Defender_Shrew

Defender_Shrew

New Member
300tdi or Td5?

I have a budget of approx 10k, i have heard several arguments for both. The main driving i will be doing is unfortunately the daily commute and i do approx 15,000 miles per year.

The main reason i want a Defender is because i have had fast cars all my life and im bored of them, mainly due to the fact it has got near impossible to enjoy them.

I really could never have a standard A-B car and i love the outdoors and i go fishing regulary, this + the fact that i have liked the Defender for a long time has made my mind up.

Firstly do you think its wise to do the daily commute in a Defender and secondly as the main question was 300tdi or Td5.

Please bear in mind i would only ever have a Defender 90, not a 110 or a Discovery etc.

Love to hear some informed points of view but i guess i will have to settle for the nutters on here! :D

Shrew
 
Us lot nutters I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My daughter has done similair, got rid of her normal car now uses her 90TD for everything, commuting, up and down motorways, going out with the girlies in evenings (that raises a few eyebrows as she climbs out with her mini skirt on and then another 4 or 5 clamber out !) + plus the main purpose towing her damn horses around upsetting the likes of trewy and the rest on here.
 
Hi Shrew,

I'm with Bradj. A 300tdi is basically an improved 200tdi and a majority of land rover owners still agree that the 200tdi is the best land rover engine to date. The 300 crams in a few more bits and pieces making it slightly more awkward to tinker with, but still a very worth while engine with plenty of power.

The Td5 is a good engine by all means but it's generally a **** to work with (apparently). It is very closely packed and awkward to work on, never mind the fact that it's nearly all computerised. You can't just change something without the computer somehow realising and then kicking up a fuss because it needs diagnosing by a laptop at a very unhelpful land rover dealership. Another annoying thing about the Td5 is the fact that you don't get the whole package right out of the box. Dealers can plug in a laptop, press a few buttons and suddenly you'll get 20HP more out of the thing, and it aint cheap.

You're best sticking to a typical diesel engine that you can work on and with when necessary without all the computerised crap that's bound with glitches. It's just extra stuff to go wrong, and god knows what will happen when the damp seeps in.

If those things run windows then you're totally shafted

-pos
 
I'm with pos on this one,them pooter things have bugs and gremlins and all sorts of nasty suprises in them.
Whats wrong with a 110,you will find that with a 90 you will be poking your rods in the back of the neck of your fishing buddy and struggling to get 2 lots of tackle in the back.
110 is the way.
regards Steve
 
I do my every day daily driving in my 110. I wouldn't even consider a 90 due to the fact that nothing will fit in the back. If I had 10 grand to spend I would buy a decent 300tdi and spend the balance on proper tyres etc. To me the beauty of Land Rover ownership is that I can fix it myself, cheaply and easily, so short of winning the lottery I doubt if I will ever buy a td5 or anything else with modern electronics for that matter. I'd rather eat my own head than rely on main dealer service for any make of vehicle.
 
hughesy said:
I wouldn't even consider a 90 due to the fact that nothing will fit in the back.
Click to expand...

Square things fit in the back of a 90. 1Kw PA system, 2 guitar amp, bass amp, lights, stands etc. No room for the band though, thank god…..

Long things, no. 90’s are rubbish for long things.

Cherio
 
stevek said:
Whats wrong with a 110,you will find that with a 90 you will be poking your rods in the back of the neck of your fishing buddy and struggling to get 2 lots of tackle in the back.
110 is the way.
regards Steve
Click to expand...
Thats why you put a roof rack on then its nice n roomy inside to play ont' fishin game ont' ps 2 while nite fishing. ALL HAIL THE INVERTOR!
 
Firstly, thanks to all of you for your comments, i knew this would happen though. I have now decided a 300tdi is the way forward but you have now opened a new debate of 90 vs 110.:(

The main reason i didn't want a 110 was because of the size but most of you are saying it is the size i will be missing if i get a 90, i have to admit i hadnt been in a 90 that much so i will have to check it out. I could always purchase a telescopic rod?:D

Hmmm choices choices. Any comments on Liveridge 4x4? i think thats where i will be going to have a look.
 
Roof racks are all very well but it's a pain putting stuff up there. I've got roof bars on my 110 but if I can possibly slide stuff inside it's way easier. For instance if I've been surfing it's a real pain to strap boards on the roof when you're cold and wet. There's also enough room to sleep in the back of a 110 if you ever want to.:D
 
Most fishing rods dissasemble don't they? If you like the look of a 90 buy one, I'm sure you'll find some way to shove your rod into the gals box :rolleyes:
 
My 90 carries both my 7 foot rod tubes without any problem - easy to fit 2 lots of fly fishing gear in there too. Dunno about carp fishing gear, but then I ain't into camping.

If you want to carry more than one other person and any gear, at all really, definitely get a 110 station wagon over a 90. Having kit/tools/fishing gear etc rolling around on the loadbay of a 90 with a passenger in the back is a recipe for disaster if you crash it.

The load bay in the 110 is slightly smaller than the 90 with the 2nd row seats upright, but the extra row of seats makes passenger seating a whole different thing, particularly if you've got kids or a baby that need dedicated seating.

I bought a 90 just before my son was born... now he's here I kind of wish I'd opted for a 110.

Hope that helps,
 
Would say 110, but have not been in a 90 so not really able to pass judgement!

For me the best way will be to go to the steeler and look at a few, if any stand out and you like the price then buy it 110 or 90 is not an issue as you can always work around problems.. but buy a car you not 100% happy with and you could regret it.

Have also heard the prices of rovers is falling so maybe haggle a bit on the price...
 
i'd take the td5 over a tdi. it's a good engine, only if you treat it well. it's a lot more to mess with, but it will make you learn the stuff of drive by wire engines. but be very careful, stay away from one that has many modification. You won't know what has been done and tracing a fault can be a nitemare.

if daily driving to work on tarmac is all you need, then the td5 is good. if you need to swim with the landie, then the tdi is a better bet.

if you do a lot of town driving, the 90 is a better bet as it's easier to park in tight spots considering defenders have the turning radius of a 40 seater bus. ha ha.

if you have loads of stuff to lug around, the 110 is definately your choice. it even makes good place to lie out flat in when camping. no more pitching tents on muddy grass.
 
Thats to all of you that have replied:)

The whole situation of my rod being to big for my landy (fnar fnar) is a situation easily solved. I do like the idea of the 110 now but i think because of the daily commute and town driving i will be doing in comparison with the amount of fishing / camping i think the 90 slightly outweighs the 110.

Having said that my mrs wants me to get a 110 because of the space and the whole child seat issue because were wanting kids.

So i suppose this is all irrelevent because she will end up picking it anyway. so a nice pink 110 it is then!:(
 
Defender_Shrew said:
Having said that my mrs wants me to get a 110 because of the space and the whole child seat issue because were wanting kids.
Click to expand...

Child seats in a 90 - major PITA compared with a 110. On road the only real difference is the turning circle, tighter on a 90. Off road the approach, break over and departure angles are slightly better on a 90 - but unless you're doing the more extreme stuff at pay and play sites you're never going to find it's limits ;)
 
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