defenders on the road

Hi folks

what are defenders like on the road ? ie if you had one as a road 4x4 for winter, my work trip is 50 mile round trip of town-motorway-town

and leave 8pm return 3/4am sort of time, most of year i use a car, but winter i like 4x4 and keep my car off grit/salt/ice etc

had a disco last winter just sold it, and pondering next move, just wondered what defender 90s are like in that sense ? drove one today it was a nice fun drive, not much leg room, maybe a bit small for me, and no comforts, i wonder what the heaters and that are like in winter ? if maybe a bit of a big ask ? ie my disco had heated screens,heated electric leather seats etc, just not sure if a defender would make a good winter daily driver ? but it would fit in the sense of rest of year it sits there as a toy to be used when needed on the odd trip

although i love the defender look

might go see this one, does it look any good and good value ? i love the look

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had a look at this one today..was nice and solid etc, fun to drive, but i much prefer the look of the above one and the side windows,snorkel,chequer plating and it sounds very solid and like a good off road toy aswell ? just trying to do some research before deciding what my next 4x4 purchase will be, appriciate any help and info etc

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Pussy. Try 50 miles each way, minus 20, no heater and more snow than you can shake your cock at.

Buy one and leave me to my red wine.

You'll be wanting a 200tdi btw...not a TD

storm99 said:

Pussy. Try 50 miles each way, minus 20, no heater and more snow than you can shake your cock at.

Buy one and leave me to my red wine.

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says him with an all singing all dancing 90 thats barely 25 years old.......thats luxury motoring from where I'm standing.........posh git

Buy one.. you know you want to, but chip the seller £5.00 to get some ear defenders.

get one its great! snow rain what ever the weather really, its like nothing else and after a while you wont want to drive anything else!

Drive my defender every single day, wind, snow, rain and shine, on road and off, it's noisy, cold and damp but i love it and wouldn't even consider another car, get it, best move you'll ever make.

Even on Defenders there are a range of options, so using the term "relatively" in its narrowest sense, a standard Defender TD5 XS is going to be relatively more "comfortable" than a standard TDi, and considerably more expensive because it will be newer. You get what you pay for, and only you know what you are prepared to do by way of compromise to drive something you want to drive. Its also affected by what other cars you have in the family and what else you use them for other than commuting, so its kind of difficult for anyone to give you proper advice.
Our 110 is an XS, which might be of concern to anyone who thinks that real LandRovers stopped being built shortly after the installation of electric windows (still front only) as standard. By most modern standards the heater is poor, as is the air conditioning, the seats are unsupportive, and it has the aerodynamics of a brick. But I still wouldn`t have anything else for what I use it for, if I want to drive hundreds of miles on the motorway I try to leave it at home because I can but if it was my only car I would still live with it overall. It will be the car I sell last, mostly because I won`t be able to get the keys off my wife (its her car)
Here`s a thought - why don`t you hire one for a week, as close to the spec of what you might buy as you can but if in doubt hire a more basic model, and use it to commute to work. There`s no substitute for experience.
Good tip on the ear defenders as well.....................................

Absolutely agree with IGP

My Defender 90 (1994) is our workhorse - stuff to tip, stables, dogs and proven solution to living in a Scottish village in the snow!

I'm fortunate to also have 2 'modern' german cars which I use for the daily commute (not at the same time!!), but if one had to go, it wouldn't be the Landy!

I have used the Landy for commuting, and still do when the mood takes me - it's no problem, just a very different experience!

Defenders are good fun on the road with plenty of torque and loads of character, don't expect much room though and expect a lighter wallet once you get one. Mine pushes out about 30 to the gallon if driving steady or about 15 driving hard. Will sit at 70 quite happily all day and handles. ... bit like a go kart really Don't think there is much that will touch them in the winter.

IMO go for a 200 or 300 TDI, the second link looks a better motor, you can always add the extras and have some fun fitting it out yourself exactly how you want it.

I spent most weekends fixing things when I bought my defender, glad I got hold of one that needed alot of TLC as I have learnt so much with the help of people on here. I now use it every day for work and I find that with a land rover, most serious things that go wrong do give a warning first. Just dont ignore the vibrations!! If you've got the time buy something that has'nt been offroaded too much and has a sound chassis and bulkhead. Most other things you deal with when they happen

IGP50 said:

Even on Defenders there are a range of options, so using the term "relatively" in its narrowest sense, a standard Defender TD5 XS is going to be relatively more "comfortable" than a standard TDi, and considerably more expensive because it will be newer. You get what you pay for, and only you know what you are prepared to do by way of compromise to drive something you want to drive. Its also affected by what other cars you have in the family and what else you use them for other than commuting, so its kind of difficult for anyone to give you proper advice.
Our 110 is an XS, which might be of concern to anyone who thinks that real LandRovers stopped being built shortly after the installation of electric windows (still front only) as standard. By most modern standards the heater is poor, as is the air conditioning, the seats are unsupportive, and it has the aerodynamics of a brick. But I still wouldn`t have anything else for what I use it for, if I want to drive hundreds of miles on the motorway I try to leave it at home because I can but if it was my only car I would still live with it overall. It will be the car I sell last, mostly because I won`t be able to get the keys off my wife (its her car)
Here`s a thought - why don`t you hire one for a week, as close to the spec of what you might buy as you can but if in doubt hire a more basic model, and use it to commute to work. There`s no substitute for experience.
Good tip on the ear defenders as well.....................................

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:hysterically_laughiElectric windows :hysterically_laughiAir conditioning :hysterically_laughiIve only just moved on to coil springs.

