the gear changes need to be slow and thought out.

You're 14, you have three years before you can learn and probably 4 before you get your licence so, start now and rebuild it standard, paint, clean and replace what you feel is necessary, buy a cheap welder and learn how to plate and repair and then get it rebuilt. Hopefully in time for your full licence and then learn what you do and dont like about it and either change those parts or sell the series (which will be worth a lot more if you do a good job) and move to the defender which has a bit more refinement.

Put some pictures up nere and we may be able to identify and give a few tips on where to start and go about these things.

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I agree, never really worry about it. The standing costs of vehicle ownership are so high now, bet the insurance, tax, purchase price addd up to lads more per mile than fuel, especially for younger drivers.
And most old landies only do a few k a year, most who want to do long distances will have a car too.

Not sure I agree with the mpg doesn't matter.

Of course it will depend what you use it for and how many miles you do. But spending £200-300 a month on fuel, if you are doing any sort of annual mileage, is a reasonable chunk of money. Even more so if you are maybe a student or on a low income.

How many 17-18 year olds are really taking home large sums of money each month?

If for example you are in 6th form/college/uni and maybe work 10 hours a week @ minimum wage, you'd only be grossing £220 a month or so.

Obviously this might not be an issue.

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure I agree with the mpg doesn't matter.

Of course it will depend what you use it for and how many miles you do. But spending £200-300 a month on fuel, if you are doing any sort of annual mileage, is a reasonable chunk of money. Even more so if you are maybe a student or on a low income.

How many 17-18 year olds are really taking home large sums of money each month?

If for example you are in 6th form/college/uni and maybe work 10 hours a week @ minimum wage, you'd only be grossing £220 a month or so.

Obviously this might not be an issue.

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Take your point about the income of students. But I bet very few old series do over a thousand miles a month regular now. There may be a few.
And if he is going to do 12-15k a year, classic insurance may not suit, and as a seventeen year old he is going to have to pay a fortune before he even gets to the pumps!

alfie dobson said:

do you have one with original engine, what do you get for mpg??

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never calculated it tbh, mine historically haven't done more than a few hundred a year on average since I have owned them. might change as they are cheap to insure for youngsters c.f. "cars" and one is coming up to passing his test with the others on his heels.

I would be surprised if the s1 petrol does more than 15 and the s3 diesel I would guess around 25-30

they would have to come off classic insurance then as 23 is the minimum age I have found for a classic policy.

if anyone has found classic insurance for younger than 23 let me know, the person not the car obviously .

300bhp/ton said:

Not sure I agree with the mpg doesn't matter.

Of course it will depend what you use it for and how many miles you do. But spending £200-300 a month on fuel, if you are doing any sort of annual mileage, is a reasonable chunk of money. Even more so if you are maybe a student or on a low income.

How many 17-18 year olds are really taking home large sums of money each month?

If for example you are in 6th form/college/uni and maybe work 10 hours a week @ minimum wage, you'd only be grossing £220 a month or so.

Obviously this might not be an issue.

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I get that, i had some pretty thirsty cars when I had just passed and always found a way to pay for them. Including the 1250 a year insurance!

monkfish24 said:

I get that, i had some pretty thirsty cars when I had just passed and always found a way to pay for them. Including the 1250 a year insurance!

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And OP has already saved himself a fortune not fitting the galv chassis and Tdi engine and so on!

Alfie Dobson, it doesn't matter what mpg you can get as you cannot drive it anywhere until you are 17. You have plenty of time to save up some petrol money and dream. But good on you, you have one more landy than me at the moment ; )

here's some pics