Hello and Question

Hi All,

I've been trawling through a lot of the posts within the forum over the past few days and find it extremely useful and informative. I've a few questions. I've just currently do between 25k and 30k miles per year in my BMW 335 - as it's due to be returned in 12 months time the mileage will seriously affect it's value so thinking of getting rid of it now (especially after all the snow and not going anywhere apart from sideways!!)
Having owned a discovery a few years back (not sure if I had a lemon but was a 51 plate and needed over £2k spent in a year on it) I'm thinking of whether it's sensible to move back to a land rover. I'm not worried about speed as my average speed going back and forth to work is about 32mph!
I hear lots of stories about land rovers with hundreds of thousands of miles but find it difficult to get the associated cost that go along with it.
Ideally i'd like a defender but not sure whether practical for this sort of journey each day. If so, a 90 or 110?(we do have 2 dogs that i'd like to throw in the back)
Does anyone here run a defender daily over 100 miles and for motorways, if so i'd be keen to hear your opinion along with suggestions on which one to go for. I can probably stretch to around 15k ish. Alternatively, if there's a cheaper option which involves a bit of work at weekends but still have the reliability during the week then that would be great!!
Appreciate you've probably all read similar posts to mine before but struggled to find anything in the forums - so if you've seen a similar post feel free to direct me to it.
Regards
Simon

A good well rounded first post, none of the usual tosh. As long as you can take some stick you'll fit in ok

I'm sure someone will be along with a relevant answer soon.

Hmmmm, am I to conclude that all you LR owners can't bring yourselves to discuss running costs? Perhaps wait until the other half leaves the room then reply?

walsh1974 said:

Hmmmm, am I to conclude that all you LR owners can't bring yourselves to discuss running costs? Perhaps wait until the other half leaves the room then reply?

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yer on the wrong forum if your looking for accurate running costs, there's some anal forums where people will record every last drop of oil theirs uses

ask a question along the lines of "what shotguns do you own" or "what is the meaning of life" then you'll get a reply

but it won't be about running costs

For £15k and the uses you suggest, ie all road-work, I'd (If I could afford it) have a more 'normal' car, maybe a scooby estate, for the commute and a cheaper, modded Landy for playing with ..

In my opinion running a Landy over high road mileages isn't that bad really though .. You're obviously bothered by costs hence getting rid of the Beemer, though residuals on Defenders are good, they're probably not ideally suited to road work but if you definitely want a Landrover, maybe go for say a later Disco 2 or earlyish D3, possibly a RR Sport. They're all reasonably capable off-road and very capable on-road. But if you think the Beemers not worth a lot after a few years ... look at Landies!!!

My Disco was bought for 7K in 2005 one owner, FSH, pristine condition 55k on the clock .. it now has 127k on the clock, probably 3/4 of which are road miles, about half of which again are towing a caravan, for which its been fantastic. The rest are off-road miles, for which I've added larger tyres and 'stuff' to cope .. Costs over that time have been reasonable, returning originally between 22 and 30 mpg, towing and solo, since improved running costs by removing egr, cats, middle silencer etc, and getting between 26 to 36 mpg, mostly depending on whether towing and heavy/light right foot!

Servicing costs are minimal, filters, oils, some wiring, bulbs etc as I can do all my own services. First day I had it, I had RCV (local) do a full service, timing, serpentine belts replacement, fluids, filters, and general fettle of all parts .. £400 They kept it three days, I went in and watched them working so know I got (IMHO) great value from it!

It's done two long trips in that time with minimal preparation other than basic servicing, Northern France, caravan, and green-laning, some extreme! maybe 2800 miles, and South of France, solo (four adults and all kit but not towing) again green-laning, some extreme and about 4000 miles all told .. we meander a lot, touring down and back, no planned routes!!

Spares and Repairs have been pretty good I think, bearing in mind I've also gone off-road a lot at Pay 'n Play days, competed in six RTV trials and numerous (read almost every weekend) green-laning jaunts. All replacements/repairs done by myself .. Rear diff -£10 yes, minus £10 (second hand) cost £95 ish for a rear axle which I got the diff from with 48k miles on it, and sold the axle for £105 on ebay A blown radiator, £100 ish. Broken front nearside damper (off-roading) and new alternator .. bearings went and ICBA to change them at £75 for new warrantied 100 Amp alternator. Had the two oil cooler pipes leak and need replacing @ £16 each, replaced front discs and pads, all wheel bearings front and rear @ ~ £75 .. rears will need doing this year sometime and probably all brake caliper pistons/seals, maybe £100 all round. Recently had new front prop, £60 and done all brake pipes for about £10. I also know it'll need a body mount welding and possible a sill for the next MOT, but that'll be about it!

Above numbers are what I remember so might not be absolutely exact, but they're in the ballpark ...

I guess it's worth absolute tops, maybe a grand now .. if I could find someone who wants it ..

Im used to driving normal cars. But, I was getting annoyed of having nice cars that got scratched and well were common. I had driven a defender 90 doing a job once and loved it. So I got a old defender 90 200tdi and I have had to spend about £1000 on it, and ive had it half a year. But, the person before hand didndt look after it well, I assume.

Anyhows, damn noisey, and when I get the job im training for (still at uni) I think ill have to get a normal car for commuting, and a seriously moded landrover for the weekend. your find if you want to do both, your never do either justification, ie running costs, or offroading (greenlaning). This is the boat im in at the moment, but things will change!!! 100 miles a day in a landrover :-(, get it sound proofed and get some speakers, maybe. I love the noise and smell . I was doing 100 miles a day over summer, and speakers were my first investment, and your prob need head ache tablets till you get over the change, as its worlds apart from a car for comfort etc. (I didnt get the headache tabs, I just delt with it).

I LOVE MY LANDROVER 90!

oh and the 90, I can fit a dog, fair amount of tools, and a bike with its wheel off. but after that nothing is getting in. you want storage? 110.

Thanks - think i'm more impressed that you have a dog that can fix the house whilst riding a unicycle

walsh1974 said:

Thanks - think i'm more impressed that you have a dog that can fix the house whilst riding a unicycle

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:hysterically_laughi

running costs? ie fuel I can get about 25 mpg. My c5 hatchback only did 32 mpg. So not to different. Tax is cheaper than the c5, as not under new car tax stipulations and prices. Insurance is also cheaper than the c5. get a landrover!