Defender 90 First time buyer

Hello

I've fallen for an X reg Defender 90 TD5 at my local garage. To me she looks as tidy as I'd like to have kept her myself, but I'm a Land Rover virgin and a bit nervous.

This may be the most open ended question ever asked ever, but...

Can you direct me to any areas I should look closely at before I commit to buying? I've had a good look underneath and everything looks and feels solid and clean. Not new, but used and robust. The engine bay is clean, though not cleaned. Inside, there is some moisture underneath the rear-side windows. The window seals look good, but there is some moisture there. I've had a look underneath the carpetting and it's solid, painted and clean. The driver/passenger area is very tidy.

There was a small oil leak and the oil looked very clean. Trying to attach a photo. Hope it works.

Thanks in advance

on an X you should be clear of chassis/body rot.....but in a nutshell check all the bits were suspension meets chassis...the rear cross member(the big bit under the rear door)....then its bulk head rot from inside the engine bay and down in the fotwells inside......have a luck at the engine oil and make sure its'oil'your looking at and not a oil/diesel mix as its a TD5 engine you are checking over...then fire her up....foot on the clutch....foot off the clutch...any change in noise? if ok then take her for a test run....use all the gears,,,and use the low box....then put the diff lock in...and thats bout it as a quick lookover....check the service records etc and then ask yourself what is the car tax to be as i think 2001 is the start (thanks to bottler brown)of the £400 a year road tax......whereas if you get yourself a up to 99 TDi youve a far better 90 and lower car tax/less depreciating vehicle

Thanks very much for the quick reply swampdonkey. How did I forget road tax? That's a sickner.

that will be the killer for TD5s.....why buy a nice shiny TD5 and pay twice the road tax,when the TDi is a better buy,doesnt depreciate as fast....is the same car but with a better engine........its a no brainer to me