"Chris Naylor" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> Right, I want to own a landrover. I also need to learn to drive...
>
> I think that I am prety competent when it comes to DIY etc, and am
> sure
> I could work my way around most tasks in owning and servicing my own
> vehicle.
>
> So, what are my desires?
>
> Looking for something that is relatively economical, cheapish to
> insure
> (for a 20yr old new driver), suitable for a newish/learner driver, in
> pretty good nick, has a radio and can carry quite a bit of kit.
>
> Any suggestions?
Once upon a time, people learned to drive in slow, heavy, noisy cars
with awkward 3 or 4 speed gearboxes, poor mirrors, limited visibility,
minimal acceleration, un-assisted brakes and steering, no headlamp
flashers, no reversing lights, no rear wipers, hopeless front wipers,
ineffectual (or no) demisters and heaters, and so on. Making the
transition to a slow, heavy etc etc Land Rover wasn't then much of a
problem. But now it might be. Compare and contrast the average driving
school Micra or Yaris with even a relatively sophisticated Land Rover,
like a Defender, and you'll see what I mean. Try reverse parking a
Series Land Rover, at night, in the rain, with the tiny rear window
misted up - as you'll have to, if it's to be an everyday vehicle.
So there'll be one hell of a culture shock.
As for the other requirements: "relatively economical" - well, in terms
of initial purchase price, you can indeed pay the same range of prices
for a Land Rover as a proper car, and spares are often very cheap; but
they all drink fuel like there's no tomorrow (if you assume twice as
much as a normal medium-sized car, you won't be far off), and if you buy
too cheaply or unwisely you could face some serious bills for work
beyond the average novice mechanic. Oil and filter changes, plugs and
points, and so on, are easy enough, but older Land Rovers may well need
major welding. Sometimes the sheer size of Land Rover components makes
a job that much harder. Tyres may be cheap compared with exotic 30
profile rubber bands on the dafter type of modern car, but not compared
with a 155R13.
"cheapish to insure" - ring around and get some insurance quotes before
you get too keen: unless you've got money to burn, you'll probably find
newer Land Rovers prohibitively expensive to insure. People here will
tell of premiums under a hundred quid a year, but that's probably for an
old bugger like me insuring one under a "classic" policy which you can
only buy if you've got another car insured.
"in pretty good nick" - means spending what? at least £1500-£2000 for a
25-50 year-old Series Landy, perhaps three times as much for a 10
year-old Defender.
"has a radio". Forget it. You'll never hear it except when you're
parked up.
"carry quite a bit of kit". In theory, perhaps, but in practice an
Astra estate is a lot more use. Land Rover doors are narrow, and the
load space short, high off the ground, and filled with the spare wheel.
Series Landies have pathetically low legal towing limits, though that
won't concern you as your licence won't cover you for big trailers.
They're great vehicles for their original purpose, and, for many, fun to
play with, in, and under. I run a Range Rover as my everyday car,
because I regularly need its special ability to tow, so I'm certainly
not anti-Solihull, but I can think of many far more suitable cars for a
new, young driver to cut his teeth on.
--
Kevin Poole
**Use current month and year to reply (e.g.
[email protected])***
Car Transport by Tiltbed Trailer - based near Derby
(looking for a really nice tdi or lpg Classic Rangey)
