low milage 300tdi or td5 defender??

[matt39788]

Hi Guys,

Having just sold my 300tdi Disco and about to embark on my overseas holiday. I am already thinking of my replacment vehicle when I get back, I have decided that a Defender will probably suit my needs a bit more, found the disco too small for longer trips away. And am trying to decide wether to go for a 300tdi or a td5 I will prob have about 25k-30k to spend. The 300tdi in the disco I found very underpowred when towing anything over 700kg and would maybe look at chipping the td5 for a bit more go,

--is the standard td5 better on the road in standard form opposed to the tdi,, (on paper not much difference in specs)

--what's the td5 reliability like compared to the tdi

--If I was going to fit lockers to an extreme, can the traction control be disabled easily

if anyone could shed some light on my questions, it would be much appreciated

cheers matt

[Taz]

I would have thought that Tdi fenders, being much older, would be around half your budget. Put another way - I suspect you will struggle to find a Tdi fender in such condition that it deserves the kind of money your talking about. So I'm not sure that the comparison is valid.

[Blknight.aus]

yes the td5 is better than the tdi300 but its also more complicated.

hrmmm, reliability... theres a lot more tdi300s out there, maintenance is a lot easier on them and a lot cheaper... IMHO get a wednesday td5 and your laughing but the odds are in favor of the tdi outlasting it as at least most of that is rebuildable.

yep, fit lockers if the wheels are turning at the same speed then TC wont notice that they arent spinning at the wrong speeds and therefore wont engage. Leave the TC in place AND fit the lockers, best of both worlds if you get an 03 or newer deefer as theres a trick you can do in cab to turn off TC so you have all 3 options of, No TC, TC and difflocks if needed.

[p38arover]

I have decided that a Defender will probably suit my needs a bit more, found the disco too small for longer trips away.

Having had a 110 County, I don't believe that the Defender is a practical vehicle.

The rear door is too narrow (a function of the type of construction). There isn't a lot more useful room in one than in a D2 or a RR classic (or P38A).

They are noisy. They lack creature comforts.

I'd go a D2 with the longer rear compartment. The worry is the engine - either the Td5 engine with its attendant problems or the same V8 as the P38A (with, I expect, the same propensity to have slipped liners or cracked blocks).

The biggest advantage of the 110 is that one can fit any accessory to the outside without it spoiling the lines of the car.

Ron

[rangieman]

Having had a 110 County, I don't believe that the Defender is a practical vehicle.

The rear door is too narrow (a function of the type of construction). There isn't a lot more usable room in one than in a D2 or a RR classic (or P38A).

They are noisy. They lack creature comforts.

I'd go a D2 with the longer rear compartment. The worry is the engine - either the Td5 engine with its attendant problems or the same V8 as the P38A (with, I expect, the same propensity to have slipped liners or cracked blocks).

The biggest advantage of the 110 is that one can fit any accessory to the outside without it spoiling the lines of the car.

Ron
Each to their own ill say , i can put a engle in the back of my fender with all my other gear and still get to the fridge for a coldie

And where do you get such a comment there isnt a lot more usable room in a fender :eek:

[Slunnie]

Each to their own ill say , i can put a engle in the back of my fender with all my other gear and still get to the fridge for a coldie
I can do the same in my Disco2.

[matt39788]

Just have a look around at what some tdi defender owners are asking for their rigs, up to 25k for low milage examples which I wouldn't pay, but the defender has seemed to hold it's value alot better than tdi discos for the same year and milage. I was looking at touring around Australia towing a camper trailer with the next landrover I owned and the Defender seemed like the bettter choice. Series 1 discos are just to small and the 300tdi which is a good little motor was a bit underpowerd when towing, also fitting anything bigger than 31 inch tyres has it's problems with discoverys too,

matt

[Michael2]

With a budget like that, you could get a good 300Tdi, probably with most of the fruit you want already on it, and still have enough money to for the rest of the accessories and power it up with an intercooler upgrade and LPG.

I bought my '97 Defender Wagon a year ago for $18K with winch, twin lockers, cargo barrier, rack, long range tank and lot of other stuff - low kms.

A mate just bought a '99 300Tdi for $16K with some, but not as much fruit.

