Help a newbie buy a used defender

[JawKnee]

Hey all handsome defender owners, im planing on joining the club. My heart is set on a defender 90 for a good year now, ive tried looking at alternatives from Jeeps, hiluxes, you name it but nothing has the charm of the landie.
I have been in a 110 and while I haven't driven one, im fully aware of its bad roadside manners, cabin noise and most of its *faults* which for me is part of the charm why im love with it.
BUT i also understand they aren't low maintenance, and require a little mechanical know how which is what worries me cause i ain't mr fixit when it comes to cars. Luckily there's a 4x4 specialist down the road but of course alittle mechanical know how can go a long way,especially in the middle of woop woop.
My budget is under 30k and im only looking at defenders over 2003. Found some i really like,a low km(65000)td5(2003) at $28000 or puma(2007, (140000kms) at $30000. Most under 30k are td5s, Im really liking 2003 td5 but im abit worried if its the right choice. Are the 2003s td5's prone to problems? I'll be searching the site for tips but if you got some quick tips or advice for buying used defenders and maintenance im all ears.

[Wicks89]

Depends who you ask as to whether or not something is "prone" to problems, theres a couple of good threads already running on this very topic and some related topics. I.E. Puma problems etc and the 'Good Oil' Section has extensive threads for td5 faults and fixes, simply by virtue of their longevity.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/174019-defender-puma-2-2-voice-your-issues.html
^Thats a thread on just generic puma dramas

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/207198-defender-long-term-touring-vehicle.html
^theres some good debate in there re td5 vs puma

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/good-oil/34318-td5-engines-studs-loom-head-removal-fpr-injectors-changes-alt-not-charging.html
^Most of the common dramas with td5 engines.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/208884-td5-defender.html
^Some advice in here about what to look for in a used td5.

If you type more or less anything into the "Search this Site function" you will find what you want to know. Most of the threads I just linked started a few days ago, so the more you search the more better older threads you will find.

I'd say: don't necessarily be turned off by the age of the td5, they go alright and theyre pretty easy to work on, everyone starts out a novice and you will only get better with practice. But you may struggle finding a td5 90. Puma 90's may be more plentiful.

[noyakfat]

I'd say if you find one (whatever model) you are seriously considering… ask the owners permission and take it to a LR specialist mechanic for a full check-up at your own expense. They can do a general once over or be as detailed as you like.

When I sold my Poo-trol GQ I dropped the truck to a mechanic (Nissan Patrol specialist who worked on nothing else for years), at the request (and expense) of the prospective new buyer for a detailed inspection.

I have never bought a (second hand) vehicle without getting some type of mechanical check (e.g. RACQ Master inspection) prior to purchase. I really think it's worth it. I'd recommend a specialist who knows and works on the specific type of vehicle.

You may see this as an annoying extra cost, but if you find a truck you intend to have for several years I see it as good insurance before you lay down the big bucks.

Best of luck. No matter what kind of Defender you end up with, it will still make you grin like a Cheshire cat :D

Cheers,
Nige

[strangy]

There you go.
In the first 2 posts is the best advice you will get.

[JawKnee]

Thanks for the reply guys, im 95% sure i'll go with the td5. Still looking over things and most importantly trying to persuaded the misses in letting me get it :p
Just a random thought, if the cubby box was removed in the front row, and replaced with a proper middle seat,seat belt and installed correctly would this be a legal mod & pass rego in nsw?

[Scallops]

Thanks for the reply guys, im 95% sure i'll go with the td5. Still looking over things and most importantly trying to persuaded the misses in letting me get it :p
Just a random thought, if the cubby box was removed in the front row, and replaced with a proper middle seat,seat belt and installed correctly would this be a legal mod & pass rego in nsw?

My cousin's husband has just bought a V8 County :wasntme: and needs it as a 6 seater - he tells me that is exactly what he is going to do and yes it is legal - just needs an engineering certificate.

Coincidentally, he is in Katoomba too.

[frantic]

Scallops and jawknee, go to landvehicle spares and talk to the boss, if it is original LR seats, belts and was an option on that model, you don't need a $1000 eng cert, he fitted LR cargo seats to my 110 wagon and fixed the rego with rta. Both 110 and 90 td5 had 4 inward facing optional cargo seats.
Personally I went for a 2002 td5 110 as it had Salisbury diff, in the 90 this doesn't matter. There where only a few hundred TD5 90's brought here over 2 years I think, there are a lot more pumas.