Alright chaps,
I've recently got shot of my stupid MGB and am now after a landy again. I'm after something not too pretty, which I can bounce around the country in, not be too precious with, use for working on the farm, but still park in a terraced street and tesco's quite nicely, and nip around town in without feeling like I'm driving a tank. I'm unsure about what to get and what my money will get me to be honest, so I need you guys.

I've had two series 3's, which were great fun on the greenlanes, but a nightmare around town because of parking and their slowness, noise etc. Also had a disco 1, which was a jack of all trades, master of none to be honest. It was okay down the lanes, and quite civilized for trips to town and the gym etc. It didn't make me feel like I was on the camel trophy the same way being in a series did, it felt more like a mum on the chelsea school run, and I was probably a bit too precious with it. Besides which, disco's don't age well.

Initially I thought going back to a disco was a safe bet, but because I don't find them all that appealing, I'd be looking to pay about 1500 quid for one, which let's face it, could well have chassis and engine troubles around the corner. Been looking for defenders under 2500, and they are few and far between, but I find them very desirable, and would pay a bit of a premium for one. I may have the chance to get one for around 2 grand, and at that price I'm wondering what to expect. The seller maintains the chassis is in 'good condition', and it looks good in the pics, but you can never be sure without looking, which I intend to do before making a final offer. The thing is, it's a long drive to get there, so to make sure I don't waste a journey, I want to know what I can expect.

A disco for 1500 quid I would expect a chassis with perhaps a year or two welding free MOTs in it, in average condition inside, and with a few bits of corrosion on the body.
A defender for 2 grand I would expect rusty doors, something to be on the way out (clutch/ gearbox/ tranny), some welding in the chassis at the next MOT, miserable interior.

I know every one is different, but is that about right, and as defender owners, what are the perks over a disco?

I used to have an MGB GT jubillee, great fun

lol I was glad to be shot of mine. All well and good looking at it thinking what a pretty car, until 2 minutes later your driving down a country lane and hit the potholes, and mud & moss that plays havoc with the handling, and the fact that you have to be an olympic gymnast to fold yourself into one.

hahaha I loved mine, although I had a garage so was a bit easier to keep it going in winter.

weirdly enough, my dad went to a steam show a few months ago, paid a quid for some help the heroes raffle ticket and won a lovely red roadster . he's just sold it for a few grand more than the price of the ticket

lol Good on him.
Tell him to get a landy with his profits!

Just as a side note, the defender I'm looking at is a 1989 TD engined county, but I've just read that TDs are pretty troublesome and require alot of attention. My 300tdi disco seemed very refined considering it was a landy, so as long as the TD engine isn't as bad as a series, it'll be okay, but what do you guys think?

I was in a similar boat to you a few months back. Didn't want a disco as I only wanted it for off roading an laning, had a look at the TD option but they seem to be hit and miss depending on how theyve been maintained. In the end payed under 2k for a 2.5petrol with Tax an MOT. Chassis had some welding done and new dumb irons but all to a high standard, seats had been refurbished, interior was clean with chequer plating lining the back, at first when people told me to avoid the petrol and people telling me there must be something up with it I was going to walk away. Glad I never though the standard 90 is a brilliant solid start point for modding and the engine seems bulletproof (touch wood) upto now. It uses a lot of fuel but it's not too big of an issue. My point is be patient and keep searching, if your not worried about being a bit different cheap 90s to come up.

I had a 19j and I would never have another it was nothing but trouble, took it out and had a 200tdi disco put in it and that is much better.

I havn't heard back from the defender owner who I was interested in buying from, and I've come across, an ideal disco for me so it looks as though I'll be getting myself another disco.

I'm quite happy, and it's a safe option because discos are what I know. The 300tdi engine did me well before, and the interior is a little nicer to be sat in when just nipping round town or on long journeys too.
The amount of actual off roading I will be doing will be minimal but it's nice to know what in the muddy/ snowy conditions we might get this year, I will be able to get around.