Help a numpty find a defender...please!

Hi everyone

I am new here, so hi, ive been sent here by a friend who said i might get some good advice from the knowledgeable folk on here *fingers crossed*

I am moving from city life, to deepest darkest shropshire soon, and will need a good decent 4x4, work horse vehicle. I have horses and need something to do feed/hay runs, chuck the dogs in the back and get me down the country lanes in deepest winter. I have a nice little citroen Ds3 for day to day nipping about and going to work- so not going to be doing loads of miles in it. I also have a horsebox, so wont need the landy for towing a great weight, but might need it to tow a little trailer (for hay etc)

So my question is this, can anyone help advise me on the best workhorse 4x4 vehicle? I *want* a defender, is this my best option?

Sooooo....if defender is what i should be looking for, can anyone give me any things to look out for and avoid when buying an older version (ideally want to spend under 4k)- is this possible - dont want to buy a total piece of junk! Any help appreciated!

Also am i right in thinking that if i get a version with only front windows, it is classed as a commercial vehicle and as such it has less tax?

Sorry for all the (probably really idiotic) questions

Thanks for any help!

I have a discovery 1 300 tdi 3 door, I can get 11 bales of shavings (wife has horses, and has a horse lorry so I have the discovery for the same reasons as you) in the back and use it for getting about in the mud and water in the lanes and doing equine type jobs other than towing a horse trailer.

Discovery does a blinding job for my in comfort. These guys on here will give you the defender advice, although I guess a 110 double cab might suit your needs?

Andy

go for disco 300tdi fine vehicle a right all rounder

4k gets you a reasonable defender, or a mint disco (that will rot away and be worth 1k in 4 years time.... The choice is yours

Another member has just posted this...

Thanks for the replies, to the last poster - that ad is exactly why I need help, it might as well be written in Klingon for all the sense it makes to me. Does all that work done to it mean it should generally be in good shape? Help!
Is there an idiots guide to old Diesel engines that I can buy and inwardly digest?!

Ellie23 said:

Thanks for the replies, to the last poster - that ad is exactly why I need help, it might as well be written in Klingon for all the sense it makes to me. Does all that work done to it mean it should generally be in good shape? Help!
Is there an idiots guide to old Diesel engines that I can buy and inwardly digest?!

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You can never be sure that anything is OK unless you know what you are looking at, and even then you can't be sure. The advert looks like all it needs is some rewiring, but I suspect that whoever buys it will also need to look at what caused the problem in the first place. But the underside looked OK and it is reasonably priced for a 90.

The best thing to do is to go and have a look at one, take it all in and then look at another one. Take someone with you who knows about Land Rover's too, as they may well be able to spot something that you won't.

But if you are new to Land Rover's and are not good with spanners then perhaps something else might be better. Don't get me wrong, they are excellent workhorses but they are prone to issues which while relatively easy to repair may be out of your depth and may need outside help.

On a different note though, I used to own a K reg Isuzu Bighorn (imported Trooper) which was excellent. Super reliable, went like stink and was nice to drive. But there was no excitement.

SteNova said:

4k gets you a reasonable defender, or a mint disco (that will rot away and be worth 1k in 4 years time.... The choice is yours

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I would say £2k tops for a good Disco, but I would go for the Defender

Although I love defenders, I never understood why something like a disco, that is the same underneith bar a few gear ratios is so different in price? I would rather pay less and get more comfort out of a discovery any day.
Mind you I have a freelader commercial for the same reasons as mentioned above. Still a land rover, you can't quite tow as much but better mpg and no rust!

Depends what you want it for what your taste and budget is. Horses for causes really (geddit?)

Kizzeh said:

Although I love defenders, I never understood why something like a disco, that is the same underneith bar a few gear ratios is so different in price? I would rather pay less and get more comfort out of a discovery any day.

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is it not obvious?

