G'day from Wetherby West Yorkshire UK

[Mcshadders]

Hi all, currently live in the UK but emigrating to Darwin at the back end of this year. I drive a 1991 Defender 90 at the moment but I cant bring it with me as w e'll be coming on a temporary visa to start, also it would cost far too much to clean and prepare it for export. I tried looking at used Defenders round the Darwin area but they seem very few and far between and clicking on the dealer link for Darwin seems to go nowhere :( Does anyone know of any independents that can look after one in that area? I really fancy a TD5 110. I don't really want to buy Japanese but I'm the 1st to admit Land Rovers aren't the most reliable mode of transport and not being overly confident with the spanners, I'd need help not too far away. Thanks in advance.

[Homestar]

Welcome to the forum. :)

[UncleHo]

Welcome to the Forum :) late this year into Darwin,just when it is getting hot and muggy ;) as for a vehicle have a look at our "Markets" section at the top border of the page,that is where members of the forum advertise their vehicles :)

cheers

[London Boy]

Wetherby to Darwin. That's a bit of a leap. You like it hot sweaty and smelly, yes?

Seriously, why Darwin? Job? Family?

[V8Ian]

The best buys are often in Melbourne/Victoria. Plenty of folk here who would happily cast a knowledgeable eye over a prospective purchase on your behalf. You could then drive or freight it north.

[jimr1]

A very warm welcome , I'm down in Melbourne about as far away from Darwin as you can get on the mainland . Have you thought about trying carsales.com.au , or gumtree even ebay to give you some idea of prices here in Oz. if you want to stay Land Rover have you thought about a td5 disco , they come in a lot lower in priced , and there not a bad unit . Land Rovers are not as common here as in the UK. in saying that there's quite a few out there , if you get a Defender you will be expected to give the Defender wave . All the best ,and good luck . Jim.

[sheerluck]

......You like it hot sweaty and smelly, yes?.........

I assume that's hot and sweaty for Darwin, and smelly for Wetherby? :D

Welcome Mcshadders.

[Mcshadders]

Hi all, currently live in the UK but emigrating to Darwin at the back end of this year. I drive a 1991 Defender 90 at the moment but I cant bring it with me as w e'll be coming on a temporary visa to start, also it would cost far too much to clean and prepare it for export. I tried looking at used Defenders round the Darwin area but they seem very few and far between and clicking on the dealer link for Darwin seems to go nowhere :( Does anyone know of any independents that can look after one in that area? I really fancy a TD5 110. I don't really want to buy Japanese but I'm the 1st to admit Land Rovers aren't the most reliable mode of transport and not being overly confident with the spanners, I'd need help not too far away. Thanks in advance.

[Mungus]

Very limited in Darwin. The dealership is NT Automotive Group who sell LR, BMW amongst others. I spoke to the salesperson today about the experience of their mechanics with high end vehicles like the D4. Sales/Service; two different areas and not much was discussed, other then they are obviously LR trained techs. At least I wasn't fed talked up bulls**t. Unfortunately, I don't know of any others that could deal with the likes of a D4. NT is Toyota country through and through, but If it were an older model LR without all the electronic systems, there are a few decent mechanical workshops around that could easily do the work. There are quite a few D2's and 3', defenders etc.. up here and I'm sure they wouldn't use the dealership. Some others on this forum will hopefully point you in the right direction.

[Mcshadders]

Thanks very much for the advice and welcome everyone, London Boy I see you already met the wife ;) In response, the wife has a dream fuelled by that flipping programme Wanted Down Under :wasntme: and doing anything to keep her happy I'm going along for the ride! Plus she cant get in without me haha, Darwin was one of 3 state sponsorship places for printers, the others being ACT and Tasmania but at time of application Canberra let go 170 jobs so was not deemed viable and Tas you had to have job in place before going, again not viable, lastly NT was only option and I think Darwin best area for printers (correct if wrong). I know its going to be hotter than hell :twisted:
Had a TD5 Disco a couple of years back (drunken fri night ebay purchase) and absolutely loved it. It wasnt mint but it wasnt top dollar either, a 2003 ES, had it 2 month and it broke several times inc air susp. so sold it on. I just think that the Defender is more of an icon and yes we wave over here.
Tried the usual used car sites but only 2 Defenders showing in Darwin area, I suppose I could fetch one up from Dahn Sarf but still unsure of anyone close to Darwin thats able to maintain it. Will look on Markets section so cheers for that. By the way, my Landy is not on its side, I'm just rubbish at uploading. Will try to put one on right way oop. House and car (not Landy just yet) gone on sale today :o Its all getting a bit scary now! Thanks again.:o Oh, one last thing, why dont they have square rear reg plates on Defenders there? Looks daft with that little bit stuck out the side!

[Mcshadders]

Thanks for that Mungus, did try NT Automotive but seemed to draw a blank and they did not list any used Landys for sale. was quite fancying a 110 TD5 as a bit of an upgrade from my 300 TDi 90 I currently have. Might have to be a T:censored:ota then mate, hope not, do you think a TD5 might be too advanced electronically?

[Disco_Mike]

Welcome aboard! I moved here myself from London and bought myself a Disco. You will find a good one here for sure.

[digger]

<<snip>> Oh, one last thing, why dont they have square rear reg plates on Defenders there? Looks daft with that little bit stuck out the side!

Mcshadders,

the small plate and bracket that projects from the pass side of the vehicle on a defender is to compensate for the different angle of rotation of the earth and climate differences, the defender is made in the UK for those conditions and so we fit these to compensate for that...

