Hi guys im pretty new here but although they are totally impractical in terms of what I would usually look for in a car I really want a Defender. I know they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable, not particularly economical, have poor visibility and a ridiculous turning circle but I just like them

Now one of the things I THOUGHT they might have going for them would be spares. Both in terms of availability and price especially the older ones as they seem to have very little electroics to break and then be extorted for in order to replace them. However I just saw two front doors on fleabay for 600 quid!!!!! At first I thought there must be some mistake, they dont even have electric windows? How can it cost £600 for 2 front doors? For what they are i've often though that Defenders were overpriced but due to them holding their value it wouldnt be much of an issue unless you have real problems with them but this has shocked me. I just wanted to know if all spares are as ridiculously expensive for them?

Deafener said:

Hi guys im pretty new here but although they are totally impractical in terms of what I would usually look for in a car I really want a Defender. I know they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable, not particularly economical, have poor visibility and a ridiculous turning circle but I just like them

Now one of the things I THOUGHT they might have going for them would be spares. Both in terms of availability and price especially the older ones as they seem to have very little electroics to break and then be extorted for in order to replace them. However I just saw two front doors on fleabay for 600 quid!!!!! At first I thought there must be some mistake, they dont even have electric windows? How can it cost £600 for 2 front doors? For what they are i've often though that Defenders were overpriced but due to them holding their value it wouldnt be much of an issue unless you have real problems with them but this has shocked me. I just wanted to know if all spares are as ridiculously expensive for them?

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reason the doors are so over the top there is always more buyers than sellers (as they will fit series landys too apart from series 1 of course)

Not really too bad for parts unless you need new bulkhead, doors, roof and bonnet.
If you are thinking about buying a fender you need a job and toolbox to keep them on the road.

the main over priced thing is the doors. every thing else is o.k and the second hand market for stuff like that is the way to go with defender ownership.

Buy series doors...then you can take door tops off in summer...and they cost a fraction of the price of fender doors.

Thanks for the replies and info guys it makes me a little more comfortable that not everything is so overpriced. I suppose when looking to buy one then definitely check the doors are ok

If you want to stay with fender doors just keep trawling ebay..they can go for as little as 40-50 a side.

Deafener said:

Hi guys im pretty new here but although they are totally impractical in terms of what I would usually look for in a car I really want a Defender. I know they are slow, noisy, uncomfortable, not particularly economical, have poor visibility and a ridiculous turning circle but I just like them

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What on earth have you been driving to come up with those conclusions?

Slow. My 90 cruises all day at 75MPH and has plenty in reserve for overtaking, it is also nipper off the line and around the back lanes than my wife's 2006 Freelander TD4 so I have no complaints there.

Noisy. Noise levels are certainly higher than a 'normal' car but that is my choice as I have no sound-deadening or carpets fitted (they encourage rot), when fitted with accoustic matting noise levels are very reasonable.

Uncomfortable. Well I don't know what size & shape you are but I am 6ft and over 15-stone and can travel 700+ miles a day in my 90 yet still not feel so knackered the next day that I can't go and do it all again.

Economical. My 300TDI never does less than 28MPG and will often return 32MPG, if I keep the cruising speed below 65MPH (which I rarely do) then 35MPG can be achieved (just).

Visibility. I don't know where that comes from. The windscreen line might not be as high as on a car but I have never felt that my vision is restricted and a blind hard-top is no worse than any other van without side windows. LR's have decent mirrors (and larger ones are easily fitted) plus the flat sides make manovering easier so I would not call this an issue at all.

Turning circle. If you are looking at buying a 110 or 130 then that might be an issue but my 90 turns in the same space as my wife's Freelander, her Saab 9-3 plus the old MGF.

With regards to parts most spares are usually more reasonably priced than a 'normal' car, the cost for doors you quote must have been for complete units and would be about correct whereas new bare doors are about £240 each (just move your existing components across).
Nothing wrong with living with LR's, I have owned them for over 26-years and my father for 15-years before that. I used to own cars but haven't had one for 20-years now as the LR does everything and takes me everywhere I need to go.
I also own motorcycles but in many ways they really are impractical and expensive to run which puts LR ownership into perspective. My BMW R1150GS does 45MPG (even on a long journey I have never had 50MPG out of it), it recently needed a pair of coil-packs at £60 each (they seem to last about 25K miles) and tyres are £210 a pair yet the current set have lasted 3K (rear) and 5K (front) and this isn't even a sports bike! In contrast the BFG AT's on my 90 are set to make at least 80K miles yet will be replaced for about £130 each.

my 90 is slow, noisy not very comfortable, is stupidly uneconomical, the visibility is good being a truck cab and I dont have a problem with the turning circle

I still think its great tho

I had 95 out of my 110 the other day and I wasn't even scared.
It's quiet, comfortable and the visibility is fine. There are no leaks or draughts.
It only does 23mpg though and has the turning circle of a supertanker.

If doors are only rotten along the bottom then they are easly fixed,parts avalable to do this.