Anyone got any views on these, what would the land rover cogniscenti do with my kind of budget? The purpose of it would be ‘just because I like them’,I have no need for any actual off road capability, and it wouldnt be an everyday car. I’m tending towards the newer vehicle, but interested in the views of the enthusiast.

My personal choice would be an early model with galvanised chassis & bulkhead.

You’ll pay through the nose for a restored one, but it’s still a better bet then a newer one that’ll rot out in a few years time.

The newer ones are a bit more civilised, but if you have a Caterham you won’t have particularly high standards in terms of creature comforts so you should be fine 🙂

TrailRat & Stoner are sort of right

Best bet is to buy a nice one, you get good and bad in all versions.

Your budget could get you a nice TD5 or 2.4 Puma, if it’s been well looked after and chassis protected you could get a gem.

Your best bet is to go shopping with a Landy nerd.

All are good, all are bad.

what he said – galv chassis and bulkhead come in many forms…. and can be built by many people.

most importantly than everything … make sure the numbers match documentation…..

sooooo many ringers – intentional or otherwise…. without proof of build date – you will be liable for it…..

You’ll pay through the nose for a restored one, but it’s still a better bet then a newer one that’ll rot out in a few years time.

The restored ones do seem to be very pricey, around £15k for a mid/late 90’s model, and how do you know the restoration was a good job? I mean I can have a look around one, and it’ll look shiney, but how do I know it was done right? are there ‘prefered’ restorers? or are there some specialists that are more trusted/reputable than others? I’m in the north west, if that helps narrow down some good specialist dealers.

The newer ones are a bit more civilised, but if you have a Caterham you won’t have particularly high standards in terms of creature comforts so you should be fine

Yep – the caterham is very uncivilised, no heater, leaky roof/doors, hateful to drive in traffic etc, I expect I’d fit right in to defender ownership.

i would take an impartial 3rd party whos into his landies……

ive done it a couple of times for mates….

one bought it after i gave him a list of issues – including the fist sized hole in the front dumb iron… but so far hes had no issues other than the ones i pointed out- and he got it for a song because of the issues….

i told someone else flatly to walk away from the landy we were looking at unless he was going to stick a chassis on it…. knowing full well he wanted a daily driver.

He bought a rav 4 instead – hates the thing – didnt realise it was possible for a 5 door car to have less useful load space than a 90…..

It’s worth noting that 110 CSW are better in nearly everyway if you intend to actually carry more than 2 people and a bag

It’s worth noting that 110 CSW are better in nearly everyway if you intend to actually carry more than 2 people and a bag

I dont think a 110 will fit in my garage.

They also tend to be better value, more comfortable, better to drive, bigger fuel tank, etc….

(Just don’t look as good)

110s are invariably like for like more pricy than a 90 for all the reasons above.

90 pick up = nightmare to travel with more than a bag and a couple of bikes in the back…..

Load of logs on the other hand = ace – far easier to load with the front loader than a van (impossible)

Just for the hell of it

😀

is that a new one Tiger?

(BTW, Ive got one of those roof racks going begging…)

For Defenders, completely ignore what the number on the mile-o-meter says, it’s “Condition, Condition, Condition” that matters!

(when i used to be involved in such things, i nearly (well the company i worked for at the time) bought a load of ex electricity board 110s at an auction. All lovely, one owner, low miles. Except that had clearly sat idling (keeping linesmens toes warm) for 18hrs a day, so despite having less than 30kmiles, the engines were totally knackered……)

looks likea TD5 or older – lacking the bonnet bulge and non flappy flaps….

I mean “new” to him. I dont recognise it from his fleet 🙂

You need the Goldylocks Defender, the 100 inch. Not long, not too short:

Here’s one i made (a lot) earlier (1995, where the **** did 20 years go??!!)

Fleet??

Stoner – Member
is that a new one Tiger?

Had it a few years now and it’s our 1 and only proper Land Rover now.

if we are doing photos….

(pssst its not clean , its just raining :D)

If you get a Hi lift jack, please research its safe use before you try to use it!

I’ll second that!! 😀

😀

Oh go on then, just a few…..

Pictures time?
[/url]Old Coach Road by riksbar, on Flickr[/img]

well done, but get at least 1 tracker on it ASAP

heres mine I bought couple of years back

and now sold and bought this new one (65 plate) one of the last

Alf wins at land rovering as usual, love that truck 🙂

Nice wheels on the 65 plate cozz. Shame your tires think they are american:( (sorry white letterings a pet hate of mine)

Aaaah please stop posting pics, I’ve only just convinced myself I don’t ‘need’ one!
😆

If going off road, mud etc check you’ve got some timing cover plugs fitted and take them out regularly otherwise the dirt will eat cam belts!

ALF has something interesting hidden under his skin; is he on coils? Or late axles on parabolics? And what is hiding under the bonnet that needs the front panel moving forward 4 inches of so? I think I like ALF a lot! Do tell, Mark90…

Alf wins at land rovering as usual, love that truck

The one I shouldn’t have sold.

Coil sprung galvanised Designa chassis, 90 axles, V8, series box, was very light, surprisingly good off road and great fun in rear wheel drive. A subsequent owner changed the engine to a TDI.

Edit: One more…..

OOh, photos…

If you choose an older referb just be sure to look it over and poke at it.
I paid to much for my td5 from a “specialist” because it looked shiny and had been looked over and fixed etc
What that Ment as it happens is filler in the rear x member and covering over of stuff all round.
I still have it and have fixed most of the issues ,
Said specialist is no longer trading.

Td5 and tdci do seem to rot far to easily. If I had my time agaib id get a tdi and be very picky

hows she running on her new gearbox and engine loom Stevo???

