Bought me a new 110

[voltron]

Hi Everyone.

I bought me a new Defender a week ago and thought it would be a good idea
to join a forum and learn more about the 110.

Initially I was looking around at various yards trying to get the best deal on a new Wrangler Unlimited because they seemed like the best option for what I was after. But I spotted a Defender in the yard as the Dealership sold both Jeep and Range Rover vehicles. After sitting in one it felt a little cramped ( i'm 6'3" ) and looked bare bones, I admired the tough posture the car had. But that was the end of it and I walked away looking and talking prices on various Wranglers they had available.

Came back a few days later, and while waiting for my salesman to serve customers, I went back over to the D90 to check it out. Still waiting I asked
the Land Rover dealer if I could take it for a drive. I jumped in and was told I not to be longer then 10 mins.

It felt a little awkward at first, and the tyres were mud tyres so it wasn't that great on the road. The car definately demanded my attention. the cabin was a little cramped, I took my shoes off to give me more leg room etc etc. The Wrangler had leather heated seats, amazing sound system, heaps of leg room and quiet as a mouse.

I got back to the dealership and asked the salesman about the big one which was a customers car waiting to be serviced. He told me it was a 110 and gave me a rundown on it. I told him I wanted one and done the deal on the spot.

The Jeep salesman was shocked to say the least, after all I told him I wanted a nice, comfortable 4x4 capable car, but for some reason I couldn't stop smiling when I as driving the Defender. I felt like a try hard in the Jeep. I see girls and older women driving them around. The Defender felt like a real mans car and reminded me of my dads 2 door toyota landcruiser he used to go pig hunting in .
My wife was shocked when I told her as well. She drives an x6 and hates the Defender, but I know that will change over time once we start doing some camping trips in it with the kids.

I still smile everytime I jump in it. My wave score to other Defender owners is 6/6.

Cheers
Graham

[Blade74]

That's awesome Graham,

The love also grows as time goes on.
Love to hear what you do to it and with it as time goes on.

[wally]

Good on you Graham. Good story.

[Summiitt]

I've always said it, go out in to the scrub, the further the better, then the defender comes into it's own...enjoy your ride..

[rutmutt]

Hi Graham.

THe D90 you checked out wouldn't happened to have been silver would it?

I bought my new 110 about 2 weeks ago and i'm going to assume from the same dealer as you.. in newcastle that also sell jeeps... and jags! I took my lady friend for a test driver to see what the new ones were like.. (have a TD5 that i have owned for 4 years) I loved it! bought it on the spot.

I had a warranty issue already with mine. took it back spoke to Dale personally (one of the sales guys.) and he sorted it for me while i waited. happy with that particular dealer at the moment.

I'm in Maitland but if you ever want to have a deefer day let me know!

[voltron]

Thanks guys.

It feels like it was fate to end up in the Defender, any advice you could give me about looking after it, maintanence do's and don'ts, please feel free to let me know. Pre emptive care seems to be the way to go by the sounds of it.


Hi Graham.

THe D90 you checked out wouldn't happened to have been silver would it?



The D90 was almost a dark silver, more a grey, with Razor Tooth wheels??

I got a white one, it was a 2012 model but only 17klm's on the clock. Dale got it for me from Woolongong I think. He was definately great to deal with and really went out of his way to get me the car as they weren't getting a 110 in for a few months.

Pm me you details and we'll go test the hardware.


Cheers

[carlschmid2002]

If you are 6'3" you might want to give Daniel a tingle at Buy 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Accessories and Parts Online | Web Store | Expedition Centre Australia by Mulgo (http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au) and grab a set of seat rail extensions. They will take you about an hour or so to fit. He also sells a lot of other good bits for your Defender. I hope you enjoy it. I love mine. Check the heater hoses for rubbing and ask about the mod on the turbo hose. My heater hose rubbed through and dropped all its fluid, otherwise I have loved the experience. Happy travels.

[newhue]

Graham, congratulations and welcome to the forum. You know a defender will test you to see if you are worthy of ownership. But you have just bought something very special and joined a global family quite unlike any other. It's a love hate relationship at first, then grows to love and laugh after a while.

[rijidij]

...............After sitting in one it felt a little cramped ( i'm 6'3" ).................

