View Full Version : Which Land Rover?
I know this may have been done to death but...
...later this year I am planning on buying an off road vehicle. Despite all the negative stuff out there I'm still hankering after a Land Rover.
Either a Defender or a Disco new or used.
I would be interested to hear anyone's comments on these two vehicles, positive and negative, and any general 4X4 comments which would be relevant.
I shall now don my tin hat and retire to my bunker!!
pastymuncher
23-01-2011, 14:39
What do you want to do with it?????
Chambers
23-01-2011, 14:46
Im in the same boat and Im going to go for a Disco for a two main reason, they are great off road and have comforts too
Defenders look so cool its unreal and I would love a 90 but driving one for a few hours on the motorway etc and they are so loud.
Of course if its not going to be your everyday car then it could be a completely different situation
Have you looked at Jeep unlimited diesel chap? Comfy and quiet and very good off road.
One of these
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i202/spoony604/longframlington-27-11-2010-01.jpg
defender all the way !!:cool:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p303/nuggets_photo/landy/P1040434.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p303/nuggets_photo/nenthead/056.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p303/nuggets_photo/shindig/053.jpg
:D:D
iv had both mate plus a few others, id choose a defender everytime but it depends how much youv got to spend, a couple of grand will get you a 300tdi disco with mot and in good nick but but for a similar spec defender you will need double.
dont rule out turbo diesel(non injection) defenders you pick up chjeap and as long as belts changed and serviced etc they dont feel that much diferent to a tdi but half the price i had one quite a while and it neva broke down once and was awsome off road.
cheers ash
sandbender
23-01-2011, 18:35
defender all the way !!:cool:
Another vote for the Defender, great pics Nuggets. :D
I just love the defender but the Disco looks like it might be a better option. It will probably work out about 60% road work and 30% off road or hauling.
Is there much difference between the two in terms of off-road capability and what are people's experiences of the oft repeated reliability problems. My experience of cars is that they can all be unreliuable if not looked after and serviced regularly.
That should have read 40% off road
If your going for a new one dont worry too much about reliability as you will have a 3 year warranty, granted its a pain to keep having to use it but at least you have peace of mind. I was in a similar position in Dec 09, really wanted a Land Rover but was worried about reliability so opted for a 9 month old Discovery 3 and to be honest, I love it! Likewise (im touching wood now!) its been really reliable as well, its great on the motorway (better than I expected actually), has proved to be capable in the snow and ice and generally gives you a feeling of being very safe. The down side is running cost, £435 tax, £480 for a second service, £750 for 4 tyres, 30 mpg economy etc, etc. I also really like the 110's but for me I dont need (arguably) improved off road ability, my vehicle is used mainly on road.
Having said all the above, if I was buying an off road play thing, I would go Japanese every time. From my experience old LR's that are used extensively off road need a lot of TLC whereas the Jap 4x4's tend to need significantly less.
Regards, Jon.
in my experiance, off road a defender with decent tyes is pretty much unstopable due to being higher better aproach an departure angles, alot lighter and smaller if 90, when i had mine, many a time i looked at a big mud bath or steep muddy climb and thought do i bother or not but when i did it very rarely even lost traction.
discos are also very good off road but id recomend at least all terain tyres because they can get bogged down in mud due to there wait and are a bugger to get out, the trick is to use the wait for momentem and keep going, a few times i stopped for a moment to check somthing and then had to work hard to get going again but i only had general grabber tyres on mine which soon become slicks with mud in the tread.
im probably being alittle nagative to the disco because they are brilliant but theres always going to be negatives when your comparing to a defender off road.
discos are very good at towing very comfy too and theres alot of parts available now cheap.
your right about reliabilty it comes down to being looked after properly belt changes are a must or can cost a fortune. gearbox wine is worth keeping an eye out for on 300 tdis. always check for signs of head gaskets going or close. rot will always be a problem because people keep landrovers on the roads alot longer than other cars but dont always look after with wax oil.
obvious places to check on defenders are chassis, bulkhead, doors botoms, rear crossmember.
discos, boot floor,sills chassis.
hope that helps
ash
pastymuncher
23-01-2011, 19:27
O.K. 60/40 road offroad
When offroading are you greenlaning, farmwork or pay and playing?
What budget?
Do you do your own maintenance?
How many people/ load do you expect to carry?
What mileage do you expect to do?
Does fuel cost matter?
for comfort and motorway miles go for the disco, it has a better ratio on the transfer box than the defender - the older disco`s have a reputation of attracting rust - boot floor -cills - wing arches etc - But for offroad `abuse` it has to be a defender !!
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p303/nuggets_photo/ed1bb243.jpg
and touch wood - my TD5 engine ain,t give me any bother in 3 years !!!
if you want a working vehicle a defender is better. toyotas don't need so much maintenance to keep them running but they cannot take so much abuse. you can overload a land rover and things will be ok but i have heard of people bending chassis of jap 4x4s. of course you shouldn't overload any vehicle but its good to know that it can take a little more.
not sure but defenders will probably be easier to fix. whether or not a defender is better off road I don’t know, it is probably marginal. things like tyres make a big difference and probably the biggest factor being the driver! no matter what your driving if you act like an idiot or don’t know what your doing you won’t get where you want to.
tyres don’t have to be expensive, a friend of mine got a pair of Goodyear G90s for £50 each. ok they are a little noisy on the road but the army uses them so they can’t be bad and he rates them.
one thing with land rovers is that you NEED to have some mechanical know how and should be prepared to do repairs. parts are dirt cheep but labour at a garage will be the same as any other which is where things will get expensive.
Pete
My plans are not that well formulated yet. At the moment the plan is to buy an area of woodland and manage it as a 'nature reserve' for photography, bushcraft and perhaps school visits. I would want a vehicle that would help me with all that some greenlaning general stuff up here, especially after the last two winters and escapeds like this week when I had to drag some tit out of a mud bath he'd managed to drive into. My first thought when I saw him was. 'wish I'd got the defender' plus camping/caravanning haulage. At the moment I'm thinking of two possible transport options.
