Pros/Cons Defender 130 crew cab

[jacksonmcmahon]

hey there, im new on here and im a young bloke from newcastle. I was just looking for some pros and cons with an older model defender 130. Stockton sand dunes are 15 minutes away so how do they go on beaches aswell? And also noise on the highway?
Cheers, hope you guys can help.

[beefy]

I have a 110. Out of all the cars I have had its the best dune car. Even better then a jimmy. On not too bad new the engine the better

[Sitec]

Pros, crew cab, space for all, length for stability (though you can get them sideways on dirt... Just ask the wife), huge tray on back, Tdi trusted and proven (even tho a little old and tired now)' big towing capacities, Salisbury back axle on earlier models (stronger), awesome touring truck. Love ours.

Cons. Length, turning circle of an ocean liner, heavy (not got the get up and go of a shorty)' Tdi and Td5 both work hard in the 130, gearing lower than 90's so 110kph is getting up there and 120kph is pure thrash! Salisbury back axle (lower by a few inches). Bigger tyres and a heavy right foot get round this... But not always. Aircon... yeah right! You'll pay upwards of $15000 for one that's tidy.... Oh and noise on highway. Sorry, what was that... Speak up man!!

Good luck!

[Benz]

I've got an early td5 130 defender.

It goes quite well on the beach with just the standard 235/85's aired down to 12-15 psi.

the turning circle is HUGE!
you learn to live with it though

as far as defenders are concerned sound deadening is pretty much non existent and the body is bolted straight to the chassis.

The noise doesn't bother me too much but I would suggest on taking one for a spin and see how you go.

[jacksonmcmahon]

Thanks fellas. There is one on carsales, located in coffs for 22500. Looks pretty tidy. Is it a car i could use for my everyday drive to and from work and around town?

[jacksonmcmahon]

2000 LAND ROVER DEFENDER CREW CAB 130 Ute Private Cars For Sale in VIC - carsales.com.au

This is exactly what im looking for, but this is a bit pricey....

[Greyfox]

Thanks fellas. There is one on carsales, located in coffs for 22500. Looks pretty tidy. Is it a car i could use for my everyday drive to and from work and around town?

You can use it for every day driving, you will get use to the turning circle, the noise, the Rain getting in, etc but hey these are the things that make a Defender a Defender wether it is a 90, 110 or 130.
Oh just watch the height if you every park in a covered car park, good luck and enjoy the ride.

[Sitec]

I use mine daily.... but ya gotta love them to do so! As said before, go and have a drive of one... a decent drive too. Bought mine in Brisvegas and drove it back to Adelaide! Even SWMBO loves it! Good luck!

Just had a look at the advert... Nice looking rig. He's wanting good money for it tho. Admitted its got the seats, Alli stuff, screens, etc but its still a 2000 130. You'd want to know the head has been off and had the plastic dowels changed for steel ones... Not a difficult job but one you don't need the cost of doing if you've just spent $25000... Good tyre size. Has the donk been chipped? Check the coolant, hoses and header tank. As I said give it a good drive at highway speed so you get it up to temp. Stop and check the cooling system is pressurised and check the heater is connected, something you forget in summer! The reason I say all this.. When I bought mine from a dealer in Brisbane (first mistake), I took it for a decent drive but I didn't check under the hood again.. Anyway, 2 hours south of Brisbane came the smell of coolant.. This is when we found the 2mm hole that had been drilled in the header tank (bulkhead side above water level) to hide the fact that the head gasket was on its way out! A screw from the grille rectified this. Topped up and got home and a further 10000km b4 having to replace the gasket and dowels! Carma tho, the dealer got flooded 6 months later!

[Greyfox]

Don't you just love shonky dealers.
So glad karma caught up him him.

[Benz]

That is a nice one there.

Should have some poke with the power chip and bigger inter cooler + exhaust.
more so if the claims of 180kw are true. Is that like twice what they come out from factory?
and can the td5 sustain that?

The 130 is quite easy to live with everyday.
only place where the 130 would be a pain would be in parking complexes in the city.