TD5s & TC equipped vehicles have some very expensive items. But they can be chipped and are a lot newer. Personally I'd get a 300Tdi, or wait a bit and get a 1 year old 2007 model next year for a bit more.

[DirtyDawg]

Having had a 110 County, I don't believe that the Defender is a practical vehicle.

The rear door is too narrow (a function of the type of construction). There isn't a lot more useful room in one than in a D2 or a RR classic (or P38A).

They are noisy. They lack creature comforts.

I'd go a D2 with the longer rear compartment. The worry is the engine - either the Td5 engine with its attendant problems or the same V8 as the P38A (with, I expect, the same propensity to have slipped liners or cracked blocks).

The biggest advantage of the 110 is that one can fit any accessory to the outside without it spoiling the lines of the car.

Ron
Coming from the man who admits to Not offroading, why would you have a Deefer for any other reason;)
Dave is pretty much on track with the choices, but in saying that there isnt to many Defenders for sale nationally, I have a mate over here been looking for 12mths for a decent one, 1998 ones are asking 4-5k more than the average 2years ago..Unlike Discos they aren't everywhere and it takes time to find the right one for you, eg carsale has a nice clean 97 one done up like an extreme, very low k's for $18900, there is some tosser from Qld who wants $24500 for a stockstandard 98 with 225000k;s:eek:
I was offered recently $26k cash for mine but I declined.but I would have that just in mods.
Apart from the TD5 time bomb issues later model Deefers dont seem to have too much go wrong with them if this forum is an indicator, Although there is a member here who had so many dramas with a new one, that he sold it and bought a older one, AlanH I think it was.

[Greylandy]

--is the standard td5 better on the road in standard form opposed to the tdi,, (on paper not much difference in specs)
Yes, having owned both I much prefer the TD5.

--what's the td5 reliability like compared to the tdi
Later model TD5 Defenders are just as reliable as the 300tdi's. Some parts can be costly on the TD5 and they are a bit more expensive to maintain as you need specialist equipment. The die hards on this site will tell you to go 300tdi because they can be easily repaired in remore areas ... have a look at the following link ..
http://www.landyonline.co.za/off_road/kinsley_holgate_land_rovers.htm

Kingsley Holgate is a famous South-African explorer/adventurer .. he's taken TD5's from Cape to Cairo, around the world on the Capricorn line and now doing a circumnav around Africa. I have a number of SA mates who regularly travel through Africa in TD5's .. and it's a far less forgiving environment then first world AU.

--If I was going to fit lockers to an extreme, can the traction control be disabled easily
Not an issue as lockers should keep wheels turning at the same speed, even when CDL is engaged the TC seldom comes on.

[p38arover]

Coming from the man who admits to Not offroading, why would you have a Deefer for any other reason;)

Because I like the look of them. Isn't that enough? :p

Ron

[nesjules]

I've had my 2002MY TD5 Defender from new and it has been superb. I'm getting a new one as soon as they arrive so mine's for sale at about 15K (230,000kms) Pity you're in Kalgoorlie!
There's heaps of room for camping gear and tows heavy stuff beautifully - I hardly notice our 18ft caravan on the back except on very steep hills.

Cheers

Jules

[ATH]

Just the one drama Dawg and that was enough.
When the Throttle Potentiometer goes and you're a long way from home, with a fully loaded camper and no one will even look at it, it puts you off the vehicle.

Hated getting rid of what was otherwise a great vehicle but was very wary of it after that.
A bump in the road had you wondering if it was going to breakdown again!
At least with the 300Tdi there's a chance that someone can have a look and hopefully fix it instead of having to ship it hundreds of kays first.Plus all the extra expences for accommodation and air fares etc.
I'd like a new Defender or D3, but not with all that computerised equipment on board.
I'll stay with the old fashioned vehicle thankyou, despite the taunts of being "frightened of new technology"!
Alan H.

[Greylandy]

Just the one drama Dawg and that was enough.
When the Throttle Potentiometer goes and you're a long way from home, with a fully loaded camper and no one will even look at it, it puts you off the vehicle.

