Dependability as a daily driver

Hi all,
Werner here, from Belgium (new here, see intro-section).
If my new job works out OK I could have a permanent position in June. If that's the case I had just hatched the idea of getting a new daily driver.
I kinda have my heart set on a Defender (short or long station wagon).
Main use would be daily (on-road) transport to work, and some very light off-roading occasionally, but baby stuff compared to what you guys are probably used to. It would not see the ''hard work''.
Main reason for me is that it's the only new car that still looks like a real car, to me. Classic, square & sturdy...

With all that in mind, I do still have a few question, having never owned a Land Rover before, or any 4x4, for that matter. (did have a Mazda B-series a few years ago but that was 2x4)

--> Dependability is a must. As a train driver, I need that thing to start & go, waiting for a towtruck and replacement car is not something my train dispatcher is gonna appreciate..
In a car I like, I don't mind the odd ''accessory problem'' as long as the car starts and gets you to your destination every day with no problem.

So how is the ''new'' 2.4 Ford engine doing for you guys so far? Has it been known to leave one stranded unexpectly?
Major known issues that will cause it to ''die'' on you? Not just the motor, but other components as well: engine control electronics, transmission & drivetrain issues?
I know a new car comes with warranty, but I prefer not to get stranded to begin with...

I was planning on a new Defender, but if I opt for a recent used one: Any engines, years or versions to avoid? I've read good stories and horror stories, but one can read those stories for every car make & model...

So ''statistic'' and general dependability info preferred.

Any info in reply here, or pointers to previous forum threads I may have overlooked so far, will be appreciated

(PS: I do realize it's a rough bone-shaker and really involves the driver in operating the thing, as a real car should)

Thanks,
Werner

New defenders are definitely more refined on road, but I think they have been know to suffer diff problems (not sure though). Also has lots of electronics to go wrong, though most land rover enthusiasts will tell you that only because they are electrophobes. Avoid an early Td5 engine, as these have lots of faults, and also an early TDCI (the ford 2.4). The tried and tested engines are the 300tdi and the 200tdi: get a 200 for simplicity and ease of repair and a 300 for more refinement and better performance (imho). If refinement is really important to you, why not consider a series 1 or 2 discovery? There is a poll I started a while back, I think it is near the top in the defender section, its title is something like "how reliable has your defender been?"

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Landrover are on the whole no different to any other car , you get good and bad ones . As a rule of thumb the more complicated a thing becomes the more chance there is of a malfunction , and also the more complicated the less chance of you being able to fix/ get round it . I have owned every type other than a lightweight, since 1967 and the number of times I have been unable to just start and go would not need all your fingers to count . JMHO

Sounds like you wouldn't really need a defender, but they are reliable if you treat them well. I think they estimate that 85% of all defenders ever made are still on the road today. With fuel prices going up you might want to look at a disco 2. You should get a decent one for £8-10k here in england.

The 2.4 transit engine has been in millions of transits since 2001, I sold my 2001 LWB transit in 2007 with 286,000 miles on it, it was serviced every 8000 miles, roughly double the 15,000 mile recommended service interval and the only time it ever needed the AA in 6 years was for a burst hose.

If I had 25k to spend on a new car i'd buy a Defender 90

Thanks!
I saw the "how reliable has your defender been?" section, very useful. And no, I don't need a Defender at all, but that doesn't stop me from wanting one, haha ;-)
Discovery is nice but I prefer the real feel of a Defender. Refinement is not a must, dependability is...
Thanks for the comments

Ahh well they hold their value and even vans give way to you if youre in a defender so go for it... Wish I had 25K to spend on a landy

landroverjack said:

Wish I had 25K to spend on a landy

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Nice though it would be, I reckon even if I had it I still wouldn't buy one. I'd get a 300tdi - rebuilt engine, galvanised chassis, galvanised bulkhead. I'd get an Eberspacher fitted, stereo, comfy seats, decent sized tyres... and that's about it.

instantsquid said:

Nice though it would be, I reckon even if I had it I still wouldn't buy one. I'd get a 300tdi - rebuilt engine, galvanised chassis, galvanised bulkhead. I'd get an Eberspacher fitted, stereo, comfy seats, decent sized tyres... and that's about it.

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And have some left over for a luxury landy too