Talk me out of it please!!!!

[Jaymo]

I have an itch ( no, not that one as the cream from the internet worked 🤣).

It’s the Defender itch. 
1990 to 2005, ideally a pick up version. 
should I, shouldn’t I? And what should I look out for apart from chassis rot? 
 

TIA 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Are you actually MAD?

[amateur]

26 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Are you actually MAD?

Of course he is.

His job defies gravity and his question defines insanity.

[mellors]

🤔. 

Always something breaks, packs up, constant expense.

Great fun. 

If i was younger I'd have another in a heartbeat. 

Go for it. 

[Scully]

For a start , look for one with a galvanised chassis, then you can forget about rot! If you can’t find one with a galvanised chassis, then buy a good TD5 and have a galvanised chassis fitted! 👍
Then get yourself some good clothing ( cos it’ll be draughty and rain in and the heater will be carp…..mind saying that the heater in my old 200 tdi was very good! ) and you’re good to go! 😄

I now have a 110 2.4 TDCi ( the Puma….its a Transit van basically but Transit vans go better, much much better! ) which I thought would be my dream vehicle, but it turned into a nightmare and for a while it was like running a mortgage! Don't believe anyone, and I mean ANYONE, who says theirs has been trouble free. 👍
 

[London Best]

I have had Land Rovers since 1976 and really have had very little trouble. 
Never been stuck at the side of the road. 
Currently running, like Scully, a 110 TDCi Puma engined 2009 vehicle. Had it for over 10 years now and love it, especially the Ford heater. 
No, none of them have been trouble free, but NO vehicle is. 
Being without one would be like having my right arm cut off.

[ditchman]

The 2 most wonderful things in my life were.

1. buying my 1st Landrover
2. Selling my last landrover

[oowee]

Get a Hilux.

[Jaymo]

4 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Are you actually MAD?

Slightly…..

4 hours ago, amateur said:

Of course he is.

His job defies gravity and his question defines insanity.

At least I’m not a rotary head 

3 minutes ago, oowee said:

Get a Hilux.

I have had a couple of Navarra’s. But this is just gonna to be a ‘play thing’ 

3 hours ago, Scully said:

For a start , look for one with a galvanised chassis, then you can forget about rot! If you can’t find one with a galvanised chassis, then buy a good TD5 and have a galvanised chassis fitted! 👍
Then get yourself some good clothing ( cos it’ll be draughty and rain in and the heater will be carp…..mind saying that the heater in my old 200 tdi was very good! ) and you’re good to go! 😄

 

The idea is to finally stop riding motorcycles, have just got an old carb’d Yamaha r1 track/road bike back up and running. But the thing makes me nervous each time I ride it and talking of ‘draughty’ 

[Jaymo]

19 minutes ago, ditchman said:

The 2 most wonderful things in my life were.

1. buying my 1st Landrover
2. Selling my last landrover

That was me and boats 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

5 minutes ago, Jaymo said:

The idea is to finally stop riding motorcycles, have just got an old carb’d Yamaha r1 track/road bike back up and running. But the thing makes me nervous each time I ride it and talking of ‘draughty’ 

Now that is AGE, you're getting OLD.         

[countryman]

Tried to give them up, went for a year without one, i brought a 300TDI 90 re built on a Richardson galvanised chassis this summer, it’s been kitted out with some exmoor seats and trim and it is very comfy for a Defender, if your looking for one your all ready an owner, it will happen 😂

 

[JohnfromUK]

I have a 1993 90 County.  Bought it (as a stolen recovery) in 1995 and now been with me 29 years.  Just had the first welding done (minor patch on rear cross member).  The 200 tdi engine was upgraded by Allards soon. after I bought it (bigger intercooler, tweaked settings giving roughly the power output of a 200 tdi Disco auto) and it sits on LWB 7.50 tyres raising the gearing (needs minor speedo mod).  Never failed an MoT.

The good;

1. Gone up in value
2. Reliable (never let me down)
3. Reasonably economical (30 - 35 m.p.g.)
4. Reasonably comfortable if YOU are the right size (the seats barely move for adjustment)
5. Motorway cruises at 70 happily if noisily
6. Virtually unbeatable off road despite no modern 'aids'.
7. Instant starter even in very coid weather

The less good;

1. Noisy, especially at speed.
2. Vague controls and handling by modern standards
3. Lucas electric are truly awful (wipers, standard lights, switches etc.)
4. Gearbox (2000 tdi) slow and clunky
5. Needs cam belt every 5 years
6. Clutch (on 200 tdi) very heavy by modern standards
7. Wipers and washers very poor
8. Heater very poor
9. Very high theft risk (I use a disklok)

What I have changed;

1. Engine uprated (by Allards)
2. Headlights replaced by modern (fully legal E marked) LED units
3. Much extra soundproofing added
4. Only 2 seats in front with centre cubby (gives more elbow room)
5. 7.50 LWB size) tyres all round

