Disco to Defender?

I've searched about this and read numerous debates on the pro's and cons of a defender but there's nothing like asking for yourself so here goes;

I've got an immaculate 98 Discovery XS 300tdi which I've had for about 3 months. I got back from Afghanistan in April and decided I'd spend some hard earned cash on a disco after 6 months of trying to decide whether to get a 110, disco or RRC.

The other day after doing a bit of very light offroading/ greenlaning I scratched the sides of the disco one time too many, and decided that it was in too nice a condition to be wrecking cutting my teeth on local greenlanes. So I decided I wouldn't do any more of that sort of stuff. But it has now occured to me that I should fit the car around my needs, not my needs around the car.

So, I'm familiar with defenders, I like the ruggedness, the utilitarian aspect, and I hope that I'll find them alot less boring to drive on a daily basis than my disco. (I previously owned two classic minis, and having driven the disco for 3 months I find it a very boring ride). I want to feel the rawness of driving again. Hear an engine rev, bang my elbows on exposed metal, struggle to overtake HGVs!

So the question now is, do I go for a SW 110, a 90, or a commercial 110?

If I sell the disco then my budget will be between 2 and 3 grand. I've spent the last week scouring eBay, pistonheads, and the LR forums, and found there are indeed very few in my price bracket.

It'll be my only vehicle, so will be used for getting to and from work, but really for camping trips every couple of weeks, going climbing, going greenlaning, and the odd UK based trip, perhaps venturing farther afield in time. My plan is to slowly kit it out over time with whatever is nessecary for travel.

I understand the obvious benifits of each, ie. 90's turning circle and slight off road edge vs 110s greater load capacity etc. etc. but which one do people think would best suit my needs?

Oh and if anybody with a suitable car wants to PX or swap for my disco, let me know please!

90 all the way. Unless you are a self employed builder/brickie/undertaker or have a large family theres no point in a 110 (awaits huge disapproval but doesn't give 2 poo's)...

2500 starting point for a reasonable 200tdi transplanted 90 then upwards from there..anything less will be a shed or you'll be very lucky.

2500 sounds reasonable.

I got my disco for 2500, and since It's had, new clutch, new exhaust, some welding on the chassis, and sills, new front brakes, new front propshaft UJ etc. Apart from what has now been repaired, there is no rust on the body, doors or chassis at all.
Am I looking at selling it for what I paid, or with the clutch and repairs (over a grand and a half), do you think I could get 3000 for it?

ReadySalted said:

2500 sounds reasonable.

I got my disco for 2500, and since It's had, new clutch, new exhaust, some welding on the chassis, and sills, new front brakes, new front propshaft UJ etc. Apart from what has now been repaired, there is no rust on the body, doors or chassis at all.
Am I looking at selling it for what I paid, or with the clutch and repairs (over a grand and a half), do you think I could get 3000 for it?

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No

There are a lot, loads, many, abundant Discos for sale at the mo and tbh you can get a lot of disco for 2k...I know, i'm looking and have about 50 on watch list from ebay alone, then there's pistonheads, brightwells...etc..etc...

Bugger. What a brilliant investment that turned out to be lol

On the bright side if you look after a fender it'll hold its value.

I would go for a 110 ex military. I have one. ( Which I am keeping) You can sleep in the back, carry loads of stuff. I replaced the wheels with steel Rims which I got from Paddocks, They stick out slightly as the center of the rim is in the center which has increased the turning circle. No problems maneuvering in car parks now. Down side is they throw up the mud on the side of the Landy a little. Really depends where you live. If you have to park in parking bays the 110 might be more difficult that a 90.

storm99 said:

90 all the way. Unless you are a self employed builder/brickie/undertaker or have a large family theres no point in a 110 (awaits huge disapproval but doesn't give 2 poo's)...

2500 starting point for a reasonable 200tdi transplanted 90 then upwards from there..anything less will be a shed or you'll be very lucky.

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Huge disapproval duely delivered

110 anyday

and parking never been an issue other than height restrictions and that applies to both so

plus youre allowed more than 3 mates if you have a 110- my beast has been the unofficial team transportation for last 7 years - carries 11 passengers to all our Xmas parties

actually if i'm really honest though I'd d have a 90 for playing in and a 110 for daily life -so it depends what you plan to do most of

110woman said:

plus youre allowed more than 3 mates if you have a 110- my beast has been the unofficial team transportation for last 7 years - carries 11 passengers to all our Xmas parties

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90 'til I die.
F**k me mates - they can take the bus.
None of them drives so its no hardship.
Huge grin everytime I drive my Defender.

And thats saying something as I have a shiny new 11 plate Disco TD4V6 as a job motor for the next two months to cut around in. Nice motor but too soft for my liking.

Shifty1962 said:

90 'til I die.
F**k me mates - they can take the bus.
None of them drives so its no hardship.
Huge grin everytime I drive my Defender.

