Who can help me get a great defender in Kent?

Hi. Totally new to Landrover Defenders but always really wanted one. I'm in Kent - near Cranbrook (Tunbridge Wells). I'd love an older style Defender but not so old it is murder to drive. 90 or 110. Space to transport stuff is more important than seats - I only really need the front row. Anyone got any tips on models to avoid/look for and who are the local specialists you can point me to in my area? Thank you!

janeinkent said:

Hi. Totally new to Landrover Defenders but always really wanted one. I'm in Kent - near Cranbrook (Tunbridge Wells). I'd love an older style Defender but not so old it is murder to drive. 90 or 110. Space to transport stuff is more important than seats - I only really need the front row. Anyone got any tips on models to avoid/look for and who are the local specialists you can point me to in my area? Thank you!

Click to expand...

Hi Jane and welcome to the asylum!
I'm a Discovery man and too far away to help, but it is nice to welcome new members.
Others will be along to help

You might want to post in the Defender part of the forum to catch more people who have them and know about them.

Stanleysteamer said:

Hi Jane and welcome to the asylum!
I'm a Discovery man and too far away to help, but it is nice to welcome new members.
Others will be along to help

Click to expand...

Hi Stanley and thank you!

Stanleysteamer said:

You might want to post in the Defender part of the forum to catch more people who have them and know about them.

Click to expand...

Thanks, will do!

Welcome from sunny Scotland.
1...200/300tdi cold, noisy & drive like a tractor. cheap to repair & service/insure
2...Td5 bmw engine, more modern more power, drive great. ecu = more electrical/sensor probs
3...Puma (ford transit engine) all mod cons, stupid money.
4 New Defender very posh you'll need very deep pockets.

Depend's what you want it for tbh.

Can we ask, how handy with the spanners are you?

kevstar said:

Welcome from sunny Scotland.
1...200/300tdi cold, noisy & drive like a tractor. cheap to repair & service/insure
2...Td5 bmw engine, more modern more power, drive great. ecu = more electrical/sensor probs
3...Puma (ford transit engine) all mod cons, stupid money.
4 New Defender very posh you'll need very deep pockets.

Depend's what you want it for tbh.

Click to expand...

Many thanks - that’s really helpful

Stanleysteamer said:

Can we ask, how handy with the spanners are you?

Click to expand...

Haha not! But enjoy that stuff and keen to learn. Love the idea of more mechanics, less computer.

Hello and welcome

brianp38dse said:

Hello and welcome
View attachment 275807

Click to expand...

Thank you!

janeinkent said:

Haha not! But enjoy that stuff and keen to learn. Love the idea of more mechanics, less computer.

Click to expand...

It's a lot easier now than it used to be! Thanks to the internet and forums. To avoid having to mess about with computers you need to go no later than 300tdi for diesels.
look and see if there are any local land rover owners clubs where you live.

The so called specialists will stiff you price wise
All 200/300 defenders are bags of poo and hard work to drive compared to any modern car
Have a test drive in a couple to get an idea

Stanleysteamer said:

It's a lot easier now than it used to be! Thanks to the internet and forums. To avoid having to mess about with computers you need to go no later than 300tdi for diesels.
look and see if there are any local land rover owners clubs where you live.

Click to expand...

Good info - thank you!

lynall said:

The so called specialists will stiff you price wise
All 200/300 defenders are bags of poo and hard work to drive compared to any modern car
Have a test drive in a couple to get an idea

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Yes test driving is on the cards.

janeinkent said:

Thanks for that. Yes test driving is on the cards.

Click to expand...

When we were looking for our first Land Rover, we test drove both Defender 300tdi and Discovery 1. (This was back in 2004 when the prices of Discovery 2s were too high for us, even if we had wanted one.) We wanted a very capable tow vehicle to tow up to 3.5 tonnes long distances.
We felt that a Defender was a truck, a Discovery was more comfortable.
So we bought a 300tdi Disco.
It did exactly what we wanted. Plus it has been amazingly reliable and economical But it did and does need welding to the bodywork.
So it pays to really know what you want to do with one.
All Landies rust!
But be careful, you'll get all sorts of opinions on here, and mine is no more valid than anyone else's.
It REALLY does depend on what you want it for.
If you are set on a Defender, for whatever reason I'll probably bow out as I know less about them than I do about Discoveries although the engines are broadly the same.
Best of luck!

Stanleysteamer said:

When we were looking for our first Land Rover, we test drove both Defender 300tdi and Discovery 1. (This was back in 2004 when the prices of Discovery 2s were too high for us, even if we had wanted one.) We wanted a very capable tow vehicle to tow up to 3.5 tonnes long distances.
We felt that a Defender was a truck, a Discovery was more comfortable.
So we bought a 300tdi Disco.
It did exactly what we wanted. Plus it has been amazingly reliable and economical But it did and does need welding to the bodywork.
So it pays to really know what you want to do with one.
All Landies rust!
But be careful, you'll get all sorts of opinions on here, and mine is no more valid than anyone else's.
It REALLY does depend on what you want it for.
If you are set on a Defender, for whatever reason I'll probably bow out as I know less about them than I do about Discoveries although the engines are broadly the same.
Best of luck!

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. It’s all good info! Appreciate your time thanks.

Welcome to the forum.
Good luck on your Defender search. Make sure you crawl under and check EVERYTHING!!!!
I've been looking for sometime now for a 110 with a 300Tdi or Td5 engine.

janeinkent said:

Thanks for that. It’s all good info! Appreciate your time thanks.

Click to expand...

If you get stuck pm me, and you can come and have a look/drive in my 200, if that does not put you off then you are set for defender ownership!

Thanks for that!