What ought to be done, but it was always a second car and now is semi retired (as I now have a Land Cruiser as daily driver)

1. Headlining sags badly
2. Windscreen seal is badly perished
3. Seats foam is breaking up
4. Clutch release bearing 'whistles' (and has for around 25 years now!)
5. Steering pump will need changing soon
6. Wiper rack needs stripping and re-lubing - very poor when in cold weather
7. Water leaks in around windscreen

What has been replaced/repaired over last 29 years;

1. Clutch replaced
2. Started motor replaced (became very sluggish)
3. Brake system fully overhauled (pipes, calipers, discs etc.)
4. Numerous switches, light fixtures etc replaced (corrosion causing bad connections and plastic breaking up)
5. Spare wheel removed from rear door due to repeated door inner frame cracking from weight
6. Cam belt changed every 5 years
7. Various rubber parts replaced
8. Windscreen washer pumps both replaced (plastic cracked/failed motors)

Overall it has been a reliable and excellent vehicle, done quite a bit of towing, much shoot use, many trips to Scotland.  Won't be sold as long as I can still drive.

Edited Sunday at 19:30 by JohnfromUK

[Weihrauch17]

5 hours ago, Jaymo said:

Slightly…..

At least I’m not a rotary head 

I have had a couple of Navarra’s. But this is just gonna to be a ‘play thing’ 

The idea is to finally stop riding motorcycles, have just got an old carb’d Yamaha r1 track/road bike back up and running. But the thing makes me nervous each time I ride it and talking of ‘draughty’ 

Unless you can lock it up I wouldn't bother.

[Old farrier]

Go on buy it you know you have to have it 😂sod saving the planet the time and expense of fixing it you need the experience 😂

please remember that unlike your airplane it has most of the time a reverse gear and unlike your electric car a lot of noise 🥴

[Jaymo]

3 hours ago, Weihrauch17 said:

Unless you can lock it up I wouldn't bother.

Can do that. 

[Weihrauch17]

2 minutes ago, Jaymo said:

Can do that. 

Go for it then. 👍

[Jaymo]

2 hours ago, Old farrier said:

Go on buy it you know you have to have it 😂sod saving the planet the time and expense of fixing it you need the experience 😂

please remember that unlike your airplane it has most of the time a reverse gear and unlike your electric car a lot of noise 🥴

Oh. We do have reverse, of sorts. 
Just not certified for use below 60kts in our Company. 
But it could be used to reverse. I have reversed a plane a few times, once ‘because I could’ and other times were as it was procedure for parking where we were in Stornaway. 

As to my leccy car. They lent me a new 911 cabrio not so long ago, I was so pleased to hand it back and glide away in mine.

[ditchman]

have you been diagnosed for early onset dementia ...perchance ?

get a landrover and if maintained to the 'enth degree it should get you to your appointment at Dignitas...

[Rat Boy]

My wife and I have had 5 defenders over the years TDI 300, TD5, TDI 2.4 and a couple of TDI 2.2 every one was superb mechanically never let us down, Our last one was a 2.2 90 pick up. It had one previous owner and was immaculate when we purchased it, over our 4 years of ownership it started to show considerable body corrosion that none of the previous ones did. In 2020 we got £20000 and that part ex. Could not get a private buyer. Todays prices are stupid and the Defenders for sale are usually dog ruff. Unless you like laying on your back under the vehicle sorting out problems stay well clear.

[Wilts#Dave]

I always wanted one, wish I’d bit bullet years ago when 20k would have bought me a low mileage minter but missed the boat and they spiralled a few years later. 
Could never justify the cost they go for now, but would still have one on the drive as a third vehicle if I had the spare money as there’s just something about them! 
I run a 68 plate L200 for shooting/ family use and if I’m honest it’s been rock solid, reliable, good enough off road with bigger tyres and plenty of room in the back/cabin. Obviously lacks the ‘character’ of a Defender that I always fancied but Japanese pickups will always be the sensible choice! 
If you’ve got the money and don’t need to be sensible 100% go for it. 
 

[Miserableolgit]

I've had more Land Rover's, Series, 90, 110, 130 & Puma's [plus Discovery, Range Rover]  than I care to mention. That said I'm glad I traded in the last 2.2 110 XS USW I bought in 2014 two years after I purchased it new. That vehicle, manufactured toward the end of the production run was to be THE one I kept for good and therefore like most I had before was rustproofed [Dinitrol or Bilt Hamber products] and generally loved as soon as I got it. However it was so troublesome, spent so much time going back and forth for warranty work that in the end I, as a dyed in the wool Land Rover enthusiast, gave up.

I would only buy another as a hobby vehicle but am not prepared to buy at today's ridiculous prices.