JivingDaddy

It's not just any potential economy improvements, the additives also keep the jets clearer and save having to worry about cleaning them in the future (hopefully). Every six months (depending on number of miles and type) should help.

Thanks to all for your valuable comments (and time). To be honest, I doubt I'll go for a fire breathing monster (the wife's more than enough of that ). I was gonna go for a diesel originally, so I'll probably stick with a bog standard V8. Despite the "engine bun fight" going on, the old V8 was/is a reliable old lump and parts for it are cheap and easy to find (unlike the wife). I don't even want to discuss knocking big ends. Ooops, too far. Thanks again. Now to the classifieds to have a good nosey around at what's available.

Thanks for the feedback about the 2.5. Looks like a nice V8 lump then. Will probably need a bit of tidying up, so might as well get it bored out at the same time. Sounds like fun to me.

Sounds good to me. I'll park outside Red Ken's house and check the accelerator cable is connected properly.

In view of the London Emission Zone charges coming in next year, I'm probably going to have to buy a petrol Defender. 2500cc or 3500cc? Discuss.

Well, I think I may have cheered myself up about this. I had gone off the idea of my Defender project as 100 quid a day is just plain daft. I had this stupid idea that buying a diesel would show some level of maturity, but, forget it, I'll get myself a V8 petrol instead. I'm happier tinkering with petrol engines anyway.

Yep, just found out. A mixture of being thick and living abroad since 2003. I have found out that it's Red Ken who should shoulder the blame, not BoJo.

Thanks for the correction JJB. Apologies to Boris then. So, it's a big thanks to Red Ken. Bless him.

For those of you living in London that may have missed this little goodie!! Thanks to the Mayor of London (well done Boris, you've lost my vote), it looks like I can scratch my Defender project idea. It seems that any Defender older than 2001 will be subject to a 100 pounds a day charge from 3 Jan 2012!! 36,500 a year to drive an old defender within what is most of the M25 boundary?! I think not. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/lez/areaofoperation/

Hmm. Could be all rather academic. Thanks to the Mayor of London (thanks Boris, you've lost my vote) it looks like I can scratch the project idea. It seems any Defender older than 2001 will be subject to a 100 pounds a day charge from 3 Jan 2012!! 36,500 a year to drive an old defender throughout most of the M25 boundary?! I think not. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/lez/5725.aspx

Thanks for your feedback. It might be worth the extra 40 quid road tax to get something a bit newer, but then it wouldn't be much of a project (possibly).

So, can some kind soul please confirm (or dispute) my understanding. So long as it's pre 2001, the road tax for a Defender is 205 per annum - regardless of diesel or petrol? I'm going to treat myself to a project (keeps me out from under her feet) and 'er indoors insist I don't but something that will boost the government coffers in an obscene manner. Fair enough, I suppose.

An ostrich feather under the struts should do it. Works with me.

Ha, Ha. That should have read "one of the Rulers Directors"!! I'm not a Ruler in the UAE - wouldn't mind their bank balance tho! But I'd probably still buy a 90 for a project. I still can't quite work out the Road Tax - a prerequisite insisted upon by "She who must be obeyed".

Thanks Headhunter, I accidentally crossed into Oman from the UAE on one trip and all hell broke loose when I tried to get back without the proper entry/exit papers. Fortunately, I was a senior UAE government employee and when it dawned on the guards the fuss there would be if they locked up one of the Rulers they let me go.

Hi JJB, As with the usual bit of BS in Top Gear (I am a big fan tho'), the paperwork involved in crossing borders was glossed over. You can't just cross over borders without the required clearance - unless you really want to spend a few days/weeks in a rather unpleasant jail. Anyway, to your question. I haven't driven off-road in Lebanon or Syria, but have done so in Oman, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi & Kuwait. It's totally different to dear old Blighty as we tend to take things slow here. However, in the M.E. you have to go a lot faster or you just sink down to the axles. Soft sand is great fun, and the dunes are magnificent (until you get caught in a bowl and have to do the wall of death), but the scrublands you saw are full of razor sharp rocks and stones that'll rip your tyres to shreds and kill the suspension. Even soft sand has its hazards, on one "expedition" in Saudi, a fellow driver flew over the top of a dune and landed straight on a rock which bent his Patrol like a banana! It kept on going, but looked most peculiar when we found some tarmac. On the subject of vehicles, this is probably where I get blacklisted. I've always had a Landcruiser Amazon (which the Arabs call "Donkey") for off-roading in the M.E. and it has never let me down. I've dragged Rangerovers and Discos out of trouble - but never a Defender. In short, give it a go, great fun (and a real sense of achievement) - but NEVER on your own. I'd recommend at least three vehicles, and watch out for those camel spiders!! Good luck, Peter