Welcome to the forum Graham,
As mentioned above, it sounds like the first accessory you should buy for your new 110 is some Mulgo seat extension rails (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/179211-mulgo-seat-extension-rails.html)

Cheers, Murray

[voltron]

If you are 6'3" you might want to give Daniel a tingle at Buy 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Accessories and Parts Online | Web Store | Expedition Centre Australia by Mulgo (http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au) and grab a set of seat rail extensions. They will take you about an hour or so to fit. He also sells a lot of other good bits for your Defender. I hope you enjoy it. I love mine. Check the heater hoses for rubbing and ask about the mod on the turbo hose. My heater hose rubbed through and dropped all its fluid, otherwise I have loved the experience. Happy travels.

Cheers, thats def the first modification on the books. I have found the drivers side door handle annoys my right leg also, has anyone tried moving it to make it more comfortable?

Also looking at getting a smaller steering wheel, but it seems the boss kit may have to come from the U.K. Not complaining though, I still find it all livable.

I've previously owned 600hp twin turbo sports car that demanded hours of my time and money and broke my heart a couple of times. I'm expecting no different from the Defender.

Cheers Guys

:BigThumb:

[jimb]

Graham
The forum team helped me through my first purchase and in the end Lady Luck smiled upon me to receive a new 110 in 2011.

I don't do imperial, I am 191cm and an always amazed at people complaining about the leg room. The mulgo seat extensions get massive reviews but for me I live it the aY it is.

Not related but the thing that amazes me with mine (black) is how NOT hot it is inside the cabin. I know the a/c doesn't really work but I reckon I use it once every ) months anyway. My missus has Subaru and its also black and hot as hell. The defender shape And I suspect some air picket/ heat pockets around cabin mean I am rarely getting into a hot car. ( living in Mackay where it can get warm)

Anyway. Enjoy the vehicle. Will watch your thread. My family love our car- a lot.
Jim

[Cobber]

Well done on the purchase, and welcome :BigThumb:

You think you love it now? Wait until it really gets under your skin! You'll end up wanting to trade a kidney before you let go of your Defender! :D

[jimb]

Cobber. You are right.

With the kids I used to discuss who would get the defender when they can drive (6 yo). My daughter loves it but son keeps liking purple fast cars...

But today I told her. "Sweetie, I think you are gonna need to buy your own because this ones mind for life"

I did soften the blow to the 6 year old with I he'll you buy and re paint one. Choose you colour (she wants rainbow?!- but a defender is a defender)

[PAT303]

Seat rails and go online and buy gear from the UK,much cheaper and the UK sites are very well run,you can buy door handles that fold up,KBX I think sell them. Pat

[JamesB71]

Wow... Youve driven my car before I have! Ive bought that car, its there waiting for them to get their act together and put the accessories on.


Oh, and Im glad it made you smile. Bodes well!

(bit ****ed they are using it as a demo after Ive bought it though)

[the_preacher1973]

Also looking at getting a smaller steering wheel, but it seems the boss kit may have to come from the U.K. Not complaining though, I still find it all livable.

:BigThumb:

Congratulations on the Defender. It bodes well that you just clicked with it. As many on here have commented, you either know you want a Defender or you don't.

Interesting garage of vehciels you now have combining the most useless, stupid, ridiculous vehicle in the world with one of the most practical.:wasntme:

On the steering wheel, beware that most bosses move the wheel another 10cm or so closer to your chest. I fitted one with a nice new wheel and had to remove and go back to my old wheel it as it was way too close.

[voltron]

Wow... Youve driven my car before I have! Ive bought that car, its there waiting for them to get their act together and put the accessories on.


Oh, and Im glad it made you smile. Bodes well!

(bit ****ed they are using it as a demo after Ive bought it though)

Haha . Hey mate. I should let you know I drove it well before you bought it.
It was still for sale when I drove it. When I done the deal on the
White one , they told me the grey one sold as well. I wanted to drive a
Black 110 they had but it had sold which was still sitting in the yard
But they wouldn't let it be driven.

Thanks for the rest of the tips guys, going yo check out the door handles
But Black bonnet checker plate guards,
and seat rails have been ordered.

Cheers

.

[voltron]

On the steering wheel, beware that most bosses move the wheel another 10cm or so closer to your chest. I fitted one with a nice new wheel and had to remove and go back to my old wheel it as it was way too close.

Ok thanks for that, might sit on the idea for a bit and
see if the rails do enough.

[James]

I have found the drivers side door handle annoys my right leg also, has anyone tried moving it to make it more comfortable?
:BigThumb:

This may do the trick.

