Help needed to convince the wife an old defender can be comfortable

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Sheehan879

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4
Hi all,

As the title suggests I need evidence (picture based if you can) that a defender can be as comfortable as a modern 4x4. I saw a an old series 3 at a car show in the summer that had been modified with new seats, dash, carpets etc... and looked like it would be really comfortable and easy to live with. I didnt take any pictures and before I am allowed to buy one the wife needs convincing.

Many thanks,
 
First you need to make several lists: the first would be a list of the designed-in problems: drivers elbow room, wind noise, road noise, high-speed handling, draughts, leaks etc. and a realistic list of the things you (or your Missis) are prepared to live with). Once you have overcome all those you can make a list of things you would like: air-con, electric everything, nice carpets, nice seats, ICE, satnav and all the other niceties that come as standard these days.
Take a look at Kahn and other aftermarket tarter-uppers for ideas. Then work out what it will cost to bring your Defender up to spec.

After the heart attack go out and buy an old Disco for yourself and something (probably Japanese) for her :):):)
 
Sheehan879 said:
Hi all,

As the title suggests I need evidence (picture based if you can) that a defender can be as comfortable as a modern 4x4. I saw a an old series 3 at a car show in the summer that had been modified with new seats, dash, carpets etc... and looked like it would be really comfortable and easy to live with. I didnt take any pictures and before I am allowed to buy one the wife needs convincing.

Many thanks,
Click to expand...
My Ninety is totally standard inside, and it is reasonably warm and dry. Seats are ok if you aren't too tall. Bit like being in a seventies car, lots of grey vinyl and painted metal. It is perfectly adequate for daily local use, and the missus is fine to go out in it round here.
Soundproofing helps on older ones.
Really it comes down to usage, and age and condition of the vehicle. Newer ones have more creature comforts, the older ones are basic, but ok if everything is working as it should.
They are never going to be the most comfortable and relaxing for high speed long distance work, though!
 
I got my lass a 50th years ago. She couldn't get to RAF cottesmore on a full tank, and used to fall out of it at a petrol station around Grantham, body totally seized. I loved it and it was more comfy than the average tratter. I replaced it with a mgzt v8 after many complaints, and she didn't like the unannounced tendency to donut. She was finally happy with a 2.5xt forester, and I wasnt too bothered about the compromise either. Nice car, looking for a 3.0 outback for her now
 
Defenders are a bit like yorkies but saying that I can't keep my wife out of my 1986 110. She even wants to start green laning in the spring. Mines about as standard as it comes.
 
It depends what she is used to. My wife has a disco 3 hse and no matter how good my 90 is it will never compaire.
I have leather seat a working heater and very little in the way of leaks or draughs but she still moans about the noise even though it is sound proofed too, if its not that its somethig else like the windscreen wipers, or the fact every bugger tries to nick it
 
I have a 1988 county model, and it's not too bad. The front seats are actually pretty supportive as I think they were originally made for a lorry. You can fit a radio, carpets and soundproofing if they're not fitted as standard. The heaters have a reputation for being bad, but if everything's working properly they're actually pretty good. Likewise, draughts and leaks can be corrected, but people often don't bother because 'all land rovers leak'.

As with any car, it depends on condition. If it's a clattery old heap that's been abused and bashed around a quarry all its life, you'll find it harder to live with than one that's been looked after as someone's car.

If you expect it to be modern, you'll be disappointed. If you approach it the same way you would a 70s or 80s car, they're perfectly adequate and easy enough to live with. The original discovery is arguably a better vehicle and noticeably more car-like inside.
 
Sheehan879 said:
Hi all,

As the title suggests I need evidence that a defender can be as comfortable as a modern 4x4...
Click to expand...


HA HAAA HAAA HAAAA HAAAA! :eek::D:p
That's made my day :) You're fond of impossible tasks are you!? :D

This summer I had the misfortune of driving a brand new 2014/15 Defender 110 around for about a month after some idiot pulled out/into my car and it needed a lot of repairs.
The 110 had leather seats and was quite a high spec inside, but felt just like driving my 1989 classic mini (but without being fun) - lots of the controls were the same as the mini, there was no space, it is louder than the mini (and that's saying something) and more uncomfortable. It drank diesel like it was going out of fashion and that was when driven carefully, and it had the hateful tdci engine and gearbox.
The luxury leather seats were fecking awful - uncomfortable (my '89 mini seats are better) and with no support. My two kids couldn't fit in the second row seats with normal car seats, so they had to go right to the back and we kept the seats in between permanently folded down so we could speak to them.
It looked amazing in grey metallic, but neither I nor my wife could wait to get back into our tired and tatty 20 year old Disco 300tdi - comfortable, smoother, nicer to drive.

Perversely, I'd still like one.

...I expect I would eventually torch it though and keep the D1 :)
 
A lot depends on if you want/need 3 front seats.
I have Audi S3 leather recaros in mine....but I only want 2 seats in the front.
 
my mrs. is desperate for an S1 or thereabouts, she's not too bothered about creature-comforts & that's about fine for an old landy :p

shame we have got a pair of D1's with 1 being somewhat roadworthy :D

so not too much internal rain, splashing inside through puddles, road-noise increases on cornering (as body & chassis twists) & a heater that still somehow works o_O

Rich.
 
these were ok in my 90 bit pricey at the time tho
 

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EeEk said:
A lot depends on if you want/need 3 front seats.
I have Audi S3 leather recaros in mine....but I only want 2 seats in the front.
Click to expand...
Centre seat is useless anyway, unless you are a one legged dwarf!
Cubby box in the middle improves comfort, gives you somewhere to rest your elbow! :)
 
People buy LR's (series or defenders) for a wide variety of reasons, but NEVER for comfort, or for that matter elbow room, NHV (noise-harshness-vibration) performance, economy, interior warmth, effective demisting, decent wipers - how much time have you got?
Having said that I owned five series examples over the years, but (my) age takes it's toll :(
 
Uncomfortable? My series has the so called luxury seats fitted! REALLY comfortable driving position AND on long journeys! Is it just possible that you are all subconsciously comparing your Series or Defender with your living room SOFA AND trying to achieve the impossible in these vehicles? Lol
OH! my Doctor has recently informed me that I have TENNIS ELBOW in BOTH arms due to long periods of driving my Landy that has NO power steering?? I can live with that!! :D:D
 
Now I have the opposite problem. I fancy a 300tdi 110 CSW, and my wife is keen on one too.

My worry is that she has a dodgy back, which reacts badly to jolts and vibration, so I'm not sure its a good idea!
 
my wife was against me having a 4x4 called them tanks, i appeased her by updating her car. shes over the moon and forgot all about me having mine.
 
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