Thread: A sad Day. Goodby Deefer.

I was never unhappy driving the D2.

In a previous thread I exposed all my costs and got replies like ..."oh that's nothing, $9k/year's not to be unexpected" and many similar responses.

it did 12 or 13 central Australian Desert trips of over 6000km each time and it was after each trip something had to be repaired/replaced.....I mean it's only $173/wk to upkeep...thats not too bad , is it? Is it?

Ramblingboy42,
It was my post and not Pat's that began with "not meaning to be smart", and I put that there because as can be seen here people take offence if people have differing opinions or experience. If you took offence from my opening words of the post then I apologize.

I only commented on the Ford Puma engine and problems associated with it. Obviously some might have problems, some won't, just like Defenders or anything really. Having owned the vehicles I feel I can comment on that fairly. The Ranger is a great vehicle and I was not having a go at it . But in my opinion the Defender is not necessarily a bad vehicle. Some can accept them for what they are and others not. My current Defender is in no way perfect and I suspect it is developing the odd niggle which I will point out next service. I have no direct experience of D2's so made no comment in my post related to this. If a D2 gave you major grief, or a Defender of whatever I can sympathize. My First 4x4 was a new Lada Niva. Look up the word misery in the dictionary and you will find a picture of a Niva!.

So if someone has lost confidence in a vehicle, fair enough. They should get something that they are happy with. They are all too expensive these days to spend time and money worrying about them if your not confident in the reliability.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Sorry to hear of the OP's problems, I'd be very unhappy. I'm the 2nd owner of our Defender and according to the service record all its needed is a clutch and the original battery recently died. Turbo hoses seem fine. Feel fortunate.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

Clutch can be driver error of the previous owner, if he was anything link the father in law the clutch did not have a chance
Chris

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I was never unhappy driving the D2.

In a previous thread I exposed all my costs and got replies like ..."oh that's nothing, $9k/year's not to be unexpected" and many similar responses.

it did 12 or 13 central Australian Desert trips of over 6000km each time and it was after each trip something had to be repaired/replaced.....I mean it's only $173/wk to upkeep...thats not too bad , is it? Is it?

You must have been very hard on your D2 if your numbers are correct as I said I have seen one seriously abused with almost no issues.
Chris

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

no, you're not meaning to be smart...bull****!

just go into the pinnacles , technical chatter and read about the heartache and woes that D2 owners have had over the last 15 years.

I don't know where you get your parts prices from but I've never found one item that you have rebuked at anywhere the price you have suggested.

D2's have been the bread and butter of companies like British Off Road for years.

Why is there such a huge aftermarket business surrounding D2's? It's because they are basically heaps of **** with particularly good on and offroad manners and once you've turned your D2 into a mobile aftermarkets parts bin it is generally reliably ok.

My friends is stock standard and it managed a VERY hard life with no issues. Saying that my friend learnt to drive in the army and he is an excellent driver, maybe your issues were driving technique, just a thought..
Chris

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

Why is there such a huge aftermarket business surrounding D2's? It's because they are basically heaps of **** ...

Have you seen how big the aftermarket business is for other makes?

James, i too am sad to hear of your experience. I have had one new (though much cheaper) car, and after two services at the dealer i took it to and indie, as i felt way more comfortable with them looking after it, and i knew i wasnt going to get screwed around.

If i was you i would have a reputable independent land rover specialist look at your defender and give them a go at fixing your problems, especially if you owe more than the car is worth. Many people have commented that they have had those issues fixed at such places with no more problems. If they cant fix it, then sell and buy a different car as you plan to. But if they do fix it, then you've saved yourself a lot of money and can start actually enjoying your defender.

But then, I'm not you and i have not been through what you've been through and i have little understanding of how you're feeling. You do what you need to do to stay sane, and i hope it all works out for you and your next ride is a pearler

Cheers

Dan

Originally Posted by Ranga

Another example being my mate's father's new Prado, which struggled towing a camper up the Bloomfield Track. It went in to limp mode, due to transmission overheating. End result was leaving the camper behind, driving back to Mossman, and fitting bigger/better (?) cooler, all at his own expense. As far as I'm concerned, all the advertising had lead me to believe that a stock Prado should be able to do this.

Bigger coolers on Toyota's is a band aid,the tranny overheats because the T/C doesn't lock up unless your doing 100 in 6th,again,like suspension,it's another aftermarket cost,a very exxy one at that. Pat

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

no, you're not meaning to be smart...bull****!

just go into the pinnacles , technical chatter and read about the heartache and woes that D2 owners have had over the last 15 years.

I don't know where you get your parts prices from but I've never found one item that you have rebuked at anywhere the price you have suggested.

D2's have been the bread and butter of companies like British Off Road for years.

Why is there such a huge aftermarket business surrounding D2's? It's because they are basically heaps of **** with particularly good on and offroad manners and once you've turned your D2 into a mobile aftermarkets parts bin it is generally reliably ok.

Those prices are from the same company I've being buying parts from for years and are current,I used them last week to buy axle flanges funny enough for a mates ex-mil Td5 defender .The reason D2's aren't as reliable is simply because they had all the stuff a 2015 Toyota has now,but 15 years ago and new technology needs time to mature.You might like to talk to some late '00 era Toyota owners about ABS modulator faults,sensor faults,poor earths,dash warning lights,crank angle sensors etc,you know,when their vehicles caught up to the developed world. Pat