Hello! - First post

Hello

Been reading the forums for a while to get some info.

Went out in my mates Defender 200TDI some time back and loved the experience (first time off road), then have been out a few times since.

I have now decided to go for it, and I am selling the petrol bike this weekend to raise some funds.

Was hoping for some newbie buyers advice.

I will be looking for Defender hardtop, preferably 200TDI and looking to spend between £2,500 and £3000 for a good one

So...

What are the big nono signs to look for when buying a landrover of the specifications above? Ideally I dont want to be spending big money on major repairs a week after getting it.

Is high mileage really a problem? The range I am looking at is around late 80's, very early 90's with around 80 - 140k miles on the clock. I am also seeing ones of the same age with 220,000+kmiles for the same money and same engine, so I am a bit confused at that point....

Finally, are they easy enough to service? I am used to servicing bikes and my TDCi Mondeo, so diesels are not completely foriegn to me!

Cheers in advance


Undead

welcome, with that kind of budget you may as well go for a 300tdi, newer engine easier to get parts and quiter! with a face lift

Your choice tho......

J

:welcome2:

Well hello Undead. You finally made it. I see I convinced you to buy trattor then.

Ok, here's a starter for five;

• check the bulkhead corners aren't rusty/rotten
• lift up the footmats and check that the floor pans haven't rotted though - if they have then the outriggers below will probably be rotten too
• check the rst of the chassis particularly behind the rear cross member for rot/corrosion. they can look OK from the outside but be rotten behind
• Drive it and see what it feels like. slack in the drive can be bad news, its like a sort of snatching and/or loud clunk when you let the clutch up. Loud whining/rumbling from the drivetrain also bad news
• Look for one with a good interior, these suffer badly over the years and replacing the bits is often more expensive than machanical parts

thats enough from me, someone else can add some of their painful experiences to this list now

Dunno if this is what youre looking for but i thought it was a bargain 2001 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 TD5 on eBay (end time 19-Aug-09 13:07:38 BST)

who in their right mind would choose 'roguetrader' as an ebay id?
:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi

nathan5346 said:

who in their right mind would choose 'roguetrader' as an ebay id?
:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi:hysterically_laughi

Click to expand...

it dont fill ya wi confidence do it.

My 2d of advice (in addition to what has been mentioned)
I looked for a 'straight' Defender 90, one that had the original engine and had not been ragged to death off road. Watch out for filler covered with wax oil... looks fine but have a prod. If a passenger on the test drive adjust the mirror so you can see if it is smoking.
It should start up on the button and you should get a puff of black smoke. I am told that if you leave the engine running while you have a chat and after a few minutes give it a rev up you should not see lots of white or blue smoke. Check the oil after the drive is clean (no water) and take a mate with you we tend to be more cheeky and barter better. Good luck.... dont be hasty, take your time and view a few. It is soooo easy to fold when you want one bad.
I saw an add the other day that you can text for £3 to see if it is stolen or outstanding HP, write off etc. Car Text Check
Check the log book and tax disc.

Hi Undead,
This vehicle off eBay will have had a hard life but the price reflects that. Its important to select your landy model carefully. Do you need a 110, which are great as a beast of burden but less flexible off road. If it's off road that interests you go and you don't need the load capacity then go for a 90.

Thanks all so far

It would be a 90 that I am after, not interested in carrying loads really - this is purely for messing about on green lanes etc.

At the moment I have my eye on a company called Affordable 4x4's near Bristol, they seem to have the right kind of stock going in and out at the right kind of price, and they offer a 3 month warranty on all vehicles, so my assumption is that they must have some faith in the vehicle to sell it with that....