Hated getting rid of what was otherwise a great vehicle but was very wary of it after that.
A bump in the road had you wondering if it was going to breakdown again!
At least with the 300Tdi there's a chance that someone can have a look and hopefully fix it instead of having to ship it hundreds of kays first.Plus all the extra expences for accommodation and air fares etc.
I'd like a new Defender or D3, but not with all that computerised equipment on board.
I'll stay with the old fashioned vehicle thankyou, despite the taunts of being "frightened of new technology"!
Alan H.

Not so much the taunts Alan. I just think you experienced a very isolated incident. Yes, the vehicle might let you down again but it might also do the next 300 000km without any issues. The risk is the same in any vehicle.

With regards to mechanics able and willing to fix them out in the bush .. I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately that is a reality in a Toyota/Nissan dominated market. BUT .. bare in mind we (majority of us) only do one BIG trip every year or two years, to discard a TD5 on those basis seems a little over cautious.

Having said that, I was not the one left stranded so as always ... each to his own. In the end it doesn't really matter ... 300tdi or TD5 ... AS LONG AS YOU DRIVE A DEFENDER! :D

[Tyrepower]

Had a 300tdi. Noisy, slow, underpowered, noisy, loud and did I mention noisy. Now have the TD5. 100k on it, have not had a problem. Quite, faster, more power,quite, looks hot and quite. Oh and did I mention that it's quite. Go the TD5. I have my Engel by the sliding window in the back. Always have it open a mm when out the bush. All I have to do is slide it open lift the lid and instant coldie in the hand. Plenty of room in a Defender.
Cheers Richard

[DirtyDawg]

Because I like the look of them. Isn't that enough? :p

Ron
Ron it must be a subconscious thing Bricklayer, brick driver;) must be the square lines that do it for me:D

[p38arover]

Had a 300tdi. Noisy, slow, underpowered, noisy, loud and did I mention noisy. Now have the TD5. 100k on it, have not had a problem. Quite, faster, more power,quite, looks hot and quite. Oh and did I mention that it's quite.


Are you quite sure it is quiet? :p

Ron

[Rosco]

........ if you get an 03 or newer deefer as theres a trick you can do in cab to turn off TC .....

Please explain .... :D

Cheers

[Quarks]

The TC disabling trick is the one where you pump the brake pedal when starting, isn't it?

Personally, I haven't tried a 300tdi, however I do like the td5.
With regards to its electronics, I believe that if you do your research, and know the likely faults, know how to deal with them, and be prepared for them on your trip, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

But, most importantly:

... In the end it doesn't really matter ... 300tdi or TD5 ... AS LONG AS YOU DRIVE A DEFENDER! :D
;)

[feraldisco]

Had a 300tdi. Noisy, slow, underpowered, noisy, loud and did I mention noisy. Now have the TD5. 100k on it, have not had a problem. Quite, faster, more power,quite, looks hot and quite. Oh and did I mention that it's quite. Go the TD5. I have my Engel by the sliding window in the back. Always have it open a mm when out the bush. All I have to do is slide it open lift the lid and instant coldie in the hand. Plenty of room in a Defender.
Cheers Richard


mmm, yes, I didn't realise how noisy by 200Tdi was until I got back in it after driving the Td5 for a few weeks...nuthin like driving a tractor at 100kph (or 140kph in the NT before the new laws).

[Tyrepower]

Are you quite sure it is quiet? :p

Ron


Oh dear.....:eek:.........I will be very Quiet for a while now of that I'm quite sure:D:D

[PAT303]

It's not going to matter as far as getting help in the bush with any vehicle,their all getting more electrics so everyone is going to be in the same boat,at least LR have a limp mode,all the others just stop.I know this because I towed a Prado for 12hrs because a spark plug lead went to earth. Pat

[Blknight.aus]

Please explain .... :D

Cheers

credit to the bloke who posted it in first, might have been tomby...

turn the igintion on and the idiot lights come on...

Before starting the engine AND before the Tc /ABS lights turn off rapidly press the brake pedal 10 times. The TC light will remain lit and TC will not function. I spent a day in wodonga trialing it and it worked in big red although you cannont turn the TC on without first shutting down the engine.

Theres a thread on it somewhere in here.