Took a Defender out for a test drive today

njc110381 · Dec 30, 2008

Hey guys. I went out Landy shopping today and had a look at the first one on my list of "possibles". What a shock it was. It felt like a tractor - sloppy gearbox, heavy as hell clutch, leaned all over the place on corners and a couple of times I thought I was going to die!
:rolly:

Ok I drove to see it in my v6 golf, but I'm sure my old Defender wasn't this bad. It had done 140k miles, but then my last one had done 170k and it was fine. I'm going to drive a newer one tomorrow to see whether it was the landy or me that has the problem. It had a few patches on the chassis and it sounded really dull when I tapped it around these areas so I think I've knocked it off the list anyway. I do hope it was a poor example though because I was really looking forward to buying one. I'm just not sure if it was a bad truck, or if it's down to me being spoilt in the comfort department with my L200s?

One positive thing though was the engine. It was an R reg 300tdi and it felt pretty responsive. It looked really battered inside so I'm hoping it has just had a hard life and the next one will be better.

Oddie · Dec 30, 2008

yeah, it sounds like a dog and hopefully the next one will be better! Probably had tired steering and suspension bits, with reasonably new bits it should drive pretty tight! (not as tight as a golf though!! - nice car!)

Tig9619 · Dec 30, 2008

By nature land rovers can be bad on the road as you may know from having one in the past. This sounds like a bad one with knackered bushes. I have seen a few like this that have just been worked and worked. A Td5 110 came in and i thought it was an old series 109 it was so battered!
L200's will be a lot stiffer on the road and a damn sight more comfortable too!
As you said 140k is not a lot for a landy but it is a lot if it just hasnt been looked after properly. People make the mistake of thinking they are indestructable workhorses that will carry on for years untouched. Quite the opposite sometimes, they need regular maintenance and normally lots of money spending on them!

andys130landy · Dec 30, 2008

my mates got 2 130s and an l200 he says both landys fully laden are better on fuel than the l200

njc110381 · Dec 30, 2008

I never thought about the bushes etc. When I bought my high mileage 110 that I had a few years ago it was from a main dealer. They did a lot of work to the drivetrain and replaced a lot of parts to make it drive better. I guess I'll just have to keep looking and maybe be prepared to replace a few bits myself? The chassis was a big let down on this one too though so I'm going to have to look elsewhere.

Odenne - The golf is a nice car. It's my girlfriends but I'm allowed to drive it sometimes! It may be fast but I have to be really thoughtful when I drive it. She'd hang me if I shoved it in a hedge or ditch to give way to someone on a narrow lane - something I do all the time in my truck

Medusa · Dec 30, 2008

njc110381 said:
I never thought about the bushes etc. When I bought my high mileage 110 that I had a few years ago it was from a main dealer. They did a lot of work to the drivetrain and replaced a lot of parts to make it drive better. I guess I'll just have to keep looking and maybe be prepared to replace a few bits myself? The chassis was a big let down on this one too though so I'm going to have to look elsewhere.

Odenne - The golf is a nice car. It's my girlfriends but I'm allowed to drive it sometimes! It may be fast but I have to be really thoughtful when I drive it. She'd hang me if I shoved it in a hedge or ditch to give way to someone on a narrow lane - something I do all the time in my truck

Sounds like it were shagged. Just keep looking, there will always be another one round the corner. I drove loads and looked at some shockers while I was looking for my first Landy. I had a reasonable budget but actually ended up spending only half because the 1989 one I look at had the best chassis, overall condition and lowest genuine miles of all I looked at. I delighted with mine and its auto to boot so no sloppy gearchanges or stiff clutch to deal with.

Got a 150 Golf meself, not a V6 but nice all the same.

njc110381 · Dec 31, 2008

Well I took another out today. An L reg 200 tdi this time, and it was much nicer! It wasn't in great condition, the rear bulkhead (if that's what you call the panel below the back window?) had a small hole corroded through the side, but the chassis was better. The front bulkhead had some surface rust but nothing terminal and the overall handling of the truck was much better.The seller wanted £2700 for it with a full service and new MOT, and said he'd tidy up any niggles for me too if they found any in the MOT. I was set on putting a deposit on it, but thought I'd give myself some time to think and ring the guy later.

On the way home I passed the local franchised dealer (M J Fews) and stopped in for a chat. I've bought from them in the past and the truck I had before was very well prepared before I got it so thought I'd see if they had anything available nearer the top end of my budget. It turns out they have a 150k mile 300tdi coming in next friday as a PX. They were going to auction it off but as I asked at the right time I can have first refusal before they ship it off. They said I could have it for about £1500 if I like it and they'd give it a basic look over for me to check for any major issues I may not spot myself. No warranty, but a bloody good offer I thought! They've been very good to me in the past so I'd feel better buying from them. I'll pay them a little extra and get it MOT'd before I take it, but I have a really good feeling about it. Maybe I'll have a new Landy soon, I'm getting quite excited!

Ilson lad · Dec 31, 2008

njc110381 said:
Well I took another out today. An L reg 200 tdi this time, and it was much nicer! It wasn't in great condition, the rear bulkhead (if that's what you call the panel below the back window?) had a small hole corroded through the side, but the chassis was better. The front bulkhead had some surface rust but nothing terminal and the overall handling of the truck was much better.The seller wanted £2700 for it with a full service and new MOT, and said he'd tidy up any niggles for me too if they found any in the MOT. I was set on putting a deposit on it, but thought I'd give myself some time to think and ring the guy later.

On the way home I passed the local franchised dealer (M J Fews) and stopped in for a chat. I've bought from them in the past and the truck I had before was very well prepared before I got it so thought I'd see if they had anything available nearer the top end of my budget. It turns out they have a 150k mile 300tdi coming in next friday as a PX. They were going to auction it off but as I asked at the right time I can have first refusal before they ship it off. They said I could have it for about £1500 if I like it and they'd give it a basic look over for me to check for any major issues I may not spot myself. No warranty, but a bloody good offer I thought! They've been very good to me in the past so I'd feel better buying from them. I'll pay them a little extra and get it MOT'd before I take it, but I have a really good feeling about it. Maybe I'll have a new Landy soon, I'm getting quite excited!

Belated christmas pressie then

Medusa · Jan 1, 2009

Yep, like I said theres alway another one round the corner.

Took a Defender out for a test drive today

njc110381

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