Hmmm Should I or shouldnt I???

[gatesy]

I went for a nice trip up the vic high country over the easter weekend, and thought this would be a nice time to propose to my partner :-) (She was silly enough to say yes)

This got me thinking, I currently have a Defender 130 '03. I am starting to think this might not be the best ute for a future young family.... The only other Dual cab ute I like is the STR Navara, which I can buy brand new fow $31,000 on the road. I love my 130, I am not sure if the STR (D22) could fill the void... My other half knows I love the fender, and loves going away in it, but we also both like the str. Any ideas?

[ade]

I reckon the 130 would be fine for a family, plenty of room etc, why do you possibly think otherwise?
what about the 110 double cab, much more capable than the navara

[Hoges]

Depends when you plan to start your family! Does the 130 have appropriate fittings for a baby capsule... do you allow your fiancée to drive the 130? Will she have to rely on it for getting around once you have a bub or does she have her own vehicle for doing the shopping centre routine etc while you are hard at it huntin' and gatherin' :wasntme:

From a purely practical point of view: There's a lot of running around with a baby... unless you live in a country town with ample parking a 130 could be a bit of a handful if that's her only mode of transport... constantly reaching in and out of a high 4WD to strap in - remove a baby capsule can be physically demanding ...especially in the rain!!

[ade]

constantly reaching in and out of a high 4WD to strap in - remove a baby capsule can be physically demanding ...especially in the rain!![/QUOTE]

I reckon its alot harder bending over to do the same in a normal car, thtas a reason I went for the disco when my girls where at the baby stage, was breaking my back getting them in and out of the 1990 four door saab 900 I had back then

[gatesy]

The 130 is my daily drive :D She drives a little pulsar, which we would most likely replace with a new little car. She does enjoy driving the fender, and I have a good laugh watching her park it :twisted:

It is more the safety, and comforts in the 130, or the lack of. For me it is great, but when it rains, I wouldnt want any future babies having to wear a rain coat in the ute :wasntme: I gave up trying to water proof it before I even started. The anchor points is the main issue, while I know you can do it (I have read it in here) not sure that I should.

Its something I would have to think long and hard about, the defender was my dream car, and I am not sure how capable the str would be on the boys weekends.

I guess even a 110 wagon could be an option, but love the ute so I dont have to use a trailer.

[gatesy]

The fender has been my pride and joy for nearly 4 years, so I know the limits on its town use lol! Most of the car spots it doesnt even fit in around here.

[Judo]

Congrats on the engagement! :)

[newlandyowner]

I'm in the same boat.

Got a 2000 D2 which is starting to get on abit now. The minister of finance (Mrs) has given the all clear to get 110 end of this financial year, which I've always wanted.

The Disco will/could last until the new Defender is released, but by then I'm sure I would have given in to my lust for a 110.
Plus, who knows what the new Defender will look like.

So its do I follow my brain or heart??? Tough decision.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

...Its something I would have to think long and hard about, the defender was my dream car, and I am not sure how capable the str would be on the boys weekends.
...

Firstly congratulations on the engagement...

Secondly, I know a few people who use Navara's as cars and they like them alot. I have also seen a few trying to be used off-road. They have far too much overhang to be any real use (if comparing to a Defender).

On a recent trip to the lost city I watched a Navara bounce front & rear bumpers on each and every rock step, it caught the sills on a few too. The Defender never came close to catching anything.

If it were me I wouldnt even consider one for playing in. If the 130 is too big and you have concerns with the mounting points, what about a 110 or D2 / D3? The disco certainly has offroad capability if you loose the standard front and rear bumper and much more daily comfort than a fender.

J

[PAT303]

Stay away from Navara's and Nissan in general.I know too many people who have had to many issue's and regret ever buying them.They are not a good ute and Nissan are not a good company. Pat

[DeanoH]

