Which Year Defender

Given that improvements have been continually made and obviously some will be deemed better than others what year and spec of defender would you buy if you had your choice and why?

2014 with aircon.

would'nt have one after 56 plate (even as a gift )

buckshot said:

would'nt have one after 56 plate (even as a gift )

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the latest 2.2 engine is supposed to be much better than the 2.4 though.

My best mate has a 2.4 110 and another mate has a 2.2 110 . they are identical apart from colour to look at but the 2.2 has a lot more pull but they both feel **** to drive . no leg room and clunky gearbox

everything that I have read seems to say steer away from the new engine, I guess that there will be more emission rubbish fitted.

Which of the older td5 were the better models

I'm not sure. It depends what you want it for. My parents 2.2 is great on the road compared to mine.

But offroad it doesn't seem as smooth and the power delivery isn't quite right in my opinion.

I would quite like a later TD5 I reckon.

I'm sticking to my 200 TDi, I don't fancy working on a more modern engine. I might progress to a 300 someday!

Wouldn't stray from my 94 200tdi, might be noisy and less powerful but I just don't care, no electrics, ecu's, no emission crap and pretty easy to work on.
It's my daily drive but only travel 10-15 mins to work and it's great for when I'm off sea fishing around the coast

Blimey, that's some mod if you go sea fishing in it!

Personally I fancy a late 300.

longhaul said:

everything that I have read seems to say steer away from the new engine, I guess that there will be more emission rubbish fitted.

Which of the older td5 were the better models

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Need to go 2003 on.

95 300tdi !!!! no ecu or lectrics!

Oldfogey said:

Blimey, that's some mod if you go sea fishing in it!

Personally I fancy a late 300.

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A defender that doesnt leak and floats, i could make a fortune hmmmmm, not much chance of that but it does enable me to get places i wouldnt get in the car

The 15p onwards td5 engines came standard with steel head dowls and the oil pump drive doesn't come off lol

Interesting thought more would have been saying td5 - been reluctant to look at none td5 and had sort of settled on the 2003 - 2007 period of td5 with aircon. Perhaps I should consider the older ones.

I went from a 300 to td5 and would never go back, it may not be as easy to work on , but it's still a reliable engine .

The main reason is it's a vastly superior engine. it's smoother, more powerful, sounds better and is more tuneable.

It's better for towing, and better off road, as you can chug up steep hills in low range 2nd rather than spinning away in 1st.

I still love the 200/300 but won't go back.

I like the puma engines, it's the dash that puts me off, as it feels very claustrophobic in there to me.

I've got a late 300, if I upgrade it will be to td5 via a rotten disco, but I will build the engine to my own spec

edit or a tdv6/8 if there is a diyable way to do it by then

longhaul said:

Interesting thought more would have been saying td5 - been reluctant to look at none td5 and had sort of settled on the 2003 - 2007 period of td5 with aircon. Perhaps I should consider the older ones.

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My td5 was a nitemare, electrical problems every other day, head gasket went and also oil cooler think it was went, it was basically a pig and I now wouldn't be given one.
No they are probably not all like this however I went to the 200tdi and a year on and one oil change it's perfect

300TDi for me. I bought just what I wanted. Getting the 300TDi also meant that I could then spend money where I want to spend it.

My 98 300TDi 110 County was just what i was looking for and has been fairly trouble free (touch wood), engine is simple to maintain and goes on forever. The downside of buying an older one is that you have more rusted out door bottoms, rear crossmembers, worn door hinges, steering and suspension etc. So in my opinion, if you're looking for one that you can work on yourself, mod and upgrade and don't mind driving a noisy old truck, go for a late 300TDi. But if you want more refinement, a smoother quieter engine and the suspension, steering etc to be a bit tighter go for the latest TDi you can afford. Good luck.