a 2004 110 would have the new style dash.
As said previously, a Disco would be much more comfortable, but a Defender will last longer, and parts are generally very cheap ( £12 for a shock absorber, the same for a headlight ).
As for the oil in the injector loom problem on the TD5 engine - this occurred only on those made in the first couple of years of production, and costs £30 to fix ( plus an hour of labour if you don't want to do it yourself ). Other than that, the engines have proved themselves very reliable.
The LRO.com forum is a good place to ask any specific questions you might have regarding Landies.
We tow a fairly big caravan (1500kg), currently with an old TDC1 Mondeo that does a good enough job, but planning on swapping our Verso next year. Thinking of a Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharan as they are reputed to be good tow cars...quite heavy but should still hit 40mpg. Thought of going the 4x4 route but cant help but think its a trade off for the other 98% of our annual mileage. The odd time we might get stuck there's generally someone with a 4x4 willing to pull it out for us anyway.
My brothers jap 4x4 got stuck on a wet campsite earlier this year, & a chap in an Audi A6 pulled him out...!!!
70% of all series/defenders ever built are currently still on the road, no bad for something nearly 50 years old!
Yeah, but I'd bet that the vast majority of the SI -SIII's have bugger all original parts left, everything having broken or rusted away, or been bent and dented and replaced.
I'd just about agree with the carbon footprint thing if they were still completely original.
You'd have to weigh up the cost (in terms of CO2 exenditure) of using new parts (body panels, mechanical parts) against the CO2 cost of producing a new car, and the cost associated with scrapping the car being replaced. My money still lies with the Land Rover. But I am biased. Very biased.
vinnyeh - the fact that they are put together by blokes wielding spanners and hammers means that nearly everything is replaceable on them, and that is the big reason that they continue in service and that means that you are not scrapping a vehicle and having to build a replacement - which is good for the environment.
In contrast, if you look at the S1 Discoveries or other modern vehicles the bodies have rotted and the engines and transmission are often still usable but having a bodyshell means that they are beyond economic repair and get scrapped. Similar issues with a Series Landy or Defender would mean the owner having to replace some relatively cheap panels.
My choice would be the Discovery, having owned S11/S111/110 county 300tdi/discoveryS11 V8 on LPG my current motor .
Once had eco warrior at work slap label on under my wipers anti 4x4 literature , but he wud not own up to it but obvious who the culpritt was.
Had he took time to open his narrow eyes he would have observed the gas tank, and if he had the nounce to know where i live and all i do wud know that i use it to its full capabilitys for work and leisure and it is not a school run 4x4.
So when tackled he cud only crawl back in his corner and when caught using the works minibus for personel use as he couldn't get paving slabs home on his bike and was too tight to pay delivery charge i had the last laugh . Mr Green when it suits I don't need a car brigade!
And just for those who say use public transport, tried that not enough buses in rural wales, wrong times if you work anything other than 9-5
and if you ask to use the shiny unused bike rack attached to the buses anyone wud think you were an alien talking another language.
If you fancy a Laugh try it ARRIVA BUSES.ABERYSTWYTH TO CARDIGAN/CARMATHAN ROUTES. 👿
Fossil fuels will run out, fact. Don't worry about it. They will then plough resources into developing alternatives. Its really not an issue, just an adaptation. What car you drive really bears no effect on climate change in the grand scheme of things (which really is a big con anyway).
On topic - i'd go for a Volvo XC90
Cranberry -
As for the oil in the injector loom problem on the TD5 engine - this occurred only on those made in the first couple of years of production, and costs £30 to fix ( plus an hour of labour if you don't want to do it yourself ). Other than that, the engines have proved themselves very reliable.
This happened on a mates 2004 TD5 and he needed a new loom!
I still cannot decide and will test drive the 110 this weekend to see if I can cope with the reduced comfort/increased noise!
Shakey - I was wrong. It seems that it can occur in 2003/2004 TD5 engines.
http://www.lro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14609&highlight=oil+loom
Still strange that he needed a new loom - generally you replace the injector harness and that's it.
I bought a 2001 110 CSW, I didn't notice at the time but it had the injector loom problem. I only realised when the I opened the drivers seat cubby box and it was full of oil which had tracked back through the loom and came out at the plug for the ECU. I had the injector loom replaced and the new seals where the loom connected to the injectors. I ran it for quite a while cleaning the ECU plug of oil as it slowly worked its way out of the loom. Luckily he ECU was fine.
Back to the original post, I've always had Landys: Series Ones, Lightweights, 101, various trials motors, Defenders and a Discovery. I decided that I couldn't justify running a Defender as an everyday commuter. Plus I fancied something more comfortable and economical for everyday use. I bought an estate car for daily use and I'm building a '48 series 1 for the weekend so I can still get my fix! Best of both worlds.
Daniel - Series 1 sounds good! Any pics?!
Is it me, or is the 'standard' diesel Disco 2 really short on grunt at low revs?
I had a lift in a friends, its got an auto box and I honestly thought it was broken or was stuck in Sport mode or something. It revved its nuts off the whole time despite being driven relatively gently, even at cruising speed on single carriageway it wouldn't drop into top.
Then I drove a manual version whilst taking my trailer test. I was only towing an empty box trailer, and to be honest I don't think it would've been much different solo, but I kept finding myself changing up, and then 30 seconds later, having to change down again as I was going flat out and slowing down! This is in comparison to an old Citroen ZX deisel, and a Mondeo TDCi, which could both chug around happily at 35mph in 5th if you felt like it.
Thankfully my later lessons and test were in a Mitsubushi Pajero which was much more flexible, but even my 2.3L van with a 2.8t trailer can chug along perfectly happily at 'normal' revs.
[i]70% of all land rovers are still on the road[/i]
and the other 30% made it home...
(sorry to 'bastardise' the Harley joke)
if you want comfort go for the disco , if you want somthink that will go anywere , that you can sling some tools in the back , a 110 is for you , as for the looms , replacement is normaly all you need to do , we normally flush out the large red ecu conector to clear out the oil , sometimes it can get into the ecu its self , then you need a new ecu , but thats only in extree cases mate.i have a disco 2 and a 1971 r/r classic and i use both of them. not at the sametime of course.
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/11688538@N03/4169936862/in/photostream/ ]80 rolling chassis[/url]
Actually a '52 but building it with S3 running gear, but body etc..to look like a '48 - sage green, headlamps behind the grill etc...
will look like a bigger version of my sons toylander...
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/11688538@N03/4169176239/in/photostream/ ]toylander[/url]
Having fair to great experience of them and other Lr things, by the Disco. Much better on the road , and better off it unless you factor in body damage in which case nothing matches a Defender. Unless you get a recent defender you get the TD5 which has mixed and very polarised affections. I hate it as I find it doesn't pull low down like my 300 tdi did. Ford engine nicer as is 6 speed. Main gripe with defenders is the shite dash board on later ones. Plastic knobs for heater etc where the old levers were much better and they left more storage space etc. Get a Disco unless you want to carry firewood etc. Or do like me, run a Jimny as a car and an old 110 as a tractor
That looks lovely! I wish I had the space/time to refurb a Series 1.
