Thread: Should I buy a defender?

Josh a defender will easily get you to the cape and to the simpson straight out of the box...

will it get you there in comfort? the only person that can answer that question is you...because we dont know what your comfort requirements as a person are.

why dont you tell us what your misconceptions and asumptions were and that way we can tall you if they are true or not and perhaps try and answer your questions in this manner

The question you have asked has been asked time and time again on here so I would encourage you to use the search function.

what are you driving now? why are you looking to change it.

there are many many minus to a Land Rover (some of them are just considered a Land Rover thing to people that own them) however the pluses I personally feel out weigh those minuses

the biggest thing for me is if you have to convince someone to buy a defender then they probably should really be driving one...because you either love em or you hate them..
Go drive one if you havent already because at least that would be a start

Thanks. I currently drive a lowered, 300 rwkw v8 ute. So this would be a complete change. My wife and I want to do some travelling soon so the ute has to go. I am simply at the research stage and am narrowing down my options of vehicle (defender, hilux, navara, patrol) before I go and start test driving some.

I have been searching and found a lot of useful info.

Comfortability - it has to better and more forgiving than a lowered ute i guess?

Assumptions and misconceptions - traditionally plagued by problems (oil leaks, new pumps, replace bearings and other basic consumables at half regular shelf life, no creature comforts like good air con, decent radio etc). My other misconception was that they simply weren't as capable and as reliable (daily and offroad) as a hilux, navara or patrol. Having looked at the specs side by side and talking with John, the defender seems more than capable 'out of the box' but reliability is a big thing for me. I regularly log book service any vehicle I own and will do so with the next. I just can't afford to be replacing part after part each service. Is this common in defenders? One defender owner has done over 200,000 kms and the biggest thing replaced was a water pump.

So what should I expect if i purchase a second hand 110 or 130, 2002 to 2009 model with around 100-200,000 kms?

Josh,

Given the year range you've specified, I guess you'd be looking at a Td5.
It's not as comfortable as the current Puma Defenders, as the air con is somewhat underwhelming and the heater is not much better.

However I found my previous Td5 comfortable to drive on long journeys, despite what the professional road testers tend to say. (ie "shocking ergonomics" etc).
The thing is, you sit up straight with your legs bent as they should be (no stuck out in front of you as they would be in your fancy ute). You have a great view of the road, and the instruments and controls are pretty well where you expect them to be.

The clutch will be much heavier than in your ute, the indicators are on the LHS, the gear change requires a bit of patience (no slick changes here!) and the turning circle is similar to a Kenworth truck. Oh and the passenger foot well is a bit crowded by the air con fan etc.

So if you're doing a lot of stop-start commuting, it can be a bit of a pain, bit on the open road, it's fine. It'll probably get about the same fuel consumption as your ute, but the tyres will last MUCH longer (100,000km if you're careful!).
But it's when you take it off-road that it really feels "RIGHT".
Just feels as though it belongs there, inspires great confidence, and makes you smile. (Though your wife may be like mine, and panic when the going gets tough.... just smile in a knowing way and reassure here that she's in a Land Rover and it'll all be OK... )

Mechanically the Td5 is a nice simple beast, despite being "fly by wire". Reliable engine (no timing belt to break!), well proven transmission and no real weaknesses that I can recall.
Look for rust in the corners of the door frames, make sure the gearbox shifts smoothly (though slowly as mentioned), DO make sure it easily selects Hi and Lo ratio and stays there when selected, and listen for excess "clunk" when changing gear..this is backlash in the drive train, generally caused by wear.

The beauty of the Defender is that you can add all sorts of accessories quite easily.. after all, it's just a big bare aluminium box with plenty of room to insert camping gear, recovery equipment etc.

As mentioned see if you can borrow or comprehensively test drive the beast before buying one, and do take it off-road so you get that smile on your face!

Good Luck,

Alan

Originally Posted by Rurover

However I found my previous Td5 comfortable to drive on long journeys, despite what the professional road testers tend to say. (ie "shocking ergonomics" etc).
The thing is, you sit up straight with your legs bent as they should be (no stuck out in front of you as they would be in your fancy ute).

When you first sit in a defender it will feel different - thats not bad it just takes a bit of getting used to.

I also find being up against the door (something everyone seems to worry about) means my knee sits a lot straighter as well as it isn't hanging out to the side.

But definitely very comfortable for longer journeys.

I've done three trips to Adelaide and back in my td5 110 and while not being the most comfortable car ever made you still get out at the other end as can still use your legs so it's not too bad if you're going for a second hand car the two main things to look for are a good service history and signs if rust - don't be afraid to get under it. Mines at 230000 kms without any major work needed over 10 years - a well maintained td5 will last forever

I also drive a (diesel) Hilux for work so I can make comparisons between the two. Honestly I find the Toyota is more comfortable and tends to cover distance a bit easier, but it is fairly thirsty and I've found it to be more unreliable that the Defender - I do some hard Kilometres in both. Put simply, the Landy feels like it is screwed together better the air con / stereo in the hilux is better but I've never had a drama with either in the Defender, not even in the middle of summer do I find that the air con struggles. These would be better again in a new Defender.

On road ability is much of a muchness but there's no question the Landy is better off road. If you're buying second hand don't be afraid to shop around a bit. You will probably find you'll end up with a Defender that's already had some after market gear fitted to it

I own a Patrol, have a 'work' Navara, and a 130 300Tdi, the Navara is one of the worst cars I have driven, I find it gutless, and if your towing, then trying to reverse in the thing is pointless. The Patrol is a family wagon, 7 seats and can go off road, better than the Navara, but I wouldn't do to much off roading in it, I find it wallowee(?). The 130 is my vehicle of choice, if I'm going out bush, or for a long run. Comfortable, tough, and as reliable as YOU make it. I do a lot of sand/beach driving where I am, and the 130 makes it feel effortless in comparison to the other two.
As others have said, the comfort thing is an innately personal thing, that you will only know after doing some Ks. Go to a dealer and test drive a new one and see what you think.
Just remember that no matter what you buy, someone will have had bad experiences with it, and written about it somewhere. Most people don't write about the good stuff.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Joshmorg

Thanks. I currently drive a lowered, 300 rwkw v8 ute. So this would be a complete change. My wife and I want to do some travelling soon so the ute has to go. I am simply at the research stage and am narrowing down my options of vehicle (defender, hilux, navara, patrol) before I go and start test driving some.

I have been searching and found a lot of useful info.

Comfortability - it has to better and more forgiving than a lowered ute i guess?

Assumptions and misconceptions - traditionally plagued by problems (oil leaks, new pumps, replace bearings and other basic consumables at half regular shelf life, no creature comforts like good air con, decent radio etc). My other misconception was that they simply weren't as capable and as reliable (daily and offroad) as a hilux, navara or patrol. Having looked at the specs side by side and talking with John, the defender seems more than capable 'out of the box' but reliability is a big thing for me. I regularly log book service any vehicle I own and will do so with the next. I just can't afford to be replacing part after part each service. Is this common in defenders? One defender owner has done over 200,000 kms and the biggest thing replaced was a water pump.

So what should I expect if i purchase a second hand 110 or 130, 2002 to 2009 model with around 100-200,000 kms?

300RWKW Ute?
Our other car is a C63, & I even prefer "driving" (and you really do have to DRIVE them!), the Defender over the C63.
Should you buy one?....Of course you should, but, if possible, one with lower ks than you are talking about.
Cheers, Pickles.

Originally Posted by Joshmorg

Should I buy one?

YES