Advice needed on potential purchase

It has been a while since I have been on here but I think I have decided what I want.

I have decided I am going to get myself a 90 TDI spending about £5k.

I have just seen one locally whihc is a 1994/M with 110K on the clock and looks in a tidy condition with all the seats folding down in the back. Also more importantly there is no surface rust but I will have to look properly when I view the underside and sills etc.

I will be looking at this later on this week to see if it drives ok and is as good as it looks.

Can anyone help and tell me whether this is a good price to pay for this age of vehicle and what I should be looking out for on the test drive.

I have seen others of the same age and condition on ebay and they are going for 6-7K so on the surface it seems like a good buy?

I would really appreciate your help as this is my first landrover and would not want it to be a complete disaster.

And finally, I will be using the vehicle for town to town driving and some motorway journeys. Will it be okay on the motorway and what mpg am i likely to get.

Thank you if you have reached the end of this message.

make sure you check the chassis over *THOROUGHLY*

Thanks. I thought that that would be key.

If chasis is good do you think this is fair price etc.

seems a little high mileage for that price

From what I have seen on the web that seems average being 14 years old.

I am having real difficutly finding a solid vehicle for everyday use for less than 5K. If you can help with others for less then I would love to hear as I dont want to pay over the odds.

new to all this said:

From what I have seen on the web that seems average being 14 years old.

I am having real difficutly finding a solid vehicle for everyday use for less than 5K. If you can help with others for less then I would love to hear as I dont want to pay over the odds.

Click to expand...

to be honist if it is in good nic not muct rust oil leaks etc it ent a bad price a few pics would be good its hard to say with out seeing it

remeber to check
brakes ie when braking it brakes in a straight line
steering that does feel all saggy and steering balls that are not rusty. Car steers in a straight line
oil leaks!
when was timing belt change? was it modified to the newer spec tensioner?
check for clutch judder
oh and rust!!!
lastly give it a good long test drive and see if a defender is what you really want. You either love em or hate em

if you around the surrey area you could takemine out first
good luck

THis is what i looks like
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Thanks lifes too short. I might just do that. I am in east sussex. I am really finding it difficult to find a decent vehicle. What are these really like on the motorway? I will give it a go on the test drive. It looks ok as it has a full service history but I am trying not to let my heart rule my head as I have had my heart set on one for a while but dont want a pile of rust.

that is the small picture!!!! it is a matchbox your buying?

Sorry, I have never posted a picture before. If you click the link it does go to a new page rather than the small one which is in the post

I can pop down halfway to give you a test drive mate! On the motorway stick 60-70 no probs. they are never gonna be rocket ships! Also remeber that in oct 2010 you will not be able to drive a defender within the M25!

What do you have? I am not worried too much about going over 70/75mph and have no reason to go within the M25, i just have family in dorset/somerset and am worried it wont cope with long journeys? Have you ever done any long journeys at all in yours?

it will make it easy but remember creature comforts!! not the best in the rain cos they all leak. wipers err sort of work. The defender is a very basic vehicle well unless you have thousand's to spend! heater!!! But in all a fantastic fun vehicle if you like a challenge!!! what about a tdi disco?

I have looked at discos and for the same price as this defender (5K) i could get a half decent one, my only concern is the amount of electrics and problems I have heard people having. I thought a basic defender would get rid of the problems with electrics and expensive repairs?

if you look at other forums most cars have problems its life! I am toying with selling my D90 and buy a disco cos I dont want to have to change to a petrol engine in 2010!
take a disco and a defender out.....

Really think that you should get a Landy person to have a look at it with you. It does seem slightly expensive, but without knowing a lot more, it equally be an absolute steal. These things eat money in £250 chunks, and you won't need many of those to make you regret it.

Even though the mags are saying that Defender sales are holding up vis a vis the wobbly nature of our economy, I can't see ageing Defenders going up in price for a while, so don't rush.

I'm in Dorking, and while no expert, I do have one, and if it's not miles away, I'd come with you.

I think boguing is right....I bought mine which had a dealer FSH and I found all sorts of problems!!! Take bouging's kind offer and let a landy owner give it a once over! Or an RAC inspection which does cost that much and will fish out any nasties

I think I will have to take at least a mecanic with me as this is my first venture in to land rovers and would be my main vehicle only owning dull euro boxes so far.

Do you think this age of defender is realistic for a first landy and only vehicle or is there another landrover alternative. I like the disco but the amount of electrics scare me and I expect they will be expensive. I have also looked at freelanders but I am not convinced.

in my experience an experienced landrover owner (not me) can spot more work to do on a landy in five minutes than a mech will in an hour... and actually that's exactly what happened with mine.. the landy owner will also be able to tell you what fixing it will cost in cash and bruised knuckles.. unless you are going to pay for a full RAC inspection then go with the offers of experienced assistance IMHO.