I'm on parabolic springs, original smiths heater, no aircon and sliding windows

thanks folks, been thinking a lot about the defenders the alst few days, the more i think the more i want one, a p38 gamble, or wait for a classis and maybe wait forever, have on road comfort etc and a nice winter drive nice thing to sit in and drive and take people in and something that looks nice and feels luxury

or..a real land rover thats fun to own, a lot more fun id agree with on an all year round basis

i have a nice 1987 bmw e30 325i tech 1 sport, which is stunning but to be garage kept and only driven in summer for pleasure driving and keep the miles down in it as its a rare car and juicy, and a 1986 xr3 which is to be the daily and summer work car cheap runabout sense

and want a 4x4 for winter work use, ice and snow etc as dont drive either of the other 2 on such roads to keep them as nice as possible

i work festivals in the summer, and think a defender would be great for that, was looking at the roof tents you can get for them earlier with my mate-looked incredible, going camping/festivals to work in the summer and having something like that would be fantastic

plus i like the customising versatility of them, can kit them out how you want, was looking at websites earlier that sound deaden and insulate them and make the cabs comfy, you could chequer plate or carpet the back and if wanted could make it quite nice , lots on the outside, soft tops, side windows and plain metal, different seats and removable rear seats , i could have all sortf of bits in the garage to kit it out how i wanted and change bits for different things and diff times of year , really like the idea of how versatile they can be and how different each person builds them and what for, sound immense fun to own, and just tough out the cold winter in

also my mate was saying, they have worked on some ones/cars that have been imported from asia and stuff that werent built with heaters in, just cooling/air con , as its always too hot all year round to ever dream of having heaters, and theyve been imported to here and had 3rd party heaters built in with it under the bonnet rather than a traditional matrix etc built in the dash , so extra heaters can be added if i wanted

i think im in !!!!

so now...need to really decide what sort of one to go for and what to spend

was looking at mod sales website ones , from 2.5k , mate was saying mod stuff is always serviced and well maintained and theyd be a good bet

but...i think id rather a nice green/white, or blue/white or red/white, or a black maybe or something

i do really like the look of this one, love the looks, should i go for a look, asking around 3k cash they said ? but really i need some sound advice and things to think about/look for/concider and to avoid etc, from you lot

ideally id like a very good starting base that i like the look of and has soe of what id want on it...things that id want to buy for it, as to save the money etc, i have not got mega money to throw at one and all year round, but some and hgave it as an on going project etc, but want a good base

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is it worth a look ? hasnt got a 200/300 tdi tho , is that really a must ? but the chassis etc looks and sounds good and solid and its got alot on it ? but then again i know nothing about these

others within reasonable distance, thoughts ? love the look of the red one


1989 LAND ROVER 90 4C SW DT DIESEL YELLOW | eBay

LANDROVER DEFENDER 90 COUNTRY LR 4C 1986 | eBay

this one looks quite nice ?

1997 LAND ROVER 90 DEFENDER COUNTY SW TDI RED | eBay

as does this one sound ok and good spec ?

1988 LAND ROVER 90 DEFENDER GREEN (Ex MOD) | eBay

Land Rover : good solid deffender

Land Rover : Landrover 90 200 TDI

Some interesting viewpoints here.
My 1992 90 is my work car and family car driven every day of life and we all love it.
As a side thought. I often think of those boys in the 2nd world war going up in their spitfires in all conditions. They were cramped,loud and cold. They were very basic, however all who had the privilege to fly these state of the art fighters of the day loved the whole spitfire experience. This to me is echoed here by people who know the defender experience.
DC

DC DEFENDER said:

Some interesting viewpoints here.
My 1992 90 is my work car and family car driven every day of life and we all love it.
As a side thought. I often think of those boys in the 2nd world war going up in their spitfires in all conditions. They were cramped,loud and cold. They were very basic, however all who had the privilege to fly these state of the art fighters of the day loved the whole spitfire experience. This to me is echoed here by people who know the defender experience.
DC

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You are comparing driving your defender to work, to a group of people that had a life expectancy of 87 hours and were ****ting themselves every time they were told to get airborne?

Rose coloured glasses, or wot?

Owning any defender is a way of life. My wife complains that she is now no.2 to the 200tdi. Since feb 2011 when I bought it, and with the help of all the characters on this forum I have done so much to it and enjoyed every weekend improving and tinkering. I too have an Audi and.a jag, but find myself using the 110 most days. LOVE it!!

I have a 1990, 110 200tdi. Nothing stops it. They are very agriculture like. Heaters are crap. I'm changing the Visco rad fan for a Kenlowe one in the hope that it will warm up quicker in the winter. When it rains water drips in from the door seal somewhere but I enjoy driving it. I have just come back from the South of France. ( 800 mile round trip in two days) It will sit comfortably on the motorway at 60-70mph. 60 is more economical. Mine has some sound insulation but it is still on the noisy side. On the plus side my wife keeps quiet as she strains her voice trying to talk over the noise. I personaly don't find it that bad. Forget about the radio, you can't hear it when cruising on the motorway especially if you have the windows open. I get around 30 mpg. Where ever I park it becomes the center of attraction and starts conversations. Cheep to repair. I would get one and get it out of your system. Me, I am getting rid of the car.

DC DEFENDER said:

Some interesting viewpoints here.
My 1992 90 is my work car and family car driven every day of life and we all love it.
As a side thought. I often think of those boys in the 2nd world war going up in their spitfires in all conditions. They were cramped,loud and cold. They were very basic, however all who had the privilege to fly these state of the art fighters of the day loved the whole spitfire experience. This to me is echoed here by people who know the defender experience.
DC

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:doh::doh:


Lynall