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Driving a 101


daveturnbull

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I had the pleasure of driving a 101 camper yesterday - and what an experience it was!

I'm 5'10" and my legs were still too long to fit in between the steering wheel and throttle pedal so god knows how anyone over 6' manages to drive them. There's about a mile between 2nd and 3rd gear, and it seemed that the only way to go any faster was to change up a gear - squeezing the go pedal didn't seem to do much, even with a petrol v8 on the end of it. Mind you it was a cold engine on strombergs. I was a bit too busy to look at the speedo, but if we were doing 30 down the dual carriageway, I'd be suprised.

On the plus side I thought manouverability was excellent for a vehicle that size - it's got a great steering lock and pretty good visibility with the massive side mirrors. The ride was very smooth too with its parabolic springs, and the brakes pretty sharp.

I think if I was to buy one, which ever since the age of about 4 has been an ambition of mine (radio body one), it would have to be converted to a decent sized diesel engine, higher ratio gears and a serious rethink of the gear shift mechanism. Maybe even PAS, if that's not blasphemy?

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i drove a 101 camper round billing offroad course last year, now that is an experience!lol

i know it not the best of courses but there's a few very tight spots, when you consider your trying to drive a 'house' through a section of woodland

awsome fun!!!

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I will always regret having to sell mine, for smiles per mile nothing beats a 101.

Best moment with mine was recovering a 90 up hill had that had 30' of tree tied behind it! I suggested he could un-hook the tree, winch himself out, then winch the tree up behind him. Or I could just drag it all out with the 101. His response doubted the 101's ability! Low box 3rd on tickover with difflock in, to be honest I didn't even notice the load!

Also great fun to drive down lanes, even the local busses give way.

Brookers

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owned mine for 7 years, best fun ive had offroad even put it on its side and been down a hill on the front axle.

the winch will pull a house down

should have seen the face on the curry house delivery driver when he reversed out of a side road and did'nt hear my horn

ripped the rear of the car to bits ;) dented my wheel step

its shame it had to go :(

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I'd love a 101 too. The closest I ever got to one was having a tug of war with one at a charity show. I was in a standard S3 safari against the 101 and we kept loading bodies in the back of each as ballast after each pull. Great fun until the 101 eventually dragged me backwards, while my wheels were going forwards, and my front diff blew out. :D

A really big diesel chassis cab 101 would be a blast to romp around with!

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my mates got 5 ( i think) in various states. the bonus is working underneath them is ridiculous-you could stand under there!

he let me drive a GS which was....interesting:Pcant really explain it! i did offer swapping my 90 for one, but he didnt seem keen!

there was a 300tdi conversion on coils the other day on eblag. although i think most people would just stick a higher comp RR v8 and running gear in to get a bit more out of them

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  • 1 month later...

I'm also 6'3" - my dad has a GS. Its is driveable but is definitely a squeeze. I find my left ankle aches after a while as you have to have your foot up at such an angle when letting the clutch out, just dont get stuck in traffic!

B)

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I've had mine for 11 years and wouldn't part with it, I'm just under 6' and have a figure only a diet of Guinness can produce but have no trouble driving it. Got comfy seats fitted though :D

Until this weekend it drove very well on electronic ignition and SUs, took off like a scalded cat and happily loped along at 55 - 60 in overdrive doing 12 - 14mpg. Took it up to nearly 80 once but that was seriously scary! Took it out at the weekend and it now idles way too fast, got a manifold leak somewhere I suspect. :angry:

Biggest problem with them is finding tyres, decent 9.00x16s are scarce and the six stud rim is quite narrow. They look silly on anything smaller tham 35" tyres.

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  • 1 month later...

[

Biggest problem with them is finding tyres, decent 9.00x16s are scarce and the six stud rim is quite narrow. They look silly on anything smaller tham 35" tyres.

I have a Brand new set of 5 9.00x16 NDMS bar grip tyres.. They're made by MRF are of a hard compound so low wear rate.. Im selling them at £95 per cover..

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No thanks, I like to be able to stop and steer in the wet :D Ditched my bar slicks at an early stage!

Some 101 owners who keep the original fitment for correct appearance on historic ones may be interested.

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I could never really come up with a good excuse for having 101,my brother has had two. Both were great fun,and went VERY well with careful setting up,(Dont think the army ever bothered.) What a shame to even think of spoiling one with a diesel,the 3.5 v8 is plenty.Lumenition electronic ignition transforms them.

Dont EVER drive a 101 without wearing a seatbelt - esp when offroad.

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I've been near one... and I want one :D... any ideas on insurance for an 18 year old? :(

probably a nightmare. theyre a pig to run cost wise unless you get an LPG conversion! most standard insurers wont want to know and specialist wont like the fact your under 25. i havent tried for a while, but last time i gave up.

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  • 2 weeks later...

You're a bit stuffed until you are 25 and can get classic car cover.

You can buy a lot of petrol for the price of an LPG kit, depends on how much you use it. TBH, if you have to worry about the cost of running one you shouldn't bother.

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