1 have one dual rurpose vehicle that would off road and haul and yet be a good long distance vehicle. That would be a new Disco
or 2
Buy a new car and a second hand Defender. When you take into account tax and insurance the yearly running costs of each my not be that different from each other. (That's just a guess though, I haven't done the sums.)
spiritwalker
23-01-2011, 21:49
you can pick up a japanese import pajero (shogun) that will do you needs for less than 2k and get yourself an economical road car for your 60%. I had a shogun pinnin for a while and it easily went off road and was comfy on the road. Road tax was £280 30mpg and a full set of tyres was £250.
woodspirits
23-01-2011, 22:16
having had the 2a, 3, 90 and 110 guess im going to say landrover defender!
a good one well looked after can be expensive though, unless your buying new? either way a lot of pedigree for your money, its a marmite thing :D
i wouldn't buy one new as they are now made in india and the quality is questionable. also the new defenders don't have the bench seat in the front or the inward facing seets in the back like the old ones because of some BS EU standard:cussing:. this is rediculos as a 90 now only has 4 seats instead of 7! for a car that size i think thats pretty poor.
i would definatly go with option 2.
also i couldn't drive any brand new car off foad in case i scratch it
pete
i wouldn't buy one new as they are now made in india and the quality is questionable
from the Land Rover website "Land Rover manufactures Defender, Discovery 4, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover at the Solihull factory"
new defenders don't have the bench seat in the front
Have you ever sat in the center seat of a defender, one leg wedged between the gearbox tunnel and the handbrake, getting hit where you dont want to be every gear change, and only a lap belt, thank god they got rid of them!
BS EU standard
Im not sure that i would call passenger survivability BS?
sorry i was under the impression that because they where now owned by tata motors they where now being made in india. although from what iv heard the quality has definatly not what it used to be.
i have sat in the middle seat and it may not be comfortable but a very usefull feature in a hi cap pickup. you would be a fool to think a defender is luxury as that is not what it is designed for. BS or not this standard has ruined the vehicle. when i was at college doing forestry the 110s we had could seat 12 instead of the new 7. our class had 23 of us, we would now need 4 vehicles.
pete
pastymuncher
24-01-2011, 09:43
. although from what iv heard the quality has definatly not what it used to be.
pete
And what quality are you referring to.
p.s I like land rovers (I own a Disco), but build quality has never been one of their strong points.
the chassis are made of poorer quality steel than they used to be. there was a thread on here somwhere that mentioned it.
pete
Ps. I use a Defender 110 as my daily transport and have been driving Land Rovers and Defenders all my life, so i am biased when i say go Defender!
If you're using it in forestry and you don't need to carry multiple passengers a 90 will likely be more practical than a 110 or a Disco due to turning circle and size. A Disco is quite a bit wider than a defender and the mirrors cost a fair bit more to replace, should you bust one.
Since you're in Lancs and reasonably local, you're welcome to come and have a play in my 90 to see what a typical £3k to £4k Tdi is like in terms of day to day use. It's my daily driver and I've no complaints at lack of central locking or creature comforts like air-con. The driving position is a little sit up and beg compared with a car or even a disco, but you do get a pretty good view over hedges for all that.
Best bit is I can clean the boot out with a pressure washer if it needs it and not have to worry about 'ruining' the carpets :D
Simples!
If you want to 'go there' buy a landrover:rolleyes:
But, if you want to come back, buy a HILUX !:headbang:
Simples!
If you want to 'go there' buy a landrover
But, if you want to come back, buy a HILUX !
if you are seriously thinking of the price of new Discovery you can fget a new Defender for the same. If you can live the Puma engine etc.
If you are doing forestry have a serious think of what you might be doing. you might be bette off with a decent second hand estate car for long drives and <3000kg trailers and an old(ish) Unimog - ex utilities maybe or 4x4 tractor. Look for something like a U90/ 400 series (the smaller ones). You'll get a car and Mog for price of a new LR.
My mate looks after a lot of private woodland and make forest produces - he runs an old 300Tdi Disco for daily drive and hauling road trailers and a U90 (plus a Belrus 4x4 tractor) for work. He has had 4x4 - LR and Toyota - for use in the wood and neither are really suitable or "big" enough.
unimogs are about as good as it gets for a working vehicle but outside work they are very unpracticle. mate of mine has had 3 of them over the years and you can only cruse at around 35-40mph and they drink loads of fuel. the biggest problem is the cost of parts which was the reason for my mate getting rid of them.
pete
There is no such thing as a bad 4x4 - they are all made to fit a market sector with compromises. So, you have to analyse your needs vs the compromises.
The Defender 110 has a 1 ton load capacity and you can claim the VAT of it if you're registered. It's a great vehicle and on the right tyres (i.e. not too agressive so not muds) isn't too bad cruising on the motorway - I do hours in mine at 70. The 90 isn't a lot better off road (smaller turning circle and a little less overhang at the back) but just doesn't have the room in it for real work (IMHO).
Yes you hear a lot of stories about Land Rover but there is an order of magnitude more Land Rovers in the UK than any other 4x4 and a lot of those are very old so you're bound to have more tales of woe.
I love mine and wouldn't swap it for anything and I've been some pretty extreme places in it.
Cheers,
Broch
Minotaur
24-01-2011, 17:53
Simples!
If you want to 'go there' buy a landrover
But, if you want to come back, buy a HILUX !
LOL
I think Land rovers rock, and I want to own one.
The problem is you need Mud tires to spend anytime offroad. Mud Tires on the road will drive you nuts.
If you are going to do a lot of road driving a defender is a little basic.
I would be tempted to do what you said, and buy a tiny motor for the road. Then have a kitted up defender for offroad. The reason this tends to make sense is at the moment the little car would pay for itself in fuel alone.
All of that said I would look long and hard at a HiLux. There are a lot of them about, and they are bombproof.
Owning a Land Rover is a labour of love. It has to be a calling, or you will come to hate it.
bilmo-p5
24-01-2011, 18:34
The problem is you need Mud tires to spend anytime offroad. Mud Tires on the road will drive you nuts.
A good set of ATs will do you for any number of road miles and spur-of-the -moment off-roading. Have a spare set of rims with MTs at home for dedicated O/R days. It doesn't take long to change a set of wheels.
Thanks guys, this is all really useful and helpful stuff. I'm still no nearer a decision but then I don't have to make a decision yet. Keep it coming.
I'm reluctant to use a defender as my sole vehicle.
The problem is you need Mud tires to spend anytime offroad.
Sorry, I disagree. A good set of All Terrains (preferably BF Goodrich) will get you 99% of the places the muds will (I know, I go out off road with guys with big agressive tyres on and never get left behind). Also, bare in mind that no tyre will stop as well onwet tarmac as a road tyre so even an AT is a compromise.
If you get a good Defender and look after it there is no reason why it will be any less reliable or more expensive to keep on the road than any other 4x4 - it's just that people tend to abuse them a bit :(
Cheers,
Broch
pastymuncher
24-01-2011, 21:50
Of course if want to help the Unimog boys when they get stuck you could get a Gaz 66, they go a bit faster as well.
