I am looking for a bigger 4x4 than the temporary vitara i bought recently.

Too many people have woes to tell about land rovers and i am just looking for the brass tacks.

Do they need regular maintenance/ renewals or are they if looked after and maintained sensibly and safe buy.

I am looking at discos but would i be better off going for a 90?

Which engine: the 200tdi, 300tdi or the V8 on gas?

I mean to enjoy some light green laning aswell as regular trips into the forrests with motorsport (something my old bmw tourer currently endures).

Any help / advice welcome.

not the one to be negative but........seriously m8 this is the most over asked qs on ere and must get asked nearly early day..

there is millions of info on ere if you use the search function all your qs will be asked..
i hope you have a soh and thick skin..

above all enjoy and welcome

Depends entirely what you are using it for as for a daily driver a defender can be a bit "agricultural".

Diesels will be cheaper to run and more reliable... the rover V8 is a poor example of an engine these days.

All cars require maintenance and things will go wrong... part of the land rover ownership experience is fixing them yourself IMO. If you go offroad a lot things will break and you will certainly become very familiar with your car

i have had my 300tdi discovery for 3 years and to be honest its been awesome with very minor fuss and that had a fairly hard life off road/greenlaning, i went through a few wheel bearings but thats because i had big wheels on spacers, the engine was cock on and i did 30k with it, was at 80k when i bought it and now 110k but just does not miss a beat, and all this has had was routine maintenance eg: all fluids changed, all filters, parts greased, cambelt and aux belt done.
recently bought a 300tdi defender 90 with 100k on the clock and i have basickly checked everything over and serviced it so all being well it will serve me good like the disco, the disco is more comfy and more room but i already love the 90 so it would be a defender for me out of the choices.

both vehicles are used for road/off road

my old girls up cheap
land rover defender 110 on eBay (end time 08-Jan-11 17:58:23 GMT)
ask around on here, she is solid and very capable.

nesponge said:

Depends entirely what you are using it for as for a daily driver a defender can be a bit "agricultural".

Click to expand...

Oi bog off! Nothing "agricultural" about my D90 CSW. However, I could be a tad biased

Hi, i think i know what to expect with a 90, i built and ran kit cars for a number of years so basic interiors, rough ride and ice on the inside of the windscreen is nothing uncommon to me.

the BMW is happily making me soft but i regularly hop into my wifes lightened, lowered and uprated mazda mx5 for a day or two, walk and cycle hundreds of miles every year.

It is more a case of which one will give me least headaches, 90's bodyshells corrode, discos rust, niether of those issues worry me, it is the mechanical side of which is better.

the V8 bit is the next question, i am torn over the V8 on gas or a 200/300Tdi, advise please,

you don't know how close i am to putting my money where my mouth is.

Max.

Hey max - I recently had a V8 LPG converted disco 1. Can't comment on the 200/300 tdi as never had one (now got a td5 110).

LPG conversion is great for the V8...You'll probably pretty much replicate Diesel equivilent MPG with it ...... HOWEVER... consider where the tanks are put - slung underneath - great for space inside car - 7 seater heaven but watch your ground clearance if you gonna use her for off road/green laning. Whacking the tank in the boot will of course solve this problem but will then restrict you in terms of interior space.

Perhaps LPG conversions have moved forward massively in the past few years and the ground clearence problem has been improved. Mine was a 2005/6 dated conversion. Only going on what I encountered.....


In terms of Disco vs Defender.... difficult - have had both - Disco deffo more comfortable (and warmer and less noisy) and will go pretty much anywhere a Defender can. Disco is (in theory) probably a better everyday car. That said, my 110 is my every day car and lets face it.... no bugger waves at you when you drive a disco

Mechanically - Probably similar. Electrically, Disco likely to present more problems just by the nature of the beast. But it's gonna be luck of the draw - as with all motors.

food for thought.....

Cheers..

Jon

Hi Max, have'nt seen you for years, since THE TOY shop. I was just thinking of you the other day (fancied a plastic mini AGAIN), anyway how you doing I'm still into my Landys and plastic cars.
I have a 110 V8 on LPG only and its lush to drive, quiet, smooth and pulls trailers well. I also have a 90 Tdi also great. If your ever in my neck of the woods call in it would be great to see you again (hey bring the family for a weekend I've got loads of room) Alastair
P.M. me if you want my phone number.

If you go the V8 route... IMO you are better going off with a decent V8 such as a Chevy or Toyota/Lexus lump

Better fuel economy, stronger and more reliable than the boat anchor buick/rover example.