Dear o sung wu,

My first car was a canary yellow Vauxhall Velox and I was rather fond of it despite developing a leg like a horse from the savage pumping of the brakes it required to stop it. My favourite was probably a lime green Town and Country Valiant ute which could sit on 100MPH for hours on end with great aplomb.

My current is a 1994 Series 1 Discovery which took me 6 months to find. Finally latched on to it in Deniliquin. No airbags or complicated electrics so no Three Amigo problems. It had just on 200,000 on the clock and a fresh engine with less than 30,000 and I couldn't be happier. Put it on the road for under $3,500 and it has already been places that are reserved for the lucky few who can leave 99% of drivers behind.

It puts a smile on my face every time I get in the thing. Land Rovers, you either love them or hate them but when they get under your skin they are hard to shake. One of my favorite reads in Len Beadell's Too Long in the Bush. The time he spent in his trusty Landy while surveying the Gun Barrel Highway makes for a great yarn. If you ever get a chance to grab it do so.

SteeleRedux,

I don't know if it is always 'like them or loathe them' where LRs are concerned, not most folks anyhow.

We sometimes travel in mixed groups of vehicles. Excluding the known lemons and makes and models that are unsuitable for off-road, the prime determinants of vehicle durability come down to the driver conserving the vehicle and good, regular servicing. Keeping the cooling system A1 for instance.

I liked a couple of the Valiants, one sedan and a ute (triple carb and needed a petrol tanker), that I owned. Sold that exciting but lethal rocket fast to stay alive. They had real character for their time and the maker was innovative in some respects.

The most bullet-proof of the passenger sedans I owned back then were the Falcons, all 6cyl autos. Saved me heaps of money with low running and maintenance requirements - reliable engine and drive train.

o sung wu, if you ever get a chance to drive that 911, try to make it a pre 78 2.7 lt model as they are as pure as they come. The best of these is the 77 model but hard to find now. . Motoring writers describe them as like having a chain saw in the boot.

As for the worked maloo, 0-100 3.6 seconds which is mind blowing.

My F truck was a 97 model and the best I've ever driven. 12 hours to the Whitsundays and not even tired. It loved a drink though although if driven carefully woukd get about 18MPG.

Loved it.

rehctub,

Cars don't come much prettier than the Porsche 911 series.

Jerry Seinfeld has a large Porsche collection. His attitude to cars might be interesting to you,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5JbEVaoNgQ

Jerry is 5'11" (180). I am not sure how he fits into all of the Seventies models. He is slim though which would help.

Hi there STEELEREDUX...

The iconic Vauxhall Velox with it's parallel chrome fluting straight down the bonnet was a great little ride, so much so my poor old Dad purchased the Mod. after the Velox ! It too did 'naught to fifty' in about half an hour ? And pumping the brakes was a regular feature of English cars of that era too, as I recall. Also one needed to contend with the damned electric fuel pump that interminably played up in summer months ! Still and all, every young bloke learnt to be a bit of a mechanic in those days simply to keep their car running.

Much of derision Land Rovers copped, because of their electrics, was a little unfair in most cases. I drove a few of them in the Army and they performed admirably in my opinion. True the Mechanical Corps kept them going, nevertheless they were driven extremely hard, particularly in Vietnam and Malaya. I've never owned one, but those folk who have, swore by them as you do !

And 'Off Road' they were bullet proof I believe ? Years later, I was required to undertake a 4x4 Course when I was in the coppers, and on my first attempt I was duly 'failed' ! It was felt I lacked confidence when required to tackle really steep gradients in the Departmental, Toyota 4x4's. I was definitely not cut-out to be a member of the 'Stock Squad' who invariably always used 4x4's ! Give me a smooth tarmac, like a freeway, and a 5.8lt 1976 Falcon V8, and I was a pretty happy little Vegemite in those days.

Hi there REHCTUB...

To be very honest with you Butch, I'd like the opportunity to drive 'ANY' mod. Porsche irrespective of the year or capacity ! I've heard the earlier 911's were for the real purist. And to think a relatively small 2.7lt had some much pure grunt and torque, is positively amazing ! I've done a zillion miles on your F100 & F150 with the coppers and I agree totally, they're an absolute winner !

O sung, a small correction, the 77 model was the first of the 3 lt models.

I've been fortunate enough to have owned three, a 78 3lt targa, a revamped 74 with a 3.2lt and a 83 3.2 lt. I've driven a 74 2.7 lt and it was mind blowing.

As for torque range, the older ones go from 0-100 in mid fives, yet, you can be doing 35 km/h in fifth then accelerate without any hint of a struggle, which makes them far more traffic friendly. Not sure how the modern ones drive but I would suspect a bit japish.

Do yourself a favor and drive one. You can even hire them, some older as well.