Series 3 The Ultimate Series Daily Driver

Hi all,

After getting my first landy (1982 S3 88” 2.25p 5mb w/ parabolics, Fairey OD and FW Hubs) a month and a half ago and now about to get a 110 300TDI, it’s safe to say I have the Land Rover bug.

I have a sensible fiesta for daily duties, but that is getting to the age of various gremlins, and long term I would love to drive a series as my daily once the fiesta goes bang. I don’t mind the lack of refinement, risk of theft, or lack of handling (although would need to leave on time for once!). The issue is the dreaded fuel economy (and to an extent, noise, although I’d sound proof it like mad).

This would very much be a ‘when the fiesta dies thing’, but what I’ve got in mind is:

S3 (probably LWB)
Free wheeling hubs
5 speed box
Roamerdrive
Probably RR axles etc for the taller gearing
Either 200/300TDI or the V8

I know this is very specific, but I was wondering if anyone has a similar build and what the fuel economy is like?

Thanks!

25 to 35 mpg on diesel, 15 to 25 on petrol.

You're moving a 1.6 (+) tonne 4x4, with the aerodynamics of a house, it will take more fuel than a fiesta. Plus the rolling resistance of whatever tyres your decide (narrow are better).

But the lower tax, insurance, repair bills and depreciation/replacement cost will square that circle. Not to mention exempt most ULEZ, if pre1982. It's total cost of ownership per mile that counts. Plus the fun factor.

Oh and 3.54 diffs, plus over drive and 5 speed, never heard anything good about that combination in a series.

Wildefalcon said:

25 to 35 mpg on diesel, 15 to 25 on petrol.

You're moving a 1.6 (+) tonne 4x4, with the aerodynamics of a house, it will take more fuel than a fiesta. Plus the rolling resistance of whatever tyres your decide (narrow are better).

But the lower tax, insurance, repair bills and depreciation/replacement cost will square that circle. Not to mention exempt most ULEZ, if pre1982. It's total cost of ownership per mile that counts. Plus the fun factor.

Oh and 3.54 diffs, plus over drive and 5 speed, never heard anything good about that combination in a series.

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I could probably live with 35MPG diesel as long as I’m not doing insane mileage

Yep, the mitigating factors are what I’m thinking — had a nose at speccing a polo and anything decent comes out over 30k! Whereas whilst maybe a higher upfront cost vs a PCP etc on a new car and lower MPG, they’re fundamentally simple to fix and I know will live forever vs new cars.

Any suggestions on what the most efficient setup would be? This wouldn’t be used for any serious off-roading or towing so not too concerned RE gearing

Fitting 5 speed to a series has its own problems and is not often done and the same can be said for later coil spring axles. Both a lot of work and may effect the registration status.
For good ish mpg from a series 200tdi, tidy series 3 box with over drive, diffs from rangy or defender or Disco 1.
Keep the weight down so SWB best and do not carry stuff you do not need in the back or have a roof rack just because you like the look.
Road biased tires [chunky's look good but use more fuel.]
And probably most important drive it for what it is, a series happy at 45/50, push at 65/70 and the fuel goes down as quick as the noise level goes up.

tottot said:

Fitting 5 speed to a series has its own problems and is not often done and the same can be said for later coil spring axles. Both a lot of work and may effect the registration status.
For good ish mpg from a series 200tdi, tidy series 3 box with over drive, diffs from rangy or defender or Disco 1.
Keep the weight down so SWB best and do not carry stuff you do not need in the back or have a roof rack just because you like the look.
Road biased tires [chunky's look good but use more fuel.]
And probably most important drive it for what it is, a series happy at 45/50, push at 65/70 and the fuel goes down as quick as the noise level goes up.

Click to expand...

You've just described my previous SIII, written off after an accident unfortunately. Other than changing the diffs that's how I bought it, I believe on a newish chassis. Once the diffs were in it was quite a surprise that 70 felt ok (I also had the TLS brakes on the front which were very respectable) but by heck you needed ear defenders - now I'd use my noise-cancelling headphones. And I did use it as my main car.

Now though, if you could find a car that someone's already removed the originality from then ok, but I think it'd be a mistake to do the same to a car which could otherwise be restored to original.

tottot said:

Fitting 5 speed to a series has its own problems and is not often done and the same can be said for later coil spring axles. Both a lot of work and may effect the registration status.
For good ish mpg from a series 200tdi, tidy series 3 box with over drive, diffs from rangy or defender or Disco 1.
Keep the weight down so SWB best and do not carry stuff you do not need in the back or have a roof rack just because you like the look.
Road biased tires [chunky's look good but use more fuel.]
And probably most important drive it for what it is, a series happy at 45/50, push at 65/70 and the fuel goes down as quick as the noise level goes up.

Click to expand...

Ah, really wouldn’t want to affect the reg status!
Does SWB vs LWB really make much of a difference in regards to fuel economy?

