D

Dshar

New Member
hi all,

We're keen on getting a 110 defender for a family car. Looking for a reasonably economic vehicle with enough power to get around, but unlikely we'll be towing anything.

Our problem is that we live within the london LEZ, and probably will also be in the ULEZ as and when it gets extended which will be an issue for an old diesel.

We dont have a huge budget and the only way i can think of making the defender work would be to convert one to petrol and lpg.
We'd prefer a relativley new one (less than 10 yrs), so i suppose that would rule out an original petrol defender.

Was hoping to get some advice from the experts!

-is this an enourmous /expensive job i should forget about?!
-would it be possible to get a <10y, <100k miles vehicle, convert to petrol and lpg for a reasonable sum? (Say ~15k)
-would i be greatly off with a guess for engine/transmission conversion + lpg system for 5k?
-would the end result be worth the hassle? Is t worth it?
-any particular engines thAt your recommend?

I know an original petrol vehicle would be a much simpler project, but We've got our hearts set ona defender. Also, id have to get the work done since i dont have the time or experience to do myself, as much as id love to!
Any other thoughts and/or tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks
d
 
All the info about the london ULEZ is available in postcode level detail, including adoption timetable and 100% discount grace periods for residents (upto 2022 i think), bearing in mind also that you only pay it for days driven in the zone not parked and unmoved, making it very "affordable" if you're only using the future landy once or twice a week or so.

There is very very limited modification grace with the ULEZ, and no defender exists that meets euro 6 (as far as i am aware the final 2016 2.2's were still only euro 5 not 6, but they're out of your budget regardless) so you would need an engine swapped vehicle approved, and that would need investigating on top of the price of actually doing the conversion

All TD5 onward defenders meet the LEZ emissions requirement however, along with any other 21L 300tdi or newer diesel engine'd landy as they're all euro 3 (or better) compliant, so the greater LEZ area is a non issue.

If you have your heart absolutely set on a defender, I'd just buy one within budget that's what you want and just pay the charge, bearing in mind from right now you have upto 4 years exempt from it if you genuinely reside in an ULEZ postcode, and then it's only 12.50 a day you drive after, and if you're only using it on weekends that's years and years worth of exemption, if you are insane and wish to drive in central town on a daily basis however, or perhaps just enjoy cruel and unusual punishment maybe have a rethink about the situation in 3-4 years time when the wallet sees daily action

Though, if you can find someone willing to do an engine and driveline conversion along with then converting it to LPG for less than 5k, certainly pass it on! :D
 
I recon you'd get a hell of a lot of £12.50 driving days for £5k. So basically wot he said. ^^^^^^
 
Unfortunately, that budget won’t get what you’re looking for. Newer ‘fenders are horrifically expensive in most cases. Don’t be put off by older models,Nineties/OneTens/Defenders are quite well known for having not changed much over the years! You may get lucky and find an original petrol within your budget, but I’ve had a quick search and they command quite a high price.
I think you’re better off relocating you’re family out of London in order to get yourself a Landy!
 
Just a suggestion from left field as I am not fully up to date with the LEZ compliance but aren't "classic vehicles" exempt? I do not know what the age limit is but have you considered going the other way and getting an old land rover and doing a full rebuild to be "as new" that way you have all the reliability and longevity of a newer low milage vehicle that is also exempt from the charges.
 
Getting a 110 defender for a family car.
Looking for a reasonably economic vehicle
London

Not sure it's the best idea. A 110 would be a great family vehicle but I wouldn't suggest one in London.
 
Dshar said:
We've got our hearts set ona defender
Click to expand...
I spent the best part of 35 years driving in and out of London on a daily basis. Its a sh1t way of passing time in an ordinary car. In a defender it is insane. I tried it only a couple of times and came to that conclusion. Get your sensible head on and rethink what you are doing.
 
You could get a lovely 110 TD5 for your £15k. But you’ll struggle to get a tdci for that money. If you did it would be an early 2.4 and if you go for the Station Wagon (7 seater) you’ll pay £500 road tax.

My advice, if you want a Defender as your daily driver as l have done, is to get a later model TD5 (but be careful those made after March 2006 attract the higher road tax)

I am not sure about the issues with owning one in London. I think the 9 seater Station Wagon may be LEZ exempt but the banding is complex and even if you call TFL they don’t seem to know.
 
Guys, this is really great, thanks for all the comments. Plenty to think about!

I’m going to look into everything said in detail and come back.

Some initial thoughts;

-I get the point of running the diesel and paying the fee as and when it its introduced. but does seem a bit of a pain to have to pay £12 if you need to run an errand or just to drive the few miles on your way out of the zone!
To be clear though, I don’t for a minute propose to drive into central london daily or even ever! We live in zone 2, and use the car mainly to get out of london.

