Sold my sports car for a Defender...

Hi everyone, new to the forum, thought I should come on and say hello.

After finding out that my insurance on my Nissan 350Z was going UP this year despite not having made a claim and being a year older (such things matter when you're 26) and having just gotten engaged (a couple of days ago...)I decided that enough was enough.

So I went out and have just bought a Defender from Liveridge 4x4 in Solihull - its being rebuilt at the moment.

I'm working as a GP and in hospitals in the West Midlands at the moment and sometimes get house calls to fairly remote areas as well as needing to know that I'll be able to get to work - I'm working in A&E over the winter...calling in because of transport difficulties isn't an option!

So, down to the meat of things...base car is a 2002 Defender 90 TD5 Hard Top in White.

Modifications being made by Liveridge for me:

Rear Sliding Windows
Exmoor Trim Fold-Down Forward Facing rear seats x2 with 3-point belts
Wolf lamp guards front and rear
Rock sliders with tree bars
Rear step
Safari snorkel
Britpart winch bumper and 12000lb winch
New steel wheels and all-purpose tyres
Chequerplate sills, rear wings, bonnet and wingtops
Carpeted rear load bay
Sky Tag tracker

Now, I realise that some of these mods are excessive for 'getting to work' but I intend to make full use of the Landy's abilities and learn to drive off-road properly as well and reckoned the good chaps at Liveridge might as well do it all as a one-er for me!

Outside of work and LR stuff, I enjoy Thai Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - I've had a few amateur MMA (Cage fighting) bouts which most people find pretty at odds with my profession - my response is always that a sound knowledge of anatomy is a big advantage in these things!

Glad to have joined, look forward to speaking to you!

Guy

:welcome2: have fun with your new toy

Welcome Doc,

just don't let Leadfarmer know your profession he will be showing you his "farmers" in a flash.

Enjoy the 'Fender

Welcome!

Good choice getting the tracker, but, can i advise you invest in a DiskLok too - a proper one, don't be cheap after spending so much on your landy (your a doc, you must be on good money!)

:welcome2:to the asylum Doc ... You'll find plenty of loonies on here, especially at medication time

welcome!

good choice of upgrades there... not sure about the Britpart winch, but that's a whole can of worms there.

welcome guy:welcome2:that sounds like a sensible move to get shut of the sports car and get a proper motor.we just got rid of a volvos60 d5 to buy our disco. one of the best moves we made.

I actually already have a Disklok - I used to work in Heartlands in a pretty rough bit of Brum so was paranoid about my nice convertible going missing. I kept hold of it and fully intend to keep using it for my landy. Not so much for financial reasons this time but because there's a little bit of me in this vehicle now its been customised!

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! Have no problem sorting out the farmers but I prefer not to take my work home with me

Defender Doc said:

I actually already have a Disklok - I used to work in Heartlands in a pretty rough bit of Brum so was paranoid about my nice convertible going missing. I kept hold of it and fully intend to keep using it for my landy. Not so much for financial reasons this time but because there's a little bit of me in this vehicle now its been customised!

Thanks for the warm welcome guys! Have no problem sorting out the farmers but I prefer not to take my work home with me

Click to expand...

You may find your Disklok won't fit as you will need a large one for a Defender ... unless you're fitting a sports wheel on the Landy!

Have looked into it - yep need an L size Disklok...

Its cheaper for me to just buy a new steering wheel and 48-spline boss than a new Disklok so I might do that. Its not like a new wheel will be an incentive to thieves as it'll be shrouded in steel whenever the landy is parked up!

(just to check - a 2002 TD5 ought to have a 48-spline wheel boss, right? Can't check atm as its still in the workshop)

Defender Doc said:

Have looked into it - yep need an L size Disklok...

Its cheaper for me to just buy a new steering wheel and 48-spline boss than a new Disklok so I might do that. Its not like a new wheel will be an incentive to thieves as it'll be shrouded in steel whenever the landy is parked up!

(just to check - a 2002 TD5 ought to have a 48-spline wheel boss, right? Can't check atm as its still in the workshop)

Click to expand...

Don't know on that one Doc but a search should tell you the answer ... you sure you want a smaller wheel on a Defender? ... with all the money you're spending I would think an extra few quid for a large Disklok would be a much better solution but it's your cash

Not sure I would trust a Britpart winch. Have a look on the stuff written about Britpart stuff. Lots of differing opinions on here but I wouldnt buy something like a winch from them.