Newbie help!

Hi,

Im new to the forum and new to the world of Land Rovers. This thread is going to cover a variety of topics i need help with so i appologise in advance!

I am wanting to get into the defender scene and buy a vehicle that i can use as my daily driver (20 mile round trip commute 6 days a week) and also to get into a little off roading/camping. I have 2 kids (4 & 1) who would be with me on weekends so i need a vehicle that would hold both of them. I fancy a 90 but im a little concerned about the seating arrangement for the kids, is it possible to fit 2 child seats in the front if i get the 3 seater or is it to small?

I would appreciate any advice on what type would be the best to handle daily use, ive been told a 300tdi is the best option around a 97/98 plate. I have either the option of spending a max of £6000 and keeping my current car for a while before selling it or trading in the crv and getting a defender for around 8/9k.

Any help would be really useful!!

Hi

Thinking a 110 might suit you betterr - especially with the camping

For starters hello,

From what I've read from other people fitting a child seat / baby carrier to the middle seat isn't ideal as there is a lap belt and not a three point harness and also changing gear is an arse due to lack of room. But as my kids are 15 and 17 mine gets cramped for different reasons so feel free to act on someones advice who's used child seats.

Thanks for the advice, i was thinking the 110 is the sensible choice but ive seen a couple of nice 90's on ebay and ive been drawn in lol Should let my brain take over and go sensible i suppose!

Can always put rear seats into a 90..........

Marmaduke said:

Can always put rear seats into a 90..........

Click to expand...

Is that much of a job marmaduke? I had wondered if i could, just fitting one folding seat would do as i only need 3 seats. Problem would be the size of the task as id need to do it asap ready for picking my kids up, fabrication is no problem as i work in an engineering shop just need the expert advice.....

Hi Mick,

I'd recommend the 110 every time even if 'only' 3 of you..... plenty of room for kit, seats you already need, plenty of room for all their mates who will all want to come too when they see a Land Rover, and you can sleep in it if the tent blows down.

90 has very little useful space by comparison imho - even if more suited to 'serious' off-roading (a 110 will do more than enough to entertain). A

oh, and either of them will find plenty of need for an engineering shop.....

Cheers for the input agew, appreciated! Can I ask your opinion on the best 110 with a budget of 8k? After reading a few posts i thought 300tdi around 96/97, any serious issues i should look out for on them?

I'm in similar position too you now! Just sold my d2 td5 and on the hunt for a 110. I'm only spending 4k though so mine will be a bit of a project!! Gonna wait till winters over and snow tax is off!!

If you want a Ninety (they do look the best ) then you can get these seats from exmoor trim that are approved for use for children (see link below). They are very dear though! Exmoor also has other less expensive forward facing high-back rear seats if you have a look at their website.


Load Area Seats : LOCK AND FOLD - Left Hand

That's a can of worms......!!

I've had 200, 300 and TD5...... and would probably say the 300 was the most useful and robust engine. TD5 maybe a bit more powerful, but low down grunt is poorer, and a very 'tender' engine......

Your budget should get a good 300 - search for days on here for all the 'character' that will come with a Defender of that age....

Check chassis and rear cross member - will have been patched or replaced, just get the best you can, and walk away from a colander effect on the main rails.

Door bottoms, middle door aft frames will be shot or have been welded / replaced.

Footwells - check under mats/in wheel arch - will be either porous or have plates welded in - make sure not welded over the top of the shotblasted rust patches. Great design....

Bulkhead - will rust through at corners of windscreen or below 'hinges' - can be patched, but new one will be inevitable at some point - not cheap to buy or install.

Front steering swivels - if p-ing oil, and pitted they are a few bob to replace, just the seals means entire hub off so not quick - but I've done two of them so must be cretin-proof.

And so on.....

But, get the best you can for the money - all the 'character' is repairable/replaceable - why the heck would I have had 3 of the damned things..... you have to luv em, and as I said al 5 of my kids and all their friends have grown up with them and think they are very 'cool'. A

Thanks for the link landyjd but im definitely going with the 110, just spending hours going over the same adverts on ebay at the minute! Frustrating to say the least!!!

Appreciate the pointers agew, i take it the jist of it is the landy will be battered but everything is fixable should i be to concerned about mileage, i have the image in my mind that these are tanks and will go around the world 3 times without blinking............maybe just me being nieve:lalala: i am now considering a cheaper 110 and keeping the crv as a bit of back up, depends what pops up on ebay

Definitely a 110 would suit your needs better. Not only more room but also a more comfortable ride.
Would be worth taking someone with you who knows Defenders as they will know exactly what to look for. Everything is repairable and cheap compared to other vehicles.

mickytm said:

Thanks for the link landyjd but im definitely going with the 110, just spending hours going over the same adverts on ebay at the minute! Frustrating to say the least!!!

Appreciate the pointers agew, i take it the jist of it is the landy will be battered but everything is fixable should i be to concerned about mileage, i have the image in my mind that these are tanks and will go around the world 3 times without blinking............maybe just me being nieve:lalala: i am now considering a cheaper 110 and keeping the crv as a bit of back up, depends what pops up on ebay

Click to expand...

Whether you can live with the CRV I leave entirely to you.....

Mileage - my td5 has done 8 times round the world...... depends how well its treated I guess and second hand is always a lottery. As said, take someone who knows them when you look at one - no guarantee, but will help to either walk away or bargain.....

With a 5k budget it will be a bit more battered than at 8k, but there should be signs of being cared for as well.

Enjoy the hunt - theres one out there with your name on it! A