Thread: Defender - Useful Build Quality

I have a defender 2001 130 and have just done under 7000km over the last 2 months and I have had moments where I wanted to burn it. They are noisier than jap cars and hot inside I now have a big job of trying to get the cabin cooler and get the noise down as well. It also leaks water when it rains through the seals. I have/am considering moving to a discovery as these vehicles are built better and nicer to live with on a day to day basis.

the tdi's are electroncially simpler being the last of the mechanical diesels they're tweakable up to about baseline td5 power levels.

The td5s bring in the electronics but are still diagnosable without a computer IF you're willing to take the time to learn about them. The basics are still correct landrover style (2000-2007)

the pumas lost that in the initial run and have some shortfallings in the outback stakes. Running out of fuel needs special tools to sort its the biggest remaining issue other than its also no longer hose out. of All the landrovers its engine also had the shortest production run of 4-5 years before being swapped out. (2.4 version to 2.2 version)

Don't get a Defender, they are for off road. Dust and water get in, and the water runs straight back out again. Clean up at the end of a trip is open the doors and hose it out.

Sounds like your after some creature comforts. Toyota and Nissans are good but pricey. Discoveries and, may I suggest, Pajeros are better value. Most Pajeros and a lot of Discos have never left the bitumen.

Violently disagree about Defers being hot. I think you mean that the air con is crap. They are the coolest non air con machine around. Flat, vertical windows don't catch the sun and just open the vents and the rear window and the air just flows through, the wind chill keeping you as cool as the crap air con does.

A lot of it will revolve around finding a good system for carrying the dirtbike. A van appeals because it's easy to lock up and keep everything secure and easy to carry tools like a compressor. The downside is it needs to be bloody huge as it turns out you need more room to store a moto than you would think...

I'm not really after creature comforts, it's more that the stuff that I want to be clean and dry, needs to stay clean and dry, beyond that I'm not very concerned. Other than that, I'm pretty tall at 6"3' and relatively wide shouldered and I'm a bit concerned about what I have read about the driving position in the defenders, particularly with the lack of adjustability in the position. A long haul drive in a cramped and awkward position could turn things into a chore pretty quickly. I'm going to scoot down to a dealer when I get back from work and have a sit in one, see how bad it really is.

I'm thinking a ute with a decent tray and some custom built storage boxes and a roof mounted sleeping area might be a good option. This all comes down to finding someone that makes a no bull**** and well built canvas pop top that doesn't leak.

The fuel economy and potential fuel range of a Defender definitely appeals but only if it still gives you the option of being able to overtake. Nothing worse than being stuck behind and truck only to find that you don't have the oomph to get past him when you finally get an overtaking opportunity
Not so much a problem in the wide open and flat areas, but a real issue if your following the coastal ranges...

The standard suspension of the defender is a definite plus from almost all angles, being ride quality, load carrying ability and offroad capability.

Argh!!

When is someone at Toyissanover gonna wake up and drop one of these new high performance diesel's into proper 4WD chassis like a patrol, cruiser or defender?

You look at the performance and fuel usage of the 3l CRD used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, The 550-X Navara diesel, the BT-50 diesel (and the list could go on) and they just stomp all over the patrol, cruiser and landie diesels. The new 4.5 V8 in the cruisers isn't to bad, just held back buy the POS gearbox that they have bolted up to it...

Sounds to me like you will definitely not want a Defender. Get something else and save yourself a headache. Don't get me wrong, I love them, I have one as my daily work 'car' I can live with it easily but that's me - I knew what I was buying when I got it. But you have specific criteria which the Defender will be hard placed to satisfy (dust proof being just one that springs to mind). If your not concerned about off road ability then just do not bother. Get a Japanese 4x4 or better still a van (Mercedes-Benz sprinters go like stink and have huge cargo space compared to any 4x4. Horses for courses I guess.

Originally Posted by Simple_One

A lot of it will revolve around finding a good system for carrying the dirtbike. A van appeals because it's easy to lock up and keep everything secure and easy to carry tools like a compressor. The downside is it needs to be bloody huge as it turns out you need more room to store a moto than you would think...

I'm not really after creature comforts, it's more that the stuff that I want to be clean and dry, needs to stay clean and dry, beyond that I'm not very concerned. Other than that, I'm pretty tall at 6"3' and relatively wide shouldered and I'm a bit concerned about what I have read about the driving position in the defenders, particularly with the lack of adjustability in the position. A long haul drive in a cramped and awkward position could turn things into a chore pretty quickly. I'm going to scoot down to a dealer when I get back from work and have a sit in one, see how bad it really is.

I'm thinking a ute with a decent tray and some custom built storage boxes and a roof mounted sleeping area might be a good option. This all comes down to finding someone that makes a no bull**** and well built canvas pop top that doesn't leak.

The fuel economy and potential fuel range of a Defender definitely appeals but only if it still gives you the option of being able to overtake. Nothing worse than being stuck behind and truck only to find that you don't have the oomph to get past him when you finally get an overtaking opportunity
Not so much a problem in the wide open and flat areas, but a real issue if your following the coastal ranges...

The standard suspension of the defender is a definite plus from almost all angles, being ride quality, load carrying ability and offroad capability.

Maybe a 4motion VW Transporter with a Hannibal roof top tent could be your answer?

6"3' you wont fit You either fit in a defender or you don't.