Freelander or Defender

optimus_primera

You can live with a defender as a daily car, i did for yrs,you just have to lower your expectations of creature comforts.Funnily enough the heater was great! it was better than the one in my Disco!
There are lots of companies out there that can supply you parts to 'upgrade' them,whether that be external,or internally.

People used to ask me 'what do you want one of those for?' ......... then say ' well i've such and such that needs moving ' .......

Owain_Moneysaver

Defender or Landcruiser. There's a reason why they're used by all the aid agencies in developing countries. A Defender will tow a small train.

Hintza

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

Defender or Landcruiser. There's a reason why they're used by all the aid agencies in developing countries. A Defender will tow a small train.

Aye but I really don't think the OP needs anything like this especially if it is for daily use.

Most of the sofftroaders will do the job perfectly adequately subject to air intake being located well out the way.

grey_lady

I like the train but I dont think we'll be needing to tow one anytime soon :-) I'm not sure I agree with the previous comments abouts the freelanders though - I've just been reading that they're only good for up to 12-15 inches of water and it was 1.5 ft the other day (after not particularly heavy rain) when my partners car died - which makes me realise that even though a car might get through that kind of water we could could be damaging it inside still.

TVR2

I'd go down the Jeep Cherokee route. They're great in the rough or wet stuff (obviously), luxurious and comfortable (yanks like their comfort), easy to work on (yanks keep things simple, stupid), nice and powerful (4.0 I6 anyone?) and cost nothing (ten year olds with average miles are 2.5k).

More subjectively it's a fairly unusual/interesting motor and not as ostentatious as some American cars.

Hintza

TVR2 wrote: »

I'd go down the Jeep Cherokee route. They're great in the rough or wet stuff (obviously), luxurious and comfortable (yanks like their comfort), easy to work on (yanks keep things simple, stupid), nice and powerful (4.0 I6 anyone?) and cost nothing (ten year olds with average miles are 2.5k).

More subjectively it's a fairly unusual/interesting motor and not as ostentatious as some American cars.

I have the Cherokee and fuel consumpton is awful on cold short runs. I average 21mpg but can get it up to 33mpg on a long careful run.

If I pop the horsebox on that drops to 17mpg.

Then you have the VED £450!!!

LandyAndy

grey_lady wrote: »

Thanks for the responses, the Rangerover and Discovery I think are a bit pricier to buy and then run -so had really been ruled out on cost.

.

Discos are much cheaper than the same age/condition Defender and will do everything a Defender will do except the really outrageous stuff. Lots of off-roaders use Discos. The use you describe is, at worst, equivalent to mild greenlaning so no challenge to either a Disco or Defender.

Inactive

grey_lady wrote: »

I like the train but I dont think we'll be needing to tow one anytime soon :-) I'm not sure I agree with the previous comments abouts the freelanders though - I've just been reading that they're only good for up to 12-15 inches of water and it was 1.5 ft the other day (after not particularly heavy rain) when my partners car died - which makes me realise that even though a car might get through that kind of water we could could be damaging it inside still.

You need a boat, not a car.;):)

LandyAndy

Inactive wrote: »

You need a boat, not a car.;):)

Or maybe..

TVR2

Hintza wrote: »

I have the Cherokee and fuel consumpton is awful on cold short runs. I average 21mpg but can get it up to 33mpg on a long careful run.

If I pop the horsebox on that drops to 17mpg.

Then you have the VED £450!!!

Well this car is only going to be used very occasionally so fuel consumption is irrelevant. If the car is pre-2001 (which I'd recommend as it's less complicated mechanically) then tax is flat rate.

My vote is still with the Jeep.