MUD Flexible Grab Handle - MUD Accessories - Interior Accessories - Products (http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/products/interior-accessories/mud-accessories/mud-flexible-grab-handle.html)

Cheers James

[rutmutt]

I wanted to drive a
Black 110 they had but it had sold which was still sitting in the yard
But they wouldn't let it be driven.

.

That was my one!

[voltron]

That was my one!
Really.

That was a nice car. Very Jealous

[voltron]

Interesting garage of vehciels you now have combining the most useless, stupid, ridiculous vehicle in the world with one of the most practical.:wasntme:


Ha ha I only just got what you were talking about.
Tbh I thought the same at the start about the X6, but like any vehicle you dont really understand it untill you drive it for a while.

Cheers;)

[the_preacher1973]

Ha ha I only just got what you were talking about.
Tbh I thought the same at the start about the X6, but like any vehicle you dont really understand it untill you drive it for a while.

Cheers;)

Yeah. It's just as an engineer that vehicle annoys me more than just about anything out there.

Coupe sporting styling so you get a cramped interior with limited rear head space.

But then you build it tall so it can't handle like a sports car.

Then you fit it with a heavy 4wd system that is so useless it gets confused by damp grass.

In summary you get all the disadvantages of a sports coupe without any of the sportiness and all of the disadvantges of a large 4wd without it being able to be driven offroad. I just don't see the point.

The only thing that would be more inexplicable would be taking something like a Discovery 4 chassis, fit a smaller body to it thereby reducing seating capacity and load area by 20% and requiring black paint on the windscreen to cover up the fact that it doesn't quite fit together properly. Stick a Range Rover badge on it and charge 30% more for it.

But who am I to cast stones. I've got a hankering for a cheap Porsche Cayenne to use as a bush pig in the future...:twisted:

Let's face it. If we all made rational car decisions we probably wouldn't be hanging aound a Land Rover forum.:D

[ProjectDirector]

Congrats Graham, you picked a classic. I bought one too 2 months ago and loving it. It really stands out everywhere I drive it and leaves the Jap 4x4 dead in their tracks especially in the bush.
Enjoy!

[voltron]

Congrats Graham, you picked a classic. I bought one too 2 months ago and loving it. It really stands out everywhere I drive it and leaves the Jap 4x4 dead in their tracks especially in the bush.
Enjoy!

Cheers mate, I take the long route everywhere I go just to spend more time in it, is that a side effect

[voltron]

Yeah. It's just as an engineer that vehicle annoys me more than just about anything out there.

Coupe sporting styling so you get a cramped interior with limited rear head space.

But then you build it tall so it can't handle like a sports car.

Then you fit it with a heavy 4wd system that is so useless it gets confused by damp grass.

In summary you get all the disadvantages of a sports coupe without any of the sportiness and all of the disadvantges of a large 4wd without it being able to be driven offroad. I just don't see the point.


But who am I to cast stones. I've got a hankering for a cheap Porsche Cayenne to use as a bush pig in the future...:twisted:

Let's face it. If we all made rational car decisions we probably wouldn't be hanging aound a Land Rover forum.:D

In reality most cars can be argued as pointless, just have to find the right angle. Nissan R35 gets abused by supercar enthusiasts for being to boring, yet it is faster then most 3 times it price.

I will admit I actually do enjoy driving the X6 but I wouldnt buy it for myself.

I just dont like to think much.

sorry I dont know how to multi quote :/

[CharlesTeton]

I have the same smile driving mine... Same with my 109 Ambulance twenty years ago...

:) :) :)

[voltron]

I have the same smile driving mine... Same with my 109 Ambulance twenty years ago...

:) :) :)

Its the first time I actually agree that refinement in cars does ruin the driving experience. The Defender seems perfect in so many ways yet doesnt have that refinement all modern cars have now.

[the_preacher1973]

Cheers mate, I take the long route everywhere I go just to spend more time in it, is that a side effect

It most certainly is.

We've got a Discovery 3 and 911 Turbo in the garage yet I take the 30 year old 110 with 370k on it 90% of the time. Just not allowed to take the Mrs to church in it.

[Hannah110]

Once you have the seat rails and still want more room then have a look on the Les Richmond Automotive site and take a look at the handbrake kicker kit. Angles the hand brake away giving you noticeably more leg room...Well worth it and easy to install......

You will also note,the perhaps poor location, of the handbrake electrical. If you have the intermittent handbrake light flicker from time to time the handbrake has squashed the wiring and stripped some of the insulation.

