Sell defender? Keep defender? Something in between?

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

Hopefully there should be a poll on this.

After a pretty disastrous attempted expedition trip to Portugal I am considering getting rid of my 90. The main reasons are that it doesn't have air con or enough space so we can't take the dog. Plus it was pretty tiring to drive and we only did half the distance we should have done at that. I would like something that I don't dread travelling long distances in!

So...what do people reckon?

vilguy · Jul 6, 2015

110 csw

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

vilguy said:
110 csw

Not comfortable enough, plus expensiiive unless I do another rebuild

vilguy · Jul 6, 2015

i paid £1700 for that one i bought to lz and its proper comfy

get a gaylander!!!

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

vilguy said:
i paid £1700 for that one i bought to lz and its proper comfy

get a gaylander!!!

We have a gaylander already! Doubt I would want to take it to morocco though.
You seem to get all of the amazing bargains!

I want something a bit more refined than a defender TBH

vilguy · Jul 6, 2015

disco 3 then

(i wouldnt want to take one of those to morocco though without a full backup team behind me!)

Disco 2

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

vilguy said:
disco 3 then

(i wouldnt want to take one of those to morocco though without a full backup team behind me!)

Disco 2

I have considered a D3, but the mpg would be the biggest issue on that. I don't think they are quite as unreliable as people say, but I'm not sure I would trust one enough to go to Morocco in.

D2s have grown on me, and if I get one that needs some work I can get a high spec one for virtually nothing.

Another option is

- Sell the defender, use the money to go to Australia for 2 months

vilguy · Jul 6, 2015

james6546 said:
I have considered a D3, but the mpg would be the biggest issue on that. I don't think they are quite as unreliable as people say, but I'm not sure I would trust one enough to go to Morocco in.

D2s have grown on me, and if I get one that needs some work I can get a high spec one for virtually nothing.

Another option is

- Sell the defender, use the money to go to Australia for 2 months

chap i work with has a d3 and he bought a private warranty for it. He thanks himself that he did. Hes never in it. The sodding thing is ALWAYS breaking.

If you sell it and use all the money yourll have nothing to drive when you come back from a relatively short trip other than a gaylander.....

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

vilguy said:
chap i work with has a d3 and he bought a private warranty for it. He thanks himself that he did. Hes never in it. The sodding thing is ALWAYS breaking.

If you sell it and use all the money yourll have nothing to drive when you come back from a relatively short trip other than a gaylander.....

True. I have a mini too...

I read a blog the other day of 2 people who drove all the way to Australia over 7 (I think) months. It was amazing to read. That would be an epic adventure.

vilguy · Jul 6, 2015

james6546 said:
True. I have a mini too...

I read a blog the other day of 2 people who drove all the way to Australia over 7 (I think) months. It was amazing to read. That would be an epic adventure.

do it (not in a mini!)

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

vilguy said:
do it (not in a mini!)

I would love to, but I think it would require more bravery than I possess!

It's this one Sirocco Overland | ??????? ???????? | Solo Vehicle Dependent Exploration, Travel & Adventure

I would really like to do something that is a once in a lifetime adventure...my job role is on the list of ones that Australia wants so that is a consideration...

Disco1BFG · Jul 6, 2015

Only my opinions....

Keep the defender and make it more comfortable:-

defender and comfortable are not too words which go together.

Keep the defender and buy a cheap D2 and kit that out for expeditions

Possibly - or look at re importing one in good nick, for sensible money.

Sell the defender buy a LandCruiser

only if you have shares in an oil company, or want lots of electriconical "stuff"

Sell the defender buy a Shogun

No proper experience of these, mate has one, it appears no trouble... but????

Other

The D2 is ok, but you will need diagnostics to go overlanding with it, and parts availability might be an issue, or might not - I guess it depends where you are.

If a D1 is big enough, then one of these might be an option, but you can always put a D2 body on a D1 chassis - there was a guy in LRO mag who did this.... but I did worry that he should perhaps get a girlfriend ( or boyfriend )

chris7 · Jul 6, 2015

Keep the Defender but if you want air con and space take the Train

james6546 · Jul 6, 2015

Disco1BFG said:
Only my opinions....

Keep the defender and make it more comfortable:-

defender and comfortable are not too words which go together.

Keep the defender and buy a cheap D2 and kit that out for expeditions

Possibly - or look at re importing one in good nick, for sensible money.

