Defender vs L200

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ReadySalted

Active Member
Posts
444
Hi all,
I know these two are very different vehicles indeed, and the Defender wins on off road ability and charm.

However I've owned series landys, and disco's before, and I've always felt like they were second best to what I wanted, which is a defender. I need something to put me and my muddy dog in, go greenlaning in, get to work and back (about 5 mile round trip!), and do a 100mile motorway journey to see family once every month or two.

I don't want an L200, but within my budget of about 3500, maybe 4000, I can get a very good classic shape L200 (Pre 2005 - I hate all the chrome bollocks on newer ones). The defender's I've seen within budget range from horrendous, to okay, and having spent many an MOT contemplating £500+ of welding and work on landys, I'm wondering if a defender with all it's charm and charisma will give me more headaches than smiles.

Then again L200s are alien vehicles to me, and I've only driven one a few times. Felt kind of like an old disco but with a lower sportier driving position, and felt very plasticky.

Thoughts?
 
One other thing, how different is the 2.5TD engine to the 200 or 300tdi. I've driven 2.5NA Land rovers in the army, and they were stupidly slow. I've driven the tdi's in my discos, but not heard much about the 2.5TD?
 
L200's are the only vehicle that needs more maintance than a landy :doh:

Seriously theyre shocking, handle like a ship with a similar turning circle. Engines **** oil everwhere and like to break themselves.

You can get a preety good 90 for 5k
 
200tdi ayre said:
L200's are the only vehicle that needs more maintance than a landy :doh:

Seriously theyre shocking, handle like a ship with a similar turning circle. Engines **** oil everwhere and like to break themselves.

You can get a preety good 90 for 5k
Click to expand...
I remember years before I got a Land Rover reading that the Mitsubishi Montero was the only car that needed servicing more than a Range Rover!!
 
Having owned a L200 Trojan double cab 2006 model for two years, basically because I had 200tdi discovery, then a 300tdi, then a Td5, but couldn't afford a disco 3 when the TD5 started to cost big money on repairs.

I now have a 90, which I have always wanted, no fussy electronics etc, always makes me smile when I drive it.

Reasons to get an L200.

1. Quieter to drive.
2. Waterproof
3. Mod cons such as air con, Central locking etc.
4. Parts supply not bad from Milner off road, prices not too bad.
Can't think of anything else

Negatives
1. They are a foot longer than a 110 silly long
2. Turning circle bad, can be adjusted from standard, but need to be careful.
3. Odd handling, like a porpoise, front torsion bars and rear leafs, feels remote like a stick in jelly.
4. 2wd and only 4wd when necessary.
5. Weak engines on some early 2000 models.
6. Rear load space no better than a 90 on double cab with a hard top.
7. Parking can be interesting.

I would go 90 even with the "issues with rust"
 
Not had an L200, but had the equivalent Pajero and a Hyundai Galloper, basically the same running gear. Never had a problem with either of them.
L200 doesn't ride well though but goes well on my mates farm.
 
Shogun may be a better buy, more room etc than L200. Later ones have front struts not torsion bars so handle better.
 
I had a 54 plate Ford Ranger Thunder double cab a couple of years ago, I was given it by my Father in law as it had a hot start issue, which just needed a new fuel pump, once that was done it was a great truck, don't seem to rust like Landys, all the mod cons ie aircon and central locking all worked and was way more comfortable than my 2005 110 double cab i currently own. They drive quite harsh though, and are not as good as Defenders in the rough, and the Rangers are quite low geared so get a bit harsh at 80. They do have their issues with sticking front brake callipers and rads that need to be kept clean. The other thing to consider is that a 4 grand Jap double cab will not be worth the same or more in 2 years time, unlike a Defender residual values are excellent and your owning an iconic vehicle even if they are a bit rust prone, leaky, and not all that comfortable to drive about in. I'd take my time selecting a nice 300tdi 90 for 4k, maybe a TD5 for that money, but it will need money spending on it.
 
I'd have a landrover over anything that's me and that's why I have a 90 :)

My mate has just bought an early nissan patrol swb, £1800 and in standard trim its better off road, better on road, faster, nicer to drive and the heaters work, of have one of I sold my 90 but I won't be
 
Cheers for all your points so far. Obviously this forums likely to be biased in the direction of landys but to be honest, having an L200 would be just a means to an end, and I'd never be happy until I'd had a defender.

I'm going to try and steer clear of the NA 2.5 diesels, since my experience with them in military landrovers is that they are almost as bad as series engines, in terms of speed and MPG. I've seen several which are 2.5TD though, and I don't know very much about this engine. My father had one in his 91 RRC, so I imagine they would be a large step up from the normally aspirated engines.

Also, although my budget is say around 4K, I'm looking to only spend around 3K if possible, and the rest I'll put to all the things that will need changing; any welding that needs doing, swapping the worn bushes, sorting out the interior, CD player, changing all the filters, wax oiling etc.

So 3-4K for a defender/ 90/ 110, allowing some left over for odd jobs, doesn't give me an awful lot to play with.

My current cars going on ebay today, so when (if) that sells then I can start going to view them. Trouble is, theyre all so bloody far away (100 miles +).
 
ReadySalted said:
Cheers for all your points so far. Obviously this forums likely to be biased in the direction of landys but to be honest, having an L200 would be just a means to an end, and I'd never be happy until I'd had a defender.

I'm going to try and steer clear of the NA 2.5 diesels, since my experience with them in military landrovers is that they are almost as bad as series engines, in terms of speed and MPG. I've seen several which are 2.5TD though, and I don't know very much about this engine. My father had one in his 91 RRC, so I imagine they would be a large step up from the normally aspirated engines.

.
Click to expand...

The 2.5td engine fitted in a Ninety is a completely different engine to the 2.5 fitted in Rangies. They do produce more power than a 2.5na, about 85hp compared to 67hp, IIRC , Not a huge increase, and they need careful looking after to avoid reliability issues.
Early Defender would have a 200Tdi, they make about 110hp, and have a much better rep for reliability.
 
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Having had both & now building a 90 for work here is my 2p

L200 are great trucks :multiply: but like anything they have there faults!! the turning circle is actually horrific!!
Balance belts are common & can take out timing belts- just give full service & all belts when you get it!!
abit slow don't like going above 60
don't like having perm 2wd with selectable 4wd (you cant drive in 4 all time on normal roads)

Good points Cheaper than a defender! drives really nice & comfy to drive
Drive great even when fully loaded (had 1 ton brick in back)
lots of parts & cheap to run & maintain if you know where to look
ALOT more load space than a 90!!
 
I like the 2.5 N/A engine its bombproof and is suprisingly quick enough in a series (not lightning fast but does shift it), then again a series is a third of a tonne lighter than a 90

L200's can rot worse than land rovers, my series 3 and my dads 110 have been in Holyhead for years, my Dads for 6 and mine for 10. Mine had a small bit of rot in the rear crossmember where water had got behind the drop plate and my dads ust has surface rust nothing more, my dad's mates l200 on the other hand was practically rotted to nothing within 5 years
 
We have x2 of the barbarian l200 ones at work and they are horrible to drive
they just dont feel safe
look nice but drive horrible,
and agree ref the turning circle its mad
 
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