Crikey Gatesy, slow down son !!.
First of all congratulations to you and the missus, soon to be SWMBO.
Now unless you've jumped the start you've got at least to the end of the year to sort this one out, even if you tie the knot tomorrow. It's traditional to wait at least a couple of days between engagement and wedding, let alone kids, but I'm an old bugger so may be out of touch with current romantic trends,(SWMBO reckonds I wouldn't know what romance was if it jumped up and bit me on the arse), can be cruel these shielas.
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away................." I had a SII SWB and the child bride had a pocket rocket Mazda RX3, neither being optimal for the transport of infants and the huge amount of associated paraphanelia that is deemed vital for even the simplest of journeys. No baby seat capsule thingys then, bassinets in them days, sort of like a small transportable bed about as big as four box's of beer. Bloody awkward contraptions but slung in the back of the landy worked a treat till baby no 2 came along, then it was out with the centre seat, install bolt in baby seat, transfer baby no 1 to seat and install baby no 2 in bassinet. No worries. Worked fine till baby no 3, crunch time. Had to get rid of old girl, not the missus the landy, and get a sedan. A sad day, so if anyone out there has an old SWB SIIA with rover 90 diffs, headers and Vic rego KGW 761 give her a pat for me.
Anyway, I digress. I assume Gatesy that your 130 is of the dual cab variety ? and understand your reluctance to begin swimming lessons for your son/daughter and heir at such a tender age.
Yorkshire Jons' got the right idea. Disco 2a fits the bill perfectly without having to resort to the 'Dark Side'. Use the force Luke, err Gatesy and keep true to the Land Rover Alliance.

Deano:)

[DeanoH]

Stay away from Navara's and Nissan in general.I know too many people who have had to many issue's and regret ever buying them.They are not a good ute and Nissan are not a good company. Pat

Right on the money Pat. The way Nissan treated its customers with the early 3 litre ST turbo lemons was an absolute disgrace. I would never consider buying a Nissan because of this. As a company they cannot be trusted. They screwed their customers over and didn't give a damn.

Deano:)

[SimonM]

Mate buy her a disco and keep your 130. It works for us :).

[Drover]

Spend the extra coin on a flash Sedan for the Mrs n kids.
Keep the Fender for yourself, every body's happy.
Congrats on engagement.

[justinc]

Congrats too!! I'd keep the 130, there are a few baby restraint ideas for these, so don't worry:)

Forget the STR, I too have seen some horror issues with these and Patrols and Nissan just didn't want to help. In fact I have a customer that changed to a D2a from a STR because it just couldn't cut it offrad and touring etc.

JC

[lambrover]

My 130 was leaking through the roof gutters, grind out the factory putty and fill it with sika flex.

[gatesy]

We not really concerned at the moment. Just talked about it a little. On the high side i got to show her how well it went off road, and now she is converted. Just a bit of forward thinking i guess :)

The first thing to do is replace the pulsar, its getting long in the tooth. Thanks for the replies so far!

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Swap the pulsar for a D2a😄

She'll love you even more and you get to keep the 130!!

Sent using Forum Runner

[Sue]

Stay away from Navara's and Nissan in general.I know too many people who have had to many issue's and regret ever buying them.They are not a good ute and Nissan are not a good company. Pat

I agree.. my partner has a STR Navara which we bought new and have had nothing but problems with it... and nothing but grief from Nissan... if anything they have been rude beyond belief..

They advertise the car as 'off road' and 'go anywhere'.. what they should say is 'take it off road at risk of damaging something very expensive on the car'.. after a couple of nasty (and deadly expensive) experiences we don't trust it for anything but on tar or light off road stuff now.. :(

[newhue]

Your 130 is the perfect second-dad's-get away car.
Get some anchor points fitted; and if it worries you that much fit some sliders. It is as safe as the next if driven legally.
Initially you probably wont be 4x4ing with the baby, but as long as it holds a lot of gear like porta-cots and prams any 4x4 will do, you wont be going to far. Something to keep it all out of the rain is good, or suspend it from the floor just enough to stay dry.
I too found the height of a Defender beneficial not a hinderance with strapping in kids. Getting the rear doors to open wider is very helpful though. A Defender has the added bonus of when the kids get to 2, climbing into it is a good challenge and fun thing for them to do.


IMO a Defender is slow on and off road = calm dad, safe, predictable driving.
Navara is fast on and off road = potentially more stressed and dangerous dad; and bounce, bash, jump, over everything off road scrambling all inside with poor results.

My wife has a small run around city car, and yes a defender it a bit to much for her on top of the kids requirements. But guess what car the kids want to go in all the time.

Enjoy the engagement, then the wedding, then houses shopping, then the pregnancy, the birth, then sleep deprivation, then even less money, then kids wrecking all that you own......
Ahhh it's all good, congratulations