Defender vs D2 vs D3 quandary

My D2 is currently in the garage having some chassis work done. The rust I found late last year appeared to only be a portion of the issue and the previous owner had cunningly sealed in a lot more which I didn't see when buying her (it was my fist 4x4 purchase, I was excited, it looked ok).

I have spent the last few weeks sourcing a garage to undertake the works to get her MOT'd. I had debated a new chassis however for the cost I could buy a decentish late 80's/early 90's defender for the same cost (some of which have been galv'd). There are newer models, circa 95-98 for similar costs again which I have had a look at. To add a spanner to the works, looking around I can pick up a D3 for around the same figures which now causes a difficult decision to be even more headache worthy.

My D2 (04 plate) is great, a little sluggish especially up hills but I have a handle on what I think I need to do to her to make her right. LZ has been great in this respect with diagnostics, suggestions and basically getting her back into shape. The rust and chassis do worry me though and my thoughts are is this only going to get worse over time (or more how long until it does get worse!!). I know I wont get my money back from what I paid and since spent out on her but the enjoyment has been second to none. But you all know this from experience.

As for the defenders, I have seen some tidy older models, D/E plates (1987 - my birth year) and the slight romantic (gay) part of me likes the idea of owning a car the same age as me. I've always wanted a 110 but seeing both the 90s and 110s offroad, I think a 90 would more suit my wants for playing about. As for D3's, I have seen one at a green lane event and it performed alot better than anyone expected and as they are going for similar prices of some of the 90's I've seen they are now in the mix.

Comfort is not necessarily important. It will not be my daily drive. I do go camping a fair bit and occasionally tow a large box trailer for scouts but I also like to do a bit of off roading/green laning and hoping to get more into it and get out more. I accept that no matter what I get, it will bet bumped/bashed/scratched etc. The cosmetic look isn't important to me - its a machine that should be used what it was built for!

So, a longwinded way really of asking, should I keep the D2 (which I think is a great motor) or should I flog her when back on the road and look at another option be it defender (which I was originally after but couldn't afford at the time) or D3?

I should add that until the D2 I had never 'fixed' a car in my life. I had meddled as a kid with my dad doing brakes and oil changes, but never tackled anything such as I have on the D2. This has been almost as fun as being off road!

Defender on a galv chassis and keep it for the rest of your life, but then I am defender biased!

Ive moved on to the D2 and I'm very much enjoying it.
I wouldnt go newer because I dont want the computerised headaches that come with that and the vehicles are too car like.
The defender is still the icon and if I had found a 90 when I was selling off my 110 I would never had looked at the D2.
However, I have got to say that now I have it the D2 is everything I need and I wont be pursuaded to part with it and go back to a defender (though I wouldnt turn down a bargain defender, just have to find room for it as well).
Then again I'm not off roading every week, its a second vehicle and used for enjoyment most weekends to run about in and go on day trips with the family.
Its got a great heater, drives lovely and if the propaganda is to be believed it is supposed to be more competent off road than the defender due to the traction control!
Get the D2 fixed, live with it, enjoy it and review again in 12 months time. I worried about my 110 chassis and I keep mine garaged. I also worry about the D2.
I therefore waxoyl inside and out every 2 or 3 years and this keeps it in great shape, well no worse anyway.

What's the cost ?? You refer to . 7K ? , i.e. if you can get a galvanised chassised defender for 3K I'm going to jump in the river , But if the Cost is 7-8 K it might be the bath .

My tuppence worth,
As you mention camping.
Have a good look at the load space on a 90, and if possible ask someone who has one if you can load it with your kit. As the space is very limited.

Cheers

bongo1 said:

What's the cost ?? You refer to . 7K ? , i.e. if you can get a galvanised chassised defender for 3K I'm going to jump in the river , But if the Cost is 7-8 K it might be the bath .

Click to expand...

Not sure I mentioned a cost? Galv'd chassis new for the disco is looking at circa £5500 (bought and labour). For this the banks would be getting a phone call for a loan. So, getting the loan, plus what I would get for my disco with a pessimistic view, would then give me the money to look at something else.

neilly said:

My tuppence worth,
As you mention camping.
Have a good look at the load space on a 90, and if possible ask someone who has one if you can load it with your kit. As the space is very limited.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Load space is not really an issue. I have a roof tent or, if hiking etc. a small 2 man tent, and my gear to deal with. I'm a scout and always have been and like to work on the basis that as little as possible but as much as is needed s the key to most things.

neilly said:

My tuppence worth,
As you mention camping.
Have a good look at the load space on a 90, and if possible ask someone who has one if you can load it with your kit. As the space is very limited.

Cheers

Click to expand...

This is a good point. Tho we do all our camping out of my 90 it takes some storage solutions to get it to work

In Land Rover terms everything you buy will have its own host of problems. I’d spend your money getting the one you’ve got sorted. The. You know it’s sorted. At least that’s my excuse for spending all my money on my defender

plus 1 on the above comment, if you like what you have and are going to spend a ton on getting it sorted you may as well get your monies worth we have spent 3/4 on what we bought our series 3 for, that would be crazy for anything other than a landy, because the pleasure and usefulness out weighs owt else, that being said I have never had owt to do with disco's

Whats that saying ,If you have to ask the price you cant afford it .
Bit like that with a Landy , You just know its going to cost more than you pay for it . Lots more lol .
And why they are called the money pit , But better the devil you know sometimes as you never know if the next is any better .