Thread: Defender Buying Advice

Hi catflags

Welcome the forum. Firstly I guess you need to have an idea of what you want your Defender for? Do you have a model preference? Tdi, Td5 or puma? Do you need a 110, 130 or a 90?

And yes definitely get a Land Rover mechanic to check it out. I see you are in SE Queensland. Plenty of forum members around there who could make recommendations.

Catflags
Where are you located?
AULRO is a great community and I’m sure a defender driver close by would happily have a yarn +/- beer with you and run you through some things and let you have a spin?

First, your question is very broad?

“Defenders” were made for quite a long time
Debatable but most would call a 200tdi from 1993 about the first defenders- even though you can buy a vehicle that looks nearly the same built in the 80s !!!!

I reckon you might need to narrow your ideas a little.

Firstly are you looking for a wagon, SWB or a Ute?
Second what’s your price range including ongoing maintenance?
Finally what’s your experience / tolerance to DIY mechanical work?

The above three ques will narrow your search somewhat.


Just to give some clarity - your question at the moment is as complicated as

I’m looking to buy a Landcruiser or I want to buy a Jeep.
Way to broad and needs some more details!

Have a great day!

Ps defenders are the truest “lifestyle” vehicles. You need to live it to own one!
Defenders get under your skin. They either work for you or they don’t.

Steve

Thanks for the fast responses. Would very much like a catch up and some advice! I am based in Sunshine coast but happy to travel for the right advice.

I reckon I am looking for a TD5, 5 door defender. TD5 is mostly because price range and age.

Why do I want one? I need a good second vehicle because

• Something that's a good size to haul me, the wife, two kids and a dog camping. Current day to day run around is really too small. Current vehicle is also not hardy enough to go anywhere offroad and want to slowly change that.
• Currently (and probably for the foreseeable future) doing renos on my house. Need something that can haul a trailer load of gravel or make a trip to the dump without me worrying about getting the back dirty.
• I really want a defender. Have wanted one for years.

I am pretty comfortable getting my hands dirty. I won't pretend I have a great deal of experience but I am happy to get stuck in and figure it out. Lots of defender owning experience in my family so I understand that's pretty much a required part of owning a defender.

Forgot to mention price range. Red book reckons a good 2005 Td5 Extreme is $20k. Feel free to burst my bubble tho!

I don't want a project car but if I need to do some maintenance to get a roadworthy I am good with that and would do it myself. Minor mechanical stuff say.

Originally Posted by catflags

Forgot to mention price range. Red book reckons a good 2005 Td5 Extreme is $20k. Feel free to burst my bubble tho!

I don't want a project car but if I need to do some maintenance to get a roadworthy I am good with that and would do it myself. Minor mechanical stuff say.

Probably better off gumtree then to a land rover specialist for a check.

I'd suggest a read thru this: The Ultimate Land Rover Defender Buyer's Guide - long but REALLY comprehensive, and - for my $AU 0.02 - accurate. Might be by someone on here? Not sure.

DO expect that you will have to get hands-on with ANY Defender you buy. OR have a great relationship with your favourite LR mechanic and bank manager. To wit, I have a MY10 vehicle and this weekend was about replacing the fuel tank breather, as a random sample.

You say "I really want a defender. Have wanted one for years" - I think most of us will relate to that (I do!), but it's not without its heartache and overhead... You need to be sure that the statement you make is accurate - a Defender is for life, not for Christmas For me, the car gives you that look-back-after-you've-parked-it-and-smile factor... But, it is like (if you watch Top Gear) the way they describe Alfas- BRILLIANT when everything is working, AGONISING when it's not, and often leaving you thinking "what the **** were the LR engineers (or accountants...) thinking when they did THAT??!!!???"

Originally Posted by skidrov

I'd suggest a read thru this: The Ultimate Land Rover Defender Buyer's Guide - long but REALLY comprehensive, and - for my $AU 0.02 - accurate.

Thanks for the guide. I might have skimmed past it earlier and missed all detailed stuff further down! The comments on prices are interesting too.

"Td5 Defenders can be found for less than $10,000, with seriously good ones also topping $30,000"

Guess I am only seeing the good TD5s on gumtree as I don't think any are listed for much less than 20k! That's my main problem right now. Redbook is in the same place as the article too.


Fully recognise the pain and pleasure of the defender owning. I very clearly recall going camping in as series 3 as a youngster and seen my Dad suffer through pretty much every model up to the TD5 since. At least they don't put salt on the roads in Queensland!

Catflags
Where on the sunny coast are you
We are back in the hinterland at the very top of the Mary Valley west of Maleny
Would be happy to meet up or look over a deefer if you find one local?

RedBook pricing is unlikely to be accurate with defenders
Especially with all the speculative pricing on last run units seems even 20 year old models have been caught up in the euphoria

S