Really fancy a Hippo

[barmatt]

It depends what you want it for really,

As a car = Yes, remove the rear prop and drive it in "mondo" mode, actually quite a nice drive.

 

Or you could buy a Sierra Cosworth and throw the turbo away, or maybe a V12 Jag and leave 6 sparkplugs out.

Better still, how about an aeroplane with the wings cut off!

 

WTF? The way to make it an acceptable car is to discard the one part that gives the car any reason to exist?

 

I think that tells you all you need to know.

 

Like it

 

I know what you're saying but lots of people do want them as a large car and not an off roader, I would never have one myself but housewives doing the school runs like them for there elevated driving position and don't care about 4wd.

[barmatt]

300tdi's don't generally tend to have crunchy gearboxes it is the earlier 200's with the lt77 gearbox that had synchro's made of cheese.

 

The R380 gearbox in the 300 TDi also has a reputation for synchro problems, usually between 1st and 2nd gear - I currently know four people apart from me that have got crunching 300 TDis

 

It's no big deal. I either change up at low revs or double-declutch to prevent / reduce the crunch.

 

my old 200 had a really crunchy box, like you said, you just learn to live with it and change gear appropriately. I didn't realise that r380's were bad aswell. my current one is smooth as anything and I don't know of anyone else with a crunchy r380.

 

Every day is a school day.

[J-T]

I had a 1999 5 door 50th anniversary L series diesel a few years back. It was a bag of shit. The boot leaked, so it was constantly steaming up and was fitted with the most useless demist of any vehicle I've ever had. It was drearily slow and had to be worked hard to maintain momentum (they only have about 90bhp). The front elec windows use bowden cables which fray and bugger up all the time - I had to buy a kit of ebay and refurb both on mine which was awkward to do. The transmission ate itself and I had to take the prop off - I've driven a few and they all produce a horrible clonk reversing on full lock due to the crap deisgn and the tranmission winding up.

 

It was a shame as I did like the thing, but it was just too awful to own and I wouldn't go there again. I doubt there's many of that vintage left that are still 4wd.

 

By contrast, the 2003 rav 4 we now have is in a different league in every respect - much much nicer to drive, better made, better engineered, more powerful and uses about the same amount of fuel (and it's a petrol).

[Micrashed]

Why wont anyone make an affordable car that will tow a decent weight yet not take up 3/4 of my driveway.

 

I mean come on Vauxhall, why the fuck would it have been so difficult to fit a bench seat with centre lap belt into the back of one of these?

 

Other solution - sell wife

[skattrd]

if you really want a Fronterror couldn't you bodge a rear bench in and mount an additional belt?

[Micrashed]

if you really want a Fronterror couldn't you bodge a rear bench in and mount an additional belt?

Contemplated whether i could get a sideways fold down seat in the boot but doubt it:

 

[barmatt]

Why wont anyone make an affordable car that will tow a decent weight yet not take up 3/4 of my driveway.

 

I mean come on Vauxhall, why the fuck would it have been so difficult to fit a bench seat with centre lap belt into the back of one of these?

 

Other solution - sell wife

 

Frontera 3 dr length 4192mm

 

Disco 3 or 5 door length 4484mm

 

What's 12 inches between friends

[Cavcraft]

The Sport is pretty stupid for that feature, Marty. I'd also have thought someone clever would have 'invented' a bigger or middle seat with belt by now.

[Micrashed]

The Sport is pretty stupid for that feature, Marty. I'd also have thought someone clever would have 'invented' a bigger or middle seat with belt by now.

Im sure on paper at lease the 5 door is the same width and wonder ican esrate car one copuld be made to fit?

[Cavcraft]

Failing that did the Isuzu equivelant (that this was based on) have a 3 seater rear bench?

[dollywobbler]

Ford Maverick has two rear seats, but does actually have a centre belt IIRC. Does feel like a proper 4x4 though, ie bouncy, bloody heavy and actually very good off-road.

[STUNO]

Found... that Daihatsu is pefect, and even with added 1 should have plenty of life left (subject to closer inspection !!)

[Micrashed]

The Sport is pretty stupid for that feature, Marty. I'd also have thought someone clever would have 'invented' a bigger or middle seat with belt by now.

Im sure on paper at lease the 5 door is the same width and wonder ican esrate car one copuld be made to fit?

Sorry, had a hypo and started making about as much sense and Nigel Pry

 

Sportrak looks interesting. Im not bothered about off roading so much as it being able to cope on grass whilst towing.

[Geep]

What about Grand Vitara? Not too big, car like to drive, jap reliability and seats 5.

 

The rear bench from a lwb fronty won't go in a swb because the rear seat is governed by the rear arches. It's set so far back that you can have a dance floor in the back and barely fit a briefcase in the boot. I think it's to do with the big B pillars and rear window location although B versions don't seem any better. Some folk have put a lap belt in the back and used it for kids but there isn't much room.

[Micrashed]

Some folk have put a lap belt in the back and used it for kids but there isn't much room.

 

http://www.scotseats.co.uk/estateseats.htm

 

 

Oooooh... Now THAT is interesting.

[strokes chin]

[John F]

Some folk have put a lap belt in the back and used it for kids but there isn't much room.

 

http://www.scotseats.co.uk/estateseats.htm

 

 

Oooooh... Now THAT is interesting.

[strokes chin]

 

 

Porche Cayane Converion

 

I hope their seat quality is better than their spelling...!

[Lacquer Peel]

ARO 244 looks ideal to me.

[Ben_L]

Arent rear facing seats now illegal? Read on some forum (Can't remember where) that Volvo 700 and Montego etc etc couldn't be made today in the same way as the seats in the boot aren't right.

I know the law on laminated windscreens on the rear is still in force, although, I can't see plod hitting it with a hammer to find out!