Defender Station Wagon TD5

[peteb]

I know this has been discussed many times, but I just wanted update thoughts on the basic good and bad points from experience on the new Defenders. I will be using it for occasional towing of 2,500kg of braked trailer with boat, and launching of same, other use is as a spare mucking about family vehicle.

I have scoured the internet and they seem to keep their value, but it is the hidden horrors I am trying to tease out if there are any, and the great benefits that I am sure there are. I am 90% certain on going for this subject to any real horror stories.

Thanks

[Rogue Wave]

over to you Codprawn. I think chrisalse runs a relatively new one also

[codprawn]

Well I am just a bit biased!!!

Defenders are an aquired taste - either love em or loath them.

Main bad point is driving position - very cramped - due to being designed with 3 seats in a space where only 2 will fit!!! I am 6' and not exactly small build and I fit ok but it is more comfortable with the classic elbow out of the window style.

Newer ones or ones fitted with a V8 are pretty quick - turning circle no worse than a Discovery or some cars I have driven. Not really that noisy either.

Obviously awesome offroad - traction control on new ones really is worth every penny - awesome becomes BLOODY AWESOME!!!

As to reliability - I have an E reg ex police 110 V8 with 120,000 on the clock - strats 1st time - never breaks down - doesn't leak oil.

They WILL rust - especially if you dunk them in the sea all the time. The cockle pickers around here have gone back to them after switching for a while to Jap vehicles - they lasted even worse!!! Give it a good does of Acrypol roof sealent underneath and then loads of waxoyl - wash the saltwater off afterwards!!!

Will tow anything and will climb anything in low ratio. And drivers don't mess with you - best thing of all - they are FUN to drive cos they are so different!!!

[Rogue Wave]

I must get my 110 back on the road!

[peteb]

OK, five questions :-

1. Where is the best place to buy one now, and what kind of discount could I expect to get from the RRP I see on the Land Rover website?

2. Will the 90 do just as good a job as the more expensive 110?

3. Is there some way of trying to beat the rust by wax oiling it especially in the prone places, if you can let me know where they are.

4. I will need a tow bar, do I need a height adjustable one or is there a standard fixed one that will hook a boat trailer up OK.

5. Options? I was going for metallic paint, centre front seat, cloth upgrade to vinyl on seats, CD player, alloys, remote locking. What about a winch at the front, they look like good fun?

I chose the Station wagon over the county as they have now done away with the bulkhead in the county and have a low bar across, this lets the seats recline more, but gear in the back could fly forward so I prefer the bulkhead. I also don't want the carpets in the county model as I would find it hard to keep the black carpet clean and dry, the rubber seems to do more for me With the options I have selected I guess I am near the county standard, apart from the county's four drop down seats compared to the basics drop down double bench seats. As I will not be using the back for passengers much I can live without the four seats, though it would have been nice.

I appreciate your kind help

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by peteb

OK, five questions :-

1. Where is the best place to buy one now, and what kind of discount could I expect to get from the RRP I see on the Land Rover website?

Cant answer this one. Shop around.

Originally Posted by peteb

2. Will the 90 do just as good a job as the more expensive 110?

A 90 will do just fine, and you can park it. A 110 is longer than a Range Rover Clasic. Better ride, less pitching, for long runs - so some say. 90s are more fun.

Originally Posted by peteb

3. Is there some way of trying to beat the rust by wax oiling it especially in the prone places, if you can let me know where they are.

www.before-n-after.co.uk/
2 friends have had various vehicles done here, which are used for serious off-roading. They are now called "Non-stick Nick" & "Teflon John". Nuf said.

4.Get a tow bar with a series of holes so you can set it up for your trailer. Adjustable ones are good if you tow lots of different trailers, but are very noisy.

5.
Personal preferance.

Enjoy.

[Kernow Buoy]

centre front seat

Had mine taken out, replaced with cubby box - very useful for placing things out of sight, as Codprawn said there's not room for 3 anyway!

remote locking

Definately put at the top of your list, I've walked miles round mine unlocking the doors!

do I need a height adjustable one or is there a standard fixed one

You probably only need a standard fixed one, do a search for '4x4 towing warning' on this forum I've had some er.. 'experience' with the adjustable ones

Will the 90 do just as good a job as the more expensive 110?

