Ex-Waterboard Defenders Verdict?

I know this a 'how long is a piece of string' type question, but how wise is the idea of buying a landrover from a firm dealing / specialising in ex-waterboard vehicles?

One book I've got on buying 2nd hand vehs specifically warns against ex-waterboard vehs (along with ex mod, ex company, ex emergency services etc).

Any thoughts on this brothers of the defender??

Mate had an ex waterboard 110, up-rated springs, boarded out interior, various extra lights, hydraulic windh up-front, 4 years old with 11000 on the clock for about half the price you'd have expected to pay for it normally ... and it was a cracker!!

Fully wax-oyled, nothing wrong on the chassis, good tow-hitch fitted, nowhere near mint, dented panels, ripped seats and filthy, but mechanically absolutely sound. It also had jacking legs at each corner so it could have been originally intended to be a cherry-picker base vehicle, but ddin't ever have a cherry-picker fitted.

They apparently do a full service every year regardless of mileage .. or did then, about 4 years ago.

My ex electricity board landy has cost me about £700 since I bought it. As I paid just under half it's going rate for it I'm not gonna complain.

Generally speaking, ex services vehicles tend to have very good service history and maintenance, but you have to assume they've been thrashed about a bit. There will have been alot of drivers drive it (again, generally speaking) and it wouldn't be unfair to assume that some of them won't have treated it with the same care they would treat their own vehicle.

I think looking at a vehicle tells you alot, not all, but alot about how it's lived its life to be honest.... if you have a good look over it, sometimes you just know.

Matt TDi said:

Generally speaking, ex services vehicles tend to have very good service history and maintenance, but you have to assume they've been thrashed about a bit. There will have been alot of drivers drive it (again, generally speaking) and it wouldn't be unfair to assume that some of them won't have treated it with the same care they would treat their own vehicle.

I think looking at a vehicle tells you alot, not all, but alot about how it's lived its life to be honest.... if you have a good look over it, sometimes you just know.

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Mine came with full service history up until it was decommisioned last january. (I bought it in August). You tend to find that they show more signs of wear than a privately owned landy but seats and door panels are easily picked up to help smarten things up.

Agreed, by their very nature there will be more people getting in and out, which will result in more ware to the associated parts.

In all fairness if an engine is serviced regularly, and ran in good working order they can take a little bit of abuse anyway, they're not made of glass

Matt TDi said:

Agreed, by their very nature there will be more people getting in and out, which will result in more ware to the associated parts.

In all fairness if an engine is serviced regularly, and ran in good working order they can take a little bit of abuse anyway, they're not made of glass

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This is what my landy looked like when I first bought it.

Love that, bargain

Cool drivers, thanks for the pep-up lads.

The one I'm interested in is 50k mileage, a dent in both wings and some dents to the rear quarter.
They are sending me pics and seem good to do business with.

You need to look at the individual vehicle. It would be stoopid to generalise that ex whatever vehicles are no good, or that ex whatever else vehicles are great. Not very long ago my mate bought an ex BT transit that had full service history and looked mint. On closer inspection he didn't think it had EVER been serviced, just the book filled in.

ratty said:

This is what my landy looked like when I first bought it.

And what it looks like these days.

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I think I'm gonna have to run away now...

So.... are the differences.... Farmers Jack, aditional rear windows, no roof rack, no spare wheel cover (jack), snorkel (good spot) wider tyres or is it the jaunty angle?
Looks very very nice!

PS... what a sneaky place to hide a ditch

Green Bob said:

I think I'm gonna have to run away now...

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All that running away will do is to delay the innevitable.

MrJC said:

So.... are the differences.... Farmers Jack, aditional rear windows, no roof rack, no spare wheel cover (jack), snorkel (good spot) wider tyres or is it the jaunty angle?
Looks very very nice!

PS... what a sneaky place to hide a ditch

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The differences are...

Weller 8 spokes with bfg MT's replaced with Mach 5's fitted with special tracks
Rear window blanking panels painted to look like windows
Rear door window blanked over
roof rack removed
cooker and racking removed from inside- Chest an new racking fitted
all wood inside painted grey to match interior
weller 8 spoke fitted with special track as a spare
Hi-lift mount fitted to spare
high viz wheel cover fitted
winch and winch bumper fitted
snorkel fitted
jump sockets fitted
center seat removed and cubby box fitted
drinks urn fitted
6 cigarette lighter sockets fitted
heavy duty steering bars fitted
steering guard fitted
front light guards fitted
rad muff fitted
new front light surrounds fitted
mountney steering wheel fitted
heavy duty steering damper fitted

I think that about covers it????


We had driven that lane a number of times and nobody knew that ditch was there.

It aint there any more though.

Here's some more of what it looks like now....





look at my profile if you want to see more piccies

ratty said:

The differences are...

"drinks urn fitted"

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Now yer talking....you can't beat a good cuppa......I never saw 'urn' on the options list?!?!?!

ABZ_MK2_RS said:

Now yer talking....you can't beat a good cuppa......I never saw 'urn' on the options list?!?!?!

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snigger

Hey Rattie was just looking at that piccie of you sitting helpless in that ditch and was wondering how you had attached your hi-lift to your spare wheel? LEE

Rear window blanking panels painted to look like windows

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What view have you painted on the inside? Isn't it a bit unnerving when you are driving along and the view doesn't change.....

do you know any recovery folk on here that could give you advise he he he

bevhelee said:

Hey Rattie was just looking at that piccie of you sitting helpless in that ditch and was wondering how you had attached your hi-lift to your spare wheel? LEE

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I have a high lift mount that fixes to the spare wheel bolts.

Rowly said:

What view have you painted on the inside? Isn't it a bit unnerving when you are driving along and the view doesn't change.....

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I prefer seeing where I am going rather than where I've been.

Unfortunately it didn't help me on that day.

shadowster said:

do you know any recovery folk on here that could give you advise he he he

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Yeah........Keep to the right......or is it left.......erm......

ratty said:

I have a high lift mount that fixes to the spare wheel bolts.

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Ask him where he pikied it from.. ??