Thread: Buying a Landrover

if you can get a defender 300tdi or prior then that would be good as you can do more things yourself if you run into problems. Just trying to find one on good condition with fairly low kms is the hard bit

Originally Posted by 4x4 MORE

now most people I have spoken to say that the ex army Defender Landrover with the Isuzu motor is the one to get..

Well with a couple of exceptions the model you are interested in has not been sold off from the Army so for a while it is unlikely you will get one.

You need to look for something else in the short term. If you want to travel Aust some sort of Defender would be the go depending on your requirements but most will do the job.

Garry

My recommendation is an Isuzu Defender or a TD5 Defender. I also plan on buying one of these when I upgrade from my Disco. The Isuzu's are rare as people have already indicated. As much as a well looked after Isuzu engine is mechanically great, if the vehicle as a whole has been neglected at all, it's likely going to need some work as they're quite old (from the 80's??). TD5's are a great engine and are much newer, so the overall vehicle is less likely to need work.

Also comes down to budget.....

dont discount the 300tdi..........i would jump in mind tomorrow and drive around aus.

mine has been to the gulf and across the simpson with no problems

the odd low k one pops up everynow and than

all depends on your budget

Originally Posted by 4x4 MORE

Hi guys I am thinking of getting a Landrover..now most people I have spoken to say that the ex army Defender Landrover with the Isuzu motor is the one to get..

For reliably ..I want to travel Aus one day..

You've obviously been speaking to an interesting group of people who are out of touch with reality

Any LR can be reliable, and you can get a lemon regardless of which model you buy so its not a case of "buy XXX and you'll have a perfectly reliable vehicle"

A few other questions that will help lead you in the right direction:
- how many people will you be carrying?
- What sort of budget are you looking at?
- Do you have a wife/partner/children that will insist on a quiet vehicle with good aircon etc
- How mechanically minded are you? An old vehicle will make you bleed from the wallet unless its been perfectly maintained or you can do most of the work on it yourself

Steve

Originally Posted by weeds

dont discount the 300tdi..........i would jump in mind tomorrow and drive around aus.

mine has been to the gulf and across the simpson with no problems

the odd low k one pops up everynow and than

all depends on your budget

I would agree, however the only reason I would get a 300TDI over a TD5 is budget.

Disclaimer: I've never owned a TD5.

I have a Suzuki that I do all the work on..mods and servicing....so no probs for me..

I am single...Budget around 10-12 grand..

Also the Isuzu has heaps more low down torque..300nm..

Any of the Defenders/110s you can get for that sort of money can be quite good for your purpose. The Isuzu is a simpler engine and tends to be absolutely reliable. But compared to the Tdi200, or 300 or TD5 is positively agricultural. The vibration tends to be literally rivet popping. For example, I have just checked mine for getting a pink slip tomorrow, and found one parking light had shaken the bulb out (not the first time). Also the five speed gearbox fitted to these after 1986 needs care with this engine. The n/a version (only one from the factory in the 4x4) is less powerful than the other engines. On the other hand, it stands neglect and abuse better.

The 200Tdi is a straightforward development of the original Rover diesel, and is reliable albeit a bit agricultural. It has been suggested some parts are getting hard to find.

The 300Tdi, a redesign of the engine, is more refined, and is generally reliable. There have been timing belt problems, and in any case be absolutely certain timing belts are replaced before they are due.

The Td5 is a ground up late 90s design, five cylinder, and is more civilised again. It seems to be very durable and trouble free, but has a couple of known issues (oil pump bolt, oil in injector harness). This engine in particular will not stand overheating, and more than any of the others has expensive parts.

For the amount of money you have, none of them are going to be new or particularly low mileage, so it is going to be a matter of balancing a newer, rougher vehicle against a better but older one. My view would be to look for the best one you can find that you can afford, regardless of the engine.

A good read of posts on the relevant sections will show you what to look for, and what to avoid.

John