Realistic pricing for Defender 130 dual cab ute?

MrLandy · 11th August 2016, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by twr7cx

Not sure how to respond to this now. There clearly exists a large amount of passion within the Defender area and I feel as though what I say will be scrutinised thoroughly - do so if you feel necessary, but it's just my opinion, it's not intended to offend or upset you and your welcome to disagree with it and have your own opinion.

Firstly, six or seven years ago I set out to buy a Defender. I ended up with a Discovery 2 TD5 HSE instead. This is it now:

There exists a lot of work and additional expense in the modifications.

The reason why I went the Discovery route was that the Defenders in my opinion at the time were significantly over priced. The equivalent motor and year Defender attracted a premium of 30 to 40% more, yet the Discovery was more expensive new and a nicer vehicle to drive. I still hold that my D2 with it's SLS and ACE and various modifications (33" tyres, 3" lift, etc. etc.) is one of the most capable on road and off road vehicles you will find - it handles amazingly on road and has not let me down off road yet - couldn't find a better balance. I still have this vehicle and have no intentions of sending it anywhere.

My brother has a 2011 Puma. I enjoy driving it but we both agree that my Disco is far more refined.

We would like a Defender 130 dual cab ute. But I don't feel that they are in anyway worth $15,000.00. The motor and driveline are shared with a Discovery 1 which I frequently see lovely clean 300TDI models for $3,000.00. So this means that a premium of $12,000.00 is being paid for the Defender body and ute body shape - it's my opinion that it's just not worth that much premium! Then considering that most seem to have 300,000+km and bodies that are rough...

As an alternative I am now looking either going with a single cab, which is not ideal, but that opens up F trucks, Patrols and old Land Cruisers as other options. The only advantage I can find with the Land Rovers is that they have a dual cab option and I'm partial to the brand, but not loyal enough that I can justify that sort of premium! Otherwise we will either keep the current Ranger or downgrade to an older dual cab Hilux/Courier/Bravo/Navara/Triton. There's plenty of other offerings at more reasonable pricing.

My intention behind this thread was not to complain about the prices but to check if they were realistic on the current market - apparently they are, so best of luck to all the sellers and buyers, but I'm out!

Sounds like you made up your mind six or seven years ago and your criteria haven't changed.

Defender prices are relative to their iconic status, as well as their durability and capability without any modifications required. There will be many more 300tdi Defenders still on the road than 300tdi Discovery's in coming years. And probably more Pumas than Disco 4's. The Defender driving experience is like nothing else. Some like me won't drive anything else, others prefer a more car-like drive. It's a matter of choice and budget, but the driving experience of Defender far outweighs other factors for me. It's intriguing that Defender new prices were so far under Discovery prices ($30,000 less) right up until the end and yet they hold their value much better second hand and will continue to do so I believe.

Unfortunately pricing is based on what people/market will pay at the time, not on what is 'fair'. A 'realistic' price is what someone will pay for a vehicle relative to quality, condition and comparing like for like. That is simply the supply and demand system we operate under. Demand for good Defenders is only going to increase IMHO.

**XSiV** · 11th August 2016, 10:04 AM

My personal view on the price discrepancy comes down to supply and demand. Simply there are a lot more discos for sale and quite often the sellers aren't necessarily 'landrover' people. Often they will have to drop their price to sell it in the over supplied market. On the other hand, there aren't that many defenders for sale relatively, yet a lot of people would really love a defender. People that buy defenders are usually 'defender' people and usually buy them because they want a defender. As a 130 owner myself, I made many modifications and spent a small fortune getting my truck to it's present state. I have never much understood people being emotionally attached to a car until I owned my defender. Yes it's totally utilitarian and the disco may be much more comfortable. The disco may go everywhere you want to take it off-road but can it do so carrying a family and 1.3 tonne of their gear without the need of taking a camper trailer? I looked for over a year to find a good quality td5 130 and when I finally found it I travelled from Sydney to Toowoomba to buy it within days of it being listed. Personally I have no intention of selling my 130 and I have been offered some pretty high offers. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the difference in price comes down to passion. Defender owners are generally passionate about their defenders however there are quite a few disco owners that, in their mind, simply own a comfy SUV to take the kids to soccer and drive to Coles in Toorak. For info about why a defender is worth a premium check out this video, it really explains it more eloquently than I have here.
[ame]http://youtu.be/PRLFqa1y1Qo[/ame]

**Wicks89** · 12th August 2016, 06:42 PM

Hey Twr7cx,

In response to your original question (my opinion only) YES defenders ARE over priced.

