which Defender?

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xcentric

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wanting to buy a Defender: it would be used 2-3 times a week for 20 miles each way to work, sometimes left for weeks on end unused, and sometimes loads of family stuff thrown in the back for a weekend/week away. So it needs to be reliable, and quiet(ish) enough to drive semi-regularly on rural roads.

Read about the TD5 issues, and agricultural nature of the 300TDi - but the nature of the web means it's inherently biased, so thought I'd ask some experts. Budget is flexible - £10-12k is ideal, but more if necessary, or less and a fund for a new engine is ok.

(used to have a 109 beast, and used to driving a Lotus Elise, so 'quiet' is a relative term :))

What would you buy? TD5? post 2002, or not a worry? 300TDi?

all advice/experiences welcomed.

p.s. needs to be 110 station wagon, prob County spec, as have to get 3 kids in back and then their gear.....
 
xcentric said:
wanting to buy a Defender: it would be used 2-3 times a week for 20 miles each way to work, sometimes left for weeks on end unused, and sometimes loads of family stuff thrown in the back for a weekend/week away. So it needs to be reliable, and quiet(ish) enough to drive semi-regularly on rural roads.

Read about the TD5 issues, and agricultural nature of the 300TDi - but the nature of the web means it's inherently biased, so thought I'd ask some experts. Budget is flexible - £10-12k is ideal, but more if necessary, or less and a fund for a new engine is ok.

(used to have a 109 beast, and used to driving a Lotus Elise, so 'quiet' is a relative term :))

What would you buy? TD5? post 2002, or not a worry? 300TDi?

all advice/experiences welcomed.

p.s. needs to be 110 station wagon, prob County spec, as have to get 3 kids in back and then their gear.....
Click to expand...

post 02 td5 my choice they are lot more dificult to to nick than a 300tdi (unless you got a lorry )
 
Any defender is easy to nick, even post 02, post 02 maybe more desirable to the threiving scum.

I've had a 200tdi for a few yrs, noisy but it was basic and motorway runs not a pleasure but it was bullet proof.

A 55 TD5, nice to drive if a little less bottom end pull, always felt fragile and not what I wanted in a Defender.

Got rid of that and put the same money in a 97 300, more bottom end power, robustness feels in between 200 and td5 and sits at motorway speeds lovely.

Never put all your money into buying a defender because you think you will have nothing to do or spend, because you will have things to do and spend on. Only way to make sure you defiantly have a good one is to buy one well under budget in need of work and get it done yourself.

Just my views!
 
DavidJR said:
Never put all your money into buying a defender because you think you will have nothing to do or spend, because you will have things to do and spend on. Only way to make sure you defiantly have a good one is to buy one well under budget in need of work and get it done yourself.

Just my views!
Click to expand...
Same here, 2-3 k under & spent the rest on goodies.
 
Decision should also be driven by your ability/appetite to work on it yourself

300TDI pretty much bullet proof as long as the rust worms aren't included in the purchase - and very easy to work on with parts pretty decently priced.

£7 - £8k should get you something very tidy indeed

If you're after something slightly more refined - a decent Disco might be a better option

Finally - this guide might be of interest

Defender Buyers Guide

Finally - welcome to the loony bin :welcome2:
 
I have a 52 plate TD5 decent service history and 62k on clock with loads of extras for around your budget. (Air con, overdrive, up graded intercooler and ecu, brakes and suspension + more). Mine can sit for a month or 2 sometimes with out moving and always starts first time and runs well.

If it's more family orientated than off roading then I'd go for the TD5. Drives really well and even the fun controller enjoys driving it.

All just my not hugly experience though.....I'd rip out the standard alrm/imobiliser and fit a decent one though, as mine decided not to un-imobilise.
 
TD5's are too complex for a defender, they're great, until they go wrong!

200tdi are noisy and less refined than the 300tdi

With your budget you could get a very good late 300tdi and have a bit of change to add a few things on if you want :)

If I had that kind of money to spend I would get a scruffy 200tdi and put a galv chassis and bulkhead on it, and build if from the ground up, providing there are enough decent parts to take off it and I don't run out of money, but that's me :D Or spend another £6500 on mine probably a galv chassis and bulkhead, the rest of mine is good
 
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Having just read your post again, first defender, you want/need to know if you and the family like defenders first, if not its a lot to shell out to lose on a forecourt or in mods that won't appreciate the resel price.

They take some patience and understanding when they **** on your right leg in the lightest of showers.
 
I've got a 110 TD5 on an 06 plate and love it. I had it remapped so sufficent power in the lower ends. I also changed the middle row bench seat for 3 highbacks, now it very family orientated.
 
FYI: I'm a Defender rookie

I bought a 1992 200TDi 110 (didn't want another motor with a troublesome EGR valve) for £3,000, with 130,000 miles on the clock (having disconnected the mile-o-meter a few times I can see how this would be easy to cheat), a new rear cross member, and a front winch on a new bumper.

Spent around £1,000 on repairs and extra's and everything is now running fine.

But, I have spent a lot of time making things right.

All depends on time you're willing to invest vs cost I suppose.

My friend did recently but a very late 110 300TDi, which runs like a dream, is quiet-ish and had fewer problems to begin with, all for around £8,000. But I reckon his new 110 and my old 110 will both encounter the same problems down the line though.

Best of luck. Decisions are a biatch.
 
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thanks all for the info.

Used to have a 109 Safari and commuted to work in that, and took it all over the place. Wife is keenest on the Defender, so there's no issue with the leaking doors, and other such problems. Have a car to cover comfy miles in so usefully utilitarian is fine. HiLux is another option, as it offers more comfort and similar functionality but much prefer the Defender's style, and likely to hold value better. If I had time, I'd build one ground up on a galv chassis and moving stuff across from a donor vehicle, but time is in short supply!

Mix of views between 300tdi and td5 it seems. Having just had another engine go bang, it would have to be at least a post 02 td5..... not driven a 300tdi, is it much more wearing on road?
 
Go for a V8. It will meet none of your set cirteria. But it will bring a smile to your face every time you drive it - up untill you get to the pertol station :D
 
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