LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110
Discussion
I’m looking at getting a 110 for about 6 - 7k, seen a couple I like on the net that have got galvanised chassis’s, I understand they rot in the footweels and bulkheads and I gotta find one that hasn’t started to go, I’ve driven a few and know they drive like arse, help me out guys, every day I wake up thinking...NOOO don’t do it, and then the next day I’m on the phone negotiating, what do I do!?!?!?!?!?
It’s gonna do about 4 thousand miles a year and will sometimes be kept inside...
Thoughts and options from people who have owned, own, purchased a car like this would be great to help me out.
It’s gonna do about 4 thousand miles a year and will sometimes be kept inside...
Thoughts and options from people who have owned, own, purchased a car like this would be great to help me out.
It’s going to be used for two things, I play in a band and need something to cart the gear around in, I got a transporter van that’s going and also I used to race on short ovals (stock ads) and will be getting back into that so need something that’s gonna tow a trailer, just something that’s a bit different to a boring van
I've owned and loved a few 110s and defenders over the years but I would only consider one if you treat running the thing as a hobby. Eventually I got so fed up of the absolutely appalling build quality and continual issues that I went out and bought a Land Cruiser. It's better in almost every way, and has been largely faultless despite being almost 30 years old.
I still occasionally think about buying another Defender but it would be purely as a toy. If you need a working vehicle buy something else.
I still occasionally think about buying another Defender but it would be purely as a toy. If you need a working vehicle buy something else.
I’ve got a td5 90 that is now on 226000 miles. Let me down twice - once when I overlooked the serpentine belt change by about 60,000 miles and it snapped but no damage done and then a new gearbox the year before last (it gave me plenty of notice!!!) on about 210,000 miles. Other than those it had been faultless over 12 years.
If your budget covers a td5 then I’d go for one of those as they were the best engines IMHO and the last proper LR engine in them
If your budget covers a td5 then I’d go for one of those as they were the best engines IMHO and the last proper LR engine in them
It will be slim pickings at £7k for a tidy 110 TD5. More choice if you go for the 300tdi, but the TD5 is a much nicer engine. More powerful (Not by much) and much more refined.Cheap to remap to 150-160bhp without too much headache.
Yes galvanized chassis is good, but the original is fine if its had decent quality repairs and suitably protected by something like Buzzweld.
They can be money pits and you will end up with a vehicle that always needs something done to it. They are also pretty big with poor turning circles.
At £7k, a Discovery 3 might be worth considering, but they are much more complex, but a much better all rounder. Running costs can be a little eye watering though (I speak from experience)
Yes galvanized chassis is good, but the original is fine if its had decent quality repairs and suitably protected by something like Buzzweld.
They can be money pits and you will end up with a vehicle that always needs something done to it. They are also pretty big with poor turning circles.
At £7k, a Discovery 3 might be worth considering, but they are much more complex, but a much better all rounder. Running costs can be a little eye watering though (I speak from experience)
Edited by bakerstreet on Tuesday 14th May 16:59
snowandrocks said:
I've owned and loved a few 110s and defenders over the years but I would only consider one if you treat running the thing as a hobby. Eventually I got so fed up of the absolutely appalling build quality and continual issues that I went out and bought a Land Cruiser. It's better in almost every way, and has been largely faultless despite being almost 30 years old.
I still occasionally think about buying another Defender but it would be purely as a toy. If you need a working vehicle buy something else.
I hear what you are saying, but I think people often mix up planned maintenance with build quality/reliability. There is a difference.I still occasionally think about buying another Defender but it would be purely as a toy. If you need a working vehicle buy something else.
By and large Defenders are pretty robust and easy to maintain.
gigybeast said:
I’m looking at getting a 110 for about 6 - 7k, seen a couple I like on the net that have got galvanised chassis’s, I understand they rot in the footweels and bulkheads and I gotta find one that hasn’t started to go, I’ve driven a few and know they drive like arse, help me out guys, every day I wake up thinking...NOOO don’t do it, and then the next day I’m on the phone negotiating, what do I do!?!?!?!?!?
