Realistic pricing for Defender 130 dual cab ute?

[twr7cx]

So, we are currently contemplating shifting our 2011 Ford PK Ranger XLT 4x4 to replace it with a much older Defender 130 dual cab ute probably of the 300TDI variant. Were not after anything special, just a basic one, in reasonablish condition, few dents, little bit rough around the edges if fine. Having been looking around for a couple of weeks now there is nothing under a $15,000.00 asking price. Is this a realistic price that people are paying for these now or are these sellers hoping to get lucky?

[87County]

So, we are currently contemplating shifting our 2011 Ford PK Ranger XLT 4x4 to replace it with a much older Defender 130 dual cab ute probably of the 300TDI variant. Were not after anything special, just a basic one, in reasonablish condition, few dents, little bit rough around the edges if fine. Having been looking around for a couple of weeks now there is nothing under a $15,000.00 asking price. Is this a realistic price that people are paying for these now or are these sellers hoping to get lucky?

If registered it's probably within the "ballpark", what do you think they're worth?

[Andy130]

I would want to see a lot of receipts for recent work done and a good maintenance record for a 130 priced at or above 15k.

Also - best to have your cash ready - wait for a good one to come up, but be ready to get it, as it will go fast.

[steane]

I think a $15k 300tdi 130 would be a bit of a clunker and probably require a fair bit of work to get it right. Good ones aren't cheap 4x4s.

[Andy130]

I bought a 'clunker' 130 for 6k, that started out listed at 12k...it was never worth 12 .... but theres one on gumtree at the moment listed for 9k and another listed for 12k.

Regardless, I agree that any old 300tdi 130 is going to need $$ spent on it -but I did see an awesome one for 15k about 8 months ago with plenty of $$$ spent on it already. They do come around.

I guess it depends what you want/ where you want to start with a project.

[PAT303]

I bought a 'clunker' 130 for 6k, that started out listed at 12k...it was never worth 12 .... but theres one on gumtree at the moment listed for 9k and another listed for 12k.

Regardless, I agree that any old 300tdi 130 is going to need $$ spent on it -but I did see an awesome one for 15k about 8 months ago with plenty of $$$ spent on it already. They do come around.

I guess it depends what you want/ where you want to start with a project.

I'd buy the 9k one and use the 6k left over to bring it up to scratch. Pat

[steane]

I bought a 'clunker' 130 for 6k, that started out listed at 12k...it was never worth 12 .... but theres one on gumtree at the moment listed for 9k and another listed for 12k.

Regardless, I agree that any old 300tdi 130 is going to need $$ spent on it -but I did see an awesome one for 15k about 8 months ago with plenty of $$$ spent on it already. They do come around.

I guess it depends what you want/ where you want to start with a project.

Prices have been changing a lot recently (going up). Truly nice 110s and 130s of this vintage have been hitting carsales at $40 to 50k. Which at the moment is stupid, but...

I keep banging on about the difference between a properly good 300tdi and a clunker. I've bought two Defenders in the last 5 years. 5 years ago $7k bought a complete basket case, but interestingly the owner thought it was ready for a trip around Oz. That's Defender owners for you! Treat your deefer like crap and keep thinking it's ready to rock.

Last one I looked at (110s again) was a year ago and then $15k bought you cars I wouldn't touch because they were rusty, or bitzas or just plain rubbish. Eventually found a sensational, original, well cared for 300tdi wagon, but it cost the best part of $20k. Now would be worth considerably more, if you could find one.

$6K (as Pat refers to) will evaporate like mist on a hot day fixing up a crap Defender. They are all flogged, worn out, rusty, patched together piles of junk mostly. $6k barely gets you a new R380 and LT230 and that would just be the start of the laundry list.

Sounds negative, but they are 20 year old work vehicles essentially and very few have been well cared for and properly maintained, because Defender owners (the old breed, not the new ones) were the type who'd try and save $5 by spending 15 hours machining their own parts on an old (borrowed) lathe. Way to have a win!

I agree though, if you are prepared to be patient, the odd gem appears at the right price.

[twr7cx]

Not sure how to respond to this now. There clearly exists a large amount of passion within the Defender area and I feel as though what I say will be scrutinised thoroughly - do so if you feel necessary, but it's just my opinion, it's not intended to offend or upset you and your welcome to disagree with it and have your own opinion.

Firstly, six or seven years ago I set out to buy a Defender. I ended up with a Discovery 2 TD5 HSE instead. This is it now:



There exists a lot of work and additional expense in the modifications.

