Defender Owners with 3+kids who go touring.....

I put my not unsubstantial behind in a Defender 2 weeks ago and drove to Whyalla from Melbourne.

They are great for long distance travel.

With the older units, consider an upgrade A/C if carrying kids all the time.

I know I mentioned the seats as a negative for the 130 but with 3 kids you really cannot get past the amount of storage you have out the back. We lived out the back of a wagon (not a 110) for a year and would never go back to that type of thing now. Things arn't squeezed in and packed on top of itself - it just makes life on the road so much more pleasant.

I know you will generally fill the space you have but after three years of the 130 we are not even close.

The front seats are just different and you will get used to them. You also sit a lot more upright so I don't find legroom in the front an issue.

Driving the 130 around town isn't too big an issue either. Maybe having a second go at a tight parking spot sometimes but other than that I don't think I would notice the difference. Don't let this be the decider.

you mean you found one with no backlash or noises... Wow must have been a pretty good rig. As for the insulation sounds like someone has spent allot of time and effort.
Was it a friends car. Or for sale.

We have three boys (7,11 and 14) and regularly do 3-7K roadtrip holidays in the TDI Defender. The tallest son sits in the middle so he can see out the front windscreen. There are no real complaints, but we did install a DVD player with two screens on the rear of the front row seat headrests.

We love the space under the rear seat - its where the sleeping bags get stored.

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Originally Posted by PAT303

Your comparing a 20 year old defender to a new 150 Prado and 100 series,not really an equal comparison,the seats are an easy fix with Mulgo seat rails,the driving position feels different because it is,ask any defender driver and they will all say they don't get a sore back after a long drive,it feels funny because the seats are making you have a good posture,no glove box but a center box that holds more than any glove box ever will,you don't have to worry about the back seat unless your letting your kids drive,the headlining is sagging because it's 20 years old,do the same comparision with a D3,the vehicle I recommend you buy based on your criteria. Pat

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Pat, I was more concerned about the smaller width in the 2nd row of seats compared to what they have now, but that's not to say they wouldn't enjoy it. [emoji4]

I realise they are years apart and I was more interested in comparing the interior room to what we have now.....

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Originally Posted by Robmacca

Well, had the opportunity yesterday to take a '95 Defender for a drive for the 1st time..... My observations of the INTERIOR (only) from a person who is 6" in height are:

> Very different seating position with the Drivers seat appearing to be off-centre to the steering wheel - Did get use to it so not a real biggie I guess
You get used to it very quickly and the position is actually very comfortable.

> Sitting VERY close to the Drivers Door and now know why most times u see the window down so your arm can hang out the window. With the Window up, I felt a little cramped, but I guess this is something u get use to ??
You get used to it, but often still knock your hands and arms.

> When I tried to sit in the 2nd row seats, I found my hair brushing against the roof + I had to lean downwards to see out the side windows + my legs/feet felt a little restricted, especially not being able to stretch them forward a little by sliding my feet under the front seats - Probably not a big deal for kids, but Teenagers & older ??
As said while the kids are young and small it is fine. If they are tall then will become an issue over 6 foot. If they turn into burly rugby players then the width will be an issue. The back seats are the single worst feature for passengers.

> The 2nd row seating doesn't come with any headrests which would be a problem on long runs when the kids fall asleep..... (I've read having a cargo barrier and some padding can solve this ??)
Fairly easy to do if you wish, but my kids have found they dont need them, just a pillow.

> Front Legroom was OK, but u can't stretch your legs out like I can in my other cars but it's a different seating position and therefore not as important..... Only on a long drive would this be a problem ??
Far better to drive long distances as the seating position for the driver is very good, with your legs being more up and down than stretched. I get sorer legs driving the Statesman,

> Visibility is less than I have now, but again, something u probably get use to.....
Visibility over the bonnet is much better than any others on the market.
> No Tacho (not a biggy)

> No Glovebox - No a bigger either as there is areas where u can store stuff
The cubby box is great and you could easily turn part of the dash into a glove box by making a face plate an lock.

> A/C - well, it's well known that it's not that good, especially for passengers in the 2nd row.....
One of the cars biggest downfalls for rear passengers

> Insulation from Engine Heat - The one I drove had aftermarket insulation, so I don't know if this is definitely req'd or whether the OEM matting is good enough
If you have time and can afford it then insulation upgrade may be an option.

