Who's got a late model Defender in their barn?

[Zeros]

It strikes me that there seem to be plenty of late model Defenders 'for sale' with low km at high prices.

Not sure if this has already been discussed, but I'm intrigued to know, is anyone hiding a low km Defender in their barn for posterity, whether for future driving or investment? Perhaps a Heritage edition? The ultimate barn find!

Or are the high priced low km Defenders on car sales actually being driven?

[Toxic_Avenger]

Every time people discuss a 'barn find' I think of this analogy:
"Not driving your Ferrari to keep it mint, is like not having sex with your girlfriend so she's better for the next bloke".

I'm of the opinion that any car that sits around for 20+ years is going to be more issues than one which has been looked after. You would need to replace about every cracked and dry seal, hose and rubber on the whole vehicle- much of which will be very expensive / impossible to get in the sort of time frames these 'barn' finds surface.

Furthermore, There is the value proposition of a vehicle. I personally don't get enjoyment looking at a car. I use them. I suppose other's are different, but buying one to look at it and wash/polish it that much that the paint falls off is not my thing.

[jon3950]

Couldn't agree more Mitch.

To me cars are built to be used. I've never been into concourse vehicles or prissy, pampered supercars. To me the best cars are ones that have been driven and bear the scars and patina of a life well lived - and preferably a life spent on rally stages or racing circuits.

I have one of the last Defenders made, but instead of sitting in a barn gathering dust it spends it's life on the road gathering red dust. In 18 months of ownership I've done nearly 50,000 km and it already has it's fair share of stone chips, scratches and dents. Using it this way has probably cost me thousands. However in that time it has taken me to the High Country twice, the Flinders twice and out to Birdsville. The memories I have of these trips are priceless.

The value in the pleasure I have driving it every day and tinkering with it every weekend far outweighs any increase in monetary value I would have gained from leaving it in the garage.

To me that makes it a real Land Rover and worth far more than anything that's spent it's life sitting in a shed.

Besides, someone can always restore if they want to when I'm gone.

Cheers,
Jon

[Xtreme]

^^ x2
Agree - use them, look after them and they'll look after you.

[jon3950]

And sorry to Zeros for straying so quickly, that's probably not what you wanted to hear. The question you asked is an interesting one.
[bigsmile1]

Cheers,
Jon

[Zeros]

And sorry to Zeros for straying so quickly, that's probably not what you wanted to hear. The question you asked is an interesting one.
[bigsmile1]

Cheers,
Jon

No worries John. I agree, its not a Defender if it isn't used and abused! I could never consign my Defender to the barn! ...Just interested to know if anyone feels certain about the investment value (either monetry or simply preserving for future use) of the last Defenders and is holding on to one for posterity?

[Pickles2]

Yes, I agree they should be used.
I've had a few "toys" in my time, mainly HDT (Brock) Commodores, HSVs and several others. I remember on one occasion I had a lovely black VK Director, and I did only 10KLms, IN ONE YEAR,...ridiculous.
But that was a while ago, I do drive 'em these days, ...if I don't, I'll be too old, & someone else will get all the enjoyment.
So, we've done almost 60,000 klms in Gracie our Keswick Puma 90, and tomorrow she's taking us away for a couple of days in the Yarra Valley,..we're going to Healesville Sanctuary, visit a few places etc, & staying two nights at Chateau Yering,....and one thing is for sure,...Gracie will transport us in style!
Pickles.

[HUE166]

It strikes me that there seem to be plenty of late model Defenders 'for sale' with low km at high prices.

Not sure if this has already been discussed, but I'm intrigued to know, is anyone hiding a low km Defender in their barn for posterity, whether for future driving or investment? Perhaps a Heritage edition? The ultimate barn find!

Or are the high priced low km Defenders on car sales actually being driven?

I have a 2011 110 DCPU Puma at home although, because I live in Australia, I do not have a "barn". My DCPU only has 40,000km on it. Are you after a good one?

[tact]

I have a 2011 110 DCPU Puma at home although, because I live in Australia, I do not have a "barn". My DCPU only has 40,000km on it. Are you after a good one?

Hah! Another DCPU! So rare in Oz apparently.

[Zeros]

Not sure why everyone thinks I'm looking to buy a vehicle, just because I'm raising questions.

I'm not looking for a low km expensive Defender. (I bought one before the prices rose because I knew they would). And if I were, there are plenty available! I'm just wondering how many of those are seriously for sale or are they 'trying it on' ...but really keeping it in the 'barn' (or garage or whatever) for the future.

I'm certainly not! 75,000km in less than three years... loving every km of it!

[gromit]

I remember when the Triumph Silver Jubilee Bonneville came out, most were purchased as 'investments', I think they even made an extra batch because of demand.

Years later they kept coming on the market with virtually 'delivery' mileage. So many of them came up for sale it didn't turn out to be such an investment but probably worth a bit now but how many seals would you have to replace, is anything inside the engine now corroded ........??

Bonneville T140J Silver Jubilee (http://www.tomcc.org/Triumph/Model/37)

I'm sure there were a lot of purchasers of the final Defenders that thought they could make a quick profit, hence the low Km's.


Colin

[DeeJay]

I have 4 cars, all registered, all do less than 5k a year. Up until two years ago I had company cars, now I'm retired.
We tend to do most travel in my wife's car ( Hmm - I bought it & pay for everything, so maybe make that 5 cars !!) - Anyway, I guess that will make the 4 " Barn finds" as they are all tucked away in my garage & will be relatively low klm for their age. My 1977 series 3 has a genuine 145,000k's..
David

[Zeros]

I have 4 cars, all registered, all do less than 5k a year. Up until two years ago I had company cars, now I'm retired.
We tend to do most travel in my wife's car ( Hmm - I bought it & pay for everything, so maybe make that 5 cars !!) - Anyway, I guess that will make the 4 " Barn finds" as they are all tucked away in my garage & will be relatively low klm for their age. My 1977 series 3 has a genuine 145,000k's..
David

Lucky you. ...Are all five Land Rovers?

[DeeJay]

Lucky you. ...Are all five Land Rovers?

I've whittled the Landies down to 2 [bigsmile1]

But one is a LR cousin, a MG ZT - from 2003.