(or our motor registration people want to charge extra for personalised plates if you want the square ones)

Pick which ever you believe suits.

Hope all goes well, welcome to the forum..
Going to Darwin you'll need to read up on drop bears and hoop snakes.

"Come To Australia" by Scared Weird Little Guys - YouTube

cheers!!
Digger

[Mcshadders]

:D:D:D Brilliant Digger, must nick that and put it on Face tube, as its well known that I'm a bit apprehensive that everything wants to kill you! I have been warned about the Drop Bears as I was in Sydney last year, I'll look up Hoop Snakes mate.

[sheerluck]

:D:D:D Brilliant Digger, must nick that and put it on Face tube, as its well known that I'm a bit apprehensive that everything wants to kill you! I have been warned about the Drop Bears as I was in Sydney last year, I'll look up Hoop Snakes mate.

Not kill you, Mcshadders, just seriously injure, or maim. :D

[bob10]

Except for these, Bob


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/03/1198.jpg
Matt Davies inspects the chunks a crocodile bit out of the outboard motor after it attacked Dean Bennett's, 22, boat at night while Matt, 12, and John (Snapper) Curwen -Walker, 46, were sleeping on it. The croc attacked their boat twice, it bit the motor the second time in jumped out of the water. Picture: Elise Derwin Source: Northern Territory News


A FISHERMAN has told how a 3.5m crocodile took chunks out of his boat's engine in a Sweetheart-type attack.



The saltie made one big hole and six smaller holes in a 90-minute assault, The NT News reports. (http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/09/11/313498_ntnews.html)
Recreational fisherman Dean Bennett, 22, said: "It meant business.''
The crocodile finally disappeared after being smacked over the head with a metal pole.
Mr Bennett, his 12-year-old brother Matt Davies and friend Ian Boyle were anchored at the mouth of the South Alligator River with another fishing boat on Saturday night when they heard a loud bang and splash.
"Someone else turned on a torch and there was the crocodile at the back of my boat, " he said.
"It had taken chunks out of the engine. It didn't just have a little nibble - it took a big bite.''








Crocodiles, which are very territorial, have been known to attack engines.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/03/1199.jpg
Giant crocodile Sweetheart after it was shot in 1979. Picture:Peter Bennett Source: Northern Territory News






"Sweetheart'' harassed fishing boats so relentlessly that rangers decided to catch him.
But the 5.1m male drowned while being captured in the Finnis River in 1979. He's now stuffed and on display at the NT Museum.
And then there was Elvis, the crocodile who stole a lawnmower and tried to eat it (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/the-other-side/old-crocodile-elvis-steals-mower-after-charging-staff-at-reptile-park/story-e6frfhk6-1226231742176).
Read the full report at The NT News. (http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2012/09/11/313498_ntnews.html)

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/03/1200.jpg
A crocodile attacked Dean Bennett's, 22, boat at night while his brother Matt Davis, 12, and John (Snapper) Curwen -Walker, 46, were sleeping on it at the mouth of the South Alligator River on the weekend. The crocodile attacked their boat twice, it bit the motor the second time in jumped out of the water. Picture: Elise Derwin Source: Northern Territory News

[UncleHo]

Yup! I remember "Sweetheart" after it was caught it did a display tour of Australia's shopping centres, and we saw it a Westfield Burwood Sydney,as that was our local shopping centre, Awesome! was the only way to describe it.

[bob10]

Yup! I remember "Sweetheart" after it was caught it did a display tour of Australia's shopping centres, and we saw it a Westfield Burwood Sydney,as that was our local shopping centre,Awesome1 was the only way to describe it.


Let you in on a little secret, sweetheart didn't die from being shot, they tied it to the side of a large boat,[ after being filled with slow down juice] and water forced into its lungs drowned it. My BIL was best mates with one of the Rangers tasked with the job. Bob

[Don 130]

Mcshadders, Gday and welcome.
Don.

[slug_burner]

Welcome,

Spiders you squash with the sole of your shoe. The salties are what I would be concerned with, unlike the sharks that only get you in the water the crocs can come on the land and drag you back in.

Your 90 in the UK is probably as common as fish and chips, a little less so here. You may want to reconsider having a shipping agent give it a clean and stick into a container with a few of your other large favourite things. We did not get 300 Tdi here until the early to 90s my 110 was one of the first MY94. They are uncomplicated, not as much go as the Td5 but easier to look after. Hope you enjoy the Top End, the build up and the wet are not the times us southerners aim to be up there for.

Good luck with your relocation.

[Didge]

Welcome POM (I married one from Manchester!). That is a nice black 90 you have there but you won't be wanting another black one in Darwin. Have a look at what's for sale in Perth and Adelaide - from my searches in the past they seemed to be the areas most abundant with 110 wildlife and the best prices - happy hunting :)

[workingonit]

Hi Macshadder.

Prospective welcome to Darwin :)

Try Gumtree/Darwin - quite a few Disco's and old Range Rovers etc at the moment. When you search try playing with the space ie search 'land rover' and 'landrover', 'range rover' and 'rangerover' etc. You missed quite a nice Td5 110 for a give away price just recently, guy flew from Qld to get it!

[Mcshadders]

Thanks for that, Sod's law I missed the 110 but that must mean there's a better one waiting for me. Well, house sold within a wk! Just have to wait 6 months for dogs rabies jabs (have to wait 6 months after blood tests) then we'll be over! Just need to find a pet friendly rental in Darwin for back end of Oct now.:)