Thread: Using a 90 as a city based daily driver. Am I mad? Discuss.

A Wrangler you say Goudgey..........only if you like six monthly services at $1200 to $2300 each.....[spittin' chips emoticon]. I had one - never again.

Re the 90. I believe a car should put a smile on your dial every time you approach it let alone drive it. If it does this for you then hang the practicalities and common sense and just buy one.

Originally Posted by Goudgey

Thanks for the feedback so far guys.

It certainly sounds like living with a Defender as a daily driver is very hard to do and quite a compromise in all areas.

I very much want to believe everything you say 90@ however.

Why buy a Defender if it's primary use wont be off-roading? Well, because they're an iconic vehicle that I would one day love to own...and the hope that it would get used off-road upon the odd occasion.

Perhaps I'd be better off considering a Wrangler, although I suspect that the merest suggestion of such could get me lynched around here!

No, you wouldn't be better off getting a Wrangler, it would have the same issues as a Defender, & it wouldn't even be a Defender, which would make matters even worse!
We bought our 90 as an "everydayer" for Wifey, & it lasted 2 weeks in that role.
For hopping in quickly to go to the shops, going to pick up the papers, getting in & out of car parks etc, just doing all the tiddly little things that Wifeys do, it was just too cumbersome.
BUT, we still have her, she is the most enjoyable car we've ever had, but not as an everydayer,...Wifey ended up with an Audi S3.
For cruising, going away, Sunday drives, relaxing etc etc, we both love Gracie, and we are both very proud of her, but she just wasn't what we needed as Wifey's everydayer......for what she was doing with it anyway.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Goudgey

It certainly sounds like living with a Defender as a daily driver is very hard to do and quite a compromise in all areas.

they're an iconic vehicle that I would one day love to own...and the hope that it would get used off-road upon the odd occasion.

I live with my Defender as a daily driver. I drive it to work and back every single day. It's not hard to do. Just drive to the conditions. However, I do this because I don't have the luxury of being able to have two cars for my own differing end use. I get off road as often as I can, so totally justify the Defender ownership, but it also has to get me to work and back (which it does, in comfort, every time, and also delivers me there and back with a big smile).

In your case, there are certainly more appropriate vehicles for a city commute, but it can do the job. I'd consider your overall use of the vehicle to justify ownership.

If you only want to go for a 4WD once or twice a year, perhaps you'd be better off hiring one for the occasion.

End of the day, if you really want one, you'll probably go and get one

Of course if your getting an out of warranty one, you can go the BAS chip and intercooler from day 1

...You should definitely get a Defender while you still can.

A 90 would be great in the city, easy to park, versatile, simple. I'd love one for those reasons, but I always use the space in my 110's.

My bet its that once you start using it for adventures, once or twice a year will not be enough. Go for it, you won't look back.

Perfect Defender for city use.

Watch car park roof height limits.

Must be and will be a must city slicker car. GET ONE

Thanks for the feedback, both for and against. Definitely food for thought

I should probably clarify, whilst I'm contemplating a 90 as my car and therefore regular driver, most of the time will be spent in the missus' more suitable car for city driving. The 90 will be used relatively sparingly, or at least that's the plan.

Not all Defender owners live rurally and hit the trails every second weekend so this dilemma must have been pondered numerous times?!

I drive my 130 in the city and inner city suburbs daily. It's just something you do because that is the car for work firstly, and play a close second.
Get use to people desperately cutting in front of you, it could be a 130 thing, but also the perceived old slow Land Rover thing derived from Series ladies.
People regularly almost run into the back of you also, because 1st gear will get you up to 15-20km/h before it feels right to cahnge. People then realise you are not taking off like rocket and have to hit the brakes.
Maybe check your usual parking as mentioned earlier. Lower than 2.2 and it's not going to work for you.

I'm going to eventually put a clutch booster in. City crawl and the packed arterial bloodlines is one thing, but pushing that heavy clutch in 93 times before getting to work is another.
RedBooster.com Land Rover Defender Servo Clutch

To be honest however, I do think you are the new bread of 90 driver. The one Land Rover are thinking of capturing with a new Defender if it ever arrives. More about look than use. They are an expansive car to own for just image, maintenance is costly and pretty regular. They leak water, are noisy, definitely need a new stereo, and the drivers feet get hot from engine heart without the air con on. Personally I'd be going for a smaller better suited city car if you are not going to use. But then, have you been to the beach, had a picnic and a swim on a quiet part of it, pitched a tent and nodded off listening to the waves, then awoke to watch the sun come up. You just might like it, it's far better than the city and required little image.