Defender's reliability?

[Pete_n_Onie]

Hi team
Just joined and apologies if I'm covering old ground, but I need input.
I owned and toured with a '64 2A shorty for 29 years - it was an education.
It's time to get something to tow a 20ft van weighing just under 3 tonne - going to do the "big trip". We keep getting warned off Land Rovers because of their alleged unreliability. I'm not a mechanic's shoe lace, especially in the computerised days.
We've been looking at the 130 crew cab.
Can I get some feedback from current owners please.
I hate Toyota, but they make a good reliable vehicle which can handle a little abuse. I nursed my old Landy for 29 years - not keen on doing it again.
Hope to hear something.
All the best
Pete and Onie

[Lightweight]

Hi and welcome aboard Pete,

"We keep getting warned off Land Rovers because of their alleged unreliability."

Where do people keep 'hearing' these stories? I would love to know how they are propagated, what a great job done by the Toyota marketing!

Anyway, my belief is that they are no more or less reliable than similarly complex or simple 4wd's. I have done many K's in two different Defenders, over deserts, long and short trips and only once has either car let me down. I snapped an axle on Stockton beach.... funnily enough another LR towed me 20K's through the sand, and back to Newcastle.

There is more than enough pro's and con's here to last a lifetime, troll through the pages you will be even more confused.

A late model TD5 with good logbooks, clean and tidy should provide you years of driving joy, with little mechanical issues. Get it looked at by someone who knows LR's and you will become part of a passionate and proud group of car owners.

Towing your van will be far more economical in a TD5/Puma over the 4.2 Toyota motor.

[Scallops]

Yes - welcome to the forum - I'm sure you'll enjoy the place.

My following comments relate to the new version - the folks here with the new Defender will pretty much all tell you they are very good vehicles and you should not hesitate to go forth and get one. There is some merit to this argument too - although I disagree. There are a number of threads on this page, right now that deal with this very question. And to briefly answer the question put by the above poster - I don't need to hear these stories from anyone, least of which Toyota - unfortunately, they happen only too regularly right here in my shed, or when I'm out and about in my new Defender, I'm afraid.

I'd try to have a good read of these threads I make mention of (and have offered contributions to) and then try to make an objective decision if you are considering the Puma.

Now, my vehicle might be the exception (but on my research - I doubt it), because it has been unreliable in the extreme - never left me stranded, but virtually all the major components have failed and been replaced. I know that if I do any major trip in it - something will fail - even if it's just a side mirror falling off. Funny - I have a 1956 series 1 - nothing falls off that.

Personally, I'd buy a late (2006) TD5 instead. There are folks here with more recent (brand new) Pumas who are happy to have got through 10,000km (or a couple of years) trouble free - I truly hope they are not just being blinded by the bling. A new vehicle should go 10,000km trouble free. From what I've seen - most won't.

[LRO53]

Towing your van will be far more economical in a TD5/Puma over the 4.2 Toyota motor.

Seconded! The Td5 or New TDCi Engine will give you far better fuel economy when towing.

130's are one of the best tow vehicles around.

[jddisco200tdi]

I own a puma 110 and think its a big ask for the 2.4 to drag a 3 tonne van all around Australia.
I hate to say it but I think an auto TD Cruiser or D3 will suit you better.

Regards

John D - Defender 110 2.4

[4x4x2]

Hi My
My 98 Defender 110 / 98 disco tdi both pull our 26 ft van ok- not fast but at that size im not to keen on going to fast.
-With all the trouble with the late model Prado's and Cruisers -I think id stay with the late model Rover,
Find a good dealer/good rover mechanic and part supplier -and inform them you are going on the road -and may need parts sent out-
by the way everything breaks down -and towing those weights will only close up the service/repair intervals

thats my bit!

[Jeff]

I have had my Defender since new in 99 (98, last of the TDi) and done 260,000km most of that towing a 1200kg trailer, with the water pump being the only non scheduled replacement part, and that didn't go suddenly either. I would take it anywhere without fear of letting me down. I also have a Discovery 2 TD5 that I bought second hand and it has just spat a big end, the previous owner appears to have run it low on oil at one time and it took a while to show itself. The joy of buying second hand. I think if you get something that has been looked after it will be reliable, but that would be with anything, not just Land Rovers.

Jeff

[4x4x2]

I agree with Jeff i brought my 98 def new -has done 210k
got my 98 disco tdi 2nd hand from a rep via a yard the old looked after it kept it serviced -it has now done 400k has not let me down .

[Blknight.aus]

if you want to have a look at reliability come round and meet fozzy, potentially the most abused and still running rover in queensland. 34+ years old and still running and mostly of that on a good dose of neglect.

theres plenty of blokes on here who will help you get your basic (and vehicle specific) mechanical knowledge up to speed.

with a 20ft van behind a td5 driven nice you can expect about 13-14l/100 average fuel consumption.

[Michael2]

I had a series Landy for 20 years, and it taught me patience, forbearance as well as electrical and mechanical aptitude. My '97 Defender has liberated a lot of time from my previous Land Rover repair & maintenance schedule.

I did a tour at the Australian Maritime museum and the guy who conducted the submarine tour said how they had 'x' number of hours each day for work, sleep and relaxation. In all the time he served on a sub, all the relaxation time was spent rebuilding or repairing equipment. It's just the nature of 1960s technology, whether it be automotive or naval, that things were made to be pulled apart, repaired, lubricated, readjusted and reassembled.

I don't think the experiences of owning a character building series Land Rover should dissuade you from buying a newer one. Having said that, my 300Tdi doesn't have any electrickery, so my car may not be as 'modern' as I imagine.