It's My birthday ! And i am new..

[Antspants]

Well Hello all today i turn the grand age of 28 on the 28th and thought well i would like to partake in off road driving..

So after ringing all over and been told i drive for 20 mins and costs me £270 and so on or i share a car i decieded surely its as cheap to buy a car for a few more quid and use that instead..

So were do i start ? Or do you all know some were near me (Blackpool) thats cheap and fun ??

Or am i rather daft thinking i could get into this semi cheap..?

Thanks

Antony

[TheRecklessEngineer]

Welcome and happy birthday.

It all started with me by getting a Landy...I then got in contact with my local club who dragged me along to a pay and play site. £20 at the gate and you have access to play/get stuck/laughed at all day. It is worth grabbing someone to sit with you for the first time though so you don't damage yourself/your car/someone else. The marshals are normally happy to do this in return for a few pints...

The problem with getting a vehicle to take off road is that it isn't necessarily that cheap - you have the running costs of an extra car + all the bits you might break.

Or get something that you can take off road and use everyday - a Discovery is ideal for this (blatent plug...mine is coming up for sale shortly...once I have washed it at any rate!) However, if you break something off road, you will need it fixed pronto.

I would suggest, as a starting point, to get in contact with your local club and go along to a pay and play day or a green lane day (a green lane is an unmade road that vehicles are allowed to use) Sweet talk someone into letting you sit in so you have an idea of what you are getting yourself in for. Be warned though - it is addictive....

[Antspants]

Welcome and happy birthday.

It all started with me by getting a Landy...I then got in contact with my local club who dragged me along to a pay and play site. £20 at the gate and you have access to play/get stuck/laughed at all day. It is worth grabbing someone to sit with you for the first time though so you don't damage yourself/your car/someone else. The marshals are normally happy to do this in return for a few pints...

The problem with getting a vehicle to take off road is that it isn't necessarily that cheap - you have the running costs of an extra car + all the bits you might break.

Or get something that you can take off road and use everyday - a Discovery is ideal for this (blatent plug...mine is coming up for sale shortly...once I have washed it at any rate!) However, if you break something off road, you will need it fixed pronto.

I would suggest, as a starting point, to get in contact with your local club and go along to a pay and play day or a green lane day (a green lane is an unmade road that vehicles are allowed to use) Sweet talk someone into letting you sit in so you have an idea of what you are getting yourself in for. Be warned though - it is addictive....

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond..Your Blatent plug does not seem to advise a price ??

As for local club were would i find such a club i know there are a few people local who do this as seen there cars going past mucked up and one can be..

I am lucky enough to own a farm and a lot of land for which i have wanted to convert for years as a lot of it is not used..

I am addicted without been in it from teh day of watchung this on sky whebn we first got it years and years ago..

As for running cost my hobby right now is a very expensive one so wouldn't much mind swapping them over.

Were are you based ? (Blatent request to shotgun one day)

Thanks

[JimAttrill]

Happy Birthday - yet another Capricorn I was 60 on the 25th and don't feel that old yet ....

Expensive hobby - Off shore power boating?

[MrHT]

here try this http://www.llroc.co.uk/Blackpool_01.htm

[Godlykepower]

Hi Anthony, happy birthday for yesterday!

When you say "a few more quid" do you literally mean a few more quid than £270?

It IS possible to get a vehicle for that sort of money, but it would almost certainly be a pig. If you could stretch to substantially more than £270, then you can start getting decent stuff around £1k, but even then it would be far from a mint vehicle.

If you DO decide to get a Land Rover, whatever your budget, then say goodbye to disposable income for the next few years!!

What tends to happen in this family, is that you either go to one of two extremes, by which I mean, you think you fancy a Land Rover, get one and find its not for you, and end up flogging it after a couple of months.

.....or, like most people on LR4x4, you fall hopelessly in love, spend ALL your money on your vehicle, get the cold shoulder from the missus every other day and spend your time scouring the t'interweb for "stuff" to put on your vehicle!!

Defenders hold their value remarkably well, so dont expect much on that front cheaply.

Discovery's are very capable off-road, but better than Defendrers on-road, and can be had for not a lot.

The whole V8/Diesel argument is one that rages amongst us on here perpetually (but everyone really knows that Tdi's are better than V8's ) and if you were to find a V8 cheap, dont expect much MPG-wise. Tdi's are wonderfully simple motors, that go on forever and ever if looked after, and offer much better fuel economy.

If your plan is to use your vehicle solely off-road, then as has been said, factor in costs for replacement parts that will get damaged.

HTH

Martin

[FridgeFreezer]

Welcome! Although most of us pour far too much money into our hobby, it's actually relatively cheap compared to many things you could be doing.

If you just want a play thing, a V8 Range Rover or Discovery is a good bet, they're as cheap as chips to buy because of the shocking fuel economy (~15mpg depending on your right foot), a good example should not be costing you more than £1000, I've just seen a mint 300TDi P-plate Disco go for £1500, that had about £500 worth of off-road gear on it. Diesels in stock form will get better MPG and have less trouble in deep water, but a V8 auto is not only cheaper to buy but has a bigger grin factor off-road - they're point-and-squirt. Watch out for rust, rust, rust and rust and try to take someone from the local club who knows what they're looking at.

