So long story short I have a choice between buying two land rovers. Same price range (£6000ish) but cannot make my mind up. I do some casual off roading and live in a very rural area - snow means totally stuck... And very tight narrow lanes. I commute 30 miles each way to work most days which is about 35 miles of mixed town and motorway driving. The choice...

57 plate 110 TDCi van back with 60k on the clock. Stock everything, BFG A/T tyres with about a year left on them and in need of some interior tidying/work but nowt major. Steering bang on tight.

L reg ('93) 200tdi which had a complete engine rebuild 6000 miles ago. It's 2" lifted and mostly consists of aftermarket parts including uprated suspension, synthetic winch, A-Frame, and bespoke roll cage (it's a soft top with a bespoke canvas), dry cell battery, heavy duty clutch (brand new), new brakes, BFG M/T on black perforated steels, and in the back instead of seats a decent storage area with clever hidden drawer. It's a beautiful gunmetal grey and looks gorgeous. It's articulates well but is very planted on the road. I know the current owner and he's put about £18000 into making it what it is from an initial chassis and engine, and simply doesn't need it any more (only selling it to me as I'm a mate). When it was built a couple of years ago he got a 10 page spread in one of the landy mags.

So - thoughts! The 90 is a million times better off road, the 200 engine will be easier to fix and hopefully more reliable, but less powerful for motorway driving. The smaller turning circle is an obvious benefit as well! The 110 is more spacious and modern (and the heaters actually work!) as well as being better on the motorway etc.

Please advise - those of you who've had both, or have used a 200 as a runabout. Or anyone with any advice!

Cheers, shay.

Speaking as one who does a 60-mile daily commute in a 110 2.5d at more-or-less motorway speeds unless you are a total madman you will not have any issues with the power from the 200TDi if it's set up properly.

I don't see the off-road gear as a net win for a commuter vehicle - were it me i'd be thinking about losing the lift somewhere along the line (at a tyre change, methinks). if you go into cities car parks that are underground/multistory will not be your friend - and cars are great but you have to park them sometimes!

You are going to hate those tyres on the motorway - they will DRONE loudly.

All being said I'd be on the 90 considering it's got more of a known history, and is a much easier to maintain vehicle.

ajr

I get into every carpark with a 2" and cage

Stenova - the landy in your picture looks very similar to the 90 I'm considering! My main concern isn't the kit (although grea to have it to play with!) but also whether the 200tdi will be good enough for longer drives.

I like the sound of the 200tdi.

I don't see the engines as the issue here it's more down to if you want to drive fully kitted off-roader for 60 miles a day, personally I'd rather drive the 57 plate

I've driven to Oxfordshire (360 miles each way) for long weekends, and to France & Spain for holidays in a 90tdi. There were 5 of us on the France trip - 2 adults and a teenager on the rear bench seats! Apart from the fuel consumption it was fine.

I'd get the 90 .. and a VW Polo or summat similar to commute with ..

200tdi, will run for ever and easy to maintain, tdci is poo

I wish I had six grand to have a dimella with...

blackstrat said:

I don't see the engines as the issue here it's more down to if you want to drive fully kitted off-roader for 60 miles a day, personally I'd rather drive the 57 plate

Click to expand...

I drive mine for fun, I some times use it for work, but i couldn't use it as a daily it would drive me crazy

Has either got a Galvanised chassis?

Personally I'd go for the 57 plate, nicer dash, etc and a nicer engine.

Although I do like my 200tdi.

The 90 has a galvanised chassis... And it's been looked after far better. Would this be a selling point?

Deffo, galvanised chassis equals a much longer useful life for the truck!

Oh and the 90 also has a stainless steel exhaust. I think i'm more tempted by the 90 for the kit it's got on it... Although it might be a less convenient day to day vehicle than the 110 I think it's off road ability will make my free time substantially more fun! Got a little while to think it through though so any advice very much appreciated!

Edit: forgot to mention it also has rock sliders, and is totally rust free. The 110 is rust free too but non galvanised chassis, and obviously a lot newer.