Thread: Why should I buy a Defender 110?

G'day Armandnel

Just thought I'd let you know that there is no LR dealer in Rocky. Your closest is a choice of Bundy or Townsville, as I was offered when the immobilizer let me down at Dingo 3 months back.

Despite that and plenty of other warranty issues, I'm still wrapped in my Defender (2007), and plan to keep it long term. Good luck in your search.

Brid

Originally Posted by Brid

G'day Armandnel

Just thought I'd let you know that there is no LR dealer in Rocky. Your closest is a choice of Bundy or Townsville, as I was offered when the immobilizer let me down at Dingo 3 months back.

Despite that and plenty of other warranty issues, I'm still wrapped in my Defender (2007), and plan to keep it long term. Good luck in your search.

Brid

Well, yes, but there is an independent Land Rover specialist:

Rockhampton Landrover & Mechanical - Google Maps

I recently went on a big trip in my 110 (canning, Gibb river rd, etc, etc...).

No major issues - proved to be just as reliable as the toyota in our group. But I started to get sick of all the one eyed comments.

Starting with a guy driving a Daihatsu, taking spare parts to a VERY broken Mitsubishi at well 17 - you would think he could see the irony of his comments...

If ever a toyota owner saw you with a spanner in hand on the canning you would never hear the end of it...

Then I had to put up with the spare parts bloke in Halls Ck telling me there are "no land rovers up here - except for a few people who buy them new and trade them in every couple of years before they start breaking down". I also had to convince him that Land Rover hasn't used metric bolts for many years (still don't think he believed me). I was trying to get some hub threads helicoiled. He finally admitted that Land Cruisers had the same problem...

An Kununurra it was just as bad. The guy who supposedly used to sell LR parts and had a couple of landies in his yard was a rude, arrogant, unhelpful *****.

Thankfully, people like Rovacraft can get parts to you anywhere there is a post office in 2 days (just needed a set of brake pads).

So - bottom line - landies are no more or less reliable than any other 4x4. But I am glad that I can fix everything myself, and don't need to rely on arrogant, ignorant yokels to fix them for me in remote areas.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I recently went on a big trip in my 110 (canning, Gibb river rd, etc, etc...).

No major issues - proved to be just as reliable as the toyota in our group. But I started to get sick of all the one eyed comments.

Starting with a guy driving a Daihatsu, taking spare parts to a VERY broken Mitsubishi at well 17 - you would think he could see the irony of his comments...

If ever a toyota owner saw you with a spanner in hand on the canning you would never hear the end of it...

Then I had to put up with the spare parts bloke in Halls Ck telling me there are "no land rovers up here - except for a few people who buy them new and trade them in every couple of years before they start breaking down". I also had to convince him that Land Rover hasn't used metric bolts for many years (still don't think he believed me). I was trying to get some hub threads helicoiled. He finally admitted that Land Cruisers had the same problem...

An Kununurra it was just as bad. The guy who supposedly used to sell LR parts and had a couple of landies in his yard was a rude, arrogant, unhelpful *****.

Thankfully, people like Rovacraft can get parts to you anywhere there is a post office in 2 days (just needed a set of brake pads).

So - bottom line - landies are no more or less reliable than any other 4x4. But I am glad that I can fix everything myself, and don't need to rely on arrogant, ignorant yokels to fix them for me in remote areas.

may bit a bit of difference between your 110 and the type the op is looking at but agree with all you have said

Originally Posted by uninformed

may bit a bit of difference between your 110 and the type the op is looking at but agree with all you have said

Different models, certainly. However parts are still available in ~2 days via air mail. The only big differences is you would need to carry a nanocom (or similar) for the newer models.

One funny story - Offender90 was at a mechanic in Kunners getting his fuel tank repaired. A rental 79 series turned up needing panhard bushes replaced and a coolant leak fixed. The mechanic had to spell P A N H A R D over the phone to the "parts interpreter" at Toyota... .

Sad to say, that if I lived in the kimberley and couldn't do my own repairs/servicing, I would own a 7x series like all the other sheeple, you can buy parts for them anywhere and everyone will work on them.

If you do end up looking at the one you have posted up, check to see if the head has been done.

The early model Td5s had plastic head dowels which fracture/melt and cause a whole heap of wierd overheating problems

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Different models, certainly. However parts are still available in ~2 days via air mail. The only big differences is you would need to carry a nanocom (or similar) for the newer models.

One funny story - Offender90 was at a mechanic in Kunners getting his fuel tank repaired. A rental 79 series turned up needing panhard bushes replaced and a coolant leak fixed. The mechanic had to spell P A N H A R D over the phone to the "parts interpreter" at Toyota... .

Sad to say, that if I lived in the kimberley and couldn't do my own repairs/servicing, I would own a 7x series like all the other sheeple, you can buy parts for them anywhere and everyone will work on them.

not so much about the parts availability, but more so the engine, gearbox and more simple design to some parts of yours over newer.....i know alot is the same, but also different....plus you have sorted alot of the known problems......