Series Purchase Authorized! Now what?

[WilsBoar]

Need some advice from those with with Series experience. The wife has authorized the purchase of a Series Rover after I have been talking about them for 12 years now. It will be a third vehicle and my teenage daughter would drive it to high school (3 miles from the house) when I am not driving it. She will also be learning how to do the general maintenance and upkeep on the Rover. Need some recommendations on what I should go with. It will have to get up to 55mph for about 1 mile during the trip...but overdrive would be nice. Won't be heavily offroaded at all...mostly loaded up with dogs/surfboards/kids on the beaches here in Florida or hunting trails through scrub and sand.

Thanks for any advice!

[bpj911]

Series Rover

It sounds like you should buy my 109 right away. See classifieds!

[Terrys]

All series drive pretty similarly, and almost all teenage girls do too. The two barely mix, if at all. Have you ever driven one?

[rwollschlager]

It sounds like you should buy my 109 right away. See classifieds!

I second this motion. I can deliver it for price of food and fuel

-Rob

[Billy5]

I tend to agree with Terrys. I just got mine a few moths ago and I daily drive it. Sometimes I rethink that decision. Not the truck just the only car part. But having said that, I would find one that you can drive or at least get into, sit etc. My experience thus far? 1) they are noisy as hell ( forget about a radio really..), you will smell oil, 90wt and grease at all times ( not terrible mind you) and 55mph is about as fast as you would want to go if that. You cannot just sit back and roll, you have to drive these things. No first finger only turns. Which reminds me, you do realize there is no power steering? Series Rovers are machines ( think tractor with an aluminum body slapped on it). I am not trying to discourage at all. Or ruin a potential sale just trying to help. But if I were you 1) go diesel if you can 2) go series 111 as they at least have a full synchro transmission.

[I Leak Oil]

Buy the best, most solid truck you can afford. In the long run it will be the cheapest way of getting into one.

As a former trouble making teenager and now parent...I'd go with the 88". The friends per car load to keg party ratio is much lower than it would be in a 109"

[LR Max]

All series drive pretty similarly, and almost all teenage girls do too. The two barely mix, if at all. Have you ever driven one?

I was thinking the EXACT SAME THING. Back in high school I couldn't ever get a girl to ride in my 109. Let alone drive it. Wait until you try to turn the steering wheel at a dead stop. That'll put an end to that REAL QUICK.

Hate to be a Debbie Downer about it, just being realistic. Also I know of many vehicle purchased by fathers for daughters equipped with manual transmissions...every last one of them was sold off after 2 weeks. Unless your daughter is super awesome (dunno, is she?) then this ain't gonna fly.

Rovers are slow, noisy, smelly, leaky, and obnoxious. The last one, I was informed of by a co-worker. Apparently having anything that stands out is "obnoxious" according Miami, FL standards. So my 109 is obnoxious, such is life.

[bpj911]

manual transmissions

My little sister, mom, and my wife can all drive a manual no problem. An unsynchronized transmission would be a problem without some training but they certainly are capable of driving a standard without issue.

[Dietersrover]

I love my Series, I drive it all the time. But it is a truck, well more like a tractor.
I have a 1971 Series IIA 88. It's non syc from 1st to 2nd, but start off in 2nd most of the time anyway.
I think you will want to drive as much as possible, trust me.
I say go for it and enjoy, you only live once!

[jac04]

I know lots of girls/women, including my wife, sister & mother, who can drive a manual. I don't know of any who would actually drive my Rover (SIII w/ full syncro box) by choice. And, yes, I have offered to let them drive it.

Anyhow, don't let that stop you from buying a series Land Rover. You will love it and probably drive it most of the time. Don't let anyone talk you into just some average series vehicle. You need something different. You need a Lightweight!

[Firemanshort]

One consideration.... ALL TEENAGERS WRECK THIER FIRST CAR.

Sure - there will be plenty of folks who pipe up and follow my post with stories of flawless driving records and Saint-like childhood experiences but lets keep it real and be honest with each other... ALL TEENAGERS WRECK THIER FIRST CAR.

Sometimes the wreck is a stumble into a mailbox or hitting the garage door... sometimes it is a triple-lindy down a highway embankment.

(Also refer back to the KEG PARTY / PASSENGER RATIO comment before)

Do not get me wrong - buy the Series, love the Series, become one with EP90... just manage the teenager expectations.

[Max(SD)]

Rovers are great, and lots of fun, but not necessarily the safest transportation for a young teenager learning to drive. Get your daughter something safe and sound, with modern braking and reliable.

Get the Rover for yourself and enjoy.

[Cutter]

As a former trouble making teenager and now parent...I'd go with the 88". The friends per car load to keg party ratio is much lower than it would be in a 109"

I got 13 drunk guys in my 109 regular for a bachelor party, teens could improve on that, go for an 88.

While I'd have concerns with a teen driving a rover, the flip side is that there is no opportunity to text or talk on a cell with a rover, the driving experience forces compliance

[knac1234]

FWIW, if she learns to drive the Series, she will be able to drive anything! And that was my dad's thought when I learned to drive.....he would not teach me in the automatic, only the stick.

Anyway, it is a very rudimentary vehicle that is not remotely like driving any of the other classic Brit cars I have. That said, I enjoy it and it has filled the "void" for me....a classic Brit car that I can drive year round and that will handle the snow in Colorado.

I'd buy it, and if your daughter does not enjoy it, perhaps she could drive one of your other two vehicles and you could drive the Series full time!

I agree with the comments on a Series III due to the all synchro gearbox--or at least one that has been converted to a SIII box. Will make it a lot easier for your daughter and all to use and learn to drive!

Good luck,
Julian

[Skookumchuck]

Buy, Buy, Buy before she comes to her senses. It only took me three years of wining to have the boss give me permission to buy my 68. I agree with the other comments that if you teach her to drive the series anything else will be a cake walk. They are not that bad to drive and she might really like it.(the benifit is it is all she has driven and she won't know better) I learned to drive a stick 69 Ford and took that truck everywhere. Power steering is over rated anyway.