My New Truck

[Fat Albert]

I have been secretly looking at SWB Series 3 and early Defenders, as I have a hankering for years. My new aircraft is kept on a farm strip up a bumpy track that the 944 can just about cope with in the summer....

I learnt to drive in a S2a on a mate's farm at 14 and was the only one on my squadron to have a Landrover (and trailer) rating on my Licence in the RAF, so got to use the squadron hack S3 for collecting the bad-weather barrels from the mess!

I was recently offered an L reg LPG Rangey for £500, but it had some issue-ettes and I don't have the time currently to do any spanner-twirling so I had to pass.

Funnily enough I bumped into the other 944 owner I see at the station sometimes the other day and he drives a Modded LWB Defender when he is not in the S2, must be something that about both marques that attracts the same type of owner/driver?

 

[DavidL]

I bought mine mainly because the 944 was sooo poor in the snow last year.
Couldn't tell you why but it had to be a classic rangie and the long wheel base. Glad I did as the rear leg room is great.
Even with a 200bhp 4.2 V8 quick it isn't but it is a nice relaxing waft after a long day and at 63 a litre the fuel is a pleasant surprise. I have underslung tanks so not boot space loss either.
Joined the owners club - decent buch but they do tend to be a certain size and shape....
As has been said parts are a pleasant surprise after the Porsche.

Quite fancy an Overfinch one but they are quite rare. 5.7 Chevy engine as standard.

I think we all like cars of a certain type - all 3 of mine are a similar age and given the chance I'd swop my wife's Impreza for an RS2 but she's not having it! I'll keep trying.

 

[Neil Haughey]

Well I was partly talked into it by Kev Eacock (EMC), he has a definite love of LR products and has often been seen buzzing up and down the paddock in a disco or rangie. Rick Cannel was the first of the 944 guys I can remember seeing with a rangie and since then I have talked to one or two others about them.

On the BMW diesel engine in mine, I did my research on them and for sure you can get pump failures like in any modern diesel, the replacement part/s not mad price compared to Porsche parts but as those engines are so common I think its often easier to source a replacement engine or parts from breakers. I think an issue that is likely to become common due to mileage is wear to the Dual Mass Flywheel and clutch package, I am convinced for example that mine will need doing in the next year, the clutch doesn't slip but it does this weird shuffling sound/judder type thing at part throttle and low rpms sometimes. Under load or at idle fine, dip the clutch fine, and never see the MIL light up so can't be the engine. As its done 106K miles and I reckon must be on the original clutch I can't complain really.