Is a tracker worth it on a Defender

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gold rover

gold rover

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Morning all.
I'm a frequent reader but not poster of this section. Mainly because I have a hankering for a Defender ( or a series III)
To which end I have a couple of questions. I have a possible chance of a 94 plate Defender. Which by the time I get it will be a straight solid, good vehicle, from a trusted source. So my first question is: is £6.5 - 7k a good price. I've tried the usual sites , but cant find a 94 to compare with. Seen some 95s at £8,5k plus, but that's asking, not sold.
My second question is : Is a tracker worth it? I live very rurally , and vehicle will be protected with all types of security. I've checked for quotes on insurance, and it makes not one penny difference, having a tracker , or not. So , would it be worth it? Or just invest in another dog :D
Thanks in advance for help.
 
The best deterrent is a dog for sure!
Trackers don't cost too much these days, I hear when Defenders get nicked they quite often park them up somewhere for a few days just in case one is fitted, before they go on to the final destination to be stripped / exported
That is the window of opportunity to get the vehicle back in one piece
I would say you should be able to get a solid Defender for around 7-8K but anything less than that is probably a rot box or a scam
 
JimS said:
The best deterrent is a dog for sure!
Trackers don't cost too much these days, I hear when Defenders get nicked they quite often park them up somewhere for a few days just in case one is fitted, before they go on to the final destination to be stripped / exported
That is the window of opportunity to get the vehicle back in one piece
I would say you should be able to get a solid Defender for around 7-8K but anything less than that is probably a rot box or a scam
Click to expand...

Thanks for reply.
The one I've been offered is definitely solid. Anything that might need done , will be done before I get it. They are friends of a friend, and the friend is not the type of guy to mess with. He has also done a lot of business with them over the years, so I trust him, and he trusts them. It's too risky buying a Defender from unknowns. Especially , as most that are for sale are a day out of my life to go see, to only find it's rotten.
As to tracker, just wondered , are they successful deterrents, as insurance companies make no difference in price for them.
 
gold rover said:
Thanks for reply.
The one I've been offered is definitely solid. Anything that might need done , will be done before I get it. They are friends of a friend, and the friend is not the type of guy to mess with. He has also done a lot of business with them over the years, so I trust him, and he trusts them. It's too risky buying a Defender from unknowns. Especially , as most that are for sale are a day out of my life to go see, to only find it's rotten.
As to tracker, just wondered , are they successful deterrents, as insurance companies make no difference in price for them.
Click to expand...

Insurance companies seem to be more interested in dashcams than trackers for some reason. Not sure if having a tracker sticker would work as a preventative or be a bit counter productive (should a criminal be warned he is being tracked?)
 
JimS said:
Insurance companies seem to be more interested in dashcams than trackers for some reason. Not sure if having a tracker sticker would work as a preventative or be a bit counter productive (should a criminal be warned he is being tracked?)
Click to expand...
I suppose it depends how close the next one they are after is. A bit like house alarms, move on to an easier target. When parked at home , the area has CCTV covering the area, and signs to say so. So that's one deterrent. I also have 5 sheepdogs as a noise deterrent. None of the insurers have asked about dashcam, but I have used them since before they became popular.
Actually, the insurers seem happier to quote for a Defender, than they do for my L322 :eek:
As for telling them they're being tracked, depends if your local police are any good, and not just mars bar eating, lucozade drinking, spend the night in local garage, types ;)
If you think they'll respond in time to catch the thieving B's , don't put a sticker. If you're more realistic and know that it will take two days for them to turn up, by which time the love of your life is long gone, put on a sticker and buy a gun :D



Looks like I just answered my own question :)
Now it's just the prjce thing
 
A tracker isn't a deterrent to someone nicking a vehicle with one fitted. Mainly because they don't know if one is fitted. Some trackers are supplied with window stickers but I would guess most peeps don't fit stickers as they tell you a tracker is fitted so you know to disable it.

If someone nicks a vehicle fitted with a tracker then the tracker will report the route the vehicle was taken. If the tracker can sense vibration/movement then it will activate an alert signal and send you a text message to say the vehicle has moved. The defender defender type does. So do many others. So that's an early warning of yer vehicle moving. You can also setup a geo-fence, which is a virtual fence around the tracker. IF the tracker moves across the fence line you get a text alert.

Knowing the route yer vehicle was taken when stolen gives you the option to follow it or at least know where it went. It will need a phone signal to be able to report. Most use GPRS.

