Buying my first Defender in the next month or so.

Good morning all,

New to the forums, but I’ve been doing research on Defenders since around February/March of this year and I’ve casually wanted one since high school lol.

It’ll be my first Land Rover, but I live rural in Yorkshire a stone's throw away from the Dales. I know several people who have them, a friend of mine has about five in his collection a friend of a friend has one which he is selling shortly.

I drove my first back in April this year a modified Ninety model from 1986 with a 200 series engine. Loved the experience and being a skinny and short guy, I didn’t find the driving position really that cramped. I was surprised at how smooth the drive off-road was.

My plan now is to get one for August or September, I suppose it depends on the type of vehicle I see. The friend of a friend is selling his black 2004 TD5 model shortly which has done around 86k, but it is extensively modified with a lift kit, wider arches, tinted windows, larger bumpers and no doubt an engine remap. I am going to look at it, but I am still kind of 50/50 as to whether I want something so heavily modified.

I would’ve really liked to have got one sooner, but back at the end of March I was successful in getting a new job, but the start date wasn’t until mid-May. In the end decided to wait it out whilst I left my old job, settled into my new one, pass the probation period and get a permanent contract.

My budget for one is going to be about £15k to £16k for a Defender 90. I would really liked a post-2002 15P TD5, but unfortunately, I think I’ve been priced out of this segment now, least looking at the prices of them in garages lol.

A few enthusiasts have told me to buy a Defender sooner rather than later, as they are only going to continue to climb and then you’ll be having the issue of just finding total crap within my budget.

For now, I think I have my expectations set on a Defender 90, 300 TDI from the mid-1990s. It seems like for this sort of money you can buy a pretty immaculate 300 series in excellent shape and often with a decent amount of history/paperwork with it.

Specs-wise I think I would prefer a station wagon model. Although, a hard top van would work too as I do a lot of road cycling, so could put my bike in the rear.

Ideally, I’d love a Grasmere green heritage model, which do occasionally come up for sale at the top end of my budget. Epsom green would be my second choice, blue and red are nice and I am also pretty fond of the retro-looking mustard yellow colour hich seems like it was more comon on the series III?

I'm planning to head down to Walton Motors and Johnson 4X4, (quite a drive for me in Yorkshire), but they really do seem to offer some of the nicest examples online, If anyone can recommend some decent garages up North id be very interested.

Cheers and thanks.

Ryan

l don't think that later model TD5 SW are out of your budget, although there are some high prices being asked by dealers and chancers.
Avoid Ebay and try Pistonheads or local car sales sites.

Also try a "wanted" advert on here, and keep an eye on the for sale section.

With regards to your friend's Defender, if the price is right and it's in good condition you could always remove all the tat and put it back to standard.
An advantage is that you know the vehicle, which is a good thing on Defenders particularly.

The 300tdi (and TD5) respond well to a remap and it makes them better to drive, so long as it's done properly and in the case of the TD5 it's not had a "tuning box" fitted.

As above I think you could buy a 15p Td5 for that if you buy it privately from someone realistic. It won’t be a minter but there’s you’ll get one that’s been looked after mechanically for that. If I sold mine I’d be looking at near that.
Don’t worry too much about mileage, worry more if it’s been looked after properly. They can be expensive to keep in good nick and do require parts replacing through ownership.

Hi and welcome!

Buy on condition and not necessarily age or mileage. A higher mileage vehicle which has been looked after would be better than a low mileage one which has not been looked after. Check all numbers to ensure it’s not stolen.

Your budget would get you a nice Td5 but don’t rule out a 300Tdi. Your budget would likely get you a nice example with a galvanised chassis and the 300Tdi is very sought after. Whatever you get, make sure you invest in some decent security measures too, landies are very popular with thieves.

There are lots about, take your time and look at as many as you can. Let us know how you get on.

And don't forget you can buy a hard top, and convert it to a Station Wagon for around £1,000
You can now buy the rear interior trim from aftermarket suppliers which means you can do a proper job of it, LR dealer prices for the interior trim parts are ridiculous.

All of the above advice is good, however you may want to think again on getting a SWB as getting even one bike in can be a bit of a fight.

Well, if you decide on a 110 they are cheaper and more plentiful.
The 110 also rides better due to the longer wheelbase.
Although having owned both at the same time, the 90 is more lively and fun to drive.
For load carrying however, and holidays, you can't beat a 110. When it became
necessary to sell one due to the economic situation last year, we kept the 110 and sold the 90.

