Thread: Daughter wants Defender <sob>

Originally Posted by p38arover

Sounds good.

I'm considering a 200Tdi 3-door Disco 1 for her - a nice mechanically simple vehicle that should be maintainable by the local Derby/Broome mechanics. I might get it and run it around Sydney for the next couple of months to sort out any problems.

Ron

Why is it you don't want her driving a Defender yet are looking at a D1? Aren't they essentially the same mechanically year for year?

The first thing I would do is to see if there are any Landy specialists in the town she will be living in. If there is then there is no problem really.

ron might be worried about the type of people that she would attract if she was driving a Defender (like us)

Originally Posted by Utemad

Why is it you don't want her driving a Defender yet are looking at a D1? Aren't they essentially the same mechanically year for year?

The first thing I would do is to see if there are any Landy specialists in the town she will be living in. If there is then there is no problem really.

You blokes talked me out of a Toymota or a car. I've had a County and I think they are an impractical car. For all their bulk you can't fit much in them because of the narrow rear door The Disco would be better as a daily driver and it has better aircon, better radio (better soundproofing you can hear the radio).

She wants to drive from Sydney up via Katherine and Kunanurra. That's not a route for a Corolla. I'm not keen on her doing the drive.

I doubt there are any Land specialists in Derby. There might be one in Broome or Pt Hedland but the nearest dealer is in Karratha and that's 1000km away.

The trouble is I don't really know what to suggest.

The three-door Disco has been suggested as being a stronger car than a 5-door and less prone to body cracks. I know my previous RR cracked in the B/C pillar. The 200 Tdi is claimed to be a more robust engine to the 300Tdi.

Ron

Well affiliations aside, if she can't do servicing/repairs herself I would find out what dealerships/specialists are in the area and buy a vehicle that suits.

Originally Posted by p38arover

The three-door Disco has been suggested as being a stronger car than a 5-door and less prone to body cracks. I know my previous RR cracked in the B/C pillar. The 200 Tdi is claimed to be a more robust engine to the 300Tdi.
Ron

Body cracks! Not a robust engine! You're expecting her to do 250,000Km a year are you?

I am with Utemad on this one. If she is mechanically inept and you want remote area reliability and ease of repair, get a Landcruiser. Horrible thing to say, I know, but probably the most practical.

There is a landrover agent in Broome but nothing else between Karratha and Darwin.

I have to say that the most reliable car i have ever had was an old subaru. Subarus do have a good reputation for reliability. Doesn't have offroad ability of a landrover but does have that bit extra ground clearance and toughness. Plus any car mechanic could fix it, but saying that mechanics in the northwest have probably fixed just about everything. A reliable vehicle all depends on its condition. Landrovers, hiluxs, landcruisers all die if the radiator hose busts. I don't think a local dealer is neccesary just a good local mechanic that will keep an eye on the vehicle. Parts can be obtained for any sort of vehicle due to the steady stream of tourists requiring repairs.

Sometimes i think that the car you own seems less reliable because you actually know everything that happens with it.

I guess a learning some mechanical basics wouldn't go astray no matter what vehicle you have if you are going into remote areas.

Just my thoughts.