Trying to find a Defender

[kenrik]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum though I've been trying to find a decent Defender out there for my first car. I've set myself a budget of around $8000 and at that money it seems like I'm looking at a 200Tdi. I'm thinking of running the car on used vegetable oil and travelling a fair bit with it.

What would you recommend? There is a 200Tdi ('94) Defender for sale on Gumtree in SA, but I'm not particularly keen on going through the hassles associated with a blue slip and interstate rego.

Whats the go, what do you guys reckon?

Jacques.

[MR LR]

Hey Mate, welcome to the forum

My first car (i'm 17) is a 98 300tdi Disco, why don't you have a look at these, i was always heart struck on a Defender, but most of them have a lot of k's on them an the D1 can play just as hard in the bush (mind you carpets are a PITA to dry LOL) not to mention Disco's are a lot cheaper. But if you definitely want a Defender then by all means go for it, and join a club, i'll be joining LROC Sydney soon, the teach you a fair bit. At least having a Disco which is cheaper (and comfortable in the hot and cold weather as the HEVAC works etc.) i can save up for a newer td5 Disco or Defender.

Cheers
Will

[isuzurover]

200tdis are a good motor, however I would look for a 1984-1990 model defender fitted with the 3.9L isuzu diesel. The engine will be much better and more reliable for what you plan to do.

[Yorkshire_Jon]

200tdis are a good motor, however I would look for a 1984-1990 model defender fitted with the 3.9L isuzu diesel. The engine will be much better and more reliable for what you plan to do.

Really?
What's deemed to be unreliable with at 200tdi engine, or are you talking gearbox?

A well looked after 200tdi is pretty bullet-proof.

j

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[weeds]

isuzu's are getting hard to find....

not many 200tdis around

you would get more of a selection in the 300tdi's, a good one will probably cost you more tha 8k

if your new to land rover have a landie specialist check it over

[rainman]

Like most have said, an $8000 Defender whether it be a 200 or 300Tdi is probably going to need at least some work (unless you have a lucky find of course). This isn't necessarily a big deal but it might take some time, mechanical nous, and a bit more money to get it sorted before it will be a reliable tourer. If you can stretch your budget by a few thousand you'd be better off in the long run, or as MR LR jnr has suggested, a Discovery would be a good option. You'll get a better condition one for the same money, and underneath the body they are quite similar to a Defender anyway.

James.

[tomalophicon]

You'll get a seriously good Disco for 8k.

[MR LR]

I've got a seriously good Disco for 3k !!!, it was bought off family, but still probably only a 6k car

[isuzurover]

...

A well looked after 200tdi is pretty bullet-proof.

...

I agree they are better than a 300tdi, but by no means bullet proof compared to a 4BD1 - especially if both are running on WVO.

The isuzu IP is much more durable than the Bosch VE fitted to the 200.

[newhue]

I'd buy local and registered, and at least run YOUR eyes over it. Pictures say a thousand words, but also hide all the little defects. Trusting in a random mechanical report can be ok, but does have a degree or personal acceptance of whats good and whats not.
Interstate rego can be annoying, and problematic if something is majorly wrong like a repaired write off. And Freighting it will only add the cost.

If you can wait, keep reading up on here which passes the time while you look, maybe save a bit more. Word of mouth quite often produces something.

Good luck

[Didge]

two years ago I paid $13K for a 96 Def with 202,000 km on the clock. Then spent another $1500-$2000 fixing up things. Apart from wear and tear it's been as reliable as the tides. Defs are pretty hard to find in Sydney but in WA and SA they seem to be plentiful and cheaper, as are Disco's in Vic. You could buy one in Perth and drive it back generally cheaper than you'll be able to get one here (and you get a holiday to boot). There's something magical/ mystical about having a Def but a Disco will still take you all the same places and it probably won't leak like a Def. The limits on where you can go are set by you, not the car. Speak to Lowranger on the forum, PM him and he'll tell you how good a 200Tdi can be as his (Def) goes anywhere and everywhere. Good luck
cheers Gerald
I've never seen anyone selling an 3.9 Isuzu Def - they're like hens teeth everyone seems to keep them.
In a Def look out for rust in the bottom of all the doors and the footwells. Rip out All the floor mats cos it will be there somewhere unless its been cut out. There are numerous threads on here with details on what to look for with respect to defects. good luck

[isuzurover]

...
I've never seen anyone selling an 3.9 Isuzu Def - they're like hens teeth everyone seems to keep them...

There have ben half a dozen for sale or sold in the last 6 months in the $6-12k price range.

(Technically they predate the defender name so are called a "one-ten")

[Didge]

Where????????? Have I had my eyes closed??????? yeah whoopsy, they'd all be Counties wouldn't they? I'm not in the market for one (although I'd like the motor) but I've never seen one for sale; bugger! My brother's after one so I'll have to really keep my eyes (and his) peeled.
Thanks Isuzurover
cheers gerald



whoa, whoa, whoa - I just noticed where you are. Is that where they're for sale?

[isuzurover]

...



whoa, whoa, whoa - I just noticed where you are. Is that where they're for sale?

No, they are uncommon on the west coast. Search on here. Most have been posted. land684 was trying to sell his for a while.

[tonic]

Hang in there and wait a bit, saw one for sale in Bribane on the web while searching camping trailers. Guy had to go O S and had it for sale for 6k. 96 def fully serviced.

I paid 12k for mine and spent $1600 getting rust out of the bottom of the doors.

I am still spending but that was the intention. I want a long term tourer so dont care how long it takes to do all the things I want to do to it.

Defenders are tough, but if you intend to thrash it every weekend then like any car be prepared to spend on keeping it tough.

Parts for the 200tdi motor are more expensive than the 300tdi. Most 300's are looking at heads and clutches at around 220k to 250k, so find out if these have been done before you buy, otherwise factor it into your buy price.

Parts are cheaper from the UK but freight is a killer. Make sure you do a big order as the freight will remain pretty much the same.

A disco can look pretty good and you would have money left over to do big tires etc.

Keep looking and I hope you find what you want.

[flagg]

The cheaper you go on the initial purchase price the more likely there will be a need to spend after.

Go through the service history carefully and count the cost as the total of the first few years of ownership.

A few hundred for a land rover specialist shop to inspect will be worth while, but be careful if they are vague about anything.

[DeanoH]

Another often forgotten aspect of buying a FWD is where it's come from.
For example an ex-mine 4WD could come from an environment where the roads are watered with salt/bore water which can guarantee a very short chassis/body life regardless of Km's or maintenance history or red dust ingress.
In Victoria there are no beaches (that I know of) that you can legally drive on, unlike other states. For this reason many 4wd's are 'exported' from Victoria either North or West. This is a big business.
Personally, I wouldn't buy a Queensland 4WD at any price and I would be very wary of NSW 4WD's (from coastal regions) for the same reason.

Deano:)