Defender buying advice

Having had great fun off-roading in the Disco 3 I have finally decided that
it is just too damn expensive for regular off-road use, already trashed 2
alloys and several bits of plastic trim which were easily replaced but
costly. It is so good off-road that I am going to end up really bending it
as it just encourages me to venture into more and more challenging terrain.
So now decided to get myself a Defender 90 as a play thing. Ironically it's
the only type of LR I haven't owned yet so I am a little in the dark about
what to go for. I have been offered a 1986 County SW V8 for a good price and
it has a few off-road mods already but what are V8's like for reliability?
If that's a no-go do I go for a 200 or 300 Tdi and can I get a reasonable
one for under £4k?

Any help/advice appreciated.

Andy

<2005 Disco 3 TDV6>

In message <[email protected]>
"Andrew Cooke" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Having had great fun off-roading in the Disco 3 I have finally decided that
> it is just too damn expensive for regular off-road use, already trashed 2
> alloys and several bits of plastic trim which were easily replaced but
> costly. It is so good off-road that I am going to end up really bending it
> as it just encourages me to venture into more and more challenging terrain.
> So now decided to get myself a Defender 90 as a play thing. Ironically it's
> the only type of LR I haven't owned yet so I am a little in the dark about
> what to go for. I have been offered a 1986 County SW V8 for a good price and
> it has a few off-road mods already but what are V8's like for reliability?
> If that's a no-go do I go for a 200 or 300 Tdi and can I get a reasonable
> one for under £4k?
>
> Any help/advice appreciated.
>
> Andy
>
> <2005 Disco 3 TDV6>
>
>

I'd venture that the V8 is just what you are looking for for a play
thing. The V8 is pretty reliable (as long as you don't spit on the
spark plug leads ;-0 ) if a bit thirsty. Personaly I prefer
200/300Tdi's (flame proof suit donned), but if the one you've
been offered is sound why pay for the extra (the V8 should be
well under your budget) - you know your going to bend it........
and you should be able to get it gassed from the change and still
have a good night out.

Just my 2p's worth.

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay

"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:abf8a3a4e%[email protected]...
> In message <[email protected]>
> "Andrew Cooke" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "the V8 should be well under your budget"

The V8 I've been offered is actually up for £4500, which is quite steep
for a 1986 motor but it has had a full interior refurb, checker plates,
sump/steering guards, diff guards and cooper STT mud tyres on new white
steel rims so all I need is a decent winch and bumper. Is it still
overpriced???

A.

In message <[email protected]>
"Andrew Cooke" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:abf8a3a4e%[email protected]...
> > In message <[email protected]>
> > "Andrew Cooke" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > "the V8 should be well under your budget"
>
> The V8 I've been offered is actually up for £4500, which is quite steep
> for a 1986 motor but it has had a full interior refurb, checker plates,
> sump/steering guards, diff guards and cooper STT mud tyres on new white
> steel rims so all I need is a decent winch and bumper. Is it still
> overpriced???
>
> A.
>
>

All I can say is that any vehicle is only worth what you are prepared
to pay for it, and similarly for accessories. A quick flick through
this month's LRM is interesting.......

Richard
--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
Running a business in a Microsoft free environment - it can be done
Powered by Risc-OS - you won't get a virus from us!!
Boycott the Yorkshire Dales - No Play, No Pay

Andrew Cooke wrote:
> Having had great fun off-roading in the Disco 3 I have finally
> decided that it is just too damn expensive for regular off-road use,
> already trashed 2 alloys and several bits of plastic trim which were
> easily replaced but costly. It is so good off-road that I am going to
> end up really bending it as it just encourages me to venture into
> more and more challenging terrain. So now decided to get myself a
> Defender 90 as a play thing. Ironically it's the only type of LR I
> haven't owned yet so I am a little in the dark about what to go for.
> I have been offered a 1986 County SW V8 for a good price and it has a
> few off-road mods already but what are V8's like for reliability? If
> that's a no-go do I go for a 200 or 300 Tdi and can I get a
> reasonable one for under £4k?
> Any help/advice appreciated.
>
> Andy
>
> <2005 Disco 3 TDV6>


£4500 is a lot for that age mate. I didnt go through with the hicap in the end due to other commitments,
but i could have had the car for £1300 & it saw well sound & sweet.

Nige

--

Subaru WRX
Range Rover 4.6 HSE (The Tank!)
110 Hi Cap (Ben)

'"Opinions are like arseholes, everyones got one"

Andrew Cooke wrote:

> The V8 I've been offered is actually up for £4500, which is quite steep
> for a 1986 motor but it has had a full interior refurb, checker plates,
> sump/steering guards, diff guards and cooper STT mud tyres on new white
> steel rims so all I need is a decent winch and bumper. Is it still
> overpriced???

For a 1986 V8 I would pay no more than 1500 unless it had been rebuilt
to a reasonable standard. However if you have the money to spend 4500
on a plaything and really like it then go ahead If you get a V8
then ask Richard for a set of Magnecor leads for it.

Chequer plate dependant on where it is put on is often put on to hid
rot, sump and diff guards devalue the vehicle on the general s/h market
but of course would be of value to you.

Regards

William MacLeod

I have a V8 90 and it took ages to find the right one 5 years ago,
there were so many badly executed conversions with worn engines and
ailing gearboxes out there. I didn't want a do-me-upper, or a project
vehicle - I just wanted a truck to drive at the weekends and off-road
(instead of the company hack) and have the best reliability possible
with routine servicing only.

If it's an original factory V8 then it will attract a premium - there
are not that many left in good condition and they have the
hard-as-nails(if agricultural) LT85 gearbox, and four pin front
differential. If it's in good nick and refurbed/well llooked after I'd
agree with William, £4500 seems OK - there's plenty of £1500 rusty
nails around with rotten bulkheads, worn transmissions, tired engines
and thumping diffs that will soak up 3k in the blink of an eye and
spend more time off the road than on.

As for reliability, the carb 3.5 V8 is probably more reliable than a
Tdi because it's an old, low-stressed design with a cam chain and will
take heaps of abuse before expiring. Received wisdom says they're
aquaphobic (see link for a picture which would suggest not) - which is
true if you have old leads/plugs and worn distributor, however with a
squirt of WD40 on components in good condition they're fine, but
clearly not as good as a Tdi in good condition.

http://best4x4xfar.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=19&pos=32

The best thing about the V8 though is the power delivery, 135 bhp seems
pathetic - but it doesn't tell the story of how easy they are to drive
off road. The torque delivery from tickover upwards gives it awesome
capability in all conditions from rocks to mud becuase you can use a
higher gear than in a diesel (e.g. 3rd low rather than 2nd low) which
reduces wheelspin to maintain traction and forward progress.

I never bothered gassing mine though - I only do about 4000 miles a
year and I want the loadspace in the back for recovery gear (and pies).
Happy shopping anyway Andrew!