18 y/o with a 25 y/o Defender.. Well a 90!

alexcarter · Feb 12, 2015

Having owned it for 5 days, I felt it about time to write about it! This being my 2nd road car since passing my test ~17 months ago. Have been labelled insane for going from a comfortable French hatchback, to a loud, slow, thirsty, blue turd! Some people don't understand it's a labour of love.

Anyway. Here she is the night I got her. Travelled a total of 11 hours that day to get her. Set off at 11am, got back at midnight.

Fell in love with it on the way back, despite the 50mph cruise speed and frequent service station stops. £57 of diesel sound right for a 250 mile trip?

Did test me though when this happened this morning, and of course the spare is as old as the car so didn't even bother taking it off the door.

Progress will be slow, but I intend to turn it into a laner/pay and play toy. I love the road presence it has!! Lastly a picture of my father's old 2A he bought when I was 5, needless to say I blame him for the Land Rover blood in my veins.

Lowlight · Feb 12, 2015

Looks nice that.

I'd guess that's about 20 - 25 MPG (depending on how much you paid for diesel) so it's not great but nothing to worry about, it might need a service / setting up so there may be more you can get from it.

If you're parking it on the road I'd recommend the first things you do relate to securing it!

Pricilla · Feb 12, 2015

two lovely looking vehicles

FlyingPete · Feb 12, 2015

Looks pretty tidy to me

I find my 90 great fun to drive- a bit like driving a bus and an old car at the same time. They're surprisingly easy to park and of course great visibility from the high driving position. Take some time to familiarise yourself with how it handles, goes and stops. Eventually you'll even stop stabbing the wrong side of the steering column with the key as well

I love that series 2A and I shall blame you when I impulse-buy one

MrNasty · Feb 12, 2015

Looks nice and straight, I do hope you crawled underneath to look for rust, interesting that it looks like when the wheels were painted they painted over the hubs and nuts too!

chris mcc · Feb 12, 2015

MrNasty said:
Looks nice and straight, I do hope you crawled underneath to look for rust, interesting that it looks like when the wheels were painted they painted over the hubs and nuts too!

Ye, I noticed that too. I hope they used a good primer on the arches aswel!
Looks nice Alex. Many hours tinkering ahead haha. Much better than a French hatch!! Having your dad as a landrover man is a bonus mate- passing on wisdom and tools.

alexcarter · Feb 12, 2015

Lowlight said:
Looks nice that.

I'd guess that's about 20 - 25 MPG (depending on how much you paid for diesel) so it's not great but nothing to worry about, it might need a service / setting up so there may be more you can get from it.

If you're parking it on the road I'd recommend the first things you do relate to securing it!

No history with it so that was to be the first thing come pay day, for peace of mind if nothing else!

FlyingPete said:
Looks pretty tidy to me I find my 90 great fun to drive- a bit like driving a bus and an old car at the same time. They're surprisingly easy to park and of course great visibility from the high driving position. Take some time to familiarise yourself with how it handles, goes and stops. Eventually you'll even stop stabbing the wrong side of the steering column with the key as well

I love that series 2A and I shall blame you when I impulse-buy one

Haha yeah I'm loving the visibility! Does help it being a station wagon I suppose

I haven't stabbed the wrong side yet, however I have now twice gone to turn it off and engaged the starter motor against a running engine. Not likely to do it again I think!

chris mcc said:
Ye, I noticed that too. I hope they used a good primer on the arches aswel!
Looks nice Alex. Many hours tinkering ahead haha. Much better than a French hatch!! Having your dad as a landrover man is a bonus mate- passing on wisdom and tools.

It's had a top coat respray some time recently, which made it a little more difficult identifying if it was hiding anything - as had the rear crossmember. Fortunately I'd done my homework before viewing and knew what to look for, it ticked all the boxes

there is slight surface rust in places, but I've already begun tackling that. It came with it's fair share of niggly things, the speedo rises to 31mph and stops (despite doing 50mph). A crack in the windscreen. Each door has a different key and the rear door doesn't even lock. However nothing that couldn't be sorted!

Unfortunately the relationship with my father deteriorated as I grew up and we haven't spoken for the last 3 years. A shame - he has an inspection pit in his garage!!

Marmaduke · Feb 12, 2015

Looks tidy that bud, what engine is in it as that might give pointers on the mpg

alexcarter · Feb 12, 2015

Marmaduke said:
Looks tidy that bud, what engine is in it as that might give pointers on the mpg

The dreaded oil burner, 19J

Marmaduke · Feb 12, 2015

They're not that bad if they're looked after, although saying that I have just swapped mine for a 300tdi

Mine used to get 30 ish mpg but it depends how fast you were going on the motorway

aaronmorris · Feb 12, 2015

FlyingPete said:
Looks pretty tidy to me I find my 90 great fun to drive- a bit like driving a bus and an old car at the same time. They're surprisingly easy to park and of course great visibility from the high driving position. Take some time to familiarise yourself with how it handles, goes and stops. Eventually you'll even stop stabbing the wrong side of the steering column with the key as well

I love that series 2A and I shall blame you when I impulse-buy one

Aye. Just means eventually when you get in any other car you stab the wrong side of the steering column on that instead

chris mcc · Feb 12, 2015

It's had a top coat respray some time recently, which made it a little more difficult identifying if it was hiding anything - as had the rear crossmember. Fortunately I'd done my homework before viewing and knew what to look for, it ticked all the boxes

there is slight surface rust in places, but I've already begun tackling that. It came with it's fair share of niggly things, the speedo rises to 31mph and stops (despite doing 50mph). A crack in the windscreen. Each door has a different key and the rear door doesn't even lock. However nothing that couldn't be sorted!

