Thread: things to look for when buyin a 1998 300TDi Land Rover Defender

Originally Posted by Bush Wacker

Price should be around $4000-$6000 for a good one, don't ever pay more than that. $9000 is far too much.

If you find a good one for that money, buy a lottery ticket as well

That sort of money will buy you one that you need to spend $15k on just to make right and a lot of them won't be worth the trouble. I shudder when I think of some of the ones I looked at in that price range.

There is so much that needs replacing, even on a car that someone else (the seller) thinks is in pretty good condition. I know this having just gone through the process of buying a 300TDi Defender and then turning it into something that you can rely on. Expect to replace a LOT of parts unless you score one cheap off someone who has just gone through the process themselves but in my experience you don't see those cars being sold very often.

My insurance company valued a 94 300TDi Hardtop at $17,000 market value in May this year.

Wow, who's your insurer. Both GIO and APIA have valued mine at around $11K (I wanted at least $13K) but you cannot get a decent 96 300TDi for that sort of money in Sydney.