90 or a 110

I’m still looking for my first defender, I’ve been looking for a td5 90 (roughly 02 to 06), it was going to be a bit small for camping holidays and walking the two dogs but I just thought I’d get a little trailer for holidays, the 90 would also fit lovely in the garage to protect from thieves and help against corrosion. Would it be better to buy a 110 and leave it on the drive or stick to the 90?

Most folk love the 90 but will advocate it’s too small for anything practical.

As you have inside storage for a 90 go for that, more so if it is going to be a some of the time vehicle. Plenty of room for two people and two dogs, often three people and five dogs in mine. Roof tent would be good for camping holidays

Thanks for your advice, it’s not going to be a done of the time car, it will be our main car although we only do about 5k a year as I have a van for my business. It’s for my wife, me and our 9 year old daughter so hopefully it will be big enough??
Also, I am buying a hard top version and fitting seats in the back (so we can run it through our business without getting shafted with BIK tax!!

90 is fine as an everday car but boot is not as big as some would have you believe, 110 for sheer practicallity but crap turning circle.
Are you doubly sure your garage is tall enough?

Your daughter will love it.

I will have to check the height but it’s a new built garage and I had the opening made bigger all round.

Personally I would go for a well maintained 300TDI over the TD5. I had nothing but electrical issues with mine. Arguably the TD5 is a more comfortable drive, but with a Disco transfer box on a 300TDI motorway driving is more than a match. I also feel there is less to go wrong with the 300TDI... I guess it’s just personal preference.

l've had both, at the same time for three years.
The 90 is more fun to drive and easier to park. Some say it looks better as well.
The 110 is much more practical and also seems to be a bit cheaper to buy. You can have five seats and a large load area that can fit our bikes (with the wheels taken off) or a dinghy with outboard.
The turning circle as standard is terrible, but it can be adjusted if you are running standard wheels to be a fair bit better.
The 110 also rides better due to the longer wheelbase.
Personally if it was just for me l would go with a 90.
lf l was carrying people and kit or using it for holidays l would go for a 110

Make sure that the model you choose is ok to carry people in the back before you buy it. There is a lot of chat on here about carrying people and children in the back of a 'van'. A 110 is far more practical, cheaper to buy ( unless it's a CSW), a better ride and not really any worse on fuel. All that said, I have a 90! But be aware some 110 vans are classed as commercial vehicles and are Class 7 MOT.

[QUOTE="lynall,

Your daughter will love it.[/QUOTE]

So will the dog's, Ours go nut's when they see a trip in the Landy coming up.

wireman said:

Make sure that the model you choose is ok to carry people in the back before you buy it. There is a lot of chat on here about carrying people and children in the back of a 'van'. A 110 is far more practical, cheaper to buy ( unless it's a CSW), a better ride and not really any worse on fuel. All that said, I have a 90! But be aware some 110 vans are classed as commercial vehicles and are Class 7 MOT.

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This is great info, I was torn weather to fit the 4 x single inward facing seats with lap belts (looks like you would have more room in the back) or the newer two forward facing seats

wireman said:

Make sure that the model you choose is ok to carry people in the back before you buy it. There is a lot of chat on here about carrying people and children in the back of a 'van'. A 110 is far more practical, cheaper to buy ( unless it's a CSW), a better ride and not really any worse on fuel. All that said, I have a 90! But be aware some 110 vans are classed as commercial vehicles and are Class 7 MOT.

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That’s great advice, thank you. I was torn between the 4 single inward facing seats with lap belts (which look like they would give you more room in the back) or the newer two forward facing seats which I believe you have to modify the wheel wells? Obviously safety would be my first choice.

I’m exactly in the same predicament, I have heard that there needs to be some modifications to the wheel wells for the forward facing seats. I just love the look of the 90 but the 110 is more practical.

Muzzy-13 said:

I’m exactly in the same predicament, I have heard that there needs to be some modifications to the wheel wells for the forward facing seats. I just love the look of the 90 but the 110 is more practical.

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I know the 110 is far more practical (and cheaper for some reason)and the sensible option but the 90 looks great lol, plus, it would fit in the garage.

Well the 110’s seem to be dearer then the 90’s round these parts. Plus it’s getting a good un, I love the 90 (which I’m steering more towards) but it’s the seats which will have to be done n the cost of the bits whereas the 110 has got it all done. My garage doesn’t fit a 90 in so I doesn’t matter either way. If you prefer the 90 just go for it n then you know you will be happy.

Some have fitted two rear facing seats for kids, safer than side seats. Traveling backwards is safer [ the RAF had its transport aircraft that way at one time ] Kids like it, after all seeing where you have been is better than the back of some ones head.

That would suit me as long as there proper seats. If you have the money the 90 xs is the ideal trim.

Obviously it's horses for courses, some things the 110 is better at, other things the 90 is the tool to have.
A 110 can be an absolute pig to park, turning circle of an oil tanker, but as a load lugger it is brilliant, and a lot more stable on road.
A 90 does pitch a bit due to the short wheelbase, but can turn on a sixpence (an ancient unit of coinage) and gets into parking spaces easily, it is however quite tight in the back for seating/load.
Best bet would be to hire one for a day, but that might not be possible. Don't worry about getting the 110 under cover, if you get a 90 after a year you wont get it in the garage for all the spares/tools/etc anyway.

If you’re planning on travelling with you, your missus, daughter and dogs then I’d say a 110. There’s not enough room in a 90 for a passenger and dogs to sit comfortably for any reasonable length of time, in my opinion. Don’t bother looking at the 3 seats up front (the ‘seat’ between driver and passenger. This seat is only suitable for dogs and not actual humans!

My spaniel sit son the middle seat and loves it, however if we are three up you are certainly going to be friendly to the person in the centre seat...!!

bluedog333 said:

This seat is only suitable for dogs and not actual humans!

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I disagree with that the middles seat is suitable for humans, it is just not suitable for any length of time. Put your wife/gf in the middle and changing gear becomes the perfect excuse for a quick grope, or your other option is put someone you don't like in the middle and then it is the perfect excuse to elbow them in the stomach!

Joking aside however I do completely agree with your sentiment, the middle seat is not suitable for people on a regular basis or for any length of time/distance. It works as an occasional cram as many people in as possible to get somewhere local, and that is all.