It’s gonna do about 4 thousand miles a year and will sometimes be kept inside...
Thoughts and options from people who have owned, own, purchased a car like this would be great to help me out.
The bulkhead/footwells are not part of the chassis.It’s gonna do about 4 thousand miles a year and will sometimes be kept inside...
Thoughts and options from people who have owned, own, purchased a car like this would be great to help me out.
They can also be repaired with moderate ease. And depending on the age of the vehicle the bulkheads are often more cosmetic than anything.
The chassis can and does rot. But a solid original chassis is not a bad thing. Rear cross members rot the most and can again be fairly easily repaired.
A galv chassis is good in many ways, but remember this means the vehicle will have been taken apart and put back together. And you are unlikely to know how well this was done and what bits were used or replaced.
A Td5 Defender goes a lot nicer than a Tdi one does. Quicker, more powerful, responds well to a remap and importantly a lot more refined. But will cost more.
As an alternative vehicle you might find a good Santana PS-10 in your budget. These are very 110 like, although technically are the last development of the 109.
They have some plus points over a Defender too. 2.8 Iveco engine, wider rear door, no seat boxes and a few other sensible upgrades LR never bothered with.
They are leaf sprung, but are parabolics. They won't ride quite as well as the coil sprung 110, but are pretty close tbh.
gigybeast said:
Hmmm, Santana PS10, never heard of it, looks good, probably a better engine?, what’s the catch, why so cheap!?!?
No real downsides. Just a little unknown. At least in the UK. Santana are, or were a Spanish maker. They built Land Rovers under licence and as CKD’s. But also did their own development.
The PS-10 was the final variant before Santana shut up shop. The model continued as the Iveco Massif for a few years, but LHD only.
I suspect some items of trim might be hard to get if needed today. And the interior does look a bit van and plasticky. But arguably is more usable than a 110.
They use a modified LT230 transfer box. Basically the same as a Defenders. But the Santana can run in 2wd in the road too. The 110 can’t.
I believe some/most also have a rear LSD. Something never offered by Land Rover.
The only real issue I know of are the brake discs. The axles are a development of the Land Rover 109 axles. Largely the same as the Defenders. However Santana used their own brake disc. The callipers are also different to a Defender. But are used on other vehicles. So pads or a new calliper are easy to get. But the discs weren’t. At least when I checked a few years back. Things might have changed since though.
But even if not. I’m sure it would be possible to get some other off the shelf discs machined to fit. There are also disc conversion kits for 109’s which I think might allow you to convert the Santana axle to use a stock Land Rover disc. Or lastly it wouldn’t be that hard to retro fit some Land Rover axles to one.
300bhp/ton said:
No real downsides. Just a little unknown. At least in the UK.
Santana are, or were a Spanish maker. They built Land Rovers under licence and as CKD’s. But also did their own development.
The PS-10 was the final variant before Santana shut up shop. The model continued as the Iveco Massif for a few years, but LHD only.
I suspect some items of trim might be hard to get if needed today. And the interior does look a bit van and plasticky. But arguably is more usable than a 110.
They use a modified LT230 transfer box. Basically the same as a Defenders. But the Santana can run in 2wd in the road too. The 110 can’t.
I believe some/most also have a rear LSD. Something never offered by Land Rover.
The only real issue I know of are the brake discs. The axles are a development of the Land Rover 109 axles. Largely the same as the Defenders. However Santana used their own brake disc. The callipers are also different to a Defender. But are used on other vehicles. So pads or a new calliper are easy to get. But the discs weren’t. At least when I checked a few years back. Things might have changed since though.
But even if not. I’m sure it would be possible to get some other off the shelf discs machined to fit. There are also disc conversion kits for 109’s which I think might allow you to convert the Santana axle to use a stock Land Rover disc. Or lastly it wouldn’t be that hard to retro fit some Land Rover axles to one.
