Just curious how is initial cost even a consideration in favour of a Defender?
Last 80 series i seen, just under 300,000 km, 1 owner vehicle, full service history, TD multivalve, only ever used to tow a boat through sydney and guy was after $20,000.
Defenders are like $40,000
For me reliability is simply, which one is going to cost me more to keep running well. The more expensive one is the less reliable one. I hate stuff that goes off that shouldn't.
Eg: I used to own a falcon 2010 and by the time it got to 130,000 km all thr common problems came up. Electricals stuffing up, car started to turn itself off while driving like an electrical blackout then come back on again (i assumed computer problem), master cylender leaking andneeding to be replaced, they are known to be heavy on ball joints so they had to go as well etc.
I grt rid of the car and get a toyota crown thats 2003, 7 years older than that falcon. Its over 160,000 km nowwhich is 30k more than falcon and 7 years older on everything else. No computer issues, no electricals stuffing up, master cylender fine.
Both had oil leaks but thats normal to me. Its all the other stuff like electrics computer etc that you expect to work and gets screwed up in falcons while in this its fine. Conclusion falcons are poorly built. Engines work forever everything else around them falls appart though and thus not a reliable vehicle compare to other stuff you could buy for the same money.
In this respect is what im looking at TD5 and 80 series. If the engine goes forever but everything else failing around it like electrics brake leaks hoses busting and constantly need some annoying thing to be fixed and done to it, its a money pit not a reliable vehicle.
So from that what will cost more over all to own, 80s or TD5 defenders. Which is going to be more hassle free, turn key and just drive like a normal car without being concerned when the next things gonna go on it.
