Land Rover Defenders

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hellspells

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I need a little advice.

My beloved Jeep has been carted off on the back on a AA lorry for the second time this year. I have decided that once it gets fixed I am going to get a defender (something I have always wanted). But I don't wanted to go out of the frying pan and into the fire as it were. What is the oldest defenders (in years not plates please) I can realistically look at. I am aware its all on the individual car but as a ball park?

Thanks!
 
I think the beauty of a Landy is that yes, bits do go but you can keep replacing them forever more. There are lots of antique, tax exempt Landys still around!
 
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Landys are built to last!

Prices vary though - you can pick up ones for around 2k that are 20 years old OH constantly checks landy prices!
 
Thanks!

They seem to hold their prices so so well. So I am quite safe to buy one pre 2000. My Dad has had them forever - but being a girl and running horses I can't afford to be constantly repairing etc.
 
hellspells said:
I need a little advice.

My beloved Jeep has been carted off on the back on a AA lorry for the second time this year. I have decided that once it gets fixed I am going to get a defender (something I have always wanted). But I don't wanted to go out of the frying pan and into the fire as it were. What is the oldest defenders (in years not plates please) I can realistically look at. I am aware its all on the individual car but as a ball park?

Thanks!
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Um think they started callling them defenders about 15 years ago before that they were called 90 or 110s which is the wheel base in inches however unless you have a mecanic in the family or considder your self very lucky !!I would leave well alone as its very easy to end up with a nightmare friday afternoon truck... they are hiddious or at best an aquired taste to drive and i woudent want to have a crash in one as they are years behind in safety design.. No I would get another jeep or a japanese 4x4 and as for the idea they last years... yes they do but it would be very very rare indeed to find an older one that hasnt had most of the major components replaced at some time, they are like a farmers brush !!!its still the same brush but its had 5 new heads and 4 new stales :D
remember people who want a 4x4 buy a LR.. people who need a 4x4 buy a toyota nissan or simalar...
 
I think it was 1983 that the name "Defender" was first introduced. Before that they were simply 90s or 110s (short or long wheel base). We've got an A reg 110 - which is a Defender, but just without the name (i.e. the year before the name Defender was into'd). It's great, bloomin' good nick for its age, and ours even has the old fashioned sliding windows! Costly on fuel, so we only use it for OHs work and for towing, but it's like a member of the family. Love it, even though it's got none of the posh modern "extras" and would certainly get another one in the future!
 
Perfect11s having had nothing but problems with Jeeps (this is my second) as much as I like them I will not be having another (ever again!). But they are still called a Defender 90 or 110. I will be having a 90.

Looking at the towing weights last night aswell there isn't anything much up to what I need (except the Landies - I have a old Equitrek, and will in future sometimes be towing to 400/500kg horses).
 
I am pretty sure the Fourtrak can legally tow anything a Landy can (though best to check). I tow two hunters in a 510 effortlessly with mine, I have had it for many many years and have rarely had problems with that or my previous one.
 
Best car I have ever had was the Fourtrack, closely followed by the Ranger pick up, 2 work horses which have given very little trouble.

Have been thinking about a Defender so will watch this thread with interest
 
hellspells said:
I need a little advice.

My beloved Jeep has been carted off on the back on a AA lorry for the second time this year. I have decided that once it gets fixed I am going to get a defender (something I have always wanted). But I don't wanted to go out of the frying pan and into the fire as it were. What is the oldest defenders (in years not plates please) I can realistically look at. I am aware its all on the individual car but as a ball park?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Get a good mechanic to check them over first. One that looks immaculate on the outside ca be a skip underneath and vica-versa.
 
Thank you!

Unfortuantly I don't live mainland UK and there are not any for sale locally (at the mo). So will have to locate a good mechanic from where ever I find some
 
Fourtraks are renowned as a reliable workhorse that tows brilliantly! I guess if you want a posh road vehicle too they wouldnt fit the bill... but nor would the much less reliable Landy!
 
You can good and bad defenders the same as for any car; I have one and it is (touchwood!) the most reliable car I've ever had; They are brilliant tow vehicles, however I would say they are not the warmest vehicle unless you are driving longer distances; If you want comfort choose something else!
 
I am a great landrover fan and have owned some rather elderly ones and am currently looking to buy another with a budget of up to £2,000. Much depends on your own ability to check for faults and do repairs. I am fortunate as my husband is clued up on this and my son is an Army vehicle mechanic. I would advise getting an independant check over of a vehicle to assertain what may need fixing before you buy then you can make an informed decision about the vehicle.
There is also a magazine called Landrover Owner which is worth a look for info.
 
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Daihatsu Fourtrak tows 2,800kg I'm pretty certain, so not quite up to Landrover Defenders 3,500kg.

I have 1988 E reg Landrover 90. NOT A DEFENDER, but I think it was quite soon after - I am guessing about the time they introduced the Discovery? which was about 1989/90.

Re their strength. Remember mine is what some might uncharitably describe as an "old banger". When I'm busy yellling at the kids for some misdemeanour instead of concentrating on where I'm going, I've managed to reverse it into the house (broken bricks, but just a small scratch on the LR) and the stables (drain pipe fell off, but nothing noticeable on LR). I tow with it very regularly, its really slow but does the job (anyway there is a 40mph limit on unfenced New Forest Roads so it doesn't matter that much), I can wind it up to 50mph with the trailer on the back given time, so not great for motorways. The newer ones have far better engines in them.