Oh - and. I wouldn't bother with the freewheel hubs, there's hardly any work done in turning the diff and propshaft.

boguing said:

You've just described my previous SIII, written off after an accident unfortunately. Other than changing the diffs that's how I bought it, I believe on a newish chassis. Once the diffs were in it was quite a surprise that 70 felt ok (I also had the TLS brakes on the front which were very respectable) but by heck you needed ear defenders - now I'd use my noise-cancelling headphones. And I did use it as my main car.

Now though, if you could find a car that someone's already removed the originality from then ok, but I think it'd be a mistake to do the same to a car which could otherwise be restored to original.

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Yes I’ll admit the originality thing is my issue - means I wouldn’t want to do it to my current S3 especially as the engine in it is decent.

Do you mind me asking what sort of MPG you got?

Strangely, I find the hubs make a fair difference to acceleration and MPG in mine!

So long as you lock the hubs every month or two, and take it for a drive, fw hubs are okay. The rollers in the ujs in the shafts need to be lubricated.

tom.brandford said:

Yes I’ll admit the originality thing is my issue - means I wouldn’t want to do it to my current S3 especially as the engine in it is decent.

Do you mind me asking what sort of MPG you got?

Strangely, I find the hubs make a fair difference to acceleration and MPG in mine!

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I can't remember with any certainty, but I think 30ish was doable with a light foot.

tom.brandford said:

Ah, really wouldn’t want to affect the reg status!
Does SWB vs LWB really make much of a difference in regards to fuel economy?

Click to expand...

With the LWB its the weight that's against you, at one time I had a SWB and LWB on the road at the same time both petrol 2.25.
SWB 22/25 LWB 18/20 all back road and A road driving [ no motorway or dual lane in my county] This was when driven sensible, easy enough to reduce those numbers if giving some real wellie.

boguing said:

Oh - and. I wouldn't bother with the freewheel hubs, there's hardly any work done in turning the diff and propshaft.

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I don't think they make any difference either. Apart from having to get out and lock them up if you want to engage 4wd.

tom.brandford said:

Hi all,

After getting my first landy (1982 S3 88” 2.25p 5mb w/ parabolics, Fairey OD and FW Hubs) a month and a half ago and now about to get a 110 300TDI, it’s safe to say I have the Land Rover bug.

I have a sensible fiesta for daily duties, but that is getting to the age of various gremlins, and long term I would love to drive a series as my daily once the fiesta goes bang. I don’t mind the lack of refinement, risk of theft, or lack of handling (although would need to leave on time for once!). The issue is the dreaded fuel economy (and to an extent, noise, although I’d sound proof it like mad).

This would very much be a ‘when the fiesta dies thing’, but what I’ve got in mind is:

S3 (probably LWB)
Free wheeling hubs
5 speed box
Roamerdrive
Probably RR axles etc for the taller gearing
Either 200/300TDI or the V8

I know this is very specific, but I was wondering if anyone has a similar build and what the fuel economy is like?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Can't see why the fuel mileage would be much different to a Tdi Defender. And they do about 20-25 on diesel, maybe over 30 if you drive like there is an egg under the accelerator, and never go over 60 mph.

I’m sure it depends on mileage. I have a daily series. Having said that I only take it to work and back with the odd trip at the weekend. Probably around 30 miles a week. I don’t take it on motorways but spend most waking hours nailing things back on it.
I don’t do it for economy or budgeting, I do it coz I like it. If that costs me more than average so be it.

Series SWB with 200 should do better than a defender, its the weight thing again.

I should confirm that mine was a 200, I can't imagine anyone admitting the real world mpg of their V8.

Series 2a with petrol was no more than 20mpg and 200tdi 30mpg regardless how you drive it. V8 petrol even worse.
Not sure why you need to budget 30k for a daily driver.
I think in the winter you would still get fed up with it.
Have a cheap daily and that way you can enjoy your Land Rovers when you want to, not when you have to.

tottot said:

Series SWB with 200 should do better than a defender, its the weight thing again.

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Defenders are a broad church, as are Series.
My hard top Ninety, a Defender in all but name, weighed 1650Kg with me in it, weighed on the scrapyard weighbridge.
With diesels, I never found weight made much difference, I used to get about 30mpg out of my Perkins engined 109", didn't seem to make much difference what I had in it, but the one thing that was constant was it never went over 55mph, because that was as fast as it went.

Anaconda said:

Series 2a with petrol was no more than 20mpg and 200tdi 30mpg regardless how you drive it. V8 petrol even worse.
Not sure why you need to budget 30k for a daily driver.
I think in the winter you would still get fed up with it.
Have a cheap daily and that way you can enjoy your Land Rovers when you want to, not when you have to.

Click to expand...

Still waiting for details of his Fiesta.

Not sure why he thinks he can't keep that going indefinitely. My Mondeo is 22 years old, done 155k miles, and drives like a new car.

Turboman said:

Still waiting for details of his Fiesta.

Not sure why he thinks he can't keep that going indefinitely. My Mondeo is 22 years old, done 155k miles, and drives like a new car.

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Beat you, my daily Focus is 23 years old. Had it since new and it's been an excellent car.