Best possible advice is spend a couple of quid to join your local off-road club, have a chat with them and explain that you want to get into off-roading and get yourself along to a play day. If they're any sort of decent lot you'll be able to shotgun with a few people on the day, pick a few different vehicles to see if any take your fancy particularly. You may fall in love with a Defender or find it the most uncomfortable, noisy bag of nails you've ever been in. You'll probably also find quite a few people with vehicles for sale, more than likely some which have a few quid's worth of off-road gear already attached - a decent set of mud tyres and some basic underbody protection will save you some shopping later on.

[steve_d]

........I am lucky enough to own a farm and a lot of land for which i have wanted to convert for years as a lot of it is not used............

Have a look behind the barn or in the undergrowth. There is bound to be a series laying around there somewhere.

Tell your local club you have land to use and get yourself a free lifetime membership.

Steve

[Antspants]

Happy Birthday - yet another Capricorn I was 60 on the 25th and don't feel that old yet ....

Expensive hobby - Off shore power boating?

Hmm My hobby is the Casino.. and the roulette wheel..

I seem to be able to throw 2 3k down the pan really easy there but some strange way enjoy it ?

My other hobby is collecting vintage 60's vinyl ie rolling stones beatles floyd zeppelin king crimson.. So that really can get expensive..

Pluss i am currently starting a company that flattens (zero balance) of credit cards for people and also claim back PPI that people should never of been sold..

As for cost i understand it will be around 1.5k to get started which to be honest is just one night away from the casino for me and for what looks to be the greatest fun i have ever seen..

Are there Magazines that are purely for this subject ie showing were events for teh next month are for one to enter ?

Land to use crickey have a lot of land with also rights to the local river and bank.

Thanks !

Antony

[filthy boy]

I am lucky enough to own a farm and a lot of land for which i have wanted to convert for years as a lot of it is not used..

I am addicted without been in it from teh day of watchung this on sky whebn we first got it years and years ago..

Feed your addiction, get yourself a birthday present, make use of all that land, cut out the first few years and just get a buggy!

Just kidding. Just get out and play / compete.

Tim

PS easy to wash and no rust!

[ciderman]

Floyd and Zep , Well at least you have good taste .

It all starts with a series or a zook , then it escalates into a huge snowball and before you know it youve spent 20k on a truck and bits

You`ll love it .

[FridgeFreezer]

Are there Magazines that are purely for this subject ie showing were events for teh next month are for one to enter ?

There are lots of magazines but they're full of carp quite frankly - they over-value vehicles, make a big deal out of idiots with shiny trucks and big chequebooks and big up all the stuff their advertisers sell regardless of if it's any use or not. They do have club listings etc. so buying one could be of use, just take all the "journalism" with a pinch of salt.

[plasticbadger]

I bought my Disco as a tow car originally for £700. Then went to a Shire LRC pay & play day and got addicted. All of a sudden I'd sold my race car, didn't need a tow car and had spent another £750 fitting the Disco out with off road gear. That was about 4 years and plenty of ££££££ ago, but it needn't be expensive, particularily if you can do your own maintenance and repair.

First get something like Total Off Road magazine (as Fridge says, for the calender, not the journlism) and get yourself down to your local Pay & Play site. Most people would be more than happy to take you for a ride round if you make yourself known to the organisers. Then you can get a feel for it before you buy a car.

As for buying, I'd also go for a V8 Discovery, I looked and a nice 1994 3.9efi the other day which needed no welding, had 6 months tax and mot for £500. Then fit it out with a lift kit, off road tyres and a bit of protection all for about £700. So £1200 and you're playing!

[Antspants]

I bought my Disco as a tow car originally for £700. Then went to a Shire LRC pay & play day and got addicted. All of a sudden I'd sold my race car, didn't need a tow car and had spent another £750 fitting the Disco out with off road gear. That was about 4 years and plenty of ££££££ ago, but it needn't be expensive, particularily if you can do your own maintenance and repair.

First get something like Total Off Road magazine (as Fridge says, for the calender, not the journlism) and get yourself down to your local Pay & Play site. Most people would be more than happy to take you for a ride round if you make yourself known to the organisers. Then you can get a feel for it before you buy a car.

As for buying, I'd also go for a V8 Discovery, I looked and a nice 1994 3.9efi the other day which needed no welding, had 6 months tax and mot for £500. Then fit it out with a lift kit, off road tyres and a bit of protection all for about £700. So £1200 and you're playing!

Were did you see the car for that money ?

is there anyone near me here in blackpool ??

I would love to go try before i buy if i could so going to a pay day may be the best idea ..

Were would i find out about these green lane days and so on ? Are these magazines the best place ?

Do you guys all meet up and go everywere you can on here ?

Thanks

[Antspants]

Well thanks all !.. I have contacted a club who are willing to take me shotgun for a green lane event later this month..

So who has a car for sale or knows were there is one cheap ish.. (upto £1500 would be best as i can sell one of my record decks to cover it so other half can not moan)

Thanks