Hi there
I've often considered a Land Rover as I've had a number of 4x4's. They have a huge loyal fan base like VW's and other iconic cars. They are though often labours of love and costly to maintain.
There was a time when they were "Kings of the 'off ' Road". check out any 60's 70's or ever 80's movie with off road driving in Africa or whatever and they invariably drove a Landy. Unfortunately not so today, they are more likley to be in a Toyota Hilux or Land Cruiser. The French army even chose the G Wagen over the Land Rover.
With a 110 you really are driving a truck, and not a car... they are very able off road, but not great on road, compared to other more civilised 4x4's. Because of their iconic status they have totally unrealistic second hand prices. New (if I could afford one) I'd only really consider the Defender as I don't class any of the latest Discoverys as proper 4x4's, despite Jeremy Clarkson's Scottish stunt.
A lot really depends on what you want a 4x4 for...so to speak. Any decent model with low range will go virtually anywhere you need it to with decent AT or MT tyres ... I've had 2 Nissan Patrol's and with BFG Tracedge and AT tyres have never been stuck off road and I do about 40% of my driving on mud or dirt roads here in France. Great and robust cars, but a bit too thirsty....My last one took me over the top of the Pyrennes for 800 miles of pistes, upto 2600m....
I now have a Terrano and it too is surprisingly agile off the tarmac.
If I could have found a 110 for the same money and mileage I got the 2001 Terrano for Yes I'd have got one, but they were all at least double, often for cars with huge mileage or too many years.
There are though today very few proper 4x4's left on the market.. They have all become luxury vehicles. Many wanabee 4x4's are just plain crap off road...
This would be my top ten 4x4 for both on and off roading...
80; 90; 100 series Toyota Land Cruiser; Pajero; Nissan Patrol, Land Rover 110; Upto series 3 Discovery; Mercedes G Wagen; Nissan Terrano; or a pickup...Hilux, Navara, or L200....
Cheers
Gareth
celestialspore
25-01-2011, 00:46
Discovery 1 with the 300tdi for me! Had it seven years and it's never let me down, or had me stuck (once I'd free'd off the diff-lock lever)! Cheap to buy and reliable if looked after too.
Also the road tax on my defender is classed as a commercial LGV = :) £200 a year
110 county every time with a set of bfg at kos had it 6 years never let me down and the parts are cheep and diy friendly.had jap crap knot going back.
And its 21 years old and still going strong.
one thing to remember is one of the reseasons defenders are so capable off road is because they have higher ride height,longer travel suspension which will always have a adverse effect on road,and being perminent four wheel drive they will use more fuel.
i love defenders and drove mine all the time and neva got anoyed or uncomfy its all part of the landrover experiance and i wouldnt change a thing, if these things dont apeal to someone then a landrovers not for them.
you need to love defenders to drive one otherwise there just overpriced high maintanance trucks
just my thoughts cheers
Buy a Volvo :)
http://jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2008/02/Volvo_C330.jpg
those volvos are awsome, on par with a steyr puch pinzgauer:) i would love to get that volvo's smaller brother the c202 valp as i hear you can pick them up for peanuts in sweden. the problem with these more exotic 4x4s is that you are unlikely to get insurance for them in the UK
shame bacause imo they are in a a whole different league compaired to the usuall land rovers and toyotas we have over here:(
pete
good thing about a defender they dont lose money.i go all over with the family and the two dogs.fuel filter oil filter and air filter 11 pound cheap maintenace.
Now saying all that i wantone of those volvos very nice very very nice
i wish land rover still made a forward control, my mates pinzgauer can't be any longer than a 90 but it has more room in the back than a 110. it just makes so much sence.
pete
scottishpinz
25-01-2011, 19:50
Can't comment on Landrover or Volvo but the Pinzgauer is fantastic and has taken me all around Scotland, UK, Europe and Iceland.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58263055@N08/5387756475/
Can't comment on Landrover or Volvo but the Pinzgauer is fantastic and has taken me all around Scotland, UK, Europe and Iceland.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58263055@N08/5387756475/
looks cool - whats the ballpark price for one?
woah not cheap for a vehicle thats 35 years old!
http://www.pinzgauersales.com/pinzgauer_for_sale.html
Sorry to hijack but relevent to the post!- Which insurance company do people use to insure their Landrover?
Sorry to hijack but relevent to the post!- Which insurance company do people use to insure their Landrover?
NFU - fantastic deal if you're over 25 and they cover you off road.
Cheers,
Broch
NFU - fantastic deal if you're over 25 and they cover you off road.
Cheers,
Broch
...and free trailer cover of up to £1k (trailer not trailer contents) with NFU. £240pa including business cover for mine (40y/o married male, driveway parking)
Couldn't believe Direct Line's comments of "trailer is uninsured and we need to know if you're towing regularly" err... it's a Land Rover, that's what they do! I actually laughed at the DL call centre monkey on the phone.
Minotaur
26-01-2011, 01:42
A good set of ATs will do you for any number of road miles and spur-of-the -moment off-roading. Have a spare set of rims with MTs at home for dedicated O/R days. It doesn't take long to change a set of wheels.
You can get away with them, but if you need the extra grip, you really need the extra grip. That said if you got the kit to get yourself out of trouble, you can go anywhere.
I think my problem would be I have seen people do things in a Hilux, that you would not even attempt in a Land Rover for the simple reason it costs so much less. Who cares if you get a bump etc.
i have driven a defender 90 van one for a long time at my previous job, we managed to blow the engine so stuck a 300tdi lump in, was a great car and not that bad on motorways just a tad slow if your used to cars, the noise you get used to but i didnt find it that bad, im going to get a 90 soon as i move out the flat lol
drove a disco a few times aswell and can vouch for there off road capability, it was great with the air con on, the radio etc etc and all was muddy and stuff outside, but i would get a 90 based on price (and looks)
I have also driven a nissan patrol a lot, that was great but a bit disconnected from the action, and i thought uncomfortable after a while
Of course if want to help the Unimog boys when they get stuck you could get a Gaz 66, they go a bit faster as well.
and they sound great and will run on anything you can pour in the fuel tank lol
Recommending a pinz/mog/gaz when someone's asked for advice on a 4x4 for a little hobby forestry management and greenlaning is akin to recommending a Hilti (http://www.hilti.co.uk/holuk/page/module/product/prca_rangedetail.jsf?lang=en&nodeId=-338948) when someone asked which hammer to use for putting up picture frames in their living room. :D
£4k - £5k buys a pretty good example of a Defender Tdi which will do everything the OP asks and probably more. £4k just about buys a set of new tyres (including a spare) and a service for a Unimog - not a lot more, certainly.