😉

If you choose an older referb just be sure to look it over and poke at it.

Or do it yourself, much more fun that way 🙂

hows she running on her new gearbox and engine loom Stevo???

Better than new! Can’t believe I put up with the engine loom thing for so long. Bit like the frog in slowly-boiling water thing. You don’t notice it when it creeps up on you…

Next job is to re-paint the rear cross-member. Again.

slightly off topic – but….

I’ve been having a look at used land rovers from various ‘specialist’ dealers, not sure if I will actually buy one, but my notional budget is £12-£18k ish, for a 90 station wagon.

From having a look around, it seems there are two types of vehicle in this budget from these ‘specialists’:-

– An older (late 90’s) vehicle , but apparently fully renovated model, usually built on a galvanised chassis. They look ,at least to the untrained eye, pretty smart, with a nice paint job, updated interior etc etc, high mileage usually >100k miles

-A newer (post 2005 ish) vehicle, looks to be in reasonable cosmetic condition,maybe not as nice as the renovated vehicle, but lower mileage 60k+.

Anyone got any views on these, what would the land rover cogniscenti do with my kind of budget? The purpose of it would be ‘just because I like them’,I have no need for any actual off road capability, and it wouldnt be an everyday car. I’m tending towards the newer vehicle, but interested in the views of the enthusiast.

There are three or four LR ‘restorers’ near me (East Lancs), one has his Landys painted by a paint guy in the same yard as me so I see his stuff before and after. It it is the most bodged together crap I’ve ever seen-absolutely knackered chassis and bulkheads stuffed full of newspaper and body filler. Looks good after paint but I feel sorry for whoever buys them.

The second sells stuff that initially looks ok until you look closer and start spotting details that hint at quick buck bodge stuff.

The third guys stuff looks okay, higher end rebuilds – I think he might be okay.

The forth builds some nice stuff but is a dodgy character.

As much as I love LR stuff (and I restore them myself) I would say be very very careful.

Personally I would buy a newer unmolested Puma and keep on top of it with a view to rebuilding it yourself in 10-15 years.

Remap really helped mine
http://www.alivetuning.com/vehicles-defender/

Replace the small side lights, rear lights and indicators with decent sized NAS ones
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item–i-GRID012671

Rear work lamp was handy for night rides, had a switch for it on dash as well, handy for reversing and when someone was tailgating at night….

If you search it is likely that there is wiring for rear reversing light on the other side from single light, an easy job to wire up another one to give twin reversing lamps
http://www.macmillan4x4.co.uk/Photos/landy12.html

Rear wheel carrier if don’t want to wreck rear door

Side impact protection is rubbish, fit something sturdy.
http://www.paddockspares.com/pm736-tree-sliders-pair-defender-90-black-powder-coated-over-zinc-plate.html

Can get heated mirror kits
I actually fitted larger mirrors which were helpful on continent
http://www.paddockspares.com/pm752-door-mounted-mirror-defender-large-type-web-exclusive-special-offer.html

Door latch forever catching on trousers and always catches seatbelt

http://foundry4x4.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=68

Get rid of egr valve
http://www.alivetuning.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EGR-bypass-kit.pdf

Lockable cubby box?

Fit extra 12 volt accessory sockets on dash and/or cubby box

Cooker housing on rear door?

There’s loads of things you can do to adapt it to your needs and can be a bit of a money pit too…..

Here’s mine

http://www.macmillan4x4.co.uk/vehicle.html

Daft question, what’s a Puma defender?

Daft question, what’s a Puma defender?

No such thing as a daft question. ‘Puma’ is the code name the factory used for the 2.4 ford transit engine that’s in the last lot of defenders. Has a bonnet bulge that accommodates the tall lump and a ‘car style’ dashboard (which loses the functionality of the flaps under the windscreen, which made me sad). People are mad for the bulge type bonnet at the mo; personally I think that they are a bit ugly. Give it a few years and everyone will want the old type again.

RustyNissanPrairie
My wife fancies a Defender and we have been looking at a place in that area which has some nice looking vehicles. Their name is a direction opposite to SE and has Defender in the name-is that one of the dealers of which you speak?
Email in profile if you dont wish to name them publicly.
Cheers

Their name is a direction opposite to SE and has Defender in the name-is that one of the dealers of which you speak?

I’d been looking at their website as well, and came to the conclusion that it had a whif of dodginess about it, cant put my finger on why, possibly the high number of cat d type cars that they are selling (quite openly I should add), the fact they’ve only been around a few years, and that they require you to make an appointment before visiting.

If someone would like to correct me though, that’d be great.

RustyNissanPrairie
My wife fancies a Defender and we have been looking at a place in that area which has some nice looking vehicles. Their name is a direction opposite to SE and has Defender in the name-is that one of the dealers of which you speak?
Email in profile if you dont wish to name them publicly.
Cheers

cant see an email address in your profile.

All our previous Defenders had a Mantec rear wheel carrier. It saves the rear door hinges and stops the door rattling. The door opens in the same way, but the weight of the wheel is supported by the carrier.

Rear Work light. Handy, cheap and simple to fit.

Reverse camera. For under £40 you can get one and it’s a simple fit. Helps hitching trailers on your own amongst other things.

Had 200TDi’s 300TDi’s and TD5s. Had a DiscoveryII TD5 and loved it. (All the same performance but in comfort). I’m now driving a Discovery3 and it’s the best 4×4 I’ve had. I go off road with big/heavy trailers and it’s awesome for what I need it for. I’d never have another Defender, (I’m getting old and like comfort!), but I enjoyed the ones I had immensely.
Good luck!