And thats saying something as I have a shiny new 11 plate Disco TD4V6 as a job motor for the next two months to cut around in. Nice motor but too soft for my liking.

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I'm wit shifty 90 all the way can't beat em, i fitted two rear seats so i can I can carry 3 passangers, i paid 1400 quid for mine with 6 months tax and a years mot,400 on a good 200tdi disco lump, 50 for a disco tranny and 60 for a disco front axle as it works out cheaper to put a second hand 300 tdi one on than rebuild the original axle, I've repaired the bottoms of both doors as they where rusted through,fitted a stearing guard and I've painted it satin black with a roller just need to get a bit of welding done on the front dumb irons and one bulkhead outrigger, you can get good ones that need a little tlc for decent money, if your prepared to do the work yourself it's quite satisfying knowing you have restored it just look around and don't buy the first one you see

Wifeys just made me (tonight) put my spare 90 on flee-bay and in the for-sale on here.
I've just done the 'deal' on a late 300Tdi 90, as she would say a 'nice' one that she can go in and not get covered in dog hair or 'stuff'. Ha ha not for long me thinks, but as she's paying how can I protest!
I'm with the Sub 91" 'SWB' boys as I will get another light-weight again as a summer car and it's just plain different.

90 all the way I fit alot in the back of mine and can carry a big tent in the back to sleep in lol.

I definitely didn't think this would happen but I'm urging towards the 90 because I still think I could fit quite a bit in the back, I could perhaps get a roofrack for more space/ some drawers for the back etc. and it'd be shorter than the disco and obviously a 110 so perhaps easier to park etc.

I do like the expedition-ness of the 110s though, and going from my disco to a 90 I imagine I would notice quite a decrease in my load capacity.


Either way, I'm very exited at the prospect of doing some greenlaning on proper tyres/ wheels and not worrying about scratching the paintwork and dirtying the carpets!

Also on the subject of defenders in general. How comfortable are they in the winter?

In my Army work I often live off of cut-down land rovers (think lightened WIMIK) and with no roof and often no windows, having a small heater pipe in the dashboard blowing just enough hot air out to warm one hand at a time during a rainstorm or sleet is what I consider to be a godsend.
Having said that, when my girlfriend and I tootle off to Scotland or north Wales, in the winter, how bad would the cold be?
Personally I look forward to the basic cosyness of a defenders little heater and sharing a flask of tea, against the comparable luxury of the discos adjustable seats, heater blower, etc. but will that be short lived do you think?

Cheers for all your comments so far by the way boys!

Buy an old defender with the crappy turbo diesel engine (they are cheaper)

then use your disco as a donor

Ready Salted

Put your disco up on auto trader or piston heads and you may get your purchase price back if you find the right buyer but no one seems to have the cash at the mo.

As for which fender then its up to you, both have their plus points but both would also give you more storage than a disco (unless you plan on having people in the back of the 90). If you carry 2 people regularly then a 90 would be good any more with kit is 110 territory.

When I went looking last time I decided a 110 csw was the way with having a young son and wanting a forward facing rear seat. I have since sold it as things got a bit tight a few times while playing due to the extra length so I have decided to try a 90 and just fit some forward facing seats in the back.

Budget wise there is quite a bit out there but I would be very wary, better off with a good chassis and strong engine than a nice shiny motor imo. Have driven halfway across the country a couple of times recently looking for one and still had to come back empty handed

If you have more winters like the last two I will think of you having a flask of tea trying to get some heat out of the heater of a Defender. Where I am it can drop down to -18C and you get drafts coming from everywhere in a Defender. I am about to install a Kenlowe electric rad fan in the hope that the engine will warm up quicker. I will also get one of these 300w electric heaters which I have seen on fleabay. Then I might enjoy my flask of tea.

In the sort of price range you are looking at you need to allow the price of the vehicle again for parts repairs etc to be a reliable usable vehicle. If you can afford to I would buy something like a matiz for £400 and use that while you find a ninety and rebuild it so you know what you are going to be driving is reliable, quick enough and with the level of comfort you want . You can buy one with a decent chassis, and then fit engine trans say ex disco to get you closer to your disco expectation with the defender thrill factor JMHO

mikescuba said:

If you have more winters like the last two I will think of you having a flask of tea trying to get some heat out of the heater of a Defender. Where I am it can drop down to -18C and you get drafts coming from everywhere in a Defender. I am about to install a Kenlowe electric rad fan in the hope that the engine will warm up quicker. I will also get one of these 300w electric heaters which I have seen on fleabay. Then I might enjoy my flask of tea.

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Don't bother, they're useless. Worse than useless.

I had one last winter when my main heater wasn't working, but in the spring I refurbed my heater box and installed some more insulation into the 110.

Put a new heater matrix in, properly seal it with foam, and make sure there are no leaks for hot air to escape or cold air to be drawn in.

Removing the viscous fan is also a very good idea, not needed at all in UK climate.