Les Richmond Automotive (http://www.lrautomotive.com.au/)

[voltron]

Once you have the seat rails and still want more room then have a look on the Les Richmond Automotive site and take a look at the handbrake kicker kit. Angles the hand brake away giving you noticeably more leg room...Well worth it and easy to install......

You will also note,the perhaps poor location, of the handbrake electrical. If you have the intermittent handbrake light flicker from time to time the handbrake has squashed the wiring and stripped some of the insulation.

Les Richmond Automotive (http://www.lrautomotive.com.au/)

OK thanks I will do that now. Sounds like a few things can be done to improve the space situation. The only thing I struggle with is getting in, once I am in
I still find it quite comfortable. I adjust my driving a little but nothing out of the ordinary or dangerous.

[CharlesTeton]

Its the first time I actually agree that refinement in cars does ruin the driving experience. The Defender seems perfect in so many ways yet doesnt have that refinement all modern cars have now.

Mind you I did a long haul from South of France to UK and it was very tiring doing 85 mph all day, my ten year old daughter was fine with most of it as she was asleep. I still had a smile, just about... Usual reasons, noise with windows open, very hot, and heat from gearbox. Luckily mine has an anti roll bar fitted as standard so is stable at that speed.

[voltron]

Mind you I did a long haul from South of France to UK and it was very tiring doing 85 mph all day, my ten year old daughter was fine with most of it as she was asleep. I still had a smile, just about... Usual reasons, noise with windows open, very hot, and heat from gearbox. Luckily mine has an anti roll bar fitted as standard so is stable at that speed.

Do the new models still have the gearbox heat issues, and what is a anti roll
Bar?

Cheers

[Barra1]

Hi Everyone.

I bought me a new Defender a week ago and thought it would be a good idea
to join a forum and learn more about the 110.

Initially I was looking around at various yards trying to get the best deal on a new Wrangler Unlimited because they seemed like the best option for what I was after. But I spotted a Defender in the yard as the Dealership sold both Jeep and Range Rover vehicles. After sitting in one it felt a little cramped ( i'm 6'3" ) and looked bare bones, I admired the tough posture the car had. But that was the end of it and I walked away looking and talking prices on various Wranglers they had available.

Came back a few days later, and while waiting for my salesman to serve customers, I went back over to the D90 to check it out. Still waiting I asked
the Land Rover dealer if I could take it for a drive. I jumped in and was told I not to be longer then 10 mins.

It felt a little awkward at first, and the tyres were mud tyres so it wasn't that great on the road. The car definately demanded my attention. the cabin was a little cramped, I took my shoes off to give me more leg room etc etc. The Wrangler had leather heated seats, amazing sound system, heaps of leg room and quiet as a mouse.

I got back to the dealership and asked the salesman about the big one which was a customers car waiting to be serviced. He told me it was a 110 and gave me a rundown on it. I told him I wanted one and done the deal on the spot.

The Jeep salesman was shocked to say the least, after all I told him I wanted a nice, comfortable 4x4 capable car, but for some reason I couldn't stop smiling when I as driving the Defender. I felt like a try hard in the Jeep. I see girls and older women driving them around. The Defender felt like a real mans car and reminded me of my dads 2 door toyota landcruiser he used to go pig hunting in .
My wife was shocked when I told her as well. She drives an x6 and hates the Defender, but I know that will change over time once we start doing some camping trips in it with the kids.

I still smile everytime I jump in it. My wave score to other Defender owners is 6/6.

Cheers
Graham

What a ripper of a story:D:D:D

And to think there are knuckleheads running around that need to be talked into buying a Defender:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Mate I reckon you now have Land-Rover-Green blood running through your veins;)

[voltron]

Ignore the roll bar question Haha

[CharlesTeton]

Do the new models still have the gearbox heat issues, and what is a anti roll
Bar?

Cheers

Yes, you can still burn your leg on the break handle, not quite but you know what I mean.

Anti-roll bar, is to cut down the swaying at speed, makes the defender more stable. Its a factory fit option:

http://bit.ly/15FV2HP

[voltron]

Ah sway bar , ok.

I just bought the brake handle kicker
i guess I'll minimise getting burned legs. Haha

[voltron]

What a ripper of a story:D:D:D

And to think there are knuckleheads running around that need to be talked into buying a Defender:eek::eek::eek::eek:

Mate I reckon you now have Land-Rover-Green blood running through your veins;)

Green blood is starting to get expensive haha

[Hannah110]

The best thing to do now is get the beast dirty......when your done nothing beats hosing it out with a fire hose reel.