The reason why I went the Discovery route was that the Defenders in my opinion at the time were significantly over priced. The equivalent motor and year Defender attracted a premium of 30 to 40% more, yet the Discovery was more expensive new and a nicer vehicle to drive. I still hold that my D2 with it's SLS and ACE and various modifications (33" tyres, 3" lift, etc. etc.) is one of the most capable on road and off road vehicles you will find - it handles amazingly on road and has not let me down off road yet - couldn't find a better balance. I still have this vehicle and have no intentions of sending it anywhere.

My brother has a 2011 Puma. I enjoy driving it but we both agree that my Disco is far more refined.

We would like a Defender 130 dual cab ute. But I don't feel that they are in anyway worth $15,000.00. The motor and driveline are shared with a Discovery 1 which I frequently see lovely clean 300TDI models for $3,000.00. So this means that a premium of $12,000.00 is being paid for the Defender body and ute body shape - it's my opinion that it's just not worth that much premium! Then considering that most seem to have 300,000+km and bodies that are rough...

As an alternative I am now looking either going with a single cab, which is not ideal, but that opens up F trucks, Patrols and old Land Cruisers as other options. The only advantage I can find with the Land Rovers is that they have a dual cab option and I'm partial to the brand, but not loyal enough that I can justify that sort of premium! Otherwise we will either keep the current Ranger or downgrade to an older dual cab Hilux/Courier/Bravo/Navara/Triton. There's plenty of other offerings at more reasonable pricing.

My intention behind this thread was not to complain about the prices but to check if they were realistic on the current market - apparently they are, so best of luck to all the sellers and buyers, but I'm out!

[steane]

Not sure how to respond to this now. There clearly exists a large amount of passion within the Defender area and I feel as though what I say will be scrutinised thoroughly - do so if you feel necessary, but it's just my opinion, it's not intended to offend or upset you and your welcome to disagree with it and have your own opinion.

Firstly, six or seven years ago I set out to buy a Defender. I ended up with a Discovery 2 TD5 HSE instead. This is it now:

There exists a lot of work and additional expense in the modifications.

The reason why I went the Discovery route was that the Defenders in my opinion at the time were significantly over priced. The equivalent motor and year Defender attracted a premium of 30 to 40% more, yet the Discovery was more expensive new and a nicer vehicle to drive. I still hold that my D2 with it's SLS and ACE and various modifications (33" tyres, 3" lift, etc. etc.) is one of the most capable on road and off road vehicles you will find - it handles amazingly on road and has not let me down off road yet - couldn't find a better balance. I still have this vehicle and have no intentions of sending it anywhere.

My brother has a 2011 Puma. I enjoy driving it but we both agree that my Disco is far more refined.

We would like a Defender 130 dual cab ute. But I don't feel that they are in anyway worth $15,000.00. The motor and driveline are shared with a Discovery 1 which I frequently see lovely clean 300TDI models for $3,000.00. So this means that a premium of $12,000.00 is being paid for the Defender body and ute body shape - it's my opinion that it's just not worth that much premium! Then considering that most seem to have 300,000+km and bodies that are rough...

As an alternative I am now looking either going with a single cab, which is not ideal, but that opens up F trucks, Patrols and old Land Cruisers as other options. The only advantage I can find with the Land Rovers is that they have a dual cab option and I'm partial to the brand, but not loyal enough that I can justify that sort of premium! Otherwise we will either keep the current Ranger or downgrade to an older dual cab Hilux/Courier/Bravo/Navara/Triton. There's plenty of other offerings at more reasonable pricing.

My intention behind this thread was not to complain about the prices but to check if they were realistic on the current market - apparently they are, so best of luck to all the sellers and buyers, but I'm out!

Defender v Disco prices are best explained by the fact that there are some vehicles that are worth more than just the sum of their parts and others that will only ever be worth the sum of their parts. What separates them isn't the driving experience, it's the level of desire they instill in the buyer.

There is of course one big positive that comes with spending more than you think you should on a Defender and that is that unlike all the Jap/Thai utes and Discos, when you go to sell it one day, none of those dollars will have been lost.

Probably cheaper to buy the Defender in the long run.

[Grumbles]

As an alternative I am now looking either going with a single cab, which is not ideal, but that opens up F trucks, Patrols and old Land Cruisers as other options........... or downgrade to an older dual cab Hilux/Courier/Bravo/Navara/Triton.

AULRO member cafe latte faced a similar situation which he told us about in his thread - Mahindra Pik-up compared to a Puma Defender. Mahindra pick-up compared to a Puma Defender

His final decision was to buy a demo Mahindra Pik-up dual cab for comparable dollars to an older Defender. As good as a brand new car and with factory warranty and seemingly quirky enough to satisfy his Landrover taste buds.

Just a thought twr7cx.

Good luck.