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Big and Daft

New Member
Hi there,
I will be after buying myself a Defender (after a 90) and my budget will be £3500 (can't afford any more, already budgeted for insurance, tax, et al.)
So what will I be able to buy for £3500? Things like age, model, mileage, ect.
I did a few searches but nothing came up.

Thanks very much in advance.
 
hello fella,

first off my advice would be dont worry about millage,
its all about condition.
Landys being workhorses could have had a real hard life, so the things to look for are in my opinion,

the diff lock, low/high gears, when testin the selector will pretty much always be stiff. Thats good in my books,
as long as it dont take two hands to shift it and when engaged it all works, I'd reckon on it not being used too heavily or incorrectly, i.e usin difflock on concrete etc.
chassis, bulkheads, RUST. Rust is a killa, on a landrover the condition of the chassis and bulkheads is key. Everythin else pretty much can be repaired at reasonable cost and in ur own leisure (generally), however a rust eaten, patched up chassis is an expensive mistake.
Be war of checker plating,not only is it a no no in this forum!it can also be used to cover up corrosion.Pay particular attention to plating used on the rear crossmember and the bottom of doors.

So what ur get for 3.k grand? i'd bet on gettin a good 200tdi 90/110 with high millage but well cared for, rather than a cheap 300tdi with work needed.

I started off with a budget of 3-5 k, but eventually had to up it to the dizzy heights of 7k to get a real nice 300tdi county. Was a bit on the steep side i know (6-6.5 would have been a better price) but hey ho cant win em all!
 
I got a an early 90 200tdi CSW on an H plate wi 73000 miles on it in good mechanical order and good chassis wi little bit of corrosion on doors and bulkhead which i will tidy up eventually, paid just over 3500 for it
 
landy10 said:
I got a an early 90 200tdi CSW on an H plate wi 73000 miles on it in good mechanical order and good chassis wi little bit of corrosion on doors and bulkhead which i will tidy up eventually, paid just over 3500 for it
Click to expand...

thats bloody good millage!do ya know what it was used for before ya bought it?mine is a P reg 300tdi with alomost DOUBLE ur millage! but it was used as just as a security vehicle in SA so I was ok with the high miles. Rather it be that than have a low millege and had been used real tough for xample!
 
I've seen a few 200 TDi's on eBay, about my price range but I was detered my highish milage (90,000 - 110,000), so if thats not much of a problem I should be sorted.
A while ago I was directed to one of Grunts threads, Buying a second hand 90 so I have a fair idea of what to look for.

Im getting excited now :D
 
Big and Daft said:
I've seen a few 200 TDi's on eBay, about my price range but I was detered my highish milage (90,000 - 110,000), so if thats not much of a problem I should be sorted.
A while ago I was directed to one of Grunts threads, Buying a second hand 90 so I have a fair idea of what to look for.

Im getting excited now :D
Click to expand...

I think its more about condition and try and find out what it was used for before hand. like I us said, mine has a HUGE millege compared to others but I know it was jus used to sit in and drive around the mean streets of South Africa. in my opion a good 200/300tdi rover engine should go 250k before engine replacement considerations (as long as its been well serviced etc).
 
a 200TDi is only just run in at 90k.
Just make sure that the cam belt has been changed.
 
A pal of mine bought an-MOD 110 Defender N/A diesel H-reg with 33,000 miles in incredible condition for around £1200. You can get lucky!
 
One thing I'd say is don't assume that because they're asking top money for it it'll be in top condition. A new MOT is often reassuring but it means nothing, I've had many vehicles that wouldn't have passed if it wasn't the blokes mate doing the test. Land Rovers are unlike other cars where age/mileage dictates the price. Condition is everything. You've got to take a bit of time to have a good poke around underneath and take someone with you who knows what to look for if you can. If you buy off ebay ask lots of specific questions and if it turns out the seller has told you porkies walk away. Never pay up front without seeing the vehicle first. On the face of it you could get a really good Landy for 3.5 grand on the other hand you could end up with a pile of work/expense on your hands.
 
Yup he's got a good selection. They're all "reserve not met" though have you given him a ring to find out what he will actually sell any of em for?
 
It cost you £815? (or there abouts)

Its good to know I will be able to get a decent Defender for the money I have to spend, just need to resist the temptation to buy he first one I see and make sure I (or someone) checks it out.
 
Well last year i was looking for my 5th landy and i looked at a 200tdi truck cab J reg for £2500, it needed plenty doing to it to tidy it up so i walked away. A week or so later came up trumps buying a 94 M 300tdi 90 for £3k, new tyres, new clutch, just serviced etc 98000 genuine miles on the clock with all mot's confirming it, and the paint was still very shiny! Bargain.
 
Ebay, local papers, auto trader, but the best bet is word of mouth. If your in a local landrover club evryone knows all the landies within a 50 mile radius and someone always knows of someone who is selling!
 
Hey big'n'daft,
got my 1991 200tdi 90 off yanthelandyman via fleabay 3yrs ago, n its rock solid. Bulkhead is solid n so is the chassis.

Yan is up front n approachable kinda guy so wont mind ya askin any questions, or crawling underneath n proddin n pokin n if he did then you gottta walk anyways.

You gotta make sure you check everything tho paperwork especially.

Good hunting
 
That Bloke From Ebay...When I Was Looking For Mine I Gave Him A Bell And Went And Had A Gander At Some, He's Asking 2.5 To 4k For Most Of Them, Their In Decent Nick Aswell. He Showed Us All His Collection And Couldnt Fault Him Really. But That Was A Month Or So Ago (Ended Up In Bloody Bury For Mine!!)
 
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