[Closed] 300tdi defender.. heart or head

They are getting on a bit now - even the newest are around 15 years old?
They are expensive when compared to Disco/various other Japanese offerings
They do need a bit of TLC, however if you are a bit handy, you can do 90% of it yourself.
Most parts are fairly cheap, and there is a huge network of secondhand sellers/breakers.
They are amazing off road, and not as bad as you think on road.
They do drink fuel - you'll be lucky to see more than high 20's MPG.

I'd have another... but not as my only/everyday car.

"but not as my only/everyday car."

Ill just leave it at that .... and the only lad i know that does - has a fleet of them.

I love them, but they get stolen. A LOT.

Unless it's securely garaged overnight, in my opinion they're just not worth the hassle and stress. Too easy to break into, too easy to steal, too easy to strip apart, and the second hand parts market is too lucrative.

They're like bikes really. If you let your guard down for any length of time they're gone.

My first was parked outside my house for about 3 weeks before it got stolen (I was smart, they didn't get far). So many of my mates had their stolen I lost count. The local dealer had half his lot stolen in one night. The local Land Rover club even had a visit from the police investigating where half the county's Defender population might have gone in the space of a single month.

I got fed up in the end and bought a Citroen.

you already know.
are you gonna be sensible, or do what your heart wants

*drives a 20yr old, fuel thirsty, slow, fun, beast of a motor*

I posted on a similar thread recently, but I've been driving Defender 90 HT's for the past 16 years or so as my only vehicle, and never look at anything else. They're not perfect, but that's part of the attraction. Personally, I think they're great to drive - it fits me well, and I find it very comfy even on long journeys. I've done around 190,000 miles in my current one.

Give it a go. They hold their value so well that if you dont like after six months you wont lose too much, if anything.

I love mine, but I only use it at weekends as toy. If I had to drive it everywhere every day it might get a bit wearing.

Will your budget stretch to a TD5 or better still a post 2007 model? Slightly more refined if you want to motorway cruise..

"Give it a go. They hold their value so well that if you dont like after six months you wont lose too much, if anything."

If you buy well , 300s could range from barely alive to mint with all singing all dancing galvy chassis.

difference in price will unfortunantly be minimal (in terms of total cost!)

After a exspencive six months id not recommend a td5 they are ecu based for engine mangment and have dullmass fly wheels
Both cause issues.

I like my defender a lot more now I don't have it as my only car
But do wish I'd found a good 300tdi instead of my newer td5

90 are tiny in the back mind

Oh and do it , go try one just take a big bar to poke at all the metal bits

or better still , take someone that knows where to look for rot.

Given how much one can pay for a ratty 300tdi, something like [url= http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic112292.html ]this[/url] could be a more versatile (& way more comfortable) LR option.Also can't steal it with a butter knife...

Degree in rocket science required to fix most things though.

Heaven forbid the turbo goes.....hows it come out on the d3 ?

Discos have long since lost their way , the 1s and 2s were top vehicles, now they are but range rover substitutes.

A friend got all excited because he got a d3 for the same money as my defender.
I've had a fair few bills but nothing close to him

All depends if you want to spanner it yourself I guess
300 tdi easy DIY

D3 turbo lol who the sod put it there