Advice on two potential Defenders and possible others...

Hi, I'm looking to buy a Land Rover Defender with a budget range of £6000 tops. I've found these two which are located near where I live. I'd love to get some advice from this community on whether either are a good buy and if not what I should be looking for. I am a Carpenter and part time tree surgeon so I'd want something rugged that can take a load.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/land-rover/land-rover-defender-110/1189562417 - This one seems a real beauty!!

https://www.gumtree.com/p/land-rover/land-rover-defender/1189316907 - This one has had a lot of solid work recently completed on it.

Thanks in advance

Eli-Joby

Wouldn't touch either of em with a barge pole, tbh.

First one, bit of rust on the door pillar, been repaired other side, bet the footwells and bits of the upper bulkhead are pretty thin. It would be fine, lot of good stuff on it, but only with a solid chassis and bulkhead, do not buy without inspection.

Second one, fishermans rotbox from over Ives. Stroll on, avoid vehicles from extreme coastal areas if poss!

You wont even get your tools in a 90 and as for spending over £5000 for what hes had done?? id want a new chassis for that. The 110 has the room, the roof rack and as long as the engines in good order, has the benefit of LPG. Up to you but id have the 110.

I doubt either of them are worth buying, but the 110 might be worth looking at - just tog et experience looking at them - you don't want to be buying the first one you see !

and I'd want the engine size clarifying as the ad says the size is 2495cc ( no problem ) but then says it has the V8 burble, which is misleading at best or just nonsense - the only engines with the V8 burble are the V8 - and they are not 2495cc !

Disco1BFG said:

I doubt either of them are worth buying, but the 110 might be worth looking at - just tog et experience looking at them - you don't want to be buying the first one you see !

and I'd want the engine size clarifying as the ad says the size is 2495cc ( no problem ) but then says it has the V8 burble, which is misleading at best or just nonsense - the only engines with the V8 burble are the V8 - and they are not 2495cc !

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I raised my eyebrows at that bit too. I just put it down to an error whilst uploading and assume it has the V8. I'll definitely be viewing before buying and probably taking a mechanic with me, it's just a question of which ones are worth my time! Thanks for all the speedy and informative responses! I guess I'll get back to looking. Can anyone recommend a good way of sorting through the junk and finding a keeper?

Eli-Joby Maeckelberghe said:

I raised my eyebrows at that bit too. I just put it down to an error whilst uploading and assume it has the V8. I'll definitely be viewing before buying and probably taking a mechanic with me, it's just a question of which ones are worth my time! Thanks for all the speedy and informative responses! I guess I'll get back to looking. Can anyone recommend a good way of sorting through the junk and finding a keeper?

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You really need to take someone who knows old landrovers with you.

Or do a great deal of reading and research about the vehicle, and be very thorough and exacting in looking at it, and bargaining.

Price is a guide too. If someone has really looked after and maintained a vehicle for years and knows it is sound, they aren't going to take 3k for it.

I think it's a very rare person that gets it right first time so brace yourself...you will be chucking thousands at it. A top tip is to never tally all the spending up, and learn to lie with a straight face to your partner and others. Welcome to potential ownership!

Turboman said:

Wouldn't touch either of em with a barge pole, tbh.

First one, bit of rust on the door pillar, been repaired other side, bet the footwells and bits of the upper bulkhead are pretty thin. It would be fine, lot of good stuff on it, but only with a solid chassis and bulkhead, do not buy without inspection.

Second one, fishermans rotbox from over Ives. Stroll on, avoid vehicles from extreme coastal areas if poss!

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I don't know the length of a barge pole but I'll take your advice and steer clear! I'd like a sure thing before setting up an expedition to view... what do you think of this one - https://www.gumtree.com/p/land-rover/land-rover-300tdi-defender-110-hartop/1189079958

elan23 said:

I think it's a very rare person that gets it right first time so brace yourself...you will be chucking thousands at it. A top tip is to never tally all the spending up, and learn to lie with a straight face to your partner and others. Welcome to potential ownership!