-on old origninal petrols, I actually found one (on cars&classic), from memory, it was almost 30yrs old and already converted to lpg, seemed to be in good condition with lots of new parts. I thought that was too much for a 30y old car and I wasn't sure I wanted the potential headaches that might go with an older car. but based on what you all said, maybe not a bad option (assuming its otherwise sound etc etc). I might start looking for an original petrol to get within my budget (if possible) and convert to lpg to save the running cost pennies..

As for moving out of london, I’ve already been lobbying on this front (not only for landy reasons), but resistance is strong and the boss has exercised her veto! ;)
 
My 1996 300tdi CSW is LEZ compliant - unfortunately, this means i can drive to Ikea in croydon :(
 
Dshar said:
To be clear though, I don’t for a minute propose to drive into central london daily or even ever! We live in zone 2, and use the car mainly to get out of london.
Click to expand...

ULEZ will apply to congestion charge zone, ie central london.

Edit: better yet, the simple answer is if you live within the congestion zone and drive there you pay the ULEZ charge, if not you can buy any defender era land rover and drive it around charge free.

ulez-map-cc-boundary.gif
 
Dshar said:
hi all,

We're keen on getting a 110 defender for a family car. Looking for a reasonably economic vehicle with enough power to get around, but unlikely we'll be towing anything.

Our problem is that we live within the london LEZ, and probably will also be in the ULEZ as and when it gets extended which will be an issue for an old diesel.

We dont have a huge budget and the only way i can think of making the defender work would be to convert one to petrol and lpg.
We'd prefer a relativley new one (less than 10 yrs), so i suppose that would rule out an original petrol defender.

Was hoping to get some advice from the experts!

-is this an enourmous /expensive job i should forget about?!
-would it be possible to get a <10y, <100k miles vehicle, convert to petrol and lpg for a reasonable sum? (Say ~15k)
-would i be greatly off with a guess for engine/transmission conversion + lpg system for 5k?
-would the end result be worth the hassle? Is t worth it?
-any particular engines thAt your recommend?

I know an original petrol vehicle would be a much simpler project, but We've got our hearts set ona defender. Also, id have to get the work done since i dont have the time or experience to do myself, as much as id love to!
Any other thoughts and/or tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks
d
Click to expand...

I don't really understand your problem?

As you want the vehicle for a family car, I imagine you will want a Station Wagon, that is, a vehicle with windows and seats in the back as standard.

And those vehicles are not affected by the LEZ. It is hard tops and truck cabs, that say LIght Utility 4x4 on the V5 document that are affected.
 
I do want the station wagon. Problem is that the ULEZ zone will be expanded beyond the congestion charge zone either next year or year after. It will extend to cover most of london. We live in hammersmith which will be in the zone...
 
Dshar said:
I do want the station wagon. Problem is that the ULEZ zone will be expanded beyond the congestion charge zone either next year or year after. It will extend to cover most of london. We live in hammersmith which will be in the zone...
Click to expand...

Still don't think it matters for Station Wagons.
 
Dshar said:
I do want the station wagon. Problem is that the ULEZ zone will be expanded beyond the congestion charge zone either next year or year after. It will extend to cover most of london. We live in hammersmith which will be in the zone...
Click to expand...

Another thought. I don't know much about ULEZ. But the LEZ is aimed entirely at commercial vehicles with diesel engines.

Assuming the new scheme covers private cars as well, why not keep your vehicle outside the zone, say in a garage in Chiswick, and use it outside the zone, you say you mainly want the vehicle to go out of town anyway.
 
bluedog333 said:
I think ULEZ charges apply to all vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards, for us Landy owners I believe that’s Euro6.
Click to expand...

You could be right. Not really been following it. I do know that no-one I know who lives in London seems to be stressing about it. They don't have landrovers, though, just old cars.
 
Been checking the TFL website; In the ULEZ zone all vehicles are affected (with a few exceptions). Compliant vehicles have to be euro 6 diesel and euro 4 petrol. This is not commercial vehicles it is any vehicle except motorcycles which have to be euro 3. Commercial vehicles have to be euro VI. As far as I know there are no defenders petrol or diesel which comply with the standards and so will have to pay the daily charge, on top of congestion charge and possibly T charge as well. Older vehicles of all types are gradually being forced off the roads.
 
Turboman said:
You could be right. Not really been following it. I do know that no-one I know who lives in London seems to be stressing about it. They don't have landrovers, though, just old cars.
Click to expand...
Classic cars are exempt, so OP could go down the Series SW route I guess.
 
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