Everything from tdi to puma to perenties are all over priced. And I think the response prior to mine explains it well (supply v demand).

Here's a question for you: what are you going to use it for? Do you want it in good Nick or are you going to go hard off road?

Here's what happened to me: a few years ago I had a mint 200tdi 110 hardtop. It was beautiful, premium condition. Sub 200,000ks. My brother wrote it off for me.

So I looked on carsales, td5 130 for sale 10 grand. Looked like ****. Heaps of dents. No aircon. About 380,000 on the clock. Was a parts car that had been resurrected.

I bought it because it was in the NT and I didn't want to spend over 10.

Since then I've spent probably double the initial cost in mods, (minibus aircon, suspension etc etc) and a metric ****load in rego in NSW.

I VOW TO NEVER LIVE IN NSW AGAIN.

It was in bad condition, leaked oil, door skins were knackered and seats were buggered. But it's not really let me down, just keeps going.

The beauty in buying a cheaper ****tier one is that defenders still feel ok when they're buggered. My joke is that it's always just some percentage broken.

Bottom line: don't be afraid to buy a cheaper one in bad Nick, even if you bought it for 20k you'd still end up spending money on it.

**steane** · 12th August 2016, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Wicks89

The beauty in buying a cheaper ****tier one is that defenders still feel ok when they're buggered. My joke is that it's always just some percentage broken.

Bottom line: don't be afraid to buy a cheaper one in bad Nick, even if you bought it for 20k you'd still end up spending money on it.

I reckon they are steaming piles of u know what to drive when they are buggered Wicksy. In my experience at least

**workingonit** · 13th August 2016, 03:26 PM

Try looking for '4x4 land rover dead zones' if you want the older type of vehicle relatively cheap.

People think, in these 4x4 zones, they should have no problem asking over $10k for a Defender of generally poor condition.

To their disappointment they find no one is interested, because the area is dominated by reliable landcruisers (the sometimes false perception, but often the reality, model dependant). And there are no alternative buyer markets for 1,000s of kilometres.

Have enquired about 4 defenders over about 18 months up here. All starting over $10k. Three Tdi300's and one Td5.

First Tdi300 owner wouldn't budge off the $10k, and I believe never got sold.

Second adamant wouldn't go below $6k, but rang me in the end to sell for $4,500 - but the vehicle was just too higher mileage for my liking, asthmatic starting, oily.

Third was the Td5 and could have kicked myself on my poor timing. Watched the gumtree add start at over $10k, then drop just a little bit at a time over several days. Didn't check it for a week, to find it had dropped to $5k!! Rang the guy, said I'm interested, but what's wrong with it for such a price drop! Nothing wrong with it he said, just no body in Darwin was contacting him, but too late for me as someone from south is flying up to drive it home for $5k.

Fourth, up from Perth, starting over $10, adamant would drop below $8,500. Last Gumtree add had it at $6,500 before withdrawing it.

Just wish Cammac91 would bring his vehicle up here - some nice options for the money.
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/vehicles-s...ueensland.html

And I hope wicks89 has moved to New South as I don't need the competition up here

**87County** · 14th August 2016, 08:44 AM

It appears that there are some out there - haven't got a clue what their condition is though.

But it possibly confirms what I posted in #2 above

Renovations need not be expensive and they are always a good negotiating factor - e.g. new seat foams and covers are available

1996 Land Rover Defender Ute 130 dual cab | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Gold Coast City - Parkwood | 1115952013

Land Rover defender 130 | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Brisbane South West - Holland Park West | 1121173172

http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ingle...130/1121018220

hawk · 14th August 2016, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by steane

Prices have been changing a lot recently (going up). Truly nice 110s and 130s of this vintage have been hitting carsales at $40 to 50k. Which at the moment is stupid, but...

I keep banging on about the difference between a properly good 300tdi and a clunker. I've bought two Defenders in the last 5 years. 5 years ago $7k bought a complete basket case, but interestingly the owner thought it was ready for a trip around Oz. That's Defender owners for you! Treat your deefer like crap and keep thinking it's ready to rock.

