finding time
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Overlanding
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Vernon,CT
Yes, you need a backup car or an alternative. I didn't get my Discovery 1 as a daily driver, but if it's running I prefer to take it for anything but very long highway drives, so it's become a daily driver. It's only practical to do this because I've completed extensive work on it, and the projects that remain would be repair or replacement of wear items.
I have two little ones, and before I would even consider owning one of these, I'd make sure my wife has a normal car that can accommodate everyone. If you both commute to work separately, I'd be sure to have a reliable commuter too. One of the two doesn't have to accommodate everyone, for example, a compact pickup.
If the Land Rover has been mechanically restored, it has reasonably good reliability. It's a high maintenance vehicle and if it's also 15-17 years old, the demand can amount to a "restoration" even if a Honda of similar age might only need a "tune-up." The Land Rover can require repair or replacement of major items and the downtime, especially with the delay for parts arrival is significant. You also have to consider that if you're not a full-time Rover mechanic, you have other things to do and other priorities.
There's been times when I resented the Land Rover for the time it took me away from my family. Fortunately I think I'm through the tough period. I've also become willing to pay for good parts, pay for replacements instead of repair, or even pay an indy shop to do some jobs like swapping transmissions or engine blocks, whereas before I might have done that myself. Essentially, I've resigned that this is much more expensive vehicle than I originally conceived because I'm less willing to pay with my time anymore. If your time is worthless, you don't have to count the hundreds of hours of work you'll do owning one of these. If not, you've got to admit they're costly. A certain amount of this is appreciated. There's some satisfaction is working on your own vehicle and making it work and look the way you want. But the less it's your hobby and the more you depend on it's utility, the more concerning excessive demand of time becomes.
The least satisfying and most disappointing thing about my Land Rover has been the times it wasn't available for a big weekend or something like that. Because that's really it's raison d'être. I'm hoping that I simply had premature expectations and that as it matures it won't continue to disappoint.
I have two little ones, and before I would even consider owning one of these, I'd make sure my wife has a normal car that can accommodate everyone. If you both commute to work separately, I'd be sure to have a reliable commuter too. One of the two doesn't have to accommodate everyone, for example, a compact pickup.
If the Land Rover has been mechanically restored, it has reasonably good reliability. It's a high maintenance vehicle and if it's also 15-17 years old, the demand can amount to a "restoration" even if a Honda of similar age might only need a "tune-up." The Land Rover can require repair or replacement of major items and the downtime, especially with the delay for parts arrival is significant. You also have to consider that if you're not a full-time Rover mechanic, you have other things to do and other priorities.
There's been times when I resented the Land Rover for the time it took me away from my family. Fortunately I think I'm through the tough period. I've also become willing to pay for good parts, pay for replacements instead of repair, or even pay an indy shop to do some jobs like swapping transmissions or engine blocks, whereas before I might have done that myself. Essentially, I've resigned that this is much more expensive vehicle than I originally conceived because I'm less willing to pay with my time anymore. If your time is worthless, you don't have to count the hundreds of hours of work you'll do owning one of these. If not, you've got to admit they're costly. A certain amount of this is appreciated. There's some satisfaction is working on your own vehicle and making it work and look the way you want. But the less it's your hobby and the more you depend on it's utility, the more concerning excessive demand of time becomes.
The least satisfying and most disappointing thing about my Land Rover has been the times it wasn't available for a big weekend or something like that. Because that's really it's raison d'être. I'm hoping that I simply had premature expectations and that as it matures it won't continue to disappoint.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 11
From: mini soda
2hr rounds baby
Camel Trophy
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,079
Likes: 227
From: IL
And you can't find your ball because there's 10,000 leaves on the course.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 351
Likes: 9
From: NE-Illinois
i have 6+1 kids (one on the way) and i definately feel the pressure. More self-imposed since I purchased this as a project vehicle and have since started using it as a daily driver.
I'm just biting off pieces as I go along, so far been making pretty good progress.
I'm just biting off pieces as I go along, so far been making pretty good progress.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 464
Likes: 5
From: Warren PA
Been rebuilding & using mine for a 100 mile a day daily driver throughout by tearing it apart on Friday & putting it back together Saturday & Sunday. If I don't have the tools or technology (i.e., the bushings & lift being put on as I type), I just plan it around my wife's schedule. But I will warn you... Don't remind your wife you actually paid for the car she's driving just thinking she will cave & let you drive it; he** hath no fury like a woman with no wheels 
Pro Wrench
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 171
From: Central Minnesota
Sold my 1986 GMC Jimmy with a bad trans, it was too small to pull my snowmobile trailer (2.8l v6) and ran into this 97 Discovery with a 'bad fuel pump' turns out it is everything but the fuel pump. Been stranded twice and had to have my oldest son get me so we could steal the wife's Mountaineer for a tow home. Only 2 boys, 26 and 31, but the younger one now has a girlfriend with a new baby so I spent the summer adding a room on the house. finished 1 week before the grandson was born (no pressure there..)
Still hoping to have the Discovery running in time for the vintage sled shows.. No garage or driveway so it is sitting in the back yard right now, my daily driver is a 2009 Smart Pure (110,000 miles) Quite a difference in the two...
Still hoping to have the Discovery running in time for the vintage sled shows.. No garage or driveway so it is sitting in the back yard right now, my daily driver is a 2009 Smart Pure (110,000 miles) Quite a difference in the two...
Thread Starter
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Overlanding
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Vernon,CT