Help on buying a Defender please.

Lowbank said:

agreed, nice motor, don’t really want to spend that amount. But having said that, I intend this to be my final car purchase and keep it. Again that’s why I don’t want it stolen. Living around the countryside I do see lots of posts about stolen defenders round here.

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If you think it’s your last car and would prefer not to have to get the welder out. You have a healthy budget

I would go with an early suggestion of get 1 that’s already had work and has a galv chassis+ bulkhead. Chances are the mechanics will be pretty good if it’s been rebuilt, as for what engine don’t worry to much as it doesn’t sound like you will be doing an awful lot of mileage.
Start with that a base for selection, Don’t go for flashy.
Spend the rest on a good tracker and some Very obvious security, with a lot of personal identification that only you know. Ensure the chassis doesn’t show what it is.

if you get 1 on a galv chassis mark it some how.

Good luck in your search, lots around don’t rush in and if you do find a candidate, come back and ask here.

J

Thank you every one, this does really help. This one appears too cheap for what it is. But from all your replies this would be a good type to Buy to start and then add my personal touches.

I agree that galv chassis and bulkhead are the starting point with your budget - no exceptions .

Engine wise, IMHO, it comes down to whether you can tolerate electronics or not ...... Yes means TD5, no means 300Tdi.

My preference is for 300Tdi - eminently tunable, and easy and cheap parts availability - even a new engine, from Turners is not stupid money. The one you mention above might be a late 200Tdi* - for which, IIRC, new cylinder heads are NLA ... not a problem right now, but it might become one

Also, be careful around galvanised chassis' - there are galv chassis' and galv chassis The advert above mentions a Richards chassis - up there with the best ..... but check it is actually a Richards ...

* = probably not - but I note no pictures of the engine bay on their website

Thank you disco1BFG. I am a time serve sheet metal worker, Who moved To pen pushing 20 years ago. I hope I can still tell Galvanised .
I am several weeks from being in a position to purchase as I will be using my redundancy payment to buy a Defender. I will then be retired so will have time on my hands.
I can tolerate electronics but also happy not to have them.

so got some thinking to do.