Not to mention the only way you'll make it do more than 60mph is by pushing it down a mineshaft. More or less the same goes for a Pinzgauer, except they're older and while slightly better road vehicles than a 'mog they're harder to find than an 18 year old virgin in Chatham. :nono:
There are 50% more Pagani Zondas for sale on Autotrader.co.uk than there are Pinzgauers for sale on pinzgauersales.com - go figure. ;)
treelore
26-01-2011, 17:43
Buy a nice car Grayfox and then you can use the money you have left over to pay a hairy arsed woodsman like me to do all your woodland work for you :)
on a serious note I use land rover defenders everyday when not playing in the Mog lol, I would go for a 110 double cab with BFG mud terrains. You can go anywhere, carry kit and people.
All the best
Recommending a pinz/mog/gaz when someone's asked for advice on a 4x4 for a little hobby forestry management and greenlaning is akin to recommending a Hilti (http://www.hilti.co.uk/holuk/page/module/product/prca_rangedetail.jsf?lang=en&nodeId=-338948) when someone asked which hammer to use for putting up picture frames in their living room. :D
£4k - £5k buys a pretty good example of a Defender Tdi which will do everything the OP asks and probably more. £4k just about buys a set of new tyres (including a spare) and a service for a Unimog - not a lot more, certainly.
Not to mention the only way you'll make it do more than 60mph is by pushing it down a mineshaft. More or less the same goes for a Pinzgauer, except they're older and while slightly better road vehicles than a 'mog they're harder to find than an 18 year old virgin in Chatham. :nono:
There are 50% more Pagani Zondas for sale on Autotrader.co.uk than there are Pinzgauers for sale on pinzgauersales.com - go figure. ;)
so my chances of getting a couple of 18yo virgins in the back of my pinzgauer are slim?
Your chances are significantly higher if you already own the Pinzgauer... and live a respectable distance from the Medway towns :D:D:D
_scorpio_
28-01-2011, 20:43
im well biased towards land rovers as my dad owns a land rover repair company. as far as i can remember i have been taken to school in a land rover of some description.
im having one as soon as i pass my test, it may cost a bit on the fuel, but the insurance is next to nothing because its through dads business and when it breaks i can get it fixed for free.
my mum has a range rover L322 (no point saying new shape, theres the 2 new evoques out now) and my dad has a disco 3, they are the quietest most comfy cars i have ever known lol! no trouble in the snow, no fun either, couldnt get them to slide on the ice with at2's lol!
that volvo jobbie looks just like a land rover 101... speaking of that theres a 101 on ebay for 2k.
to the OP i would say get a disco 1/2 and put at2's on it. if your green-laneing only and not likely to be seriously off roading then a basic spec disco 3 is also an option. dad got his for 9k on an '03 plate and it will be going for ages.
anyone seen the new range rover evoques? i did at a yaucht show (next to the outdoor show in the excel building) and they just look like japanese crap, but look a bit nicer than some things out there. when the indians start making them im hoping they will make a basic one like the old defenders or even series 3 for other countries that dont want something shiny with elastic band tyres on flash rims. if they remade the old defenders or series landys which can be fixed with a hammer, set of spanners, duck tape and an egg, they would fill the niche in the market of someone who wants a durable workhorse which will last ages.
wow.... i went on a bit there... sorry...
Don't apologize for going on, you made a good point about a niche market . they could easily make a basic 4x4 for less than £8k and it would sell
like hot cakes . just think of all the extras they could sell to bling it up for street or offroad.
Craig......................... .
fast but dim
30-01-2011, 10:59
over the past couple years i've had the following:
defender 90 tdi, suzuki samurai, disco 3, landcruiser 120, mitsubishi pajero swb. i have a cheap 4x4 for offroading, and a nice 4x4 for towing / touring.
the defender was the most charismatic, never let me down but was cramped, noisy and leaked ( it was a county off alan wood) and it was my intro to 4x4's. looking back i'd have been better off with a disco, there's more room, more comfort and they're almost as good off road.
but: don't fall into the trap of thinking that landrovers are the only good 4x4's for off road. imo any jap 4x4 on balance will be nearly as good off road, as good or better on it, and should have better reliability, less corrosion, better build quality and be cheaper. i know that's a generalisation.
in summary:
defender: cool
disco: practcal
jap: reliable
if you're set on lr, like has been said, get a disco and put some good all terrains on it, you'll go antwhere you need to.
bear in mind for under 3k you'll get a good shogun, fully loaded with rear axle difflock. i paid under a grand for my swb pajero. it'll go most places, with aircon, superb spec.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_4547.jpg
so would this, but it was't comfy
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_1423.jpg
noisy, leaky,rusty, lovely
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d144/fastbutdim/IMG_0731Custom.jpg
Having had quite a few makes of 4x4 and driven most of the other makes over 28 years I wouldn't buy a Land Rover, iv'e had them, and loved them, but never again. I have come to be a Jap Crap driver, the reason being, not so crap!
Among the ones I've had, the Nissan Patrols have been extremely reliable and very, very capable off road. I bought my first with 140K on the clock and put over a 100K on before I sold it, apart from consumables the only item I had to replace was a wiper motor and the last 3 MOT'S it had cost £150 IN TOTAL!
Personally, I would never buy a brand new car again, too, much depreciation etc, etc, and also the build quality with older models seems to me, to be greater.
At present I own a 21 year old Toyota Land Cruiser 80 series, I would be extremely hard pushed to find a Landy of that age in as good condition, everything works as it should, no rot (couple of surface scabs) in fact the chassis would put some 3 year old vehicles to shame. Having 3 difflocks is a real bonus, but to be honest I've only ever had to use them once and I have been into some tricky places, best truck I've ever owned, wish I'd got one years ago.
A good alternative for a Defender could be......................http://www.santana-motor.es/SantanaMotor/porta.htm
fast but dim
30-01-2011, 11:24
I wouldn't buy a Land Rover, iv'e had them, and loved them, but never again. I have come to be a Jap Crap driver, the reason being, not so crap!
]
+1, well put.
Hi Chris , after seeing your land cruiser at comrie croft in november i would have to agree that it is a beauty , for a 21 year old motor and not being
a jap import . you would be very hard pushed to find another as good .
Are you sure you don't want to sell it:)
Craig............
The trouble is I do like Landys, good style and with the older ones, the functionality to be able to fix easily enough. The trouble is the regularity with which they require time with the spanners, I know not all are like that, but they seem to be the rarity rather than the norm.
