Trade up or spend the money on my current Defender?

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harry2012

Active Member
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I've managed to jiggle finances and I've got around £3k to play with for my Defender.

I'm in 2 minds what to do.

It's a 92 110 Tdi, with 74k, chassis is pretty good, as is the blukhead, but the body is straight but the paint is tatty & it needs a new rear cross member (black sheep HD one on its way), but mechanically it still has a few issues, so far it's had all new brakes, recon gearbox, and a few other bits.

I reckon as it stands it's worth around £3.5k (I've sunk around £5k into it so far inc buying it).

Do I put the money into it, get it resprayed, etc, or sell it on and get a tidier one from the off, TD5 era for around £7k?
 
To be honest I'd stick with what you've got at least you know what you have to do.
If you spend £7000 on another whose to say that you wouldn't need to spend another load of cash six months down the line.
Stick with the Tdi
 
Cheers, that's kinda what I was thinking just good to hear other people's views.

Priced up new doors, exterior trim last night (around £1200), and my mate who owns a body shop will do the X Member and respray it for £1500 so I think that's what's gonna happen :D
 
Pity you've ordered a rear crossmember , as the rest of the chassis wont be that good if the rears gone . I would say that better to fit a galv chassis, and then while your at it galv the bulkhead . The aim being to "future proof" everything as you do things so that it doesnt have to be part rebuilt every few years. eg galv everything thats possible, and use stainless fixings (where appropriate) . Waxoil everything especially hollow sections . JMHO
 
Whislt a TD5 will give you more omph, that little extra is governed by 1's & 0's, and if they go wrong, it can be a head scratcher,

A tdi is mechanical and therefore can be relatively easy to fix, however it will need a decent amount spent on it if you've bought a mongrel and are turning it into a pedigree (easy to do, just takes time)

Parts are also easier to get for TDi engines, TD5's and newer I see people having issues getting good quality parts,

As others have said, better to have something you know about its problems then something you dont !
 
I've been all over the rest of the chassis and there is very little rust on it tbh. The rear x member is just starting to go so needs sorting.
 
Given the chance id always spend money on mine rather than trading up for anything else. I know my car and all its 'qwerks' :) 3k will go a really long way depending on what you want to do.

Im spending about 1k on mine over the summer make it nicer inside sort out all the little bits that are ****ing me off. Then a lovely coat of Linex to look super awesome (later much later)
 
Nah I want to get new glavanised doors, replace door rubbers, window rubbers, etc and I want it painted properly, also, tbh I ain't got the time or patience to paint it myself. But then I spend £3k on that it's still got a scruffy interior and mechanical niggles I just can't cure!

It's all the mechanical niggles that's p#ssing me off, I fix one problem and there's something else, it's like i'm constantly chasing my tail and I can't catch a break!
 
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As everyone has said - stick wiv yer own, just make it more yer own...

and chuck some decent security at it while you is at it - what wiv all these fenders going walkys.
 
You'll never get back what you spend on a vehicle so I would be inclined to keep the tdi, you know it's history and seems you've more or less got the vehicle to your desired spec. I like the TD5 but buying a TD5 Defender for £7k might be ok... or it might not. I reckon to get a half decent Defender TD5 you are looking at £10K minimum. Keep the tdi ;)
 
Tub capping are actually pretty rust free.

I think the plan is gonna be get it to a decent Landie specialist, get the full SP on the mechanical issues then take it from there.

Anyone recommend any decent Landie specialists in Wiltshire (Westbury way)
 
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