If you don't need the extra space yes, and they're better off road because of the shorter wheelbase.
Best of luck
Kernow

[peteb]

Thanks Mark, great practical advice, can't afford the teflon at £1,400 plus vat but waxoyl looks good

I have just found a site that imports cars see www.lapworthautos.com is this safe? they seem very cheap with a £5,000 saving.

Tow bar advice also makes sense, I will ensure that this is done

Thanks

[peteb]

Kernow, I did the search and it came back with this thread as the only hit

CANCEL, found it with a gap either side of the X

[codprawn]

Get a Dixon Bate or similar adjustable hitch - landrover's are so high you DO need one!!! They are NOT noisy - once they get clogged with mud and all sorts of crap.

As to protection do it yourself and save a fortune!!! Acrypol roof sealant from places like Selco - £30 for a tin - will do a whole 110 no prob. slap in on thick all over - have never used it on a NEW one though so don't know how well it will stick but it does to most things!!!

Then use black waxsoyl underbody seal and the clear waxoyl for inside panels and chassis etc.

As long as you wash off after every dunking the thing will last you years.

[Turbodiesel]

We have 4 of them at work just for towing and launching boats. They have all been spot on. We got them cause they can tow more than anything else, and the service intervals are 12k instead of 6k for most other jap 4x4 diesels.
One of them had just done over 225000 miles and still going just fine.

[peteb]

Great, reassured by those fine comments and help, will buy one tomorrow.

Cheers

[Rogue Wave]

Buy a landrover mag for cheap prices and sources.

[Nick Hearne]

Hi this may be worth a try, this chap is getting 10k off a new D3 HSE!!
http://disco3.web-rover.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=539
Nick

[peteb]

Thanks to all, I bought 3 x magazines today, Land Rover International, Land Rover monthly and Land Rover world and read them on the train, great info in them, Oh! and I bought my brand new UK specification dream Defender 90 today with all extras I wanted and a massive saving of £5,800 off MRRP, delivery next Friday

So thanks

P.S. Any other tips will be well received

[Nick Hearne]

Go & introduce your self to the service manager at your local dealer!
As you will be talking to him soon!
You will love it I'm shaw
Nick

[Andre]

Peteb

Try Reid Land Rovers (Specialising in the sale of Quality used Land Rovers)
tel: 01403 790518
they are located on the A29 near Horsham and since you are in London not that far

full address: Richmond Stud farm
A29 Bognor Road , Rowhook
Nr Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 3PY

I part exchanged my Freelander with them in January this year / took a Disco 300TDI auto - I am very pleased with it after nearly 6 months - no problems so far

They always have a lot of used land rovers in stock

Has a web page but not so sure if updated
www.reidlandrovers.co.uk

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by peteb

Thanks Mark, great practical advice, can't afford the teflon at £1,400 plus vat but waxoyl looks good

You can after that saving.

What ever you do, do not put a setting or hardening anti-rust coating on the chassis. You will miss bits and the water will find its way in and stay there.

Waxoyl is the biz for a DIY job. Re do it every couple of years.

[gavin]

I have to say they look cool, and are great off road, unfortunatly you have to be prepared to throw money at them constantly.
You shouldnt have to buy a vehicle and then go about rust proofing it for yourself, does this not make you wonder,
Defenders are notoriously unreliable, soft gearboxes , and they do leak oil.
I wouldnt consider a Dixon Bate hitch, have you read the posts here about ,pins failing or popping out, not really necessary for rib towing, maybe plant or machinery.
Apart from being dated and , succeptable to corrosion, the engineering just isnt there, no luxurys, they are far too basic.
Defenders , Discos, and Range Rovers, all belong to the same British family of bad engineering, its nice to be patroic and all that, but if you want a tow vehicle that is fit for the job, buy a Jap vehicle, over engineering and quality is what you will get.
A friend of mine bought a Defender, low mileage etc etc, picked it up in Offaly en route to Dublin,gearbox failed.......didnt even get it