I want a Landrover Defender, help

[qcamel]

I know that many of you have Defenders and I would like some advice on buying one please. Will only use for boat stuff, dogs, and occasional popping into town, have another car that I will use everyday.

What should I be looking for that will offer solid towing ability and dare I say it good looks!!

Will £4-6000 do it?

Ollie

[Scrumdown]

Used to have defender before the Disco before the shogun! - I'd spend an extra £3-4k on what you have suggested to spend and you'' pick up something quite decent TD5 no at that price - check out Landrover Owner Internationals forum for latest prices! - CHECK THE BULKHEAD AND CHASSIS THOUGH!
Be prepared to walk away from a few you go to see - Ones which farmers have owned usually have the chassis caked in mud and never washed off - look for county spec if you can or ex lcoal authority one that you can add extra seats and windows to.

[codprawn]

You can get a pretty good one for that if you shop around.

The best buys are the V8s - nobody wants them. Get a gas conversion and you have the power and smoothness of a V8 with the running costs of a diesel. You can buy a diesel at your price as well. Avoid the old 2.5 turbo - get a 200 or 300tdi.

Old MOD surplus stock are great to have as well - kids love riding in camo Landrovers!!!

Defenders are an aquired taste I suppose. I love them.

Main things to check.

Bulkhead - around the door pillar just under the flap vents.

Rear crossmember.

Chassis outriggers - front on top tend to be the worst places.

Nasty clunks from transmission. I bought my defnder for £2000 because of this - it was worn prop UJs which cost £80 to fix.

Land Rovers need more looking after than other vehicles - for example not many vehicles now have grease nipples - some people mock Land Rovers for this and yet most people with boats WANT proper grease nipples on their trailers cos the sealed for life bearings aren't really sealed!!!

Personal favourite is a 110 CSW - 12 seats. 90 is better off road but not as good on road and doesn't have the road prescence.

[Simon B]

Originally Posted by codprawn

You can get a pretty good one for that if you shop around.

The best buys are the V8s - nobody wants them. Get a gas conversion and you have the power and smoothness of a V8 with the running costs of a diesel. You can buy a diesel at your price as well. Avoid the old 2.5 turbo - get a 200 or 300tdi.

Old MOD surplus stock are great to have as well - kids love riding in camo Landrovers!!!

Defenders are an aquired taste I suppose. I love them.

Main things to check.

Bulkhead - around the door pillar just under the flap vents.

Rear crossmember.

Chassis outriggers - front on top tend to be the worst places.

Nasty clunks from transmission. I bought my defnder for £2000 because of this - it was worn prop UJs which cost £80 to fix.

Land Rovers need more looking after than other vehicles - for example not many vehicles now have grease nipples - some people mock Land Rovers for this and yet most people with boats WANT proper grease nipples on their trailers cos the sealed for life bearings aren't really sealed!!!

Personal favourite is a 110 CSW - 12 seats. 90 is better off road but not as good on road and doesn't have the road prescence.

Personal favourite is a 110 CSW convert it to LPG and you'll be running cheaper than diesel, maybe not as cheap as veg oil but if you do this with a V8 think of the power!

As said buy on condition not age, be warned there are lots of rogues (not wave!) out there. 6k will get you a very good one, put a front tow hitch on life will indeed be simple.

Mine takes a full length trailer board inside without projecting into the front seat area. The customisation options are endless, Autotrader is a good place to look, then local independant traders.

[Alice]

OK, I'm also thinking LR LWB Defender. The kids and the missus now consider their current 'ride' naff and chavvy! So guys, what's the one to buy? It needs to be 7 seats, nice spec, diesel or LPG upto £20K.

[codprawn]

That will get you an almost new 110 TD5 CSW - try to get one with ABS and traction control and it is unstoppable!!! Some of the crew cab ones are pretty good as well.

In fact if you get an import you could prob get a new one.

All depends what you want to use it for - you could buy a mint expidition prepared one for that with roof tents etc and go to Iceland or Morocco in it!!!

If you want it as an every day vehicle as well you may be better going for one of the last of the TD5 Series II Discoverys - really good on road and amazing off road.

Defenders more fun though!!!

Local boat dealers have just bought another 2 Defenders for towing all around the country - wonder why people who's business depends on them stick with Land Rovers?

[Alice]

Originally Posted by codprawn

That will get you an almost new 110 TD5 CSW - try to get one with ABS and traction control and it is unstoppable!!! Some of the crew cab ones are pretty good as well.

In fact if you get an import you could prob get a new one.

All depends what you want to use it for - you could buy a mint expidition prepared one for that with roof tents etc and go to Iceland or Morocco in it!!!

If you want it as an every day vehicle as well you may be better going for one of the last of the TD5 Series II Discoverys - really good on road and amazing off road.

Defenders more fun though!!!

Local boat dealers have just bought another 2 Defenders for towing all around the country - wonder why people who's business depends on them stick with Land Rovers?

Thanks Codders, It has to be either a Defender or a VW.T5. Apparently Discos are naff also! I'm a slave to fashion!!

[donutsina911]

anyone seen a decent 90 td5 in black/green for less than £8k? autotrader not bringing up much

[ADS]

Originally Posted by Alice

OK, I'm also thinking LR LWB Defender. The kids and the missus now consider their current 'ride' naff and chavvy! So guys, what's the one to buy? It needs to be 7 seats, nice spec, diesel or LPG upto £20K.

A touch over budget but it is new, not 100% on the colour, would be abit of a shock after an X5!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Land-Rover-Def...QQcmdZViewItem

[ADS]

Originally Posted by donutsina911

anyone seen a decent 90 td5 in black/green for less than £8k? autotrader not bringing up much

Low mileage this one donuts, there are companys that will put windows in them.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-DEF...QQcmdZViewItem