Newbie in west midlands

Hello all,
I'm around the stourbridge area currently driving a citroen c4 (110bhp diesel version) that keeps letting me down, so i'm getting rid. always fancied a landy but never had a reason until now. I'll miss the bits that didnt break on the c4... like the cruise control... and the seats (deaaad comfy when driving long distance - aberdeen and gravesend). but its cost me enough (~ £3k when i bought for £4.5k less than a year ago) just in maintenance.

enough about my rolling scrapyard. I am very interested in a defender 90, possibly for use in green laning and even off roading. I know these (from working in an after school club when i was younger) to be relatively simple beasts as far as anyone weilding a spanner and some common sense goes. what i would like to know, is what I should be looking for as far as engine versions things to look out for and to avoid? are there any advantages to buying one that has been kitted out already? I'll be trudging through the forums as soon as i get home from work anyway, but i was just curious as to wether anyone had any specific advice.

thanks in advance

tl;dr :blabla: = hello all, I have a crappy citroen that i'm getting rid of. Always wanted a defender 90 and now seems a good time. any advice?

A landrover is going to break down on you too. I hope you have some sort of mechanical skills or time to learn some.

i do have some skills, but not the ones required to keep a citroen c4 that is mainly computer going. I've been spinning a spanner for quite a while, both on the two skodas and the polo i owned. was a hovercraft mechanic with my college, so yes. I have the skills, and i can learn more. I am just hoping that a Landy will be slightly more reliable than the citroen.

ScottyG said:

i do have some skills, but not the ones required to keep a citroen c4 that is mainly computer going. I've been spinning a spanner for quite a while, both on the two skodas and the polo i owned. was a hovercraft mechanic with my college, so yes. I have the skills, and i can learn more. I am just hoping that a Landy will be slightly more reliable than the citroen.

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It all depends on what you want it for and your budget is going to be as to what engine/age your going to be able to afford and which is going to be the best. Anything upto td5 is easy to work on and repair yourself then it starts getiing more electronically challenging.

rightoh. Thankyou for your reply. budget ~£3k. diesel is my preferred choice as i do so like them. TD5's cost £400 in tax so i belive. so I don't think i can afford one of them. I'm not worried so much about the age (should I be? - other than the obvious reason for that the condition of the vehicle will possibly be poorer?). I've been having a shifty at the ex mod 90's... are these some to avoid? or is it like any vehicle, you have to see it to get a feel for it?

EDIT:

use.... well commute, occasional long distance drive (be cruising late night though) I would like to get into green laning and possibly off roading. but mainly to see where it takes me

ScottyG said:

rightoh. Thankyou for your reply. budget ~£3k. diesel is my preferred choice as i do so like them. TD5's cost £400 in tax so i belive. so I don't think i can afford one of them. I'm not worried so much about the age (should I be? - other than the obvious reason for that the condition of the vehicle will possibly be poorer?). I've been having a shifty at the ex mod 90's... are these some to avoid? or is it like any vehicle, you have to see it to get a feel for it?

EDIT:

use.... well commute, occasional long distance drive (be cruising late night though) I would like to get into green laning and possibly off roading. but mainly to see where it takes me

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First of all I wouldn't be looking at ex mod ones as they are generally overpriced and usually abused to fook. Just make sure you take someone with you who knows what they are looking for when you go see them. Landrovers generally rot from the inside out so make sure you check everything is solid (metal though not filler )

Thankyou. I had a long conversation with a friend of mine whom i'd lost contact with who owns a disco, and he was being very frank about hte defenders, which is what i needed. I've come to the conclusion, that like most things the more you put into it, the more you'll get out of it, and it will have issues, but it won't let me down if i look after it.

If you want to get into greenlaning then get in touch with Land Rover Zone - View Profile: BIG_GINGA_BEARD as he's not far away and has a 90 and does lots of greenlaning. I have a 110 and various other landies and am in Stourbridge too. If you want a chat then you can pop round here and have a look at some and I'll show you some of the pitfalls.

Sirus said:

If you want to get into greenlaning then get in touch with Land Rover Zone - View Profile: BIG_GINGA_BEARD as he's not far away and has a 90 and does lots of greenlaning. I have a 110 and various other landies and am in Stourbridge too. If you want a chat then you can pop round here and have a look at some and I'll show you some of the pitfalls.

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Hellooooooo :welcome:

TD5 tax £400 i hope not mines up for renewal in a couple of months Its £215 for 12 months.

As sirus said i do like a good greenlane. Keep your eye on the threads in the "greenlaning" section. anything thats near you and you want to tag along, just shout. There is plenty nice lanes near bridgnorth and that sort of way.

Sirus - liking the new sig graphic aswell. I always laugh at the black country alphabet.

Beardy

Thankyou both, I appreciate it. I'll drop you a PM tomorrow in work as I have to hit the hay now. up at the crack of dawn to drop off my sister at school errrghh...