For me the driver comfort is important, Iv'e never found them comfy for medium let alone long distances and the latest Defenders are a little bit cramped to say the least and why build a vehicle for rough terrain and adventures that leaks from new? I,ve never figured that one out. Shame really, as I say, I do like them.
Best non uk or japanese 4x4 iv'e owned, 4.0 Wrangler, no space but what a hoot, plenty of grunt with no doors and roof and the windscreen down ;)
Sorry Craig, not selling the truck, if I hear of one I'll let you know :)
_scorpio_
30-01-2011, 21:30
there are some old defenders that are lovely out of the factory, i have known only one so far, it never had anything except tires and service etc. then one day, boom, new engine...
you can make a landrover into something really nice, but you can probably buy something foreign which will work straight away.
but i physically cannot bring myself to type anything else to do with other cars being better than a good old british, rusty, leaky, rattly, noisy, slow, unreliable Land Rover... :D
for gods sake dont buy a new one, why, seriously, would you, when you can get a second hand one which will work the same and probably still go wrong the same amount of times?
and to demonstrate how land rovers are less than perfect. the disco 3 has a jaguar engine, and dads one has a belt gone. not a problem in a jaguar, but because of the shape of the disco you can only get to the belt if you have toothpicks for arms. it says in the book that it should be expected to take 0.9 hours. 5 hours into trying to change it and he hasnt been able to touch the belt yet...
so the quality control guy isnt exactly observant, this is why all land rovers are different.
make sure when buying second hand you get the car properly checked over by a land rover specialist before you buy it. you would be amazed how many people turn up with a car which they got checked by a volvo dealer which needs like 5 grands worth of work!
Barn Owl
30-01-2011, 23:54
Hi Chris , after seeing your land cruiser at comrie croft in november i would have to agree that it is a beauty , for a 21 year old motor and not being
a jap import . you would be very hard pushed to find another as good .
Are you sure you don't want to sell it:)
Craig............
Get to the end of the queue Craig..:lmao:
Barn Owl
30-01-2011, 23:55
Anyone looking for a mitsi 2.8 td lwb?
I like mine but ache for a Landy.
Get to the end of the queue Craig..:lmao:
And i was ment to know there was a queue ....
Craig...........
Anyone looking for a mitsi 2.8 td lwb?
Hey Tam , how does £200 and a bottle of malt sound ? :rolleyes:
Craig............
The only reason i can think of for people saying jap crap is you have never been in or used a landcruiser .
They rearly are very good on and of road veicles i would love to go head to head in my 105 cruiser against a defender.
But this would be hard in a country where your life depends on a reliable vehicle so you dont see landrovers now there is a reliable
alternative.
Hi
There is a site by an English chap Andrew St.Pierre White who has a 4x4 website based in South Africa.. Now there they really need offroad capability... here's a couple of videos he's doen about Land Rover's and Land Cruisers.
http://www.youtube.com/user/4xforum?blend=2&ob=1#p/u/41/t2Xd66KGjUg
http://www.youtube.com/user/4xforum?blend=2&ob=1#p/u/30/PMhOhT5nwZk
http://www.youtube.com/user/4xforum?blend=2&ob=1#p/u/31/ptiE501ZdwM
cheers
Gareth
It says it all realy he now drives a Toyota.
i wouldn't buy one new as they are now made in india and the quality is questionable
None of the Land Rovers are built in India, I should know I have to walk through the Defender & Range Rover production line every day! The guys that drive them a lot say the Disco is better off road than the Defender and is their choice between the two. The new Disco 4 has a new wiring loom due to the increase in electric gizmo's over the Disco 3 .
I won't make any comment's on reliability etc, trying to keep within the forum rules!
Forget land rover, try this:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EK-vQHXPLg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EK-vQHXPLg)
t
and to demonstrate how land rovers are less than perfect. the disco 3 has a jaguar engine, and dads one has a belt gone. not a problem in a jaguar, but because of the shape of the disco you can only get to the belt if you have toothpicks for arms. it says in the book that it should be expected to take 0.9 hours. 5 hours into trying to change it and he hasnt been able to touch the belt yet...
so the quality control guy isnt exactly observant, this is why all land rovers are different.
make sure when buying second hand you get the car properly checked over by a land rover specialist before you buy it. you would be amazed how many people turn up with a car which they got checked by a volvo dealer which needs like 5 grands worth of work!
The engines in the Disco 3's was derived from a joint venture with PSA and Ford, so the engine is also in some top end citreon's and pug's. Ford took it and made changes and put it in the Disco 3 and the s-type, early XF's and the old XJ, it was the one in which JC took from France to Blackpool on one tank of Gas on top gear. In the Disco 4 and XF and New XJ the engine is based on this one they increased the piston throw and changed the Turbo's. The new defender has the engine out of the ford Transit, the bonnet having to have that new bump to fit in. All the engines are built at Ford's plant in Bridgend.
Manacles
16-02-2011, 08:50
I'm a Wrangler Jeep fan myself, a good mix between the driveability on road of the Defender and the toughness of a Series 3 Landie. Can be a bit thirsty and some Jeep dealerships in my experience left a bit to be desired.
For more off than on road I'd choose a Series 3 Landie, easy to repair at home with minimal tools. Not the vehicle for a 200 mile motorway trip though...........
MartiniDave
16-02-2011, 09:01
Have you seen how the prices are soaring up for a decent Series landy these days?
Dave
pastymuncher
16-02-2011, 09:13
. The new defender has the engine out of the ford Transit, the bonnet having to have that new bump to fit in. All the engines are built at Ford's plant in Bridgend.
And there is the main reason for not buying a new land rover.
The best thing about land rover was the ability to fix them cheaply (they needed to be cheap to fix), unfortunately with the development of all the electronic junk this is no longer the case.
I'm a fan of older landies they are fun to go out and beat up and then fix for peanuts. For a modern multi purpose vehicle I think Jap or Yank would be preferable.
For out and out off road then eastern block vehicles win hands down.
And there is the main reason for not buying a new land rover.
The best thing about land rover was the ability to fix them cheaply (they needed to be cheap to fix), unfortunately with the development of all the electronic junk this is no longer the case.
I'm a fan of older landies they are fun to go out and beat up and then fix for peanuts. For a modern multi purpose vehicle I think Jap or Yank would be preferable.
For out and out off road then eastern block vehicles win hands down.