1989 discovery

1989 defender

2013 discovery

2013 defender

I was more talking about 300/td5 (most peoples budget) and the difference in price for what was similar underneith. Not what they look like including your pictures. Disco is normally a lot cheaper and more comfy with better motorway speeds but the ability to do everything a defender does without the sore left cal for right elbow.

Kizzeh said:

Disco is normally a lot cheaper and more comfy with better motorway speeds but the ability to do everything a defender does without the sore left cal for right elbow.

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The Disco is basically a road vehicle for occasional off road use, whereas a Defender is an off road vehicle suited for road use.

As for comfort, this depends on your stature. I'm 5ft 4ins and fit into a Defender like it was made for me, on the other hand I find my D2 pretty uncomfortable with the steering wheel shoved into my chest to reach the pedals, but it's probably good for a taller person.

The only reason I have a Disco is because a Defender is financially out of reach, but one day...

for the money, and considerin what you need it for, a late 300tdi would be a good choice. capable enough for horse work with hay and whatnot, comfortable enough for the missus not to moan

also 4k only buys you an alright defender, but it could buy you a good/sorted disco

just my 2 pence

dont matter if it is disco or defender they are both steel and alloy that does not mix and will rust and oxidize through time,

Nigel-S said:

The Disco is basically a road vehicle for occasional off road use, whereas a Defender is an off road vehicle suited for road use.

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But the discovery is still very off road capable. Please, if you can, advise me of the construction and working parts that makes the defender more suited to off-road than the discovery other than the marginal difference in gear ratios.

I could be wrong here, but if there IS a substantial difference in off road abilitys between a disco and a defender, of say 300tdi or td5, then I doubt Ellie would notice the difference whilst picking up bales of hay and navigating along the odd dirt track. No offence intended of course

I will happily stand corrected if I am wrong. After all, every time you are wrong you are learning something new.

I am also very pleased you fit nicely in your defender. I am slightly taller than average and therefor have a tight squeeze in most vehicles, although that does not make the steering wheel any further away from the window or the handbrake any further away from your calf. These are just added "design features" which the discovery doesn't have. That is all


I have just re-read this post. Wasn't intending it to be directed solely on Nigel. Sorry about that. Using my phone and it's a bit hard to recheck what everyone said and construct a half reasonable post. To tired to start up the laptop now so might have to wait till tomorrow

Nigel-S said:

The Disco is basically a road vehicle for occasional off road use, whereas a Defender is an off road vehicle suited for road use.

As for comfort, this depends on your stature. I'm 5ft 4ins and fit into a Defender like it was made for me, on the other hand I find my D2 pretty uncomfortable with the steering wheel shoved into my chest to reach the pedals, but it's probably good for a taller person.

The only reason I have a Disco is because a Defender is financially out of reach, but one day...

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mechanically and chassis wise disco at a 100 inch falls between 90 and 110 ,defenders just have basic utility body

Kizzeh said:

But the discovery is still very off road capable. Please, if you can, advise me of the construction and working parts that makes the defender more suited to off-road than the discovery other than the marginal difference in gear ratios.

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Unmodified and everything standard, the Defender is lighter (the 90 anyway), has better ground clearance, and better approach, departure and breakover angles. For carting bales of hay over fields and the majority of laning though I agree, none of that's needed.

disco gives you best of both worlds an every day driver with a touch of class that is every bit as capable as a 90 if needing to go off road and is not so utilitarian looking

Although I am a committed Defender tratter owner, for what Ellie is looking for, and with her budget then she should go for a Disco every time. She doesn't sound too mechanically minded and for £4k she might expect to get a defender which requires some fixing/maintenance. Whereas because Defenders attract a price premium then she stands a better chance of getting a Disco which is a bit newer or a but less worn. With the back seats dropped then there is more than enough storage space for her needs.

Unfortunately she doesn't say where she lives, so we aren't able to offer local advice.

dieselreek said:

dont matter if it is disco or defender they are both steel and alloy that does not mix and will rust and oxidize through time,

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I'd rather replace parts on a defender than a disco