> Rattles; noises, etc - Big surprise in the one I drove - there was none that I could hear and the gear changing was smooth and quiet with little to nil backlash
strange, dont buy that one as there is something wrong it should have lots ;)
> Rooflining left a little to be desired - It seemed as though it was sagging a bit but the owner had put some extra insulation above the lining....

> Comfort of seats - felt OK but might be a different story after 8+hrs of driving ??

I took the tape measure with me as I wanted to measure the interior dimensions of the front & 2nd row seating and then the cargo area diemensions as well and then compare these with our current touring vehicle (150's) and also wanted to compare the measurements with the measurements I've got of the Toyota 100's and what I found was a bit of a eye opener for me at least......

1. The width of the Defender was narrower than the TDi and our 150's. (comparing Defender to TDi; Prado 150's & LC 100's).
2. Less room (width) in Front and 2nd row seating. (comparing Defender to TDi; Prado 150's & LC 100's).
3. The cargo area is where the Defender was definitely larger but not by as much as I was expecting. The Box shape is definitely a winner though.
Maybe a 130 with 3 kids?

These are only my observations and will differ to others and their varying situations, etc.....

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It will all depend on your kids. My daughter is around 170cms and on long trips has issues with leg room and sore legs as she cannot really stretch her legs out. In Comparison we also have a WK Statesman that you could just about lay down.
Having 2 kids we can put up with the Defender, if we had 3 I would have second thoughts.
If you are thinking of doing long travel you may have some issues if your kids are used to well air conditioned cars as it gets quite hot. A couple of 12 v fans help, but long term you could fit a mini bus air con in the back facing forward or even behind the cargo barrier facing up. I have seen it done a few times, and would love to have it done for ours.

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Originally Posted by CraigE

It will all depend on your kids. My daughter is around 170cms and on long trips has issues with leg room and sore legs as she cannot really stretch her legs out. In Comparison we also have a WK Statesman that you could just about lay down.
Having 2 kids we can put up with the Defender, if we had 3 I would have second thoughts.
If you are thinking of doing long travel you may have some issues if your kids are used to well air conditioned cars as it gets quite hot. A couple of 12 v fans help, but long term you could fit a mini bus air con in the back facing forward or even behind the cargo barrier facing up. I have seen it done a few times, and would love to have it done for ours.

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Craig,

Thanks for those honest answers. Having 3 kids now and at the ages they are now might not be a problem, but they are growing fast and even with the car we got now they sometimes complain about the space between each of them. This is usually a sign to stop and let them get out to stretch their legs and run around to let out some of their energy.
Its a hard decision as I really like the defenders but I also got to look at the bigger picture too.

Try a current model, the rear seats are a lot better now; 3 individual buckets.

Also, with an older one. You can get seats that sit further back and recline a little from Exmoor which will keep rear passengers happy...

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Originally Posted by Robmacca

Craig,

Thanks for those honest answers. Having 3 kids ... growing fast and even with the car we got now they sometimes complain about the space between each of them. ... I really like the defenders but I also got to look at the bigger picture too.

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Hi Rob,

If you like the Defender, and want each kid to have their own space, there is another option.

Get a Defender with 3 row seating (2 in the cargo area). Remove the second row and put in two bucket seats (Exmoor Trim or similar). Now you have a 6 seater with a bus aisle down the middle. Everyone has their own space (not sitting against anyone) and their own window.

If you do this with a 110, you'll need to tow, but if you convert (or get Mulgo to convert) a 130 into a station wagon, wow, you could have 3 rows of bucket seats, a roomy access isle and heaps of cargo space behind, not to mention no one sitting behind the rear axle, which is the single most likely cause of trip discomfort.

While going to something like a D3 is a nice option, it's unladen weight is the same as a loaded Defender, and it lacks the charm.

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Originally Posted by Robmacca

Craig,

Thanks for those honest answers. Having 3 kids now and at the ages they are now might not be a problem, but they are growing fast and even with the car we got now they sometimes complain about the space between each of them. This is usually a sign to stop and let them get out to stretch their legs and run around to let out some of their energy.
Its a hard decision as I really like the defenders but I also got to look at the bigger picture too.

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Thats why I keep on about the D3,they were designed by putting 5 seats on the factory floor with people moving them about till they had the seating right,they then designed the car around them,if you want the defender buy a TDCi,if not buy a D3.Reading back you didn't know what an L322 was,if had one,they can be had for a good price,they have interior space to burn and the Td6 is the best diesel engine sold in any 4wd in Oz IMHO.Both the D3 and L322 are in another league when compared to a defender,100,Prado etc. Pat