Last one I looked at (110s again) was a year ago and then $15k bought you cars I wouldn't touch because they were rusty, or bitzas or just plain rubbish. Eventually found a sensational, original, well cared for 300tdi wagon, but it cost the best part of $20k. Now would be worth considerably more, if you could find one.

$6K (as Pat refers to) will evaporate like mist on a hot day fixing up a crap Defender. They are all flogged, worn out, rusty, patched together piles of junk mostly. $6k barely gets you a new R380 and LT230 and that would just be the start of the laundry list.

Sounds negative, but they are 20 year old work vehicles essentially and very few have been well cared for and properly maintained, because Defender owners (the old breed, not the new ones) were the type who'd try and save $5 by spending 15 hours machining their own parts on an old (borrowed) lathe. Way to have a win!

I agree though, if you are prepared to be patient, the odd gem appears at the right price.

As the owner of the second one and twelve months on I'm stoked to have found the one I did and couldn't be happier. So glad you nagged me about buying a good one

As for current and future prices I couldn't give a rats as I'll never sell mine

**Crocodile Dundee** · 16th August 2016, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by XSiV

My personal view on the price discrepancy comes down to supply and demand. Simply there are a lot more discos for sale and quite often the sellers aren't necessarily 'landrover' people. Often they will have to drop their price to sell it in the over supplied market. On the other hand, there aren't that many defenders for sale relatively, yet a lot of people would really love a defender. People that buy defenders are usually 'defender' people and usually buy them because they want a defender. As a 130 owner myself, I made many modifications and spent a small fortune getting my truck to it's present state. I have never much understood people being emotionally attached to a car until I owned my defender. Yes it's totally utilitarian and the disco may be much more comfortable. The disco may go everywhere you want to take it off-road but can it do so carrying a family and 1.3 tonne of their gear without the need of taking a camper trailer? I looked for over a year to find a good quality td5 130 and when I finally found it I travelled from Sydney to Toowoomba to buy it within days of it being listed. Personally I have no intention of selling my 130 and I have been offered some pretty high offers. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that the difference in price comes down to passion. Defender owners are generally passionate about their defenders however there are quite a few disco owners that, in their mind, simply own a comfy SUV to take the kids to soccer and drive to Coles in Toorak. For info about why a defender is worth a premium check out this video, it really explains it more eloquently than I have here.
http://youtu.be/PRLFqa1y1Qo

I love my Defender PASSION PASSION

**DefenderSte** · 20th August 2016, 10:25 AM

I own a 2008 130 which I bought just over 18 months ago here in New Zealand,and yes it has cost me a few dollars with a new clutch and I had fuelling issues quite recently but you know what I won't be parting with her ever. I love it it's my daily driver to and from work and sits on the motorway loverly and yes long wheel base isn't so good off road but hey I don't care still loads of fun.....lol lol

She's a great at towing for the first time I towed my mates 2 and a half ton boat up to lake Taupo last weekend with ease great for my dogs and bikes and the like. But yes I do wish I had bottomless pockets but will just have to save up in the meantime.....lol

But looking on trade me at the mo their are some really overpriced landies and a limited edition almost touching a 100K.......

**XSiV** · 21st August 2016, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by DefenderSte

I love it it's my daily driver to and from work and sits on the motorway loverly and yes long wheel base isn't so good off road but hey I don't care still loads of fun.....lol lol

I find the extra wheelbase of the 130 is actually beneficial off-road and in most cases makes it more capable. So many times I've been out with discos and 90's and found that on some of the tricky rocky sections while they are using more noise to get over steps etc. the 130 just walks up. Quite often you can keep at least one wheel on a flat surface to give assistance to the ones that are climbing. As opposed to having all 4 wheels trying to climb at once.

Other times when the shorter wheelbase 4wds are crossed axles the 130 often stretches beyond one of the holes keeping 1 axle flat and allowing you to continue forward.

The only issue I have had off-road is having to make the occasional 130 point turn when there is a really tight turn to make between a rock and a hard place.

I have been out on some pretty hard tracks with all kinds of 4wds off this forum and other friends in other makes of 4wd and the 130 has never failed to go where others have.

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