Defender 90 purchase advice please

Hi I'm new here & looking 4 some advice.I am looking to buy a Defender 90, for commuting to work (probable economical madness) and to tow my horse trailer occasionally. I've always wanted one so not counting the mpg!

My dad has a 07 tdci county 90, I love it but looks like around £14k for a decent one with low miles? The next model down looks to me to be TD5 is that right, and is it any good, looks to be about £10k and more in my price range.

Also is it true the station wagon model is cheaper to insure but higher tax? I've read somewhere the standard with no windows/seats at back is classed as a commercial van and not all insurers cover them?

Ay advice gratefully received!

I've just bought my own first land rover so I'm anything but an expert. I can start off your info by giving you what I learned....

Insurance:

{this is what I found for me and it might or might not be right for you}

1994 and older is much cheaper
van back was more expensive (because car insurers tend not to quote and van insurers tend not to give big intro/2nd car discounts)
Lancaster and Adrian Flux were cheapest but Lancaster were so bad on the phone and so picky that I went to Adrian Flux even though they were slightly more expensive.
You need to shop around
TD5 and newer were far more expensive.


If people are to help you to choose then they really need:

What is your actual budget?
Do you want the extra size of a 110?
How many seats do you actually need?
With those seats how much space do you need?
How big/weight is the trailer?

Hi,

I'm nowhere near up to the level of expertise of some of the folks on here (some of whom may be choosing not to reply because you have not yet posted a hello in the 'Introduce Yourself' section - the perils of forum etiquette).

However, from extensive reading of other people's posts, and experience of owning a 2002 reg '90 hard top for a couple of years, i would reflect the following.

1. It's not really a question of model. There are 'good landrovers' and 'not so good' (the difference, really, being the amount you need to spend on them to get them reliable). I was very lucky and found one with a good chassis and bodywork and that had been regularly serviced. I have had to replace a universal joint and a handbrake cable, and have had it very regularly serviced by an excellent independent specialist and so far fingers crossed (though having praised it here, it will probably fail tomorrow). Shop around and have a good look at everything and go for the one you like.

2. Don't know how old you are (and not polite to ask a lady anyway) but insurance not really too much of a problem if you're over 25. Hard tops (no windows) are classed as 'light good vehicles' and some insurers will not touch younger drivers. Mine's insured through Liverpool Victoria who are not specialists, and not particularly cheap (£400 with roadsid recovery thrown in) but not extortionate either.

3. Tax is just over £200 for mine (£220 from memory). I believe there are some issues with a particular age-group of 4x4s (look at the end of the 'TD5' thread on here, if you want to lose the will to live through too much information) but the seller should always be able to tell what the tax will be.

I bought mine to tow my daughter's horse around (16.3 and no lightweight) and this presents no problems. Back of the truck is a 'horse shed' with generally too much stuff in it, and I can get four bags of shavings or haylage on the roof rack.

Most of all, enjoy it - they are genuinely a pleasure to drive.

Lady said:

Hi I'm new here & looking 4 some advice.I am looking to buy a Defender 90, for commuting to work (probable economical madness) and to tow my horse trailer occasionally. I've always wanted one so not counting the mpg!

My dad has a 07 tdci county 90, I love it but looks like around £14k for a decent one with low miles? The next model down looks to me to be TD5 is that right, and is it any good, looks to be about £10k and more in my price range.

Also is it true the station wagon model is cheaper to insure but higher tax? I've read somewhere the standard with no windows/seats at back is classed as a commercial van and not all insurers cover them?

Ay advice gratefully received!

Click to expand...

how old are you? insurance related, and whats your budget? You location as someone may know of 1 for sale, or help you look at it to make sure you are getting ripped off.

I'm paying £325 for a modded 1999 TD5 utility station wagon (half van, half station wagon).

9 years NCB and aged mid thirties.

ratty said:

I'm paying £325 for a modded 1999 TD5 utility station wagon (half van, half station wagon).

9 years NCB and aged mid thirties.

Click to expand...

Think your occupation helps to what you pay?

Thor1950 said:

Think your occupation helps to what you pay?

Click to expand...

My occupation makes my insurance more expensive.

Thanks everyone and I will introduce myself on that thread,sorry missed that bit.

For the info on what I need.... Im 35 with full no claims so far so not overly worried about getting insurance just read some places don't do the hard back Landys, I really only need 2 seats, i need space for horse feed and dogs in the back, it needs to be able to tow at least 2000kg braked trailer, lastly my budget is £10k but I could stretch to £12k for the right Defender... I'm just not sure what that is yet! Any pointers most appreciated.

Near in mind that a sw is considerably more expensive than an equivalent hardtop of the same year, so if you only need two seats I would have a hardtop.
All defenders will tow up to 3500 kgs

Lady said:

Thanks everyone and I will introduce myself on that thread,sorry missed that bit.

For the info on what I need.... Im 35 with full no claims so far so not overly worried about getting insurance just read some places don't do the hard back Landys, I really only need 2 seats, i need space for horse feed and dogs in the back, it needs to be able to tow at least 2000kg braked trailer, lastly my budget is £10k but I could stretch to £12k for the right Defender... I'm just not sure what that is yet! Any pointers most appreciated.

Click to expand...

The advantage of a van body is that it's easier to keep your gear away from prying eyes. I didn't have any real problems insuring my 110 van as the log book said 'utility vehicle' so I insured it as a 3 door utility.

I prefer 110's to 90's, especially for towing big vehicles or trailers and for the extra space. My current landy is ideal for what I want and being half van, half car it insures as a station wagon making it nice and easy.

Thanks all, that's very helpful and sounds like the hard top would be more useful, and the model Is not the most important thing, I just need to find one that's been looked after....will get looking! X