Unfortunately it's the way all new cars are going, the Euro 5 (copied by many countries inc. Australia) emissions restrictions mean that the manufacturers have to make the engines more complicated to meet the law. The euro 6 restrictions coming in in 2013 will be the death knell for quite a few cars and their engines.
pastymuncher
16-02-2011, 09:35
Unfortunately it's the way all new cars are going, the Euro 5 (copied by many countries inc. Australia) emissions restrictions mean that the manufacturers have to make the engines more complicated to meet the law. The euro 6 restrictions coming in in 2013 will be the death knell for quite a few cars and their engines.
The manufacturers need to build better engines/drive systems, the technology has been out there for years, yet the manufacturers persist with old and cheap to produce junk, with just enough development to keep up with the "outdated before it's released" legislation.`
|Sorry OT I shall stop bleating now.
WeThePeoplexfbm
16-02-2011, 11:56
get a trusty toyota hilux, 3 inch body Lift, 2 inch Sub left, 35 Mickys, abr bull bar, F-B lockers, and couple lightts and your away ^^
Manacles
16-02-2011, 14:48
Have you seen how the prices are soaring up for a decent Series landy these days?
Dave
They're certainly getting more expensive, but with the current recession now is a good time to buy a "hobby vehicle"
MartiniDave
16-02-2011, 16:04
They're certainly getting more expensive, but with the current recession now is a good time to buy a "hobby vehicle"
Would you mind telling that to my wife please!:lmao:
bilmo-p5
16-02-2011, 16:22
get a trusty toyota hilux, 3 inch body Lift, 2 inch Sub left, 35 Mickys, abr bull bar, F-B lockers, and couple lightts and your away ^^
are you going to post some pix of yours?
They're certainly getting more expensive, but with the current recession now is a good time to buy a "hobby vehicle"
thtas the line i used lol, and i keep going on about it til eventually she said ' oh just shut up and do it then'
so now im on the casual lookout but not till the spring though
A lot of armchair offroaders in here:lmao: .
No armchair off roading for me.. My Terrano with BFG All Terrains goes off road every day..It pull trailors, horseboxes and gets muddy all the time...
Having had a couple of PAtrols that were great off the black stuff, the Terrano has really surprised my by its agility, and capacity off road. The LCD on the rear axel is very good, ... not as good as a difflock but pretty good nonetheless.
Cheers
Gareth
Intertidal
16-02-2011, 21:58
To reply to the original question, I have had a few Landies including Defender and Disco (both 300TDi).
Defender = more practical (hose out inside, carries its scars well etc)
Disco = comfort, but still good off road.
Avoid the auto on a Disco 300Tdi, it just robs too much power and leaves you frustrated.
On either model, check the service history rigorously and go over the vehicle carefully or get a professional inspection - the cost could save you lots!
Be prepared for bigger service bills than a 'normal' car and seriously ask yourself if you can stomach 30mpg (at best) when diesel is predicted to reach £1.50 a litre by summer.
I love my Defender 110 hardtop (300Tdi) to bits, but I don't know how much longer I can cope with the fuel cost. Just topped up tonight from quarter tank, nearly £80!!!
Nick
A lot of armchair offroaders in here:lmao: .
I did a bit of armchair offroading when i had a range rover , lovely and comfy and a great heater:lmao:
Craig...............
MartiniDave
17-02-2011, 08:32
Bojit,
You beat me to it, except my armchair was a Discovery 3. Now it's a 1994 200TDi Defender 90, (talk about a step change!), not as comfy as the disco, but it sort of suits me better evin if I do miss the heated seats and the CD player!
Dave
WeThePeoplexfbm
17-02-2011, 09:13
are you going to post some pix of yours?
yeah might be going muddin this weekend but i get some one soon ^^
Manacles
17-02-2011, 09:17
Would you mind telling that to my wife please!:lmao:
Sounds like you need to do what I do when I need to convice madame manacles that one of my lunatic ideas has validity - "I've carried out extensive internet research dear and everyone says (enter required item: land rover, ka-bar, paramo clothing etc) is the thing to have and now is a particulalry good time to buy" ;-)
Speaking of armchair off-roading: Range Rover Sport out of its usual habitat. Best of both worlds?
http://www.everythinglandrover.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/dp_range_rover_sport_hse_11_3b f7.jpg
or this:
http://www.speedsportlife.com/photopost/data/632/38581lr.jpg
You all knew what I meant when I said armchair offroaders:p.
WeThePeoplexfbm
18-02-2011, 02:24
this is my baby 95 toyota hilux ^^ it goes anywhere you cant ^^
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd368/wethepeple/Kink133.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd368/wethepeple/Kink125.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd368/wethepeple/Image023.jpg
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd368/wethepeple/DSC00113.jpg
note : only got stuck becoz i was on the phone ^^
MartiniDave
18-02-2011, 08:07
I guess you guys don't have the "pleasure" of salted roads in the winter over there in Aus. I've known more than a few toyota's suffer from salt induced corrosion (and many other makes too!)
Your Hi-lux looks fun. Is that loadbed a standard option over there or is it "homegrown"?
Dave - Very fond of Landrovers, but never to proud to steal a good idea!
WeThePeoplexfbm
18-02-2011, 10:19
I guess you guys don't have the "pleasure" of salted roads in the winter over there in Aus. I've known more than a few toyota's suffer from salt induced corrosion (and many other makes too!)
Your Hi-lux looks fun. Is that loadbed a standard option over there or is it "homegrown"?
Dave - Very fond of Landrovers, but never to proud to steal a good idea!
nah here it doesnt get that cold that the road need to salted, but befor i bought it the last owner rolled it on it side so there small top rust but never to bag yet ^^
i had 3 toyotas, now a 84, 87 toyota 4runner but my 95 is good but need new front and back leafs, it one of hilux fails the leafs bend down atfer years and years
well this toyota im not gonna custom like my last coz it goes good off road and run great how it is but soon gonna need new leafs maby a clutch, but i did custom the tray ^^
I know this may have been done to death but...
...later this year I am planning on buying an off road vehicle. Despite all the negative stuff out there I'm still hankering after a Land Rover.
Either a Defender or a Disco new or used.
I would be interested to hear anyone's comments on these two vehicles, positive and negative, and any general 4X4 comments which would be relevant.
I shall now don my tin hat and retire to my bunker!!
If you are buying with your heart, go for a Defender. It will put a smile on your face. If you are buying with your head, go for a disco. Comfier, almost as good offroad and a lot more vehicle for your money.
There are a lot of more intelligent options than a Defender, especially as a daily driver, but I use mine every day and I wouldn't part with it for the world. Our other car is a BMW Mini Cooper S, which I almost never drive. I would far rather be in my Defender, it doesnt do 0-60 in 7 seconds and it doesnt corner like it's on rails, it doesnt have built-in sat nav, aircon or heated seats, but none of that seems to matter.
