Would buying a 1996 90 TDI and attempting to modernise be a money pit?

Marty1974 · Sep 21, 2019

Hi all, apologies for the vagueness of the question, basically I've wanted to own a Land Rover Defender for years now but I've never actually gone through with being one. I see nice examples and think yes they would suit me right down to the ground.

I'm thinking about buying a nice older example (around £6K) and I would like to eventually end up with something I could use around town with a modern look to it and a comfortable interior instead of a bench lay-out.

Would I be better of buying say a older model (well maintained with all evidence of work, mot's etc etc) with a view to re-vamping the interior and maybe adding a few modern touches to the exterior or should I just save up more and eventually fork out £20K+ for something with a slightly modern (more suited to urban life life)?

neilly · Sep 21, 2019

Morning,

What do you consider a more modern / comfortable interior?

Modern exterior?

Is it only going to be an urban Fender?

Cheers

Dippypud · Sep 21, 2019

neilly said:
Morning,

What do you consider a more modern / comfortable interior?

Modern exterior?

Is it only going to be an urban Fender?

Cheers

It's dark outside cos it's evening .... not morning ....

Just saying like ...

In case you've slapt though it all ....

Marty1974 · Sep 21, 2019

Hi, I'm thinking 2 comfy seats front, 3 in the rear (instead of the bench layout), air conditioning, electric everything if poss, modern lights on front, and just in general something more used to karting the kids round. I don't do loads of miles, decent sized boot would be good...

Totally new to Defenders so basically just wondering if it would be worth getting a really nice looked after car and then modernising it a little to more suit myself.

Sofasurfer · Sep 21, 2019

I bought a 1997 300tdi Defender 90 hardtop. I've not 'modernised' it. Adding bling doesn't improve an iconic truck, it just makes it more difficult to insure and more difficult to sell. Buy an old 'un and leave it alone

neilly · Sep 21, 2019

Dippypud said:
It's dark outside cos it's evening .... not morning ....

Just saying like ...

In case you've slapt though it all ....

Depends where you are....LOL.

Marty1974 · Sep 21, 2019

Hi, I'm not thinking 'pimp my rides' just basically moving away from a bench layout with comfy seats, new exterior lights, air con that's all, maybe new wheels down the line but primarily it would be the interior to make it a more usuable layout.

neilly · Sep 21, 2019

Marty1974 said:
Hi, I'm thinking 2 comfy seats front, 3 in the rear (instead of the bench layout), air conditioning, electric everything if poss, modern lights on front, and just in general something more used to karting the kids round. I don't do loads of miles, decent sized boot would be good...

Totally new to Defenders so basically just wondering if it would be worth getting a really nice looked after car and then modernising it a little to more suit myself.

Even with a 20K 90 you may not get what you want. with kids in the back rear space is really limited.
on a older / cheaper one.
Lights, depends what you call good, I am happy with mine but others say they are rubbbish.
AC, well retro fitting it..........no idea, but I reckon it would be a big PITA.

Cheers

Retroanaconda · Sep 21, 2019

A 90 with rear seats is going to have next to no load space, it’s basically passengers or stuff with them. To carry both properly you need to look at a 110 station wagon.

Everything you describe is doable, at a price. You’d not get your money back though if that’s a consideration for you.

Marty1974 · Sep 21, 2019

Thanks all for the pointers, didn't realise that about the 90's maybe the 110 would be better for myself with regards to more space. Does anyone have or know any good websites for Defender seats, upgrades I could look on to start thinking about prices please?

neilly · Sep 21, 2019

Have you driven one?

Looked at it in detail?
If I wanted one for a family motor then a 110 would be the choice.

Cheers

neilly · Sep 21, 2019

Exmoor do seat upgrades,
Although I do not find the seats bad .
Cheers

Marty1974 · Sep 21, 2019

Been in one yes, never driven one, I know its not going to be as comfortable as my current SUV but like I say i don't do thousands of motorway miles its mainly around town.

neilly · Sep 21, 2019

Marty1974 said:
Been in one yes, never driven one, I know its not going to be as comfortable as my current SUV but like I say i don't do thousands of motorway miles its mainly around town.

Get a drive in one, frankly, As a daily driver I would not have a defender, but then I do 30K per yr.
From what you have said, I would weigh up the price you need to apy for a 110 with AC and rear seats.

Cheers

nobber · Sep 21, 2019

Look at Exmoor trim for seats, air con I wouldn't even consider, modern lights? Poor lighting will be down to a poorly maintained electrical system, replacing the lamps won't change that. I would look at a 110 if I were you, 90s are not family vehicles, and to be honest any Defender isn't really designed to be an urban run around.

Marty1974 · Sep 21, 2019

Thanks all, appreciate all the helpful comments. Need to start going through the threads on here and getting a better understanding of them, I will have one I swear haha...

lynall · Sep 21, 2019

In a word yes.

Turktowner · Sep 21, 2019

A 90 is not a big car, I've a 98 CSW and it has less usable space than a 2003 Berlingo.
Yep, had one of them too..

You really need to drive one before doing anything else, the pedals are in the wrong place, the door is really close to your right elbow, the ride is, shall we say, "choppy", people think you're waving at them when changing gear etc etc.

I believe (and am willing to be corrected) that it's unlawful to put kids in sideways seats so you'd have to do something like it or not. Later models had forward facing foldy seats I think.

I too bought one because I wanted one and I love it, foibles and all. Not sure buying one and turning it into a Freelander though?

By all means tell me to bugger off and do it anyway. Enjoy.

Wimblowdriver · Sep 21, 2019

A pre-forward facing rear seated 90 will not have the body strengtheners required for the seats and seat belts. A diy fitting job could end up being dangerous. With the seats fitted as standard to later models, there is zero boot space. I don't even want to think about how complex and difficult it might be to retro fit air con

.

Pappasmurf · Sep 21, 2019

Marty1974 said:
Been in one yes, never driven one, I know its not going to be as comfortable as my current SUV but like I say i don't do thousands of motorway miles its mainly around town.

Don't buy a Defender if all you do is round town. Even with the most expensive upgrades on the market, they will never be good around town, they will go round town, but not like something like a Freelander 2 or Disco 3. Also the problem with fitting loads of tech to a Defender is that it will go wrong, all the time, they were not designed for electric everything and the upgrade kitsxare always a compromise.

Would buying a 1996 90 TDI and attempting to modernise be a money pit?

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