My beloved LandRover written off. What to do next?

[NT5224]

Hi folks

I'm devastated. My wonderful 2012 model 110 Hi Capacity Pick-up has just been written off in a roll over. I went to UK to attend my old mums funeral and while I was gone it was rolled. My wife and my boy (German Shepherd) miraculously survived unscathed thanks to the external roll cage. Their survival is paramount but today upon my return we've started discussing what to do next. I see three primary options.

1. Buy the wreck from shannons and attempt to rebuild.

2. Buy the wreck from shannons for spares and buy a similar aged LandRover as a replacement (taking a huge financial hit).

3. Dont buy back -buy forwards and put money down on an Ineos Grenadier. This latter option will get me a brand new vehicle with five years warranty for about 15 thousand more than a ten year old LandRover.

What do you folks advise? I was deeply attached to my LandRover, but am so pleased that my wife and boy survived the disaster that the material loss is incidental.

I just need some good advice about how to move forward.

Opinions?

Cheers

Alan

[spudfan]

First off sorry to hear about the damage to the vehicle and you have the right perspective on your wife and boy. The Land Rover can be rebuilt or replaced but your wife and boy can't.
Our 1992 110 tdi station wagon has been in the family since 1996. It was the family car from 1996 until 2008 when a Puma came along. The tdi was the car my wife learnt to drive in and passed her driving test first time in it. It saw us to many a trip to hospitals and doctors with our second child. We used it for camping with our own two children and their three cousins and my wife will not part with it. It is part of the family. So from that perspective I know how you feel regarding your 110.
Even if you could buy another 110 it would not feel the same when you sat in it or drove it.If you go down the rebuild route you will have the same vehicle but technically it might drive a little differently but the homely feeling you have for it will be still there. There are of course economic factors to consider but as I know only two well Land Rovers and economic sense do not good bed fellows make but who can put a price on inner happiness. Look on the 110 as part of the family that just needs some medical attention after a mishap.
There is the INEOS GRENADIER factor, the great unknown. This could have been the next Land Rover revamp of the Defender with better quality parts and quality control but it is not. I like the GRENADIER and it's ethos but whether I'd sell a DEFENDER to be able to buy a Grenadier is unknown. It might turn out to be a better vehicle as such than my Defender but whether I could live with it instead of the "real" thing is another matter. It would be like having the choice of trading in the Mrs for a super model. Short term it's a no brainer but ...well you get the point.
Have a talk with your wife and son and get their take on it, after all the Defender is part of their family two. If you have a gut feeling go with it. If you do decide to go with the INEOS you will know that you did not give up on the 110 but circumstances dictated the change and you should be able to enjoy the INEOS guilt free. I suppose if my Mrs left and a super model moved in I would be in the same situation.....
Anyway best of luck with your decision.

[TonyC]

Hi Alan,
Sorry to hear about the Defender, but very glad to to hear everyone walked away unscathed.

I can't help with the decision going forward, but if your pursuing option 1 be sure the car has not been put on the written off vehicle register.

When my County was rolled and written off, the insurance company were involved in the recovery, and had placed it on the written off vehicle register even before I had submitted a claim.

Tony

[simonmelb]

Hi Alan,

Sorry to hear your vehicle was written off and glad your wife and dog are ok!

If I were in your position I would have safety at the top of my list.

Means looking for a vehicle with inbuilt rollover protection, airbags, and ESC, none of which the old defender has.

Good luck with your decision!

Simon

[Slunnie]

Was it a repairable write off or totally written off? You might not be able to repair and register it.

Sometimes the heart has to over rule the head and if it is a special vehicle to you then maybe a rebuild with a continued relationship with the vehicle is something which will make you happiest along with the satisfaction of rebuilding.

The head says rebuild onto a new Defender

Can you even buy an Ineos Grenadier yet - I suspect you will be waiting a long time unless you've preordered.

[350RRC]

Too late now in this case, but everyone should be aware that Shannons offer 'salvage insurance' as a very cheap add on to a policy, so you get the carcass back for free.

DL

[NT5224]

Hi folks.

Two weeks on from losing my beloved Puma 2012 HiCap I'm back in the game with a wonderful 2013 130 trayback. It has just 50000km. I have also bought back my previous vehicle as
a donor. Among other things it had a brand new undamaged engine and most parts will be interchangeable with the 130.

Wondering what living with a 130 will be like. Won't actually go to pick up the vehicle for a couple of weeks. Its safely in storage for now

Alan

[shack]

Wondering what living with a 130 will be like.

Can you remember how you used to be able to simply do a 4 point turn to get in to parking spaces?

Not any more!!

You'll love it though, so much better at highway speeds off road, so stable, don't wander around etc etc, and the stuff you can fit....

[Larry]

Hi folks.

".............I'm back in the game with a wonderful 2013 130 trayback. It has just 50000km. ...................."

:ttiwwp:

[Pirate]

Sorry to hear that you had your vehicle totalled.

I have a 2001 TD5 Defender and have always wondered what a defender would be like like if it was "done properly".
Well in my opinion the Grenadier will be the best shot at it.

The Grenadier has all the features that I would have spec'ed if I had to design from scratch. Enough creature comforts but still the very capable off road capability and limited tech. (Ie manual seat movement!)

I've had a couple of good looks over them and although I have driven it yet the prototype test drive gave me a sneak peak and was impressed.

The new Defender to me has been hit with the ugly stick. I have no doubt it is capable but cant see my self owning one.

Although I will be keeping my Defender - Ive already put an order in for a Grenadier...

[Col 110]

If you do decide to go with the INEOS you will know that you did not give up on the 110 but circumstances dictated the change and you should be able to enjoy the INEOS guilt free.

I've looked at the INEOS - but I can't sell my 110 (MY15 with 50k) - I would end up with that 'guilt' feeling Spud refers to [biggrin]