Idiots guide to Defender shopping
Discussion
Always wanted a Defender despite having no real daily need for one. Got a few quid kicking about, and in the doom and gloom of the media fuelled credit crunch, I'm bored of saving for a rainy day and thinking of getting a 90 to do a bit of green laning and these "P&P" days that I've heard about Anything in Wiltshire as a tangent?
Not really bothered about seating millions, so body style isn't critical ... Rear for mountain bike storage only.
What should I be aiming to get if I had a budget of £3k?
Not enough for a TD5 I'm guessing, but enough for a sound condition and reliably strong?
How about the off road basics for modifications? Tyres would be an obvious choice, but what about other stuff.
Your pictures in the "what do you take off road" thread have ignited the wallet in my pocket.
Not really bothered about seating millions, so body style isn't critical ... Rear for mountain bike storage only.
What should I be aiming to get if I had a budget of £3k?
Not enough for a TD5 I'm guessing, but enough for a sound condition and reliably strong?
How about the off road basics for modifications? Tyres would be an obvious choice, but what about other stuff.
Your pictures in the "what do you take off road" thread have ignited the wallet in my pocket.
You might get a TD5 for that money but it would probably be dog rough. Go for a 300tdi as they have a stronger gearbox. Also, you can convert them easily to run on veg oil. With the 2500L allowance before declaring it to HMRC that gives you plenty of miles of cheaper running.
You can download the repair manuals that the LR techs use from www.green-oval.com for free.
cheers
John
You can download the repair manuals that the LR techs use from www.green-oval.com for free.
cheers
John
Psimpson7 said:
MRDIITD5 said:
. Go for a 300tdi as they have a stronger gearbox.
No they don't! TD5 box is guaranteed to have the later improvements for oil feed which did in some of the earlier TDI fitment R380 gear boxes.
Following watching Clarkson and Hammond at MPH last year in TVR V8 Defenders, I got myself a 1987 90 with a 3.5V8 from a Range Rover Classic, for the same purpose as you are thinking. Bit of Green Lane’s and play sites.
It’s great.
£150 per year FC (not garaged).
If it’s a toy, who cares about 15mpg.
For that money (same budget as me) I was more worried about the condition of the chassis rather than anything else, as, if it’s shot it would be the largest potential expense.
The logic about newer = better doesn’t (always) hold true, buy on condition. I’ve also heard a few specialists’ say that LR changed chassis steel suppliers in the late 80’s to an inferior quality. The key is keeping them clean underneath.
Good toys in my opinion.
It’s great.
£150 per year FC (not garaged).
If it’s a toy, who cares about 15mpg.
For that money (same budget as me) I was more worried about the condition of the chassis rather than anything else, as, if it’s shot it would be the largest potential expense.
The logic about newer = better doesn’t (always) hold true, buy on condition. I’ve also heard a few specialists’ say that LR changed chassis steel suppliers in the late 80’s to an inferior quality. The key is keeping them clean underneath.
Good toys in my opinion.
Learned that one the hard way!! Very poor chassis in terms of longevity. Get a good one (have it independently inspected if necessary) then get it waxoyled straight away then wash it as often as possible.I've recently done this. I went for a 1996 300Tdi.
They all leak - water in and oil out. As they say, if it isn't leaking oil, then beware because there isn't any left in it
Look underneath as many as you can. Then when you find a solid one, you'll know. The chassis rots from the inside out, so tap it with a hammer, and listen for a ring, not a thud.
There's some good info here:
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=12383&...
A car for life if you look after it.
They all leak - water in and oil out. As they say, if it isn't leaking oil, then beware because there isn't any left in it
Look underneath as many as you can. Then when you find a solid one, you'll know. The chassis rots from the inside out, so tap it with a hammer, and listen for a ring, not a thud.
There's some good info here:
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=12383&...
A car for life if you look after it.
Do the ex-MOD stock come road registered, and ready to use .... I'm guessing that a 50cal machine mounted to the back is out of the question 
Off on a tangent: Before taking the financial leap into Defenderdom, are there any centres around that run days where I could go along and have a go in one?
Off on a tangent: Before taking the financial leap into Defenderdom, are there any centres around that run days where I could go along and have a go in one?
mat205125 said:
Do the ex-MOD stock come road registered, and ready to use .... I'm guessing that a 50cal machine mounted to the back is out of the question
Off on a tangent: Before taking the financial leap into Defenderdom, are there any centres around that run days where I could go along and have a go in one?
ex mod stuff is omsetimes road registered and sometimes not- its not a problem getting it registtered for road use though Off on a tangent: Before taking the financial leap into Defenderdom, are there any centres around that run days where I could go along and have a go in one?
thre's a few places that do pay and play or training- might cost you a bit. If you are feeling cheeky then you could perhaps go along to a LR centre, ask for a test drive of a new defender then say you want to know what it's like off road- they "should" send you to LRE at Malvern!
pugwash4x4 said:
BLUETHUNDER said:
M.O.D spec LR,s dont run the TD5.Unless its a civvi spec one used by the M.O.D.
saw 12 ex mod TD5s go through blackbushe 2 weeks ago so they aren't that rarea lot of security patrols use them
Ed said:
If you just want the Landie for off roading, you get a lot more Series 1 or 2 Discovery for your money than you do Defender.
Defenders are great but hold their value well in comparrison which is going to make your £3k a bit short against your Td5 expectations.
Very true, But I would guess by now he's already bought one mate :haha:Defenders are great but hold their value well in comparrison which is going to make your £3k a bit short against your Td5 expectations.
Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff