Thread: My Def... keep or throw

I know how you feel, I had a car that was starting to 'give trouble' and was torn with the decision between keeping and selling for something better/more reliable. I don't have any experience with a TD5, but I would be fixing the old girl up and keeping her. I'm sure it'd only got a few thousand (in Australia at least) a new car will cost a lot more than that.

Maybe keep your eye out for someone who is upgrading their suspension - there are lots of people doing it here and some of their 'old' stuff is only maybe 1000kms old! could be a cheap way to get around that....

One thing about an older defender, even a Td5, is that it is repairable, unlike more modern motor cars.

That being the case, we do not know what a defender is worth in your country and if there are capable mechanics competent to work on it.

Here in Australia there are competent mechanics who know these older cars, and cost of the repairs you list would be much less than the cost of a new car.

The best advice I can give is to either learn to work on it yourself, or find a capable mechanic who wants to work on it.

Your written English is very good !

Specialist land rover mechanics can be cheaper for some jobs as they know exactly what to do. I used a non specialist to swap over my steering box. It took him nearly twice the time quoted by a specialist.

Thanks for the replies (especially for the compliments to my english), I think now my defender may worth more or less half of what I paid 7 years ago. So not depreciated so much. I am very fond to my Def but the mechanics that I have known so far do not seem very competent ...

Does not stop straight? "what can you do? Keep it so, they are so made ​​machines, a bit basic"
Does the shift make noise? You have to ask to who fix those British car

Do you understand in what hand I risk to put my car? I'd like to keep it but I'm afraid of having a car always broken.

have you tried looking for a land rover club or similar in your country? you could probe them for info on who they use to fix their cars.

Depending upon how much cash you have to spend there is a third option because of where you live.
Book your car in for a major refresh, brakes, gearbox, suspension at one of the U.K's specialist's and drive there( or catch a ferry), as it would be either a full days drive or maybe a 1 night stop-over trip. Then hire a car for a few days and have a holiday while your defender gets fixed. This way you know the job's done right and you and maybe your partner could have a few days or week away touring U.K, Scotland and maybe Ireland . Talk with a few clubs on the route and maybe have a few detours on your return trip to enjoy the refreshed defender.
As others have said look to a local club for mechanics and as your in the E.U use the UK suppliers to send you cheaper parts like paddocks, devon etc.

Originally Posted by frantic

Depending upon how much cash you have to spend there is a third option because of where you live.
Book your car in for a major refresh, brakes, gearbox, suspension at one of the U.K's specialist's and drive there( or catch a ferry), as it would be either a full days drive or maybe a 1 night stop-over trip. Then hire a car for a few days and have a holiday while your defender gets fixed. This way you know the job's done right and you and maybe your partner could have a few days or week away touring U.K, Scotland and maybe Ireland . Talk with a few clubs on the route and maybe have a few detours on your return trip to enjoy the refreshed defender.
As others have said look to a local club for mechanics and as your in the E.U use the UK suppliers to send you cheaper parts like paddocks, devon etc.

That is GENIUS! I love it.

Originally Posted by frantic

Book your car in for a major refresh, brakes, gearbox, suspension at one of the U.K's specialist's and drive there( or catch a ferry), as it would be either a full days drive or maybe a 1 night stop-over trip. Then hire a car for a few days and have a holiday while your defender gets fixed.

fascinating