johnacky

johnacky

New Member
I am considering purchasing a 1990 defender 90 2.5TD, for £1600 and was after a bit of advice. It looks pretty straight. The Landy comes with a full MOT and has just been serviced but I was wondering what the 2.TD diesel engines are like, to drive and live with as I have no experience of Landys. What kind of fuel economy can I expect, and how much will the tax set me back.
Also can anybody recommend any decent insurance companies that will insure me, as I am 23 Y/O. Cant decide if to pay for a years insurance or are there companies that offer let you purchase a months insurance at a time. Thanks for any advice in advance.
 
Dispite what you might read the 19J is a good strong engine, and if you look after it it'll give you good service - make sure it actually is a defender as LR changed the name around that time - tax is 180/yr and you'll do well to see 25 mpg - i could be miles out in that extimate as i never work it out just in case its well below that figure - plenty of people will offer you staged payments of your insurance, i use Lancaster and they know what a LR is, i have a 89 110 that runs mostly on veg oil and it's ideal for what i need it for.

Pull off the oil filler cap and if it's blowing it's not a good sign.

Try to get one that's not been messed about with, if it's covered in checker plate, has had big wheels and high lift suspenders put on it proceed with caution.

There's plenty of very knowledgable peeps on here who can give you mucho info and if your local they'd probably come view the vehicle with you for a few beer tokens.
 
Thanks for the response, I spoke to the person who is selling the landy im interested in, who stated that the rear cross member had been plated for its MOT. Is this a bad sign, meaning that it will need replacing in the near future. The cheapest quote ive had is from Lancaster for around £500 which sounds very reasonable. Thanks
 
It depends on how much plating was needed, the more plating its had or needs is a good indication of how well its been looked after - you might want to climb under it and have a good tap at the chassis with a hammer and see if you can spot anything else - ask for the full MOT sheets as they will give you all the non failable items that youd need to keep and eye open for.
 
Yeah like he said above there's nothing wrong with the 19J engine if it's looked after. Definitely don't take a new MOT certificate to mean everything is spot on though, have a good look yourself or take someone with you who knows what they're looking at.
 
if your in doubt about weather the mot cert is genuine you can check it just by googling VOSA and cliking on their site. youl need a mot or v5 doc and youl need to know the reg number. my opinon of the 2.5td lump is very sceptical. i haven't heard much other than bad stuff however i have just bought 90td as a scecond landy and it just got taxed this morning so i'll try to keep you updated with its reliability and and fuel consumption. im paying £780 fully comp for my insurance and im 21 with two bans on my license. if i were you id have a scout around for insurance because although that was a good price for me i had also been quoted as much as £3600 fully comp:eek: . joke innit!:)
 
I'm supprised you managed to get anyone to insure you wot with 2 bans and at 21 - over 3K sounds about right, you sure you told em everything.

Your wrong to be sceptical about the TD, its a good lump if looked after - too many lazy people who can't be arsed to check the oil, and also it's them that moan about it first it it does go wrong.
 
Yeah wot every one else sez about the 2.5 turbo engine, to many people slag em off saying there unreliable when it's just poor maintenance thats to blame. Do a search on here for "buying a second hand 90" for some detailed information. Take a hammer with you and have a goood bash at the chassis mainly the back cross member, the side rails at the back and round the suspension mounts All four outriggers the front uns go at the top and isn't easy to get at. If they won't let you hammer it knock a couple of grand off the price (yes I know it's only £1600 to start with!!). Pull the door seals off the body at the front and if the bulkhead looks dodgy knock another grand off. If you don't get one with a decent chassis and bulkhead expect it to be a scrapper in a few years or have stacks of work to do on it.
 
what Grunt says x 100.

I love my 2.5TD, but should really have checked the bulkhead and chassis a bit more strenuously. Now a full rebuild a year and a half later.

Handy hint for bulkhead I wish I'd known then - look at upper bulkhead sides and if you can see a nice row of spotweld circles, It's still quite decent. If you can't then its filled fiberglass mess shoite
 
Aye open the vents and have a look in the hole for gobbo, If you can fold the window down even better. Thats how my troubles started, folded the window down for a laugh and nearly fell into the holes in the top of the bulkhead.
 
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