Sell the defender buy a LandCruiser

only if you have shares in an oil company, or want lots of electriconical "stuff"

Sell the defender buy a Shogun

No proper experience of these, mate has one, it appears no trouble... but????

Other

The D2 is ok, but you will need diagnostics to go overlanding with it, and parts availability might be an issue, or might not - I guess it depends where you are.

If a D1 is big enough, then one of these might be an option, but you can always put a D2 body on a D1 chassis - there was a guy in LRO mag who did this.... but I did worry that he should perhaps get a girlfriend ( or boyfriend )

Haha, the reason I am thinking D2 rather than D1 is mostly because I prefer the way they look, and the TD5 is a lot more refined.

The 3.2 Di-D shogun seems pretty good value for money. The only thing that is putting me off a bit is the lack of any aftermarket stuff for them at all. They are quite highly specced though.

The 4.2 LandCruiser seems very uneconomical, the 3.0 D4D seems on par with a tdi, though James said there are problems with the head gaskets on them...

I have fitted nice seats and more soundproofing to my 90 but it still isn't a pleasant place to be after a few hours!

chris7 said:
Keep the Defender but if you want air con and space take the Train

I'm not sure a train would help on a Moroccan expedition...

Datatek · Jul 6, 2015

Feck driving any distance in a Fender or Series, you could do worse than a late P38 diesel, had mine 6 years and never actually let me down. Nicer than a D2, much cheaper than a D3. However if you have the cash, a Toyota Land Cruiser would be my choice.

bobupndown · Jul 6, 2015

I have a D2 and had it for 8 1/2 years, its been relatively reliable (never failed to get home under its own power) I tow a big twin axle caravan with it and heading to south west France at the end of the month. Its basic enough that I can do most work on it myself. No electrical issues at all apart from a strange appetite for passenger front electric window motors!
Its comfortable and well specced full leather, twin sunroofs, cruise control etc.
I have a desire for a 110 CSW however I realise that this would not be as comfortable as the D2, but SWMBO says Im not allowed one so I'll stick with the Disco for a while yet.
Think a D3 would be an excellent bit of kit too, a lot of their faults have now been sorted and they are well understood by independant specialists.
Shoguns and Landcruisers seem like good wagons too but just not a Landrover!

Disco1BFG · Jul 6, 2015

Datatek said:
Feck driving any distance in a Fender or Series, you could do worse than a late P38 diesel, had mine 6 years and never actually let me down. Nicer than a D2, much cheaper than a D3. However if you have the cash, a Toyota Land Cruiser would be my choice.

My choice too, but only if I won the lottery - the 4.2's are horrendous on fuel - I was told 18 is good !! FFS - its a diesel man

The P38 is certainly a comfortable beast, but you would need diagnostics with that, just like the D2.

MJI · Jul 6, 2015

Discovery 2 TD5 would be my choice.

Why get Jap stuff when you can have the best in class?

MrNasty · Jul 6, 2015

Are your going to LRO in Sept James? You can have a go in my 110, see what you think about 110's, not exactly a Lexus but it's really not that uncomfortable after all I did 1600 miles in it in 30 hours.

Otherwise the Land Cruiser VX is the one I would go for.

james6546 · Jul 7, 2015

Disco1BFG said:
My choice too, but only if I won the lottery - the 4.2's are horrendous on fuel - I was told 18 is good !! FFS - its a diesel man

The P38 is certainly a comfortable beast, but you would need diagnostics with that, just like the D2.

Yeah, I do like the P38s, but don't think one would be reliable enough for a long trip

MJI said:
Discovery 2 TD5 would be my choice.

Why get Jap stuff when you can have the best in class?

There are a lot of cheap ones on ebay at the moment. I'm tempted to get one that needs a bit of work doing and then sort it over winter.

MrNasty said:
Are your going to LRO in Sept James? You can have a go in my 110, see what you think about 110's, not exactly a Lexus but it's really not that uncomfortable after all I did 1600 miles in it in 30 hours.

Otherwise the Land Cruiser VX is the one I would go for.

Yeah, I am probably going to LRO. I do like your 110, but they are a bit out of my price range at the moment.

After someone mentioned it in the expedition section I am toying with the idea of doing the Maroc Challenge next year. Would be amazing...

Sell defender? Keep defender? Something in between?

Do I...?

Keep the defender and make it more comfortable

Keep the defender and buy a cheap D2 and kit that out for expeditions

Sell the defender buy a LandCruiser

Sell the defender buy a Shogun

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