Advice wanted, New to the forum

[Grahamr34]

Hi, my first thread in this forum, I'd like to ask some advice, opinions.
I'm looking to buy a defender, it'll be mainly for evenings, weekend use to transport the dogs to take them a walk, hardly any off road usage. .
I love the defender image but having no mechanical experience am I going to be forever at the garage getting things fixed or are they generally reliable. Will £5k get me something decent?

 

[Turboman]

Hi, my first thread in this forum, I'd like to ask some advice, opinions.
I'm looking to buy a defender, it'll be mainly for evenings, weekend use to transport the dogs to take them a walk, hardly any off road usage. .
I love the defender image but having no mechanical experience am I going to be forever at the garage getting things fixed or are they generally reliable. Will £5k get me something decent?

Welcome to the loonyzone, Graham!

Bit if background reading is often helpful, and those questions have been asked before! Try forum search and you will find lots of help.

But briefly, you will probably need some mechanical expertise to run an old Defender, or even to buy one, unless you want to pay big garage bills.

Main ones of many problem areas on old cheap vehicles are chassis and bulkhead rust, knackered engine and trans, badly modified or maintained vehicles.

I dont know Irish prices, but I would guess you would be lucky to get anything requiring absolutely no work for that kind of money.

Landrover could be an expensive image, ever thought about getting a Barbour coat and green wellies instead?

 

[Grahamr34]

Cheers Turboman for your reply, I'll give the wellies and Barbour a miss, but will check out the forum more .
But that's the type of info I was after, thanks. I'd not know a trans from a window wiper so will get a mechanic friend to keep me right.

 

[waldamar]

A Defender really is a lifestyle choice and long term commitment...................... to be honest [and I hate to say this] a mark 2 Shogun would probably be better for your needs [and 3 grand cheaper!]

 

[Grahamr34]

Fair enough waldamar, although I fancy buying something I can cherish for years and the family will have the memories and the photos. I think the other jeeps etc look grand but don't have the longevity/style of the defender.

 

[waldamar]

Excellent answer! Welcome.................................. and good luck! Your budget ought to get something decent but be prepared for CONSTANT attention and maintenance - fun though.......................

 

[Grahamr34]

Thanks. I want to go into this with my eyes open and wallet closed, I'll have to don some basic maintenance classes in local college maybe once I get one. Will research more and keep eye on prices , after a search tonight I might be as well to go to mainland to buy one , prices her in nor 'iron are steep in comparison.

 

[waldamar]

I've been knocked down for suggesting this before - but check out ex MOD - worth a look, but maybe a repaint before taking it home..................................? Beyond that idea, as has been said, rust, rot and rust - mostly bulkhead and chassis - in your price range there's going to be some, just be sure it's not a lot. Wallet closed and be willing to walk away.......................... I'm sure there's many on here who would be happy to view local landys on your behalf - I would and am in Suffolk - good luck,

 

[Grahamr34]

Thanks for the offer, I'm glad I joined this forum now, I'll be sure to ask more questions!
I wouldn't mind an ex MOD, a respray needed for definite lol;
I parked up beside a white mint defender this evening in Tesco Limavady , only the other half had finished shopping or I'd a been waiting to have a good look round it.

 

[Turboman]

A Defender really is a lifestyle choice and long term commitment...................... to be honest [and I hate to say this] a mark 2 Shogun would probably be better for your needs [and 3 grand cheaper!]

I think he wanted to look cool! He will look like a d!ck in a shogun!

I know two people who have been tempted to get Shoguns, both were more troublesome than any landrover.

 

[Turboman]

Thanks for the offer, I'm glad I joined this forum now, I'll be sure to ask more questions!
I wouldn't mind an ex MOD, a respray needed for definite lol;
I parked up beside a white mint defender this evening in Tesco Limavady , only the other half had finished shopping or I'd a been waiting to have a good look round it.

Really you dont want to worry about resprays. Body condition is the least important thing with a Def. As the body panels are made of alloy, they dont rust!

It is quite possible to see an old landy that has been left in a field for twenty years, the body may be clean and straight, although the underside is rusted to stuff you could crumble with your fingers!

Rust, rust, and rust are the main thing to be wary of!

 

[Marmaduke]

And a hpi / history check

Welcome to the forum by the way

 

[Turboman]

And a hpi / history check

Welcome to the forum by the way

Yes, forgot that bit. Try and make sure the vehicle, or major parts of it, arent nicked!

 

[Grahamr34]

 

[Grahamr34]

How does that look; its on gumtree Northern Ireland.

 

[payydg]

Welcome. I was in exactly your position about 4 yrs ago.

You can learn all the mechanics from a workshop manual, youtube videos and busters guides (on here).

Plus you're now a member of the greatest land rover forum around! There isn't a question that the guys on here can't answer...well there isn't a question on land rovers at least

 

[Turboman]

That would be a very low price for a vehicle of that age in England. Lot of expensive problems can happen on a newer vehicle, sometimes things that are too good to be true are too good to be true.

To assess the condition of one of these you really need pics of the chassis underneath? Or even better to get under it yourself with a little hammer!

 

[Grahamr34]

Be my luck to buy a heap of crap lol!
Saw another one, reads as
ounty, 6 seater, 2" lift kit, new springs and shocks on the front, heavy duty springs on the back, adjustable pan hard bar, New front drive shaft , back 1/4 chassis fitted last year, timing belt kit fitted, 30 mm wheel spacers , mud tyres, adjustable tow hitch, disco transfer box better MPG, disco back axle, full years MOT. 1993. £3500

 

[waldamar]

Be my luck to buy a heap of crap lol!
Saw another one, reads as
ounty, 6 seater, 2" lift kit, new springs and shocks on the front, heavy duty springs on the back, adjustable pan hard bar, New front drive shaft , back 1/4 chassis fitted last year, timing belt kit fitted, 30 mm wheel spacers , mud tyres, adjustable tow hitch, disco transfer box better MPG, disco back axle, full years MOT. 1993. £3500

Seems reasonable - someone on here paid 4k for something similar last week. 1993 is getting on a bit - check chassis and bulkhead very carefully.

 

[Grahamr34]

Cheers, I'll get a mechanic to come with me maybe. I just want a good reliable motor, not out to win shows , something I can put the dogs into and not worry about upholstery etc. Maybe get it down to £3k and drive away this weekend.