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Martyn_s30v/my90.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Martyn_s30v/IMG_6550.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/bborc2010/IMG_6201.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y133/stuartyr/bborc2010/IMG_6369.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Martyn_s30v/bombcrater003.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Martyn_s30v/defender003.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Martyn_s30v/defender002.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Martyn_s30v/defender001.jpg
MartiniDave
18-02-2011, 14:06
Correction Martin. You do have air-con in the 90, it's the time proven 2-50 system. You open the 2 flaps and drive at 50! Been standard fit since the series 2!
Dave
Correction Martin. You do have air-con in the 90, it's the time proven 2-50 system. You open the 2 flaps and drive at 50! Been standard fit since the series 2!
Dave
Eye true Dave, sadly no more though in the new transit engined landy's.
MartiniDave
18-02-2011, 14:35
Tis the begining of the end! They'll have metallic paint next! :)
Tis the begining of the end! They'll have metallic paint next! :)
They've had that for years mate, both mine and the silver one next to it in the pic by the pub have it - though you have to be about 2" away to tell. It just kind of makes it shinier (when it's clean :D ).
MartiniDave
18-02-2011, 15:01
Just pulling you leg mate! I've just bit the bullet and fitted windows in my 1994 hard top, it's a lot better drive now you can see at junctions.
Just pulling you leg mate!Ahhh, I did wonder you little tinker. :D
I've just bit the bullet and fitted windows in my 1994 hard top, it's a lot better drive now you can see at junctions.Always been tempted to fit little "peep" windows, not full side windows, just those little quarter-light things. It makes for a dark interior, but I like the security and privacy you get from the panel sides. I've got a set of full side windows in me shed, been there for over 3 years now, I could just never bring meself to fit em. I think my ideal would be a LWB, 4 door with h/t back....
http://www.carpages.co.uk/land_rover/land_rover_images/land-rover-defender-01-04-09.jpg
Yesterday I went to pick up my sister in law from Gatwick in my 110 county, as they're moving back from Spain, her and 9 of her kids aged between 7 and 18 so that was 11 of us and all their baggage on top from Gatwick to West Wales, I have to admit I'd not have wanted to be one of them on the bench seat in the back but we managed it, in my eye's it's a fantastic vehicle and in many ways I'd be lost without it (I'd also not be doing really long journeys with 9 kids :D so not all bad)
I'll throw my money in for the 110 too. Even without any modifications it's a do all and anything vehicle. Its taken me, the mrs, three kids, dog and all our camping kit and bikes to Wales, Ireland, and France, and back again no probs. It feels like a vehicle should, every time you take it out you could be going on an expedition. A large amount of maintenance can be done yourself. We love it.
In reality as well any landrover except perhaps the freelander and modern range rovers and disco's - so any beam axled landrover would do you proud. 200 or 300tdi's have the least electrics so easiest to self maintain. Disco's and range rover classics cheaper than 90's or 110's.
Are they as reliable as the Japanese trucks - maybe not - they are as reliable as anything that needs looking after - great straight from the box but after 10 years we'll all need some TLC.
If you want to enjoy your time in vehicle and feel like your part of the world there is no other choice.
Rich and family
MartiniDave
22-02-2011, 08:44
Following on from what Rich has just said (shamelessly culled from the "Top tips" section of a Landrover mag)
Buy the best one you can afford.
Drive a Defender, then a Discovery and see if you reallt still want a defender.
Make sure the vehicle has been maintained, and continue to do so.
These are from me. I've seen a lot of seemingly sensible people hop into a landrover for the first time, and take off in it like they're driving an Abhams tank. There seems to be something that makes them think a landy is indestructible and drive as if it is. This I believe is what leads to the premature failures, breakdowns etc. I work mine hard, but always drive with mechanical sympathy, as a result they seem to last and keep going. The maintenance is a must, the moving bits are bigger & heavier, there are twice as many gearboxes as a regular car and lots of places holding oils. Check/replace them regularly and the vehicle will last longer, and cost you less for bits. Remember, if its for example 16 years old, some of the parts WILL need repairing or replacing.
Be careful, they ARE addictive, I'm on my eighth Landy!
Enjoy,
Dave
I grew up with Landrovers. The first time I drove was a Series III 109 on forestry tracks when I was 12. But I now drive Japanese - specifically a LWB Mitsubishi Delica:
http://www.filterfeeder.eu/filter_feeder/File_Hosting_files/DSCF0310_1_1.JPG
The engineering is good. Everything comes undone when you want it to. I do all the work on it myself, including stripping out the injection pump etc. Can carry 7 people and their luggage in comfort. Will go most places with the superselect 4x4 system, low range and big HT tyres. I've towed more vehicles out of the snow/ice than I can count.
2.5 tonnes. Comfortable. Has good power and acceleration for overtaking which is very handy on the A9, and will cruise along at 60-70mph very comfortably. Just got back from Skye where I did lots of driving. I learnt to drive on those kind of roads, and was really pleased by the way the Delica handled it - like proverbial on a blanket and better than many road cars.
Best of all it only cost me a couple of grand and some ninja spannering. Maybe it's because I support my family on a nurse's wage, or maybe I'm just naturally cheap, either way I never spend a lot of money on my cars.
EDIT: Best of all, the seats in the back fold down, so you can crawl into your sleeping bag and have a nice kip whenever you want. I call it a flexispace camper.
Two Landrover options;
The 110 - 5 seats, separated cargo load, roof rack - carry, pull, transport anything.
http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu70/Bigrich_1972/Picture007.jpg
The 90 - 2 seats go anywhere.
http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu70/Bigrich_1972/ThreePeaks2010-Mine009.jpg
Think alot about what you want it to do for you, occasionally you loath it, but you'll always love it :)
Rich
santaman2000
01-03-2011, 00:48
If your going for a new one dont worry too much about reliability as you will have a 3 year warranty, granted its a pain to keep having to use it but at least you have peace of mind. I was in a similar position in Dec 09, really wanted a Land Rover but was worried about reliability so opted for a 9 month old Discovery 3 and to be honest, I love it! Likewise (im touching wood now!) its been really reliable as well, its great on the motorway (better than I expected actually), has proved to be capable in the snow and ice and generally gives you a feeling of being very safe. The down side is running cost, £435 tax, £480 for a second service, £750 for 4 tyres, 30 mpg economy etc, etc. I also really like the 110's but for me I dont need (arguably) improved off road ability, my vehicle is used mainly on road.