Disc conversion is quite expensive at about £1k. Series Land Rovers don't handle as well as coil spring variants. However Parabolics does make a noticeable difference. Steering is quite vague though. Santana are, or were a Spanish maker. They built Land Rovers under licence and as CKD’s. But also did their own development.
The PS-10 was the final variant before Santana shut up shop. The model continued as the Iveco Massif for a few years, but LHD only.
I suspect some items of trim might be hard to get if needed today. And the interior does look a bit van and plasticky. But arguably is more usable than a 110.
They use a modified LT230 transfer box. Basically the same as a Defenders. But the Santana can run in 2wd in the road too. The 110 can’t.
I believe some/most also have a rear LSD. Something never offered by Land Rover.
The only real issue I know of are the brake discs. The axles are a development of the Land Rover 109 axles. Largely the same as the Defenders. However Santana used their own brake disc. The callipers are also different to a Defender. But are used on other vehicles. So pads or a new calliper are easy to get. But the discs weren’t. At least when I checked a few years back. Things might have changed since though.
But even if not. I’m sure it would be possible to get some other off the shelf discs machined to fit. There are also disc conversion kits for 109’s which I think might allow you to convert the Santana axle to use a stock Land Rover disc. Or lastly it wouldn’t be that hard to retro fit some Land Rover axles to one.
Interior on those Santana is pretty good and better than the Defenders until they refreshed the Interior with the Puma Engines.
No Downsides?
Well yes, the OP wants a Land Rover. Yes the Santana is all Land Rover underneath, but there will always be a niggling doubt that the OP didn't buy a Land Rover.
bakerstreet said:
Disc conversion is quite expensive at about £1k.
Yes they can be. Although I'm sure getting some discs machined would likely be a lot cheaper. And fortunately discs tend to last a long time and not something you generally have to worry about too often.bakerstreet said:
Series Land Rovers don't handle as well as coil spring variants.
Depends really. A Series might have less traction, but they handle quite well. Most of the difference is the axle is narrower and no PAS using a steering relay.The Santana axles are the same width as Defender ones, so wider than a stock Series axle. They also have steering very similar to a Defender. All in all I bet most average drivers wouldn't be able to tell the differences in handling between a PS-10 or a 110. The 110 probably rides slightly better but more of a minor attribute than a deal breaker IMO.
Well... You pay your money and make your choice!!
Given your set of requirements, I would seriously suggest you consider a Disco3 (Auto) or push the budget a bit more for a Disco4. The Disco is a fantastic 'tug' for towing, the load space is larger and more practical too.
...however, a Disco3/4 it isn't a Defender, so if you need to 'scratch an itch' then only a Defender will do.
BTW - One of the points for rust/rot on a Defender is the rear cross member, so if you're wanting to tow, you're gonna want to make sure the back end of the chassis is solid.
M
Given your set of requirements, I would seriously suggest you consider a Disco3 (Auto) or push the budget a bit more for a Disco4. The Disco is a fantastic 'tug' for towing, the load space is larger and more practical too.
...however, a Disco3/4 it isn't a Defender, so if you need to 'scratch an itch' then only a Defender will do.
BTW - One of the points for rust/rot on a Defender is the rear cross member, so if you're wanting to tow, you're gonna want to make sure the back end of the chassis is solid.
M
Forgot to add- I see you mention a 110 - As others have mentioned they have the turning circle of a ship but have a better ride than a 90.
I'd be tempted to see if you could "make do" with a 90 and sod the drummer (unless you are the drummer...)
What's the last thing a drummer says in a band?
"Hey, how about we try one of my songs?"
I'd be tempted to see if you could "make do" with a 90 and sod the drummer (unless you are the drummer...)
What's the last thing a drummer says in a band?
"Hey, how about we try one of my songs?"
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