Defender with £5K to spend...

[johnphiladelphia]

Dear all,

I really would appreciate some advice. Just moved up from London, to next to the Peak District in Sheffield, and would like to buy a Defender. Currently have a Merc CLS (2014) but this is a rear wheel drive and not the most capable even with a slight dusting of snow.

I will be commuting to Grimsby and Shorpe for the next 12 months, and therefore wanted a Defender with which to cane the miles, as well as go off road on during the weekends. I understand it will be uncomfortable and noisy, but that i do not really care about - I have the other car for comfort if needs be.

I know Landy parts are cheap, and cosmetically I can make improvements very easily just getting stuff off of ebay and getting a local garage to fit them in.

I need some advice purchasing the car itself though. What sort of engine to look at? I would need to commute at 60mph fairly easily, but never approach 70mph on the motorway usually anyway. Anyone else also recently made a similar purchase. I would like the "Chelsea Tractor" look as much as possible (being young and vain!) but i have always wanted a Defender as long as I can remember, but never had the opportunity. Till now.

I have seen a few examples on here, such as:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l... (price seems too good to be true?!)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l... (more like it)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l... (seems a botched job)

Advice would be appreciated...

Thank you!!

[mikeh501]

have you driven one yet? id do that before you go much further.

I think once youve driven one and still want one, then you should be looking past any bolt on bling and at the underlying vehicle. Get someone who knows something about land rovers to go with you. Your looking for rust, plenty of rust! bulkheads, cross members, ali corrosion etc. Id be wanting a straight, original looking (or with mods id want to keep which add value rather than tat), with less than 100k and which has been looked after by someone who loved it like a pet dog. Id be looking for a galvanised chassis preferably too, and decent doors (underneath).

Engine wise its been done to death online, but 200/300tdi are slower, noisier, easier to fix and repair. TD5 is faster and more scope to upgrade with chips etc. Most important thing with any of those options is to ensure its a good one! those vehicles you mention are all past 150k miles. plenty of life left yet, but past their prime.

My guess once you know a bit more is that you will buy something else. If you dont get stuck in and have a go at the mechanical side every spare penny you have will goto your local mechanic.... They just arent like modern vehicles (thats one of the great things about them!) but that means they can be unreliable (usually little things) and that means lots of maintenance required (when was the last time you greased your propshaft on the merc?). The other thing to mention is that they are a target for theft and are ridiculously easy to pinch. I wouldnt leave mine alone in a car park etc etc.

anyhow, some things to think about. If you do it, it turns quickly into a hobby and obsession! good luck.

[skyrover]

Live in London?

You will need something LEZ compliant... latest diesel's or an older petrol V8

[RicksAlfas]

If I was doing that trip I would be doing it in the CLS with winter tyres from November to March.
You'll be suicidal after the first week in a Defender!

By all means get one for some knocking about fun, but I would think again about the regular commute.

[Ayahuasca]

Defenders are great at commuting. Mine is a puma 2.4 110. The ride height means I see over the traffic, the big steel bits sticking out means other cars give me a wide berth, the narrow body means I can slip into gaps where wider cars cannot. Yes it is slow, noisy, and bumpy. So what? And as a bonus, when you ride a lesser vehicle it will feel like a worn slipper.

[RicksAlfas]

Ayahuasca said:

Defenders are great at commuting. Mine is a puma 2.4 110. The ride height means I see over the traffic, the big steel bits sticking out means other cars give me a wide berth, the narrow body means I can slip into gaps where wider cars cannot. Yes it is slow, noisy, and bumpy. So what? And as a bonus, when you ride a lesser vehicle it will feel like a worn slipper.

Fair enough for a rural or urban commute. But 4 hours / 100 miles a day on the motorway when you have a CLS at home??!