Having said all the above, if I was buying an off road play thing, I would go Japanese every time. From my experience old LR's that are used extensively off road need a lot of TLC whereas the Jap 4x4's tend to need significantly less.
Regards, Jon.
30 mpg sounds good to me. I'm getting 13 with my ON road truck.
santaman2000
01-03-2011, 01:36
Hi there
I've often considered a Land Rover as I've had a number of 4x4's. They have a huge loyal fan base like VW's and other iconic cars. They are though often labours of love and costly to maintain.
There was a time when they were "Kings of the 'off ' Road". check out any 60's 70's or ever 80's movie with off road driving in Africa or whatever and they invariably drove a Landy. Unfortunately not so today, they are more likley to be in a Toyota Hilux or Land Cruiser. The French army even chose the G Wagen over the Land Rover.
With a 110 you really are driving a truck, and not a car... they are very able off road, but not great on road, compared to other more civilised 4x4's. Because of their iconic status they have totally unrealistic second hand prices. New (if I could afford one) I'd only really consider the Defender as I don't class any of the latest Discoverys as proper 4x4's, despite Jeremy Clarkson's Scottish stunt.
A lot really depends on what you want a 4x4 for...so to speak. Any decent model with low range will go virtually anywhere you need it to with decent AT or MT tyres ... I've had 2 Nissan Patrol's and with BFG Tracedge and AT tyres have never been stuck off road and I do about 40% of my driving on mud or dirt roads here in France. Great and robust cars, but a bit too thirsty....My last one took me over the top of the Pyrennes for 800 miles of pistes, upto 2600m....
I now have a Terrano and it too is surprisingly agile off the tarmac.
If I could have found a 110 for the same money and mileage I got the 2001 Terrano for Yes I'd have got one, but they were all at least double, often for cars with huge mileage or too many years.
There are though today very few proper 4x4's left on the market.. They have all become luxury vehicles. Many wanabee 4x4's are just plain crap off road...
This would be my top ten 4x4 for both on and off roading...
80; 90; 100 series Toyota Land Cruiser; Pajero; Nissan Patrol, Land Rover 110; Upto series 3 Discovery; Mercedes G Wagen; Nissan Terrano; or a pickup...Hilux, Navara, or L200....
Cheers
Gareth
I agree 4 wheelers ain't what they used to be. But so far the thread has had comments about all the reasons why they're changing; better fuel economy, more comfortable ride (at least with this generation), more gadgets (cd, ac, etc). Also there is one more reason not covered yet; more stringent safety requirements by the authorities. I'm as much for safety as anyone but off road capability doesn't always equate with on road safety features. That said I think there are still some pretty good choices out there. The Defender is one of them as is the Jeep Wrangler series and most of the 4wd Toyota pickups. Yeah I liked the Humvee when it was still being made but that's way out of my price range. As far needing mud tires, I've seen the swamp rats do extremely well in the swamps on street tires mounted on a stripped down dune buggy. Not street legal though.
pastymuncher
01-03-2011, 19:49
You can play with land rovers, but if you want to really go off road you need one of these.
http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2010/09/15/apocalyptic-tractors/
Twin 38l engines one for each side, and quite a good load capacity as well:D
great for the school run too
MartiniDave
02-03-2011, 08:13
Nice! But checking the tyre pressures would take about 3 days & I bet the breakover angle is "poor"!
pastymuncher
02-03-2011, 12:04
Nice! But checking the tyre pressures would take about 3 days & I bet the breakover angle is "poor"!
CTIS... Russian trucks come with it as standard even a puncture doesn't matter (bullet proof tyres btw).... break over angle isn't a problem when all the wheels are driven.
A little footnote on the reliability debate (and I hope I am not tempting fate here)
Of my regular users :
Porsche 911 : always fails its MOT every year (rusty disks and pads)
3 Year old Audi A6 Quattro : failed its first MOT last year
10 Year old Defender TD5 90 : has passed every time without so much as a wiper blade required.
I reckon that if you look after your Landie it will look after you
NS
Badger90
19-03-2011, 00:14
something i can contribute to ;)
Disco or Defender? Here's the low down, if you don't mind working on a vehicle in all weathers, want something that will grow to love like a family member, have 110% faith in that it will do what you want it to do ( and a little more ), become part of a group of people who are like minded and slightly mad on a good day, have a grin similar to wedging a melon in ya gob, not be interested in communicating with your passengers due to the noise at any speed above 30mph, enjoy it when it stops raining outside your vehicle and continues to rain inside, wear several layers and have a blanket over your knees in the winter as the heater stopped working to keep warm, drive constantly with your window down regardless of weather, become immune to rattles, knocks and other noises, work out how much oil you need to top the engine up by looking at the size of the oil slick on the floor, learn that driving at 50-60 is as fast as your gonna get, have deep pockets for the huge fuel consumption, work out that when you watch a film of someone driving and they move the wheel from side to side when going in a straight line, that was based on driving a Landy, and finally ( although i have missed out a huge amount ) become dedicated to the vehicle ( if you cant lift a spanner, forget it ) then consider a 90/110 or a Defender ( or a series if your really into bone rattles ;) )
If on the other hand you want a comfy ride and to become just another puddle splashing Disco driver, then buy one :)
Joking aside, both vehicles are capable but you really need to be commited when buying a Landy, especially a Series/90/110/130 or Defender model, Discos are oki, not my cup of tea though, i enjoy driving my 90 and use it everyday for work and travel. If you go for an older model ( pre 1990 ) then look for one with a 200Tdi engine in ( straightforward conversion ) at least and expect to pay apprx 3-4k for a decent condition one, if your looking for a more expensive one with a 300Tdi or TD5 in, then expect to pay upto and over 8-10k for one in top condition.
I wish you luck and if you need anymore assistance, drop me a message :D
Here's mine with the lovely Fox posing ;)
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6558/imag0344d.jpg (http://img832.imageshack.us/i/imag0344d.jpg/)
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shovel reccy
20-03-2011, 09:36
http://http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/shovelreccy/offroadmayhem8thfeb090031.jpg this is my current toy for last 3 years
shovel reccy
20-03-2011, 09:38
http://http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/shovelreccy/offroadmayhem8thfeb090031.jpg
shovel reccy
20-03-2011, 09:41
http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/shovelreccy/offroadmayhem8thfeb090031.jpg hope this works or im gonna blow my pc up.
shovel reccy
20-03-2011, 09:43
http://http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb339/shovelreccy/IMG_09001.jpg kitted out ready to play.