Fenda for every day?

[DaveG]

Guys, I'm due for a new company car at the end of the year and would like some feedback on getting either a 90 or 110 for everyday use. Obviously my heart says "do it" but my head says "you'll be sorry".

To give you some background, I travel around 150kms return trip every day from Geelong to Melbourne in crap traffic. Taking a new Defender for a spin at a dealership isn't going to provide me with a 'real world' experience.

What do you reckon, do I drag my ass out of my quiet, leather-appointed, automatic Toyo-bishi?

Thanks in advance.
-Dave

[KarlB]

Do it! My daily driver is a D90 and it is excellent with its high seating position and excellent visibility. They have a good turn of speed once you are away from the lights though it is easy to surprise other drivers by starting and accelerating away in 2nd gear. Changing lanes is good as people give way to you because you are bigger than them. 90s are no more difficult to park than an ordinary medium sized sedan.

Cheers
KarlB

[Sleepy]

G'day DaveG,
I bought my first Def110 in 2001. I drive it across Melb every day. 100km round trip to airport and back.
Stop start traffic is a little painful without an auto but other than that, I love it. Good visibility, good economy, and I smile every time I jump in it.
I changed it over to a 90 in 2005 and still smiling.

[Blknight.aus]

let me put this in perspective for you...

I use a lwb diesel series III for a daily driver....

[JDNSW]

I cannot see where there would be a problem. Of course, it does not have all the bells and whistles that something else might have, and there is no auto available, but it is not much different, albeit in some ways superior to what everyone drove as a daily driver fifteen years ago. They are comfortable, albeit a bit cramped if you are big, ride well, and have good visibility and handling, although you have to remember that the 110 is a big vehicle and be aware that some undercover car parks may have too low a clearance (need 2.05m for mine, new ones will be pretty close to the same) for either 90 or 110. My daily driver is either the 1986 110 or the 1970 109 - both are a lot less civilised than the current Defender, but I had no qualms about driving the 110 across Australia and back or recently driving 1000km each way to Melbourne and back.

John

[Allan]

My wife drives a 90 and I a 110 as daily drives, on cold days the wife takes the 110 as she likes the heated seats. I find the 90 better around car parks ect but the 110 is very handy when going away camping.

Allan

[Sleepy]

let me put this in perspective for you...

I use a lwb diesel series III for a daily driver....

HEY DAVE, I USED TO HAVE A SIIID TOO, BUT I SOLD IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO And my hearing is slowly returning.

[steveG]

If its a company car (ie you dont pay for car or running costs) then I'd do it.
On the other hand, if its a novated lease or something where you are effectively paying for the maintenance and running costs you'd have to do the sums and weigh it up.

I've got a Falcon wagon as my official daily drive from Lara-Melb, but in the last couple of months I've driven my Isuzu county almost daily.
As others have said, a manual is a PITA in the stop/start traffic, but other than than I enjoy driving the county more. I'm sure its costing me more to drive than the Falcon, but I've been purposely driving it as much as I can to shake out any issues from the Isuzu conversion.

Its as comfortable as any car I've driven, and more comfortable than most.

If my company said I had the choice of a new sedan or a Defender - I'd absolutely take the Defender.

Steve

[IGL002]

I drive a 110 daily. As Karl indicated, the high seating position is excellent. Mine is 2.05m high which will accommodate most shopping centers.
The turning circle will surprise some people

Iglooist

[rijidij]

All positive comments so far it's looking good for a Defender