Knappster said:

Hi and welcome!

Buy on condition and not necessarily age or mileage. A higher mileage vehicle which has been looked after would be better than a low mileage one which has not been looked after. Check all numbers to ensure it’s not stolen.

Your budget would get you a nice Td5 but don’t rule out a 300Tdi. Your budget would likely get you a nice example with a galvanised chassis and the 300Tdi is very sought after. Whatever you get, make sure you invest in some decent security measures too, landies are very popular with thieves.

There are lots about, take your time and look at as many as you can. Let us know how you get on.

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My top choice now is definitely a 300TDI as you just seem to get examples in much better condition for your money at the moment:

As above and as a 90 owner defo consider what you’ll be doing with the car and don’t discount a 110. I do live my 90 but I would buy a 110 if I went back. Depends what hobbies, family etc demands though

resto_d1 said:

As above and as a 90 owner defo consider what you’ll be doing with the car and don’t discount a 110. I do live my 90 but I would buy a 110 if I went back. Depends what hobbies, family etc demands though

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Well I’m 28 and a single guy so have no real family commitments right now. The 110 is nice and deep down I do prefer it, but sadly a bit too big for my driveway.

I plan to park around the back of my house and a 90 will fit in a space around the back hidden from street view. Frustraingly a 110 is too long and it means I wouldn’t be able to open my gates properly as the back of the 110 would be blocking it due to its length.

As has been said older well maintained even if a little battle scarred on top are often better than the shiny 1s.

Good chassis is really the best place to start then work out & up, Oh and has been mentioned numbers matching the paperwork. If its on a galvy chassis it will be missing numbers, but some build log/history or even the old original "dumb iron" (some peeps keep for proof) would help.

Good luck finding the 1 for you, and when you have it enjoy it.

If you find 1 but you are unsure, Take pics of issues and comeback here and ask. Or even take your mate who has some experience with them, with you to look.

J

resto_d1 said:

As above and as a 90 owner defo consider what you’ll be doing with the car and don’t discount a 110. I do live my 90 but I would buy a 110 if I went back. Depends what hobbies, family etc demands though

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You need a bike with a quick detach front wheel then. As others have said when it comes to older Defenders it is condition of chassis and bulkhead that comes first, followed by that look of being cared for some inside and out.

Now considering selling mine and getting a d2 and a fast car

resto_d1 said:

Now considering selling mine and getting a d2 and a fast car

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Have you been working out in the heat

J

marjon said:

Have you been working out in the heat

J

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I know I’d miss it and I’ve spent a lot on it. I just miss fast comfy motors where I can glide and not brace for bumps and have a lovely sound system and power on tap. Really do miss cars but all my hobbies involve the outdoors and not being precious

Even now I’m looking at the rain wondering how much my seals are letting in lol

resto_d1 said:

Even now I’m looking at the rain wondering how much my seals are letting in lol

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Once you know where it comes in, then you park at a certain angle so it runs out. Not down your leg the next day as you go round the corner/down/up a hill.

J

tottot said:

You need a bike with a quick detach front wheel then. As others have said when it comes to older Defenders it is a condition of chassis and bulkhead that comes first, followed by that look of being cared for some inside and out.

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Yeah I have a road bike. I tried a test fit and it fits fine with front-wheel removed lol thankfully.

resto_d1 said:

As above I think you could buy a 15p Td5 for that if you buy it privately from someone realistic. It won’t be a minter but there’s you’ll get one that’s been looked after mechanically for that. If I sold mine I’d be looking at near that.
Don’t worry too much about mileage, worry more if it’s been looked after properly. They can be expensive to keep in good nick and do require parts replacing through ownership.

Click to expand...

I am still a little unsure if I should buy from a private seller or not tbh.

It seems like if a scam were to occur then I suppose it may have a higher chance of coming from a private seller, rather than a specialist such as Johnson 4x4 or Walton Motors.

My plan was to pay any deposit with a credit card, to be protected if it was discovered later the vehicle had been cloned and was stolen for example.

Being a little over cautious maybe, but my dad bought a D40 Nissan Navara privately back in 2013 and it was absolutely knackered with forged paperwork.

Sounds good! I actually bought from a “specialist” and found absolutely woeful things. Few pump gasket missing, wrong spline wheel bodged onto the shaft etc.
It sounds like the one you have in mind is a lot better though!! Good luck with the search, I hope you find a good un and I think you should with your budget.