So I need to get a new car....

[beefa270]

Hi team,

The wife is pregnant so I need a new car: I have a single cab ute and cannot have a baby seat there

Now my question is, and taking into account a budget of say 20-25 K I would like a defender, what should I look for , avoid, etc etc

I would love a series but my wife would castrate me if I got one :-)

Any help much appreciated

Thank you

Beefa/Heath

[Marshall]

If you have a ute and still want a ute, you can't go past a 130 dual cab. they are big, great for work and play, but if you feel too big, then consider a 110.
CRABs (Child Restraint Anchor Bars) are not standard in defenders so you will need to get one made up and certified by an engineer. this may add about $500-$700 to the price, but is worth it. I bought my 130 with one already fitted...
If you think series, then I think you may not like electrics? if this is the case, 1998 was the last year 300tdi's were made (I think) and there is significantly less electrics than the Td5.
No matter what, there will always be people here that will tell you a 300Tdi is better than a Td5 and vice versa... personally, I think you would probably pick up a 300Tdi cheaper than a Td5 and thus be able to spend more coin on accesories! 20-25K should get you a real gem either way.
In any case, good luck and I look forward to the photos! :)

[Loubrey]

I agree with Marshall's advice. If you prepared for the "hardship" :wasntme:of owning a series vehicle, any 110/130 prior to '98 would be a viable option.

Obviously the improvement over the years have been to things like comfort and drivability (aircons, seating, removal of extra bulkheads etc) but for a man that looks after his own car a 200 Tdi or a pre-97 300 Tdi (they got EGR's, CAT's and throttle response sensors in '97) would be a winner.

Either way good luck with the growing family!

[Nero]

The heretic suggestion in a 4WD forum if its going to be used as a car buy a car not a phone box cheaper safer more comfortable etc. If you want a machine that does everything second hand disco's are better value than defenders as the defers hold their price probably far better than they should.

[clubagreenie]

But which disco?

D1's are simple and have simpistic maintenance but getting long in the tooth so might need some work but then again plenty of change to spend even after buying a gem.

D2's got quite cheap now. But in the middle of their major maintenance period. I bought one 18mths ago at the bottom end of the price range (10K) and was bodily ok but lost in the engine/gbox dept. But spent less than the difference from 10k to top dollars and have a whole new driveline.

D3 might still be too expensive and some certainly have their gremlins and you can't choose which.

Do you need the ute capability for work? Whats the total no of kids have/expecting to end up with (add one to this figure, we had twins second time round). 7seater discos are ok but expec to tow a trailer if travelling. People mover for her and 130 CCUte for you (unless her "car is already suitable).

[Drover]

The heretic suggestion in a 4WD forum if its going to be used as a car buy a car not a phone box cheaper safer more comfortable etc. If you want a machine that does everything second hand disco's are better value than defenders as the defers hold their price probably far better than they should.


Had them all -

D1 - Rosignol (LTD Edition)

D2 - Full option - ES

D3 - TDV6 ES

Now got a PUMA SVX,

Go for the defender - there is a reason why they hold there value, far better than any other Land rover :D

[justinc]

Hi team,

The wife is pregnant so I need a new car: I have a single cab ute and cannot have a baby seat there

Now my question is, and taking into account a budget of say 20-25 K I would like a defender, what should I look for , avoid, etc etc

I would love a series but my wife would castrate me if I got one :-)

Any help much appreciated

Thank you

Beefa/Heath

Sounds like she's too late for that one heath old son:p 'Horse has bolted' and all that....:eek:

Anyway, a good cheap well cared for D1 Tdi would be OK, and leave plenty of $$ left over for baby clothes and the odd stolen weekend away with said wife when a suitable babysitter is found....There's more to life than spending big $$$ on a vehicle that will be used as a pram and shopping trolley for most of its time....Plus a decent Airconditioner and comfortable accessable interior will be very important with new baby and capsules etc. Who knows, with the $10K left over you can still afford a series project....:twisted: = 2 happy parents!

JC

[roverrescue]

Sensible JC, very sensible indeed

BUT

you are wrong ;)

Once you have owned a ute, a stinkin wagin will never be the right choice...

Talking about utes, when are you taking the 5" and red'n'black to your new county???

S

[Marshall]

Good points JC, and an equally good point Roverrescue,
Once you have had a ute, you don't feel like a wagon... a disco... hmmm... what if you were to get a disco like JC said, and CHOP IT! make a dual cab disco, and maybe even extend the chassis a tad to get that extra tray length! (or even a Rangie for that extra bit of class...)
I havn't seen a dual cab Disco, seen a few brilliant single cab conversions that make you wonder why LR didn't built them stock... (in other words they would have sold really well!) If you ventured down this path I am sure you would the envy of most, if not all members on this forum!

