Thread: 130 Crew Cab Defender

The main comfort issues are if you are over 6' tall I would look at another vehicle including the Disco. These vehicles are really only made for people below 6'. The aircon unit is a real pain in the arse on the passengers side and takes up a substantial section of the footwell, not leaving much footroom. OK if your passenger does not mind cutting their feet off before travelling. The drivers side is not much better, left leg rests against the hand brake, the right knee rests against the door and right at the ridged part of the door and your right arm and shoulder are right up against the door/window. The rear passenger compartment is great for kids only but not very comfortable for adults, even so kids legs are always poking into the back of the seat. It is a noisy vehicle inside and the air con is next to useless for the kids in the back. The heaters are virtually non existant,
Having said that it is agreat 4wd, with the TD5 a good motor, plenty of ground clearance and a fair amount of load room. Another downside is that the batteries are under the passenger seat although this will keep them cooler than under the bonnet and prolong their life. The seats are not bad but could be better. The dust and water sealing is not that great.
With the TD5 look for evidence of oil around the injector wiring harness as this has been a problem. Replacement injectors are a joke at around $1000-1500 each. The Tdi is a little underpowered for a rig such as these.
Do I like mine as a 4wd, yeah I love it. Would I buy another one? NO, not unless they address some very basic comfort levels. I would buy a Disco or a Rangie and live without the extra load space. If you can hire or convince a dealer to loan you one drive it solid for a few hours and this will indicate how comfortable it will be for you, then swap and become a passenger for a while. Parts are prohibitively expensive for the TD5, filters belts, hoses etc are overpriced full stop.
Best of luck finding something. Would I buy a Toyota or Nissan? Maybe if the price was really good. Would I buy a Disco? In a minute if I could afford one. A well appointed 130 twin cab would be nice.
After market parts are fairly well available in Australia and easily obtainable from the UK. The main issue in remote areas is ervice items which may have a wait to get in.

With the comfort issue my seats have been moved back about 1 cm and we find there is now heaps of leg room. Door piller is still a nusance but I am surprised about the comfort as I had been warned that they are very basic and very uncomfortable before I bought mine in march. I travel an hour to and from work each day and until my 130 I was driving a 1997 fairlane and NO I wouldn't switch back at this pont. I now find the ford strange to drive because I feel like I am lying down in it.

thanks for the replies and info ..... esp Craig E aand James H

well suffering from cabin fever today we went to Southern Landrover and had a look around , whilst waiting for a salesman strolled around and had a chat with a couple of the mechanics , very nice guys , very honest :? they said that it would be in my and my bank accounts best interest to leave the yard before the sales man was free ..... they said anything with a green badge is trouble 8O
So the salesman came along and gave us a LR to test drive , and dismissed the mechanics quotes , saying they are just biased ?????

So with specific instructions NOT TO GO OFF ROAD as the vehicles cost $200 to get re detailed 8O 8O 8O we headed off for an hour like Craig stated to do ....
well my left knee is worse for wear , the wife hated it , no leg room [she is 6 foot] and "KNEE CONDITIONING" INSTEAD OF AIR CONDITIONING lololol

so we returned the LR to the yard , the wife jokingly said the body and comfort factors come straight from the depression not the year 2002 , but the salesman agreed and laughed 8O

So we went down the road to Action Motors , tested a 2002 GU 4.2TD Wagon ... duel wheel carriers , 130 lt tank , milford cargop barrier , bull bar winch , roof rack ..... beautiful to drive ... great comfort .. powerful ... and we took it up Mundaring for 40 mins of play .
Couldn't be more happy , took it straight to Robson Bro's for a check out .. 100% ok 69 thou km on the clock ... we brought it [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

so now the proud owners of the GU , after looking , driving , having tested 8 110 LR with no real joy

so thanks a lot for all your help guys :wink:

well done mate [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

now off you go to patrol land :wink:


driving a defender is not everybodys cup of tea, but i just love it [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]


good luck with your patrol

If you're concerned with comfort levels then why are you looking at a bare bones, do anything you ask it to do, Land Rover Defender.

It's a practicle vehicle with very little creature comforts.

It's also the most capable off road vehicle you will ever drive.

If you want nice door skins and a heater that works get some jap piece of ****. If you want a hard ass work horse that'll go anywhere get a Defender.

HTH.

The comfort issues just do not compute with me. I am over 6' and really like the upright seating position. It is true about the air con though - it's a knee conditioner. First trip away was four blokes a dog 4 swags along the gunbarrel and the GRR. 5 weeks 9000km. Brilliant. Honestly I drive mine for hours on end and with no other feeling other than being happy on the road in the best car ever built.

My name is James Hamilton and I am a Land Rover tragic. People ask me from time to time in shops, fuel stations and campsites if Defenders are any good. I tell them I don't know, as Ive never considered anything else.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>My name is James Hamilton and I am a Land Rover tragic. People ask me from time to time in shops, fuel stations and campsites if Defenders are any good. I tell them I don't know, as Ive never considered anything else.[/b][/quote]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

i like it :wink: :wink:

I am glad you found a vehicle you are happy with Sith, but i am a little dissapointed you chose a Jap car. Most people who test drive the defender say exactly what you have said, but it really does grow on you, and you do get used to the so called "comfort issues". The Patrol will be alot thirstier to. Good luck with your new purchase. Matt