Defender 90 first car- tips & advice needed

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Kaisqueaks

Kaisqueaks

Member
Posts
27
Location
Bedfordshire
Heya! I've preeeetty much decided that I'm going to get a defender 90, and am already saving up for one, so I don't need convincing.

First of all- anything I should learn before getting one?
Second- how much am I looking at spending? (currently looking at about £4000 buy and then about £6000 a year to run, with £1000 for parts)
Third- any tips on how to drive them? (haven't even learnt yet, but pretty much know how to drive) know they're awkward, but that's about it.

I've always wanted a Defender and so has my dad- it's just the cost we've never been able to fork out
I want to use it to commute to college, which is about 40 miles each way, instead of taking the atrocious public transport around here

Any help is appreciated!!
 
Well, personally I don't think they're that difficult to drive, nor are they that difficult to undertake long distance trips in. Indeed, I regularly do so myself as I've documented on here. It all depends on what you expect. I think the problems arise when people want them to be like a modern saloon car and they're not. The most important thing in Land Rover ownership is being willing to undertake repairs yourself. If you get stuff done professionally, it could be really expensive, especially with an older machine that needs a lot doing to it. I would imagine with £6-7K p.a and a certain amount of DIY you could more or less do a rolling rebuild.
 
Yeah, although I have little experience working on cars as I've never had one, I'm getting one expecting to spend large amounts of time underneath it, anything I can do to get myself acquainted with the mechanical side of a landy? I also have nothing special tools wise, so I'd need to figure out what to buy beforehand.
 
Kaisqueaks said:
Heya! I've preeeetty much decided that I'm going to get a defender 90, and am already saving up for one, so I don't need convincing.

First of all- anything I should learn before getting one?
Second- how much am I looking at spending? (currently looking at about £4000 buy and then about £6000 a year to run, with £1000 for parts)
Third- any tips on how to drive them? (haven't even learnt yet, but pretty much know how to drive) know they're awkward, but that's about it.

I've always wanted a Defender and so has my dad- it's just the cost we've never been able to fork out
I want to use it to commute to college, which is about 40 miles each way, instead of taking the atrocious public transport around here

Any help is appreciated!!
Click to expand...


As a first car, I would check the cost of insurance, I think you may find it fairly expensive.
£4000 should buy you a tidy 200/300 tdi around the year 92/95, things to check are the chassis especially around the rear cross member and around the front outriggers. Although it can be repaired but can be costly.

Check the bulkhead from inside the engine bay look for holes, also from the outside check for rust/Blisters these can be treated but usually lead to holes appearing if not done properly.

other parts aren't to expensive, engine make sure cam belt is done or get it done

other things to consider is security, they aren't very secure, you can put all the alarms and protection you want on them if someone wants it they will
 
As for learning things, just make sure you have a land rover workshop manual handy and you can do most things. I'm not a fan of the Haynes manual.

I've managed to get copies of most of the 300tdi ones on here https://1drv.ms/f/s!AuDnjHWJxhEygap6Fg8zOq1vVXWnzQ

In terms of driving them, I also don't think they are that awkward to drive, you bang your elbow on the door card a couple of times, and knee on the handbrake but other than that they are fine. They obviously don't drive like a brand new car, but in terms of handling I have driven a lot worse.

I would personally try and go for a 300tdi if you can, as the R380 gearbox is more reliable than the LT77. The good thing about Defenders is as long as the bulkhead or chassis isn't full of holes then most other things are easily fixable, I am in no way a mechanic and I have done everything on mine myself, including head gasket and a chassis change. The peeps on here are also amazing when you need help with stuff.
 
@Expletive I would love to, but I don't have a single clue where I could learn/who could teach me
have family in metal fabrication so I could try asking them- but that's about all I can think of really.
 
Just try and get a Clarke one or something, they are steady away. Cost about £120 for one (used) £30 for co2 conversion and then try and find a pub co2 bottle which are about £25 to fill but last forever

Or better yet get a used mig that comes with bottle
 
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