This:

The company I work for needed a vehicle that met Chapter 8 to work on a site on the M25. It would have cost £400 ish to get our current van up to spec so hired this Land Rover for the week for £200 instead.

I've never driven a Land Rover before so was quite chuffed when the chance came up today especially as it's virtually brand new!

What a disappointment :( absolutely no shoulder room on the right, really narrow seats then a massive expanse of space in the middle! Loads of play in the steering with a quite bumpy ride. This particular one had keep fit windows and not even central locking. Can't remember the last thing I drive with no central locking.

Not sure what engine it has but it's quite quick once you get it moving then get over the turbo lag.

Clutch is heavy, gearbox is vague, brake pedal seems really high compared to the accelerator.

I did wonder if a 90 commercial would be suitable as a company vehicle but I couldn't live with that doing 35k a year mainly motorway.

Despite all this I really like it i'd have one if I didn't have to drive it all the time as it looks cool and seems to have quite a bit of character (could the character be apparent because it's so bad? )

Edited 3 August, 201114 yr by DaveI

Chapter 8?

Everything you said is exactly what a defender is all about! Great things, the reason for the seat setup is because it's prob still setup to have 3 seats in the front, they obviously just don't bother putting them in if not specified lol

Matt

I don't like the driving position - feels like i'm driving in the door pocket! The steering is very vague as well, especially over uneven terrain. The steering lock isn't what i expected - you can wind on lots of lock but it doesn't really turn that tightly at all!

Can't beat these things for ability though. The torque available in low range is incredible. Sitting in low range, second gear, no throttle, it'll climb just about anything, they're really impressive machines.

Agricultural but if you're going somewhere tricky, i'd put money on these shaming a lot of much more expensive and bigger kit.

Chapter 8?

Chapter 8 is the regulations for vehicles driving within roadworks or working on the hard shoulder.

As much of the rear of the vehicle has to be covered in red and yellow reflective chevrons as possible.

A reflective stripe down the side if the vehicle isn't yellow or white.

A twin light yellow beacon on the top.

Reflective lozenges on the door edges.

A Highway or Motorway Maintenance sign on the back.

I work on a fleet of defenders,ours have the 300tdi engines fitted & the odd V8,the one you drove will of had the ford durateq 2.4 fitted to it,the steering is vague as they are fitted with a steering box.Great vehicles though,will go anywhere! :-)

Chapter 8 is the regulations for vehicles driving within roadworks or working on the hard shoulder.

As much of the rear of the vehicle has to be covered in red and yellow reflective chevrons as possible.

A reflective stripe down the side if the vehicle isn't yellow or white.

A twin light yellow beacon on the top.

Reflective lozenges on the door edges.

A Highway or Motorway Maintenance sign on the back.

<threadjack>

Is it legal to keep a vehicle in Ch8 spec if you don't regularly work on m/way or trunk roads?

Mate at work had a tango orange td5 90 defender,

I loved it altho never got to drive it, he went to a few off road days and turned up at work with it covered in mud the next day

Yes, they make good toys, but this is why I have one for a bit of fun only.

Previously did 57k miles in one over two years and my shoulder has still not recovered four years later from rubbing on the B post...

They are outdated, heavy to drive and quite uncomfortable compared to nearly everything else. But they are also a lot of fun and have bags of character.

You have to sit in the door pocket due to the width of the transmission tunnel and the location of the un-adjustable controls. Basically, all the controls are where they were put in the series two which was designed in the late 1950s and these are very similar to the series one designed in the late 40s.

Even a door off a 1958 series two is still the same size and will fit a brand new one once you resolve the different lock.

Nothing like moving with the times eh?

This is mine: (sorry for the slight hijack) An ex-Camel Trophy Mongolia '97 support 110.

<threadjack>

Is it legal to keep a vehicle in Ch8 spec if you don't regularly work on m/way or trunk roads?

I can't see why it wouldn't be legal, I see loads of stickered up cars all the time not stopped on a hard shoulder.

Been out and about in it again today.

Keep re-tuning the radio when I go from a gear change straight to the indicator stalk.

Slammed the door and jammed my knee between it and the steering wheel! That hurt a bit.

Went up quite a steep grass slope, turned around and came back down.

It's a terrible car to drive on the road but i'd still love one!

Been out and about in it again today.

Keep re-tuning the radio when I go from a gear change straight to the indicator stalk.

Slammed the door and jammed my knee between it and the steering wheel! That hurt a bit.

Went up quite a steep grass slope, turned around and came back down.

It's a terrible car to drive on the road but i'd still love one!

Have you ripped the back pocket off your jeans yet as you get in?

That's quite popular as the door catch is in exactly the right spot if you try and squeeze in without opening the door a lot.

Have you ripped the back pocket off your jeans yet as you get in?

That's quite popular as the door catch is in exactly the right spot if you try and squeeze in without opening the door a lot.

Ha ha,ive done this a few times now! Banged my head a few times too on the internal roll cages that are now fitted to all our defenders!

Haha very nice! As you say, loads of character but wouldn't like to live with one every day.

Wouldn't have thought this met the acceleration stipulations for hard shoulder work, or is that covered outwith of Chapter 8? That might just be for maintenance vehicles on a working road section, not in roadworks. Sorry; bit rusty on the regs

Even a door off a 1958 series two is still the same size and will fit a brand new one once you resolve the different lock.

Nothing like moving with the times eh?

There's 1 part that's still exactly the same as the series one, no change at all, it's something daft like the fuel filer cap. Nice machine btw.