A Used Defender...

Hello Everyone...
I am in the active process of looking around for a Mechanically Sound Land Rover 300 Defender TDi 110 (Van, correct?)

What price range should I be looking at?
I am after a car to fix up for an expedition-style trip, and hopefully the fun will be getting it ready!
Otherwise something half-way done for an expedition is acceptable too

Thanks all!

Jonathan

£4-5K? Check the chassis thoroughly though, they will be showing their age by now.

The 110 van versions of the 300tdi seem to vary in price more than the rest of the 300tdi range. A well used workhorse can go for as little as £1500 where as a pristine privately owned model may go for around £6000. Depending on what it will be used for is what it's worth paying. I paid £2500 for my 300tdi van. I had it for just short of 2 years before it was written off. I got £3500 from the insurance. I think you should expect to pay somewhere between £3000 and £5000.

Thanks to both of you

Was browsing through eBay...4 to 10 K seems to be the average price on there...
With the exceptional few at 15K+ for very well kept ones...
So it is reasonable to spend 4/6 for a Sound one I guess... Thanks!

Anyone Selling?
J

But for that price you're almost into "200 with a galvanised chassis" territory - they are slightly more economical, slightly more easy to work on, probably slightly higher mileage but that shouldn't matter - i would!

i would be looking to spend 5-6k for a good one. Problem with van body 110's is that they will all be works vehicles which may have taken a kicking. Our works ones are pretty wrecked. All TD5s with 150k+... sheds! very few would have been bought by for non-commercial use.

keep your eye out for a local authority one, these are usually low milers, well kept etc.

Have you thought of a station wagon? you could remove the rear bench seats and the 2nd row seats if required. the 4 doors mean that you can get to all your kit easier. I have seen many expedition SW kitted out with jerry cans/water cans where the 2nd row seats are. This makes the weight central and evenly distributed and you can get to them by just opening the door. If you have a Van, getting to your kit will be a PITA if its at the back, which is where the weighty stuff should be. If you build in a false floor/raised section here, you could also have a fridge near the door.

SW are generally better kept than vans to. so you should pick up a nice one.

food for thought.

G

If you want to do some overland travel, get the lowest mileage you can afford. We did 4.5k in 4weeks north Africa and back.

Thanks Griffdowg!

Very nice advice...

To tell the truth, I am just getting my feet wet in landys... I owned a Lada Niva (Don't laugh please!), which was nice and light for offroading, but am thinking of getting myself a bigger and tougher baby... And that is where Landys are I suppose...

So model wise... I read on a thread about 110 van... and assumed "it was the way to go", but as you can see I am open for suggestions...
Car will be carrying 2 people, so back seats can go away as you mentioned

110 is longer than the 90, so it will be a 110... Now I'll go study the difference between a 300 and a 200 and will get back here

J

ac3bf1 said:

Now I'll go study the difference between a 300 and a 200 and will get back here

J

Click to expand...

It's just age really, the 300's are newer and have a whole load more electrickery to meet eu emmissions legislation. This makes them a tiny bit thirstier and a tiny bit harder for yer average bod to work on but there's not much in it. They are essentially the same engine otherwise. The 300 will almost certainly have a lower mileage though - it will certianly be younger! I think the 300 replaced the 200 in about 1994 or thereabouts.

I have not worked on a 200, but my 300 is easy enough for me and its not THAT advanced that a bush mechanic cannot sort out. Regarding economy, i thought they were both the same? by the time you add bigger tyres, roof rack, bumper that all goes out the window! Roll cage and Roof tent... economy? whats that!?

G

Griffdowg said:

by the time you add bigger tyres, roof rack, bumper that all goes out the window! Roll cage and Roof tent... economy? whats that!?

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LMAO, very true!!!

So ok...
So far? a Land Rover Defender 300 (since newer than 200), 110 TDi.
and options from there are van or Station Wagon then, correct?

J

or a double cab?

odenne said:

or a double cab?

Click to expand...

... and that too! :doh:



J

Talking of 200's I spotted this one earlier... mlroc with just 78k on the clock. Maybe with a roofrack a 90 could be an option? I bought my 90 300tdi a month ago, biggest expense has been the tyres but shopping around I bought mine from tyres online @ mytyres.co.uk: cheap passenger tyres, summer tyres, winter tyres and tyre dealer (if anyone knows cheaper shout up) and had a mate fit them keeping to standard wheel size. I bought 5 new steel wheels from Paddocks and getting the old wheels blasted and primed to sell on or put maybe mud tyres on.
Having fun getting mine up to scratch... as experienced members say the condition of the chassis is very important. Just had mine waxoiled to keep it in good condition.
Best advice is take someone who knows about Land Rovers with you when you buy.

MrJC said:

... as experienced members say the condition of the chassis is very important. Just had mine waxoiled to keep it in good condition.

Click to expand...

Which is what I heard, and what I am planning to do... Once I get one!

MrJC said:

Best advice is take someone who knows about Land Rovers with you when you buy.

Click to expand...

And which is what I wanted to do if someone wants to tag along for a pint on a weekend :beer2:

too far away sorry mate

Griffdowg said:

too far away sorry mate

Click to expand...

Which means I can come towards you if there is a Landy worth looking at in your area

J

True, give me a shout if you spot one. Although im not travelling around looking at them on me own! If your serious, you can get your arse up here.

Griffdowg said:

True, give me a shout if you spot one. Although im not travelling around looking at them on me own! If your serious, you can get your arse up here.

Click to expand...

1) yes
2) yes
3) yes

Will look around the uk
Will come there,
and yes am serious

J

i'm not far from egham in berkshire,
if you need a hand.