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DrivingForFun

New Member
Posts
5
Location
UK
Hi, new member here.

Before I start I want to say I'm on other owners' forums and know how passionate people are and eager to recommend the vehicles, but I need you to be blunt and honest with me here! If you think a Land Rover would be unsuitable for me please say so, I won't be offended.

I basically want something to drive around the country lanes and cart stuff around. I've always liked the look and history of the boxy classic 90 Land Rovers and the Defender 90s.

I'm not a DIY mechanic so would be taking it to the garage for all jobs. That said I am willing to learn but to start with would be using a garage. Would I need a blank cheque for this or are they relatively reliable? Could I get by on a £200 a month budget (i.e. I'd be putting away £200 a month so if nothing went wrong for say 3 months I'd have £600 for repairs).

If I started working on it myself would I need a lot of equipment or just basic tools? Also is it possible to get under these vehicles without jacking them up?

Budget for the vehicle is around £5-10,000 but the lower end would be preferred. Would I get something decent or only an absolute heap for my budget?

Finally providing one of these would suit, any recommendations on a particular year or engine - what to go for and what to avoid. I'd ideally like a "90" size, with rear windows, but happy to be advised otherwise. MPG is not a concern as I'd have another vehicle and tax is not a concern as I get the disabled tax relief.

Thanks!
 
DrivingForFun said:
Hi, new member here.

Before I start I want to say I'm on other owners' forums and know how passionate people are and eager to recommend the vehicles, but I need you to be blunt and honest with me here! If you think a Land Rover would be unsuitable for me please say so, I won't be offended.

I basically want something to drive around the country lanes and cart stuff around. I've always liked the look and history of the boxy classic 90 Land Rovers and the Defender 90s.

I'm not a DIY mechanic so would be taking it to the garage for all jobs. That said I am willing to learn but to start with would be using a garage. Would I need a blank cheque for this or are they relatively reliable? Could I get by on a £200 a month budget (i.e. I'd be putting away £200 a month so if nothing went wrong for say 3 months I'd have £600 for repairs).

If I started working on it myself would I need a lot of equipment or just basic tools? Also is it possible to get under these vehicles without jacking them up?

Budget for the vehicle is around £5-10,000 but the lower end would be preferred. Would I get something decent or only an absolute heap for my budget?

Finally providing one of these would suit, any recommendations on a particular year or engine - what to go for and what to avoid. I'd ideally like a "90" size, with rear windows, but happy to be advised otherwise. MPG is not a concern as I'd have another vehicle and tax is not a concern as I get the disabled tax relief.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Welcome to LZ. :)

That sort of Money, you are talking a Ninety, Defender Tdi, or a roughish Td5.

Personally, I wouldn't suggest getting any of them unless you are equipped and willing to do maintenance, and most repairs, yourself.
They aren't necessarily unreliable, but they do repay constant attention to small things, greasing propshafts, checking and topping up fluid levels, adjusting door lock striker plates, that sort of thing. And if you don't pay regular attention to the small jobs, they mount up, and the likelihood of major jobs becomes greater.

It is quite possible to crawl underneath, unless you are exceptionally fat. I weigh about 14 stone, and I can easily crawl under one.
 
Welcome, I have a disco 2 and an ex military 110, a 200 quid a month budget for running costs should be fine, but learn to change oil, filters seal, bulbs etc. It's not impossible to change exhausts, wheel bearings ,radiators, leads. easy stuff that takes time (therefore money) at the local garage.
An older landy is like a meccano set 8)
 
With LRs it starts off innocently enough, then little things will get your attention, before you know it your sitting in the garden with a thousand pieces on the floor pretty sure you know where most of them go ... o_O
Knowing a local indie that knows his/her LRs is a big factor, you’ll end up learning to do things yourself as you go no doubt, befriend or become a welder would be handy.
If you get any LandRover, as a member, you will have all us to help and take the p**s all you want

If you have grit then go for it :)
Not for the feint hearted IMO
 
Many thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

Seems I will have to have a long think as to whether I am up for LR ownership!!
 
DrivingForFun said:
Many thanks for the replies, much appreciated.

Seems I will have to have a long think as to whether I am up for LR ownership!!
Click to expand...
I knew sweet fuck all prior to getting mine. Probably a stupid move but i've slowly (with the knowledge of the people here) become somewhat competent/less thick.

It's also nice to just go onto the drive and see it sitting there, there's something about them that makes me happier. Just have someone who is knowledgeable take a look over whatever you're looking at buying.
 
Haha - does sound like a laugh especially with a good community as this seems like!

Trench Rat - that is interesting to hear and ideally what my ownership would be like (well ”ideally” it would never need any work in the first place but...!)

Going to begin tentatively looking, are there any model years or engines to recommend / stay away from or is it all much of a much in LR world?

Thanks again
 
DrivingForFun said:
well ”ideally” it would never need any work in the first place
Click to expand...
^^^ not gonna happen, is damn near impossible.

They all need something no matter what they tell you. It’d be good idea to take someone that knows about them with you before purchasing. Practice using a phone app diagnostic and plug it in when they leave you to look it over even.
If you find a good un there’ll be little niggles, fluids to check things like that to sort out that you can do. If there’s something big (gearbox or something) a local independent garage would be needed, if you keep part of your budget back ‘just incase’ you’ll be fine ;)
 
RangeRoller dt said:
^^^ not gonna happen, is damn near impossible.

They all need something no matter what they tell you. It’d be good idea to take someone that knows about them with you before purchasing. Practice using a phone app diagnostic and plug it in when they leave you to look it over even.
If you find a good un there’ll be little niggles, fluids to check things like that to sort out that you can do. If there’s something big (gearbox or something) a local independent garage would be needed, if you keep part of your budget back ‘just incase’ you’ll be fine ;)
Click to expand...

Land Rovers at the sort of prices he is looking at don't have "phone app diagnostics", unless he gets a cheap Td5, in which case he will need Nanocom or Hawkeye to diagnose any electronic problems.

Nineties, 200Tdi, and I think 300 Tdi, don't have any electronics at all. :)
 
Was just joking - am well aware they will have some issues in my price range!

No electronics sounds good. Do the engines you stated come without an ECU as well? This is what puts me off taking my current car apart - a vehicle without all the wizardry on it sounds like an ideal one to learn on.

Sorry for the daft questions!
 
DrivingForFun said:
Was just joking - am well aware they will have some issues in my price range!

No electronics sounds good. Do the engines you stated come without an ECU as well? This is what puts me off taking my current car apart - a vehicle without all the wizardry on it sounds like an ideal one to learn on.

Sorry for the daft questions!
Click to expand...

ECU is electronics, it stands for Electronic Control Unit.

Try using the quote function for asking direct questions relating to another post, it is helpful.
 
RangeRoller dt said:
I would think a classic 90 in good nick would indicate healthy budget?
Click to expand...

Plenty of Nineties and early Defenders around for about 5k. My mate sold a Defender 90, 200 Tdi, on a galv chassis for 6k last year.
My ex wife just sold my old Ninety for 5k earlier this year, probably one of the better examples around, solid, running well, 12 months MOT. 5k.
 
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