"Toyota may make the ultimate in 4x4's - but the Landys have soul, heart and a dreamer's appeal that money and logic can't buy... Mad? Possibly, but watch me smile when I turn the key!" Quote by unknown.
23/07/11 It's been just over 4yrs since I started driving and owning Land Rovers, did I make the right choice? Yes I did, and I'm very pleased I did. Having done 40k (approx) mls in the Series 111 and the 110, of which 22k mls (approx) have been on trips, and apart from a gearbox in the Series, and a fuse going in the 110, no problems. Both vehicles have done what I've asked of them and more. And after hearing a friend's woes of his broken Landcruiser, problems getting parts etc, all vehicles can breakdown, whoever built them. And the best bit? Driving a "Landy", visiting Landy shows and meeting like minded nutters! :)
WHY Land Rovers? Just my thoughts below, accuracy or logic need not have been applied.
I've been lucky and traveled extensively in my life so far, but I've always been hungry to see more especially by land, so after reading books, gaining information from forums, listening to people I knew/meet etc, it came down to 3 vehicles for what I needed. Older vehicle types i.e without too much electronic trickery of 1. Landcruiser 2. Mercedes G Wagon and 3. Land Rover.
Landcruiser; Comfortable, reliable, easy to maintain, quick, doesn't leak in the rain etc, we know all about them, most excellent vehicles. However, they're Jap, I'm proud Brit, so it was a tough decision to pass over the Landcruiser, and it was not based on logic.
Mercedes G Wagon; The first commercial proper all wheel drive vehicle ever built, highly capable, German reliability, simply outstanding machines. But I was not sure of the parts availability nor the ease of maintenance, and it was a bit on the small side for what I needed.
Land Rover; When I arrived back in the UK after a number of years abroad, I was loaned a vehicle to run around in (the Series 111 on the other page), just as well it was loaned to me for free. It was in January 2006, it was blinking cold and wet, the Series was slow, it leaked, it bounced along the smoothest of roads, but I became a fan, when it snowed no problem, when it went wrong, out came a hammer and a spanner, parts were cheap, people waved enthusiastically with other similar vehicles, it was British, therefore helping support many small local garages and parts companies, and best of all the heater worked. :)
So I brought it, did it up a bit, renewed a few things and was a happy bunny. Until I saw a 110 on ebay in June 2008, I was happy I didn't need to see it, but having done 2 short overland trips around Western Europe, I knew deep down that a 110 either a tdi or td5 (and no I'm not starting that argument) would suit me better. Higher cruising speed, more power, probably able to carry a bigger payload safer, coil springs, power steering, etc.
So I went and saw this 110 nicknamed "GRUNT" some 200mls away, looked at the chassis/bodywork/interior and walked away without even starting it, it needed too much work and a lot of TLC for the price. So I went back home and got a call on the Monday, what's your best offer, I told him, and that's depending on the engine/box and test drive, so back up there the following weekend, engine/boxes good and she drove nicely and quiet for a Landy, and the heater worked. So I made lower offer, mainly for all the work that needed doing and it was accepted. Now I had 2 Landies.
A wise old sage once told me that "Disco's are a thinking man's Defender", well maybe they are, but I still rather have a Defender, don't know why, there's just something about them.
Since then the old girl has gone and I've done a few more trips around W.Europe and Morocco in "GRUNT" and love it!
23/07/11 It's been just over 4yrs since I started driving and owning Land Rovers, did I make the right choice? Yes I did, and I'm very pleased I did. Having done 40k (approx) mls in the Series 111 and the 110, of which 22k mls (approx) have been on trips, and apart from a gearbox in the Series, and a fuse going in the 110, no problems. Both vehicles have done what I've asked of them and more. And after hearing a friend's woes of his broken Landcruiser, problems getting parts etc, all vehicles can breakdown, whoever built them. And the best bit? Driving a "Landy", visiting Landy shows and meeting like minded nutters! :)
WHY Land Rovers? Just my thoughts below, accuracy or logic need not have been applied.
I've been lucky and traveled extensively in my life so far, but I've always been hungry to see more especially by land, so after reading books, gaining information from forums, listening to people I knew/meet etc, it came down to 3 vehicles for what I needed. Older vehicle types i.e without too much electronic trickery of 1. Landcruiser 2. Mercedes G Wagon and 3. Land Rover.
Landcruiser; Comfortable, reliable, easy to maintain, quick, doesn't leak in the rain etc, we know all about them, most excellent vehicles. However, they're Jap, I'm proud Brit, so it was a tough decision to pass over the Landcruiser, and it was not based on logic.
Mercedes G Wagon; The first commercial proper all wheel drive vehicle ever built, highly capable, German reliability, simply outstanding machines. But I was not sure of the parts availability nor the ease of maintenance, and it was a bit on the small side for what I needed.
Land Rover; When I arrived back in the UK after a number of years abroad, I was loaned a vehicle to run around in (the Series 111 on the other page), just as well it was loaned to me for free. It was in January 2006, it was blinking cold and wet, the Series was slow, it leaked, it bounced along the smoothest of roads, but I became a fan, when it snowed no problem, when it went wrong, out came a hammer and a spanner, parts were cheap, people waved enthusiastically with other similar vehicles, it was British, therefore helping support many small local garages and parts companies, and best of all the heater worked. :)
So I brought it, did it up a bit, renewed a few things and was a happy bunny. Until I saw a 110 on ebay in June 2008, I was happy I didn't need to see it, but having done 2 short overland trips around Western Europe, I knew deep down that a 110 either a tdi or td5 (and no I'm not starting that argument) would suit me better. Higher cruising speed, more power, probably able to carry a bigger payload safer, coil springs, power steering, etc.
So I went and saw this 110 nicknamed "GRUNT" some 200mls away, looked at the chassis/bodywork/interior and walked away without even starting it, it needed too much work and a lot of TLC for the price. So I went back home and got a call on the Monday, what's your best offer, I told him, and that's depending on the engine/box and test drive, so back up there the following weekend, engine/boxes good and she drove nicely and quiet for a Landy, and the heater worked. So I made lower offer, mainly for all the work that needed doing and it was accepted. Now I had 2 Landies.
A wise old sage once told me that "Disco's are a thinking man's Defender", well maybe they are, but I still rather have a Defender, don't know why, there's just something about them.
Since then the old girl has gone and I've done a few more trips around W.Europe and Morocco in "GRUNT" and love it!