Word from the dealer was the missus didn't like it, to truck like for her.
Traded it back in on a 200 series............
Paul.
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It does look good with all the mods. Hope it runs well for you.
Just in case its not too late....
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...AG-AD-16666166
With no disrespect to the new buyer, this simply isn't true.
In standard form they are far from reliable.
There is a long list of things that need fixing or adressing on the 76/79series before they start to become reliable and capable with real outback or hard track use.
It's funny the Toyota reliability marketing, they don't put this in the ads [emoji23]
As most know, the track massively(4inches!) different front to back
Uncomfortable and restrictive leafs that hang under rear axle housing.
Fix both above $10k
Alternator that fails on nearly every decent offroad trip(Last a few weeks in mines) $3k fix to watercooled
Starter in valley fails if you get water into bonnet vent as it doesn't drain out and starter dies. No fix I've heard and very very hard to get to.
no auto option, trucklike manual high rpm @ 110kph auto fix but good conv $20k
fake snorkel factory let's water in, safari 4inch fix
bad handbrake, Nissan patrol Mark's 4x4 fix.
Injectors are very susceptible to dirt and water, need high quality pre filter.
Basically fundamentally badly engineered driveline leaves you fighting two different ruts on beach and unstable rear on hills, fundamental parts of engine are unreliable due to location of Alt and starter and fuel setup, snorkel that is meant for water crossing causes engine failure if not fixed. Handbrake can cause death.
They lift front wheels like crazy on steep hills especially when loaded and gets even worse with 79 traybacks that get heavy canopy added by most.
Injectors can leave you stranded in the outback.
Most above fixable but you must add all that onto the purchase price if you want to use it offroad properly. Above is already around 35-40k.
Real price new is 100k if you want to address some of the issues, thats before you start the real mods that everyone does to them to try and keep up with the landies in the ruff stuff ha.
125k easy with mods.
In Gwagon commercial territory now.
Now defenders have their problems too, but I don't remember them being anywhere near as long or as fundamentally bad as the above.
Or for 100k you could get a good LR shop to build a very reliable big lap capable low k 2015/2016 defender with all the fruit.
For 125k you would have a dream Defender,Disco, Rangie with LS3/6L80 or your choice of desiel/auto, Ford 9 rear and all the fruit.
Just my take on reality, don't mean to offend, just what I've heard from others and mechsnics that work on them, maybe Toyota has fixed some of the above, however they are certainly not a step up from a built defender if real 4x4 and touring is what your into imo.
No vehicle doesn’t need mods for hard track use.
Whatever the brand.
As for reliability,and a comparison,
Now let’s have a look at the MAJOR issues with the last run of defenders.
Wonderful example of great engineering,you only have to look at one example the adapter shaft,which is a show stopper.
I haven’t got time to type 300 words,a quick search on here will find them easy,oh,and just as an example,have a look at Diggers posts,and guys that work on them all day,such as JC,and Dazza.
I think it’s time to remove those rose coloured glasses.
It's only a problem if it wasn't greased.
That's a big difference to having to fit a whole new rear suspension to a 79.
Oh well,I suppose that’s why they can’t sell them.
Not just here but all over the world.
In fact if you go to places like East Africa,they are the vehicle of choice for all the safari companies,and many others.
There are literally thousands of them.
Mention a Land Rover to them that’s older than a 200 or 300 TDI,And they just laugh.
Had them,they say,never again.[bigwhistle]
There are quite a few on here that have had them greased and they still failed.
It’s a big job to get to it just to grease it properly.
And it has to be done regularly
Some have fitted the mod and they still fail.
And a whole new suspension system doesn’t HAVE to be fitted,many find them fine as they are.
Many vehicles have track differences,as an example some Patrol models.
At least the track difference isn’t a show stopper,unlike many of the Defender issues.