Unfortunately the relationship with my father deteriorated as I grew up and we haven't spoken for the last 3 years. A shame - he has an inspection pit in his garage!![/QUOTE]

The tinkering never ends! Sorry to hear that about your relationship with ya dad mate. Maybe you now owning a lr will help build some bridges, who knows.
Anyway enjoy your 90. I too am a fellow 19j owner- best thing I did was disconnect crankcase breather from air box.

alexcarter · Feb 13, 2015

Did a whoopsie.

defender11069 · Feb 13, 2015

alexcarter said:
Did a whoopsie.

that's not a whoopsie.....that's a landy memory

robertcoby · Feb 13, 2015

alexcarter said:
No history with it so that was to be the first thing come pay day, for peace of mind if nothing else!

Haha yeah I'm loving the visibility! Does help it being a station wagon I suppose
I haven't stabbed the wrong side yet, however I have now twice gone to turn it off and engaged the starter motor against a running engine. Not likely to do it again I think!

It's had a top coat respray some time recently, which made it a little more difficult identifying if it was hiding anything - as had the rear crossmember. Fortunately I'd done my homework before viewing and knew what to look for, it ticked all the boxes there is slight surface rust in places, but I've already begun tackling that. It came with it's fair share of niggly things, the speedo rises to 31mph and stops (despite doing 50mph). A crack in the windscreen. Each door has a different key and the rear door doesn't even lock. However nothing that couldn't be sorted!

Unfortunately the relationship with my father deteriorated as I grew up and we haven't spoken for the last 3 years. A shame - he has an inspection pit in his garage!!

I've got a son like you who doesn't speak to me or his mother and sister ,seven years now we've tried it cuts us up .Be the bigger man and try to make up before it's too late. Good luck

Marmaduke · Feb 13, 2015

You've only just had it and you've smacked it one

.... Where's the bumper gone and I'd be getting some rust treatment/dinitrol on the front chassis pretty soon

ReadySalted · Feb 13, 2015

They certainly are a labour of love.

I've owned my defender only about 3 months, and in the 2500 miles I've done in it, it's had a new clutch, new rear prop, replaced bulbs, new rear door lock, new thermostat, new alternator casing, both belts replaced, diff lock stuck on (now fixed), and probably some other stuff that I can't remember. The rear window wiper doesn't work, the radiator is worse for wear, the wheels are rusty as hell, it needs a new spare tyre, the paint is flat as a pancake, and the reverse light is on the blink. By the time I've sorted them, I'll have a list even longer of new problems. That's before I've had time to do the things I want to do like find a roof rack, and fit a rear work light etc.

It's the 5th landy I've owned, my 1st defender, and by far my favourite. Wouldn't want to change it for the world so I understand how you feel about yours.

FlyingPete · Feb 13, 2015

alexcarter said:
The dreaded oil burner, 19J

My 90 still has its original 19J and is running fine. I certainly wouldn't rush to swap it for a tdi while it's going strong- 200tdis are all getting on a bit now, and the stock of cheap rusty discos with decent engines has pretty much dried up. Look after it and keep on top of servicing and it should serve you well. They are good engines as long as you deal with them properly.

Hippo · Feb 14, 2015

alexcarter said:
Having owned it for 5 days, I felt it about time to write about it! This being my 2nd road car since passing my test ~17 months ago. Have been labelled insane for going from a comfortable French hatchback, to a loud, slow, thirsty, blue turd! Some people don't understand it's a labour of love.

Anyway. Here she is the night I got her. Travelled a total of 11 hours that day to get her. Set off at 11am, got back at midnight.

Fell in love with it on the way back, despite the 50mph cruise speed and frequent service station stops. £57 of diesel sound right for a 250 mile trip?

Did test me though when this happened this morning, and of course the spare is as old as the car so didn't even bother taking it off the door.

Progress will be slow, but I intend to turn it into a laner/pay and play toy. I love the road presence it has!! Lastly a picture of my father's old 2A he bought when I was 5, needless to say I blame him for the Land Rover blood in my veins.

Yer fergot to tell everyone yer owned a Freelander before. Hope yer dun't mind me mentioning it.

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/17-year-old-td4-228713.html

tacr2man · Feb 14, 2015

How did you bend it ?

18 y/o with a 25 y/o Defender.. Well a 90!

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