Thread: defender 130 purchase??? used vs new

.. I would also suggest swapping the CD player for a tape deck .. God forbid you end up in a remote area with a jumping CD!

Stace,

Don't break your head over the rear axle. Although I agree that Salisbury axles are more durable as pointed out above, it is not significant or enough of an issue to warrant a diff swap or to influence your purchasing decision. There are thousands of post 2002 TD5 Defender 110 and 130's going around with rover diffs who have never had any issues. With all due respect to Isuzurover, to say that a rover diff on a 130 is marginal even on standard tyres is hogwash. If they were such a liability Land Rover would have replaced them years ago. I personally have done over 100,000km's on a rover diff including long trips, weekend trips and some very challenging and remote. It has never batted an eyelid running 33" muddies.

As Mahn mentioned in a previous post, if you are planning to run big tyres and diff lockers the issue of stronger diff centres and axles come into play because of the forces that go through the drive train. In this case most people would recommend you upgrade the axles and flanges on both a salisbury and rover diff with something like maxi drives. If you are planning to use the vehicle for touring and not bothering with 33" + tyres or lockers, the rover diff will do the job.

As for the vehicle recommendations, to steer you away from post 2002 Defenders just because of the rear diff is rediculous. It is a well known fact that pre-2002 Defender were plagued with issues like the oil pump bolt and oil in the ECU harness. Although these problems are easily fixed, they warant a mention far above a perceived inferior diff. As for 300tdi's or Isuzu's .. great vehicles in their own right but life goes on.

I would recommend a late model TD5 (post 2003) I have no expereince with the PUMA but despite some of the issues raised .. I would not hesitate to get one.