A thief may be worried about a tracker being fitted. To counter this they will carry anti tracker signal blocking device. They may take the car to a location and leave it there to see if it's found. They may take the option to search for a tracker once there. They literally strip all the plastic fittings oft the inside of the vehicle within 3 minutes in order to find it, destroy it or know it's there and take action like removing it and taking the vehicle else where.

A tracker provides an early warning alert and is the last line of defence. I would also get the windows etched and registered:

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/security-etching-glass.242382/
 
Most trackers are just an annoyance to a pro thief, but get the right one and it might actually help you get the vehicle back.

See Youtube and search for Automatrics, loads of vids.

As I understand it the car gets stolen, you notice, you ring automatrics, they remotely switch the tracker on, and is some cases go and find the vehicle with the police for you.
As they have to switch it on it is not giving out a signal all the time like the cheapies so the thieves do not know it has one.

I ahve no idea of price, so might be scary!
 
Thanks.
I'm thinking my best deterrent is the fact they'd have to get on a ferry, to get it away. A ferry where everyone knows everyone, and their vehicles!
I was mainly thinking insurance, when I asked , is it worth it. I tried quotes with, and without. It made no difference. So is it more a 'get it back' device, than a 'stop them' device?
 
gold rover said:
Thanks.
I'm thinking my best deterrent is the fact they'd have to get on a ferry, to get it away. A ferry where everyone knows everyone, and their vehicles!
I was mainly thinking insurance, when I asked , is it worth it. I tried quotes with, and without. It made no difference. So is it more a 'get it back' device, than a 'stop them' device?
Click to expand...

Scotland hey, in that case worry more about the chassis rust rather than it being nicked:D
 
lynall said:
Need pics.
One of the few cars that age means diddly squat, it is all about condition.
Click to expand...
Right now the pics are of it 'as received'. Which are not what they are offering me. They are going to give it a complete work over.
I'll ask friend about work to be done. Get the correct lingo ;)
 
gold rover said:
Right now the pics are of it 'as received'. Which are not what they are offering me. They are going to give it a complete work over.
I'll ask friend about work to be done. Get the correct lingo ;)
Click to expand...


If you are buying a 300tdi Defender that has had all the isseus fixed from a business for 6.5k. be wary very wary as that seems way to cheap.
Look on ebay at the prices being asked for 300tdi in good condition.
 
I would expect a business to be asking 10K+ for one, there's a few out there with rotten chassis for around 3K-4K, if you factor in the cost of a new part or full chassis / bulkhead and all the other work plus a bit of margin £10k upwards would be the minimum. But then if it's tatty but really solid underneath still you might be onto a winner
 
lynall said:
If you are buying a 300tdi Defender that has had all the isseus fixed from a business for 6.5k. be wary very wary as that seems way to cheap.
Look on ebay at the prices being asked for 300tdi in good condition.
Click to expand...
It's a 2.5. As said before the condition and trust in the work being done isn't the issue. Just whether it was a reasonable price for a solid 94 plate :)
 
It's a reasonable price if it's being sorted, and you trust the folks involved, which you do. Even then - check out the rear x member, floor-pan both sides, and top of the bulk head. Panel corrosion/ bubbling is kind of to be expected, but rust in the bulkhead or chassis is going to be a PITA.
 
gold rover said:
It's a 2.5. As said before the condition and trust in the work being done isn't the issue. Just whether it was a reasonable price for a solid 94 plate :)
Click to expand...

94 should be a 300tdi, but could be a late 200 or something else altogether!
Basically V belts = 200, flat belt = 300.
 
lynall said:
94 should be a 300tdi, but could be a late 200 or something else altogether!
Basically V belts = 200, flat belt = 300.
Click to expand...
I'm speaking with them in next couple of days so will check.
romanrob said:
It's a reasonable price if it's being sorted, and you trust the folks involved, which you do. Even then - check out the rear x member, floor-pan both sides, and top of the bulk head. Panel corrosion/ bubbling is kind of to be expected, but rust in the bulkhead or chassis is going to be a PITA.
Click to expand...
All/any of that will be sorted . He's also either changing the doors, or fixing, depending on which is required. As well as spraying doors.
Everything that has been discussed so far is that at yhe end of his work on it , I will get a solid vehicle, that will need nothing done for next few years, apart from general maintenance.
Truth be told I'm still hankering after a soft-top. So not sure this is the one for me but worth chatting to the guy, as apparently Land Rover is what he does :)
 
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