Repair bills - not too bad considering - you have to be philosophical when its 22 years old and nearly 200k on the clock - things are wearing out. This years MOT was not bad - a diesel lift pump and a track rod end and a bit of the exhaust needed replacing. about £400 with parts and a service thrown in. Previous year was a new rear cross member - that was expensive :( Still, only the engine and bulkhead to go now... :)

I would strongly urge you to try and find one without a sunroof or the alpine lights (the roof lights in the back). Cuts down the places where it will leak...

I do like mine, for all I moan about it. More than anything, I wish the heater worked better.
 
Sadly the Daihatsu fourtrak hasnt been made for over 10 years yes they are a sturdy and capable tow car which are rated to tow 3500kg I think one would be a great budget 4x4 if you have a bit more there is the 3.2 shogun ,nissan patrol, or landcruiser..
 
My partners brother has a landy, sadly to say it spends more time in the garage than anywhere else, its a nightmare but he loves it. My partner has driven it a couple of times & totally & utterly hates it, id suggest driving one first (if you haven't already) just to see if you could actually get on with it.
 
I bought an '86 defender 90 six months ago, but I found the original 2.25 diesel engine too sluggish for the buckinghamshire vales I have to drive up and down, especially with a trailer. So I had a 200 TDI engine fitted and it goes really well. Be careful upgrades can get addictive though!
 
hi, defenders are fab, and like a giant mechano set, if bits break they are easiliy sourced and fitted,
i used to have a series 3 109 pick up, it was an absolute work horse and started every time first time, despite being a war veteran lol
i would highly recommend one :)
 
I have a 21 yr old Defender and I love it. It is a second vehicle as I couldn't afford the diesel for all the running about I do and wouldn't really want to do a long motorway journey in it. Parts are easy and cheap to get and normally fit and it just seems to go on and on.
I use it for towing, which it is pretty slow at, but when the snow comes and nobody can get anywhere landy just keeps chugging through it all.
The heaters pretty rubbish so it takes ages to defrost in the morning, otherwise its brilliant.

Prices really do vary, some 20 year old ones are £2.5K, some £1.5.

They are highly knickable (as I have found) though so extra security is a must.
 
I drove my E reg 90 tdi for 7 years after i passed my driving test at 17. I absolutely adore them! They are so easy to drive- granted, they feel like a tank when you first get in them, but once your used to it you hardly notice how big they feel! They are fantastic to tow with, fantastic off road and i wouldn't have any other 4x4, as to me, they are the ultimate.
I've not had any huge mechanical problems with mine, no more than with any other car. I feel very safe in mine as well. A few years ago, i had someone smash into the back of mine. He totalled the front of his van but my Landy was fine- if you looked very closely, the towbar may have been slightly bent ;)
I can't give you much info about cost i'm afraid, because my parents brought it over 10 years ago.
The last two years it has been sitting at the yard as i got another car to travel up to Lancashire on a regular basis (Only thumbs down for Landys is they are not a long distance vehicle!!) My dad decided to get it running again during all the snow- it started first time and has been running around the countryside every since. I love it! :D
 
Thank you all so so much a majority of you all confirmed what I already knew!

I just need to find somewhere reputable to get one. Any suggestions in the South of UK?
 
I LOVE my landy!
I'm on my second -did 110k miles in 3 years in the last one and got a new one last year... it's the best thing I ever did for my pelvis (the tougher pedals stabilise a knackered SI joint?), it's the only thing I've been able to park ANYwhere, tows like a trojan and has never let me down.
Last week it hadn't been started in a week & I had to get off the hill - took 45 mins to get IN to the thing as ice had welded it shut but the wee star fired up first time.
It's my office, a large dog crate on wheels and something you can simply never be in a bad mood in. Bouncing along a farm track to the Proclaimers DIY will put a smile to any bad mood.
Agree not the quietest or comfiest for long haul... I'm getting soft in my old age and have the XS with the climate pack - heated windscreen, seats, AC etc.
The fuel consumption would be tolerable if I didn't drive like Jackie Stewart (another reason I have it - canna go above 80 even with a tail wind).

Here's Chuntie last week (short for Chanter as in Bagpipes...)


:D:D:D:D
 
I had an E-reg LR defender which I only sold 2 years ago and it was perfect, never had a moment's worry with it. I replaced it with an H-reg (the E-reg was LH drive) same model and every single thing that could go wrong with a car did - clutch failure on the M25 with a trailer, more punctures (also with trailer) than any other car, gearbox failure. I got rid of it before the brakes went as well! So I think you can get lucky or unlucky. You need to find a car with a full service history - it's rare in an older car, but my E-reg had it, and it was so worth it. In my painful experience, you don't need a car that goes wrong - especially if you're female and have a horse trailer which the highways agency etc don't know what to do with!
 
You know how I feel about mine so i won't bore you with the details but will say that the newer ones have AC and even heated seats so whilst you don't have lots of pretty buttons to press there is slightly more luxury in a newer one. I'm only cold as O/H doesn't like the heaters on!

I'm sorry but I'm going to shamelessly post a pic of my beloved defender, one you've all seen before but I don't care, I luffs it I do :-)

027.jpg
 
See if you can get an ex army one, that's what my parents have always had they are generally really well looked after. And if they do go wrong they are easy to put right. Dad and OH changed an axle on mums last year. But only other thing I have known to go is the ignition and starter motor. According to OH, its quite a common issue hence his ability to hot-wire :eek:.

Mum does nothing short of abuse her landy and it still chugs on.

And learn how to use the low box before you need it. Get lessons from a seasoned landy owner.

^^^^^^that's a bit posh (and clean)
 
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