Looking for a Defender - How many miles is too many?

Still looking, saw something that looks/sounds genuine (vs. pig in lipstick part-time trader ste) but then after an email asking some basics:

Sorry to say, but the advert is very misleading as the mileage is 238,000

I know this seams huge but she has been well looked after

Just had a new head, radiator, pulley wheel etc

All tyres are good and a new wheel bearing fitted on Friday

We have had the car for two years used daily, been looked after by the same garage for 5 years

We live in Stroud Gloucestershire and the car can be viewed any evening, Saturday or we can make arrangements for any week days

The underneath all good, just been up on a ramp due to new wheel bearing We believe the engine was replaced 80,000 miles ago and we have just replaced the head at Christmas. The interior is good for the age !!

We have owned the car foe 2 years and a friend for 3, been serviced by same garage - before this a market garden company from new

2.5 Tdi

So how many miles is too many?

its all about the service history.
can they prove its been properly maintained?
How much is it? any pics?

What year is it?

This is the ad, could spend more this just caught my eye as it's a new ad.

1995 LAND ROVER DEFENDER LAND ROVER DEFENDER

My postcode is WS13 - open to any suggestions.

thats too dear if its done a quarter of a mil!What milage has the newengine done?WHat do they use it for?Its kited for offroad so ahs it led a sheltered life - id suspect not

Thats an awful lot of miles...it is exactly 238857 miles to the fooking moon! I kid you not..google it One concern would be the replacement engine... was it new, reconditioned or one off ebay? Body looks okay, nice wheels but no pics of the inside. In my limited experience I have found that its the miles that age them. It likely to have twice as much wear on everything including seats etc as one the same age with 120k. They need an oil change every 5 or 6k if that has been done they can run for ever. This one hasn't. The rear xmember appears not to show 'other holes' that you would see on an unmolested one in good condition. (see pic of mine) What lies beneath whatever it is painted or filled with but jacking points are there, or the holes are
I think you can do a lot better for £4200.... If it is going to be your main vehicle I would pass and wait for the right one.

its defo got the jacking holes but the rear crossmeber does look a little tarnished...

Why does the advert show a landy with 23000 miles on it??

Cheers guys - sounds like it's not going to be worth the trip.

As to why the ad had the wrong mileage, the chap sounds genuine enough in his email so I suspect it's just an error or shrewd advertising to get people looking, he said straight away though what it really way.

I'll keep looking, the problem is that as daft as it may initially sound, something like this looks like much better VFM than £7.5k on a "P" plate as most stuff at independents seems to be:

2007 Land Rover Defender 90 2.4 TDI Pick Up,25,000 MLS

I'm in a weird position where the intention is second car, but I could go buy a new one if it wasn't for common sense/restraint.

hutchingsp said:

Cheers guys - sounds like it's not going to be worth the trip.

As to why the ad had the wrong mileage, the chap sounds genuine enough in his email so I suspect it's just an error or shrewd advertising to get people looking, he said straight away though what it really way.

I'll keep looking, the problem is that as daft as it may initially sound, something like this looks like much better VFM than £7.5k on a "P" plate as most stuff at independents seems to be:

2007 Land Rover Defender 90 2.4 TDI Pick Up,25,000 MLS

I'm in a weird position where the intention is second car, but I could go buy a new one if it wasn't for common sense/restraint.

Click to expand...

Your sense of reasoning and restraint go out the window when you get one... its the restraint you show now thats important. I paid 4k for my 1994 90 a year ago... mechanicly sound with 148k. I have spent about £1500 on it, new wheels and tyres, rear xmember and front outriggers. cambelt, discs and pads, seat kits... the list goes on. I have loved every minute of it but wont get my money back.
Now I want a 110 and off to London to view one in the morning. Yes... I am slightly mad:doh:

I paid 4k for my 1999 110 a year ago, paid out about £1700 out on it so far, New front Wheel bearings, CV joint, Injector loom, New Wheels And Tyres, And a heck of a lot more. It came with FSH too. And had 112K on the clock.

MrJC said:

Your sense of reasoning and restraint go out the window when you get one... its the restraint you show now thats important. I paid 4k for my 1994 90 a year ago... mechanicly sound with 148k. I have spent about £1500 on it, new wheels and tyres, rear xmember and front outriggers. cambelt, discs and pads, seat kits... the list goes on. I have loved every minute of it but wont get my money back.
Now I want a 110 and off to London to view one in the morning. Yes... I am slightly mad:doh:

Click to expand...

Yes I'm very conscious of buying something "cheap" now and then spending a lot on cosmetic bits and bobs let alone mechanical things hence half-tempted to get something newer that shouldn't need a lot more than servicing.

well, u would think that wouldnt u. This is a land rover remember. I have a 2002 90, (not new, but not old) its done 45K. So far i have had to have a new air flow meter £75, hand brake shoes as the transfer case leaked over and contaminated, Fuel pressure reg, master + slave cylinder. Also think i have a wheel bearing on the way out!!!

Thats all in about 6 months, so thats prob about £500 or so by the time i have paid a garage!!!

Oh and been home on the back of a truck from Birmingham to Cornwall. I broke down on the M6 Toll road. Didnt have to pay for the toll and saved £60 of fuel. Every cloud and all that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!