Made a decision re towing vehicle!!!!!

merlinsquest

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We have just about decided to go for a Landrover (yes I know)!! Defender 90.............................

Any owners with their views/experiences would be welcome..... also anyone surrey/hants with a spare one PM's please....
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Are there good and bad years etc, fuel economy real figures and persistant problems???

I will keep my car, OH will buy a normal car rather than a 4x4 and the defender will sit on the drive most of the year and just be used for towing and off road stuff with OH.... hopefully that way we can all be comfortable, economical and safe!!!

Also anyone near Farnham/Aldershot who wants to go hacking???
 
Good Choice!!
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I learnt to drive in one and still have one today - I'm glad you aren't saying its an everyday vehicle!!! Although I have used mine for my main car.

You've got quite a few specialists in your area and some like Keith Gott or Kingsley X Country are really expensive and I wouldn't recommend buying from them. Make sure that you get a warranty with it so that when you first have it if anything goes wrong it can be sorted - You didn't say what engine or how old you are looking at? But in the diesel 300tdi Engine is considered one of the best and went up to the late 90's, it was then replaced by the TD5 which was a little more perky but not everyone liked it. My 300 Tdi does over 30mpg when on a long run without a trailer and I get early 20's when towing.

Its really easy to reverse with because of its short length. The only problem is when you have loads of kit, because you only have the back to put stuff in then you are full!!

If you want a professionals advice, then call Adrian at http://www.joycelandrovers.co.uk/ He won't sell you a "pup" and although he is a little way away, he can usually find what you want for a reasonable price, plus you get the benefit of buying from a dealer.
 
Thank god for that!!!! Still think you should have gone for a Shogun, personally having had a land rover I wouldn't be in a hurry to have another, but as above, rejoicing that you have finally made a decision, does this mean FINALLY you can get the beast out & about!!! No more excuses then, gotta get some XC schooling in very soon.
 
my son is a mechanic and due to our lifestyle works on a lot of 4x 4s friends and their friends, and he says buy a LR every time for longevity and cost effectiveness parts for LR are a fraction of the price of parts of japanese, and the jap vehicles rot very quickly and he has told a few people to scrap relatively new ones compared with LR, he just did up a 1959 LR and it is now towing happily again both the 200 and 300 tdi engines are good engines
 
Each to their own, clearly your son knows his stuff as he is a mechanic & I am not, our Shogun has been fab, really reliable, never had to buy any parts apart from usual tyres & bits, but agree that if we did, they would be dearer than the LR ones, in our case can't agree with the "rotting" statement, as ours is on an R plate, & no rust as yet. Towing wise, it tows much better than the LR we had, & I prefer it to drive, would definately have another one as we have been so lucky with this one, then the next one will probably be rubbish!!
 
Fantastic Choice I have had a few. Last one was a 1986 110 called Major Ted and I now have a 1991 90 called Super Moose.
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I love them...always dreamt of having one since I was a little girl and my granda had one!! Dreams can come true...or perhaps I am just easy to please!
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Defenders are fantastic! They just keep going. I read somewhere that 75% of all those ever built are still on the road...that's impressive when you think how long they have been out for. They are dead easy to work on and will go anywhere. If I won the lottery I'd have another!!! The best 4X4XFAR!!!!! Jeremy Clarkson loves them....need you know more?!
 
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