What do you think of this Defender

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lightning

lightning

Well-Known Member
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High Peak
For sale, very low mileage looks almost new.
Apparently has lived in France, owned by multi millionaire who kept it at his chalet.

l am interested as it looks so nice, but don't have much experience with the Ford engine version.
l've only ever owned TD5's

Prices certainly seem to have dropped for these from the heights they got to a couple of years ago.
Possibly due to LEZ's etc as most of them
seem to be for sale down South.

 
lt's lived in France at a chateau and been serviced annually despite the low mileage.
Over 1,000 of the mileage was just driving it to France when it was new, and back again on sale.

l haven't actually viewed the vehicle, the seller is right down on the South Coast and l am in Manchester
 
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lightning said:
For sale, very low mileage looks almost new.
Apparently has lived in France, owned by multi millionaire who kept it at his chalet.

l am interested as it looks so nice, but don't have much experience with the Ford engine version.
l've only ever owned TD5's

Prices certainly seem to have dropped for these from the heights they got to a couple of years ago.
Possibly due to LEZ's etc as most of them
seem to be for sale down South.

Click to expand...
i think the sellor has spent too much time near the exhaust pipe!
 
I personally would avoid like the plague the early Ford tdci landrovers. My brother is on his 3rd engine and his is an 07 plate. Complete shìte.

Internal oil gallery was blocked on the original leading to oil starvation, forked out for a new crate motor, had it professionally fitted by McDonald's 4x4 in Oswestry only for that to throw a conrod through the side of the block 2 years later, now fitted a recon engine and is getting rid as he's had enough, replacing with a hilux.

He's going to get an old fenderer or series project as he loves the marque, but this has been a lemon, be warned. He's also stuck rigorously to service schedules etc.

His previous td5 never let him down once, and mine only has once when the alternator gave up after 160k. Td5s are the best, I've seen the internals on a td5 after around 150k and it looked brilliant, the chap said he shouldn't of bothered . Get another Td5 if you need to scratch that itch!

Also 40k is steep, doesnt matter what the markets doing at the moment, its far too much to spend on a crappily build future rust bucket imo
 
lightning said:
lt's lived in France at a chateau and been serviced annually despite the low mileage.
Over 1,000 of the mileage was just driving it to France when it was new, and back again on sale.

l haven't actually viewed the vehicle, the seller is right down on the South Coast and l am in Manchester
Click to expand...
But it states that the vehicle was used to ferry friends and family, does that mean it never left the chateau? How can you ferry people without an MOT? condition definitely means more than milage and I'm unsure the tdci vehicles will be worth as much as the older ones in 10 years if it's an investment.
Nice to hear another manc in the group!
 
l assume it was taken over to France when new, and then given the French equivalent of an MOT every year.

And then it had its first U.K. MOT when it was brought back to the U.K.
 
l've spoken with my accountant and it's not straightforward.

The figures don't work very well for this exchange. lf l sell the new Defender Commercial now (it's worth around £46,000) l will get a tax bill of around £10,000. As it's owned by my Limited Company and l claimed tax back on the purchase.
So l would be left with around £36,000. There's £5,000 owing on the new one leaving me with £31,000

The 110 is £40,000 which means l would have to find £9,000 to buy the old one.

Not immediately as the tax bill wouldn't come until a year next December.
But
Eventually l would have a £10,000 tax bill to pay.

Also the 110 isn't a Commercial Vehicle so l couldn't put it through my Limited Company like the new one. All l could claim is something like 45p per mile business use.

If l want a Classic Defender l would most likely be better off saving up and buying a TD5 or TDi which would be a lot cheaper, as a second vehicle and keeping the new one.
 
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Buying older vehicles through a limited company, means you have to pay the tax equivalent of its new price, plus as its not commercial, a whole heap of taxable benefit. You are right, stick to the 45p per mile, and max that out.
 
lightning said:
l assume it was taken over to France when new, and then given the French equivalent of an MOT every year.

And then it had its first U.K. MOT when it was brought back to the U.K.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if this would effect anything or not, but in France they have an mot type thing (can't remember exactly what they call it) every 2 years.
 
Being French I can help on this subject:

In France, every car older than 4 years must go through a MOT test, the "Contrôle technique". It is a biennal inspection that is carried on by private authorized centers. You definitely cannot drive in France without a MOT or "Contrôle technique", unless your vehicle dates before 1960. If you are driving without a MOT or a "Contrôle technique", the penalty can be up to €750 but you may be subject to a €135 fine only, the police or gendarmes can also get the car immobilised on the spot.

Historic cars (véhicule de collection in French), must be more than 30 years of age and not produced anymore. Specific rules apply:
- Historic vehicles dating from 1960: a "Contrôle technique" must be done every 5 years, instead of the usual 2 years.
- For Vintage vehicles dating BEFORE 1960: the "Contrôle technique" is NOT mandatory.
 
lightning said:
l assume it was taken over to France when new, and then given the French equivalent of an MOT every year.

And then it had its first U.K. MOT when it was brought back to the U.K.
Click to expand...
If it was the case the seller should be able to give you a copy/certificate of the French MOT, the "Contrôle technique". If the seller can't give it to the buyers it means that no MOT has been passed in France.
 
Well it's still for sale, l think the market for Defenders at this price must have dried up somewhat.

lt certainly has round here according to my local LR specialist. Although l can't imagine you'd find a better TDCi Defender than this one.
 
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Still for sale! Clearly the market has settled. Unfortunately if l was to buy this and start doing 10,000 miles per year, it would lose value faster than my 2022 Defender.

l've been looking on Ebay today and found a very nice looking 2008 110 XS SW the same colour as this (although obviously with a lot more miles) for £17,000.
 
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