Having said that, once you get "defenderhead" you might as well stop listen to any negative comment about one because they just don't matter:D

P.S.
Don't worry about having extra for baby clothes and all that, we just had a bub 9 months ago, and believe me, you get given a shed load of baby stuff!!

[rick130]

[snip]
or a pre-97 300 Tdi (they got EGR's, CAT's and throttle response sensors in '97) would be a winner.

[snip]!

err, no they didn't ;)

Post '96 Defenders are as gloriously unencumbered as the early ones, and in '98 scored the stronger 'K' spec R380 too.

[Michael2]

Congratulations Heath on your growing family.

I can comment on the two cars that are in your price range, being the proud owner of both a family and a fleet. The former consisting of a wife and three children, the latter of a 300Tdi Defender Wagon and an '03 TD5 D2A auto.

The D2 is a recent purchase, and replaces a RRC manual. My wife drives both the D2 and the Defender equally well, but prefers to drive the D2. However for long trips the Defender is the vehicle of choice, partly because it's better kitted out but mainly because it's more trusted.

The D2 has computer related idiosyncracies. For example, if you turn the foglights on and then turn the ignition off, when you turn it on again, you'll have to reactivate the fog light switch (it's not an on/off switch, it's a signal switch). However if you turn the wipers off with the rear wipers activated, then when you start your wipers again, the rear ones start too, and require an ignition off to reset. The Mexicans (3 amigos) pop over for an occasional visit too, and there's oil in the loom (new one on order). Then there's technical stupidity, like putting the DVD player under the drivers seat.

We're contemplating a Melb - Perth trip, and if we didn't need a 7 seater when we got there, the D2 wouldn't even be in contention, the Defender would be doing the trip. But we need the 7 seats and the D2 is a lease car, so the extra mileage helps it. It's kind of disappointing to have to take the D2 over the Defender.

Both cars are really good offroad, both are a pleasure to drive. All cars have issues, and with both of these cars you can be sure that the issues are not significant (3 amigos, oil in loom...) and that they're relatively easy & cheap fixes. I bought a Hawkeye the week I bought the D2, I'm still learning how to use it (there's no manual about what you can do with it), but it helps to direct your efforts - for example, the Mexicans are prompted by a shuttle valve problem, so I know I don't have to go check wheel sensors etc.

My choice is the Defender, but the D2 is not as complicated as I had feared. The D2 will be easier for loading a pram in and out of for your wife, and will have all the child anchorage points, as well as a middle lap-sash belt. The Defender will be easier to customise and easier to live out of in the bush.

As for the series Landy, I had one as a daily driver for 20 years. It had done the Simpson (East - West), gone Melbourne to Darwin, as well as Melb to the Kimberley a few times. But the Defender is just soooo much better - Economy, Braking, Reliability, Air Conditioning, Suspension.... The series would be a nice project to own, but the Defender will better support your family.

[Loubrey]

err, no they didn't ;)

Post '96 Defenders are as gloriously unencumbered as the early ones, and in '98 scored the stronger 'K' spec R380 too.

Rick,

Australian Spec must be different then. In the UK there is a separate Haines manual as well as a model specific workshop manual just for the last 2 years of 300 Tdi ('97 and '98) due to the fact that they had all sorts of electronic bits. There was even an ECU box under the center cubbie. It appears some of the ideas for the Td5 got tried out on those last 300Tdi's.

My '98 90 had an EGR blanking plate fitted (by me) and the ECU box "waterproofed" in a tupperware box with loads of silicone. Both years had the stronger gearbox as well.

My 90 just prior to the '98 was a '96 and you are correct that they where completely unencumbered by anything electronic.

Cheers!

[JBM770]

One thing to consider when buying a vehicle with a baby on way is will the capsule/seat fit between the back seat and the front when its in the rear facing position.

The reason I say this is most 4WD drives and twin cabs don't have much room in this area, most of the passenger space is vertical if you get my meaning.

We had a 1 yo '96 Astra and the front seat had to move uncomfortably forward to fit a capsule. We traded it for a VS sedan because of this.

Instead of getting rid of your current ute, get a big sedan (also cheap with plenty to choose from) until most of the kids aren't in car seats any more, saves heaps of hassles for maybe 5-10 years. Most utes and fourbys aren't very wide, 3 car seats will not fit easily.

I also thought being castrated might be to your advantage if you don't want more kids.

James