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Your words of wisdom bring pain to longing heart! Makes me wonder if I'm treading the right path.

Eli-Joby Maeckelberghe said:

I don't know the length of a barge pole but I'll take your advice and steer clear! I'd like a sure thing before setting up an expedition to view... what do you think of this one - https://www.gumtree.com/p/land-rover/land-rover-300tdi-defender-110-hartop/1189079958

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That looks slightly better, and at least Tivvy isn't near the sea.

The big off road tyres don't give me a positive impression of the previous owners mindset, unskilled off road use can wear out a landrover.

It is a 20 year old landrover, though, so, as ever, careful inspection of the chassis and bulkhead, plus a thorough test drive before paying anything.

Eli-Joby Maeckelberghe said:

Your words of wisdom bring pain to longing heart! Makes me wonder if I'm treading the right path.

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If you don't mind my asking, have you ever driven a Defender 110 before?

That 300 110 looks worth a visit!

Turboman said:

If you don't mind my asking, have you ever driven a Defender 110 before?

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I haven't no. Should I? I've got a solid Peugeot 406 110 at the moment which any smart person would say I should stay with.

Eli-Joby Maeckelberghe said:

I haven't no. Should I?

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Definitely, don't buy one unless you have driven a few.

Turboman said:

Definitely, don't buy one unless you have driven a few.

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What's your reasoning? And how would one gain experience without buying one first?

Eli-Joby Maeckelberghe said:

What's your reasoning? And how would one gain experience without buying one first?

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Driving any car isn't to the same peoples taste, I suppose. Some people would love one car, other people hate it.

And they are unusual, and in some ways quite limited. Good at some things, like workhorse or capable off roader, not so good on comfort, speed, running costs, parking, manouverability.

Possibly by driving a friends vehicle, or by going on a landrover experience day, something like that.

Turboman said:

Driving any car isn't to the same peoples taste, I suppose. Some people would love one car, other people hate it.

And they are unusual, and in some ways quite limited. Good at some things, like workhorse or capable off roader, not so good on comfort, speed, running costs, parking, manouverability.

Possibly by driving a friends vehicle, or by going on a landrover experience day, something like that.

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Yeh, I get you. It the same old story of affection over sensibility, I guess. I would give it some good use off road and as a workhorse, lugging bits of tree around and what not, but perhaps I'd regret ridding myself of the super practical runner I've got at the moment. It's all things to consider! No sharp decisions then, but I think I will view and try to test drive a few dreckly. Thanks for all the help!

Eli-Joby Maeckelberghe said:

Yeh, I get you. It the same old story of affection over sensibility, I guess. I would give it some good use off road and as a workhorse, lugging bits of tree around and what not, but perhaps I'd regret ridding myself of the super practical runner I've got at the moment. It's all things to consider! No sharp decisions then, but I think I will view and try to test drive a few dreckly. Thanks for all the help!

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Yes. If you are a busy person, bear in mind that they do tend to be more demanding on maintenance times and costs than a simpler machine. Neglected examples doubly so.

I used series landrovers on tree work for many years with pretty good results, but I was experienced with them already.

Test drive three or four, you will begin to get a feel of what they should drive and sound like, and learn to look at the chassis and bulkhead thoroughly.

If you do try out a 110 stay away from mini-roundabouts or tight corners on not so wide roads.....that is until you master the super fast 'double shunt'!

elan23 said:

If you do try out a 110 stay away from mini-roundabouts or tight corners on not so wide roads.....that is until you master the super fast 'double shunt'!

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I thought the idea of a landy is that you can drive over these types of obstacles! A old work colleague got a defender the other day and I hear he drove it straight over a 30 metre grass roundabout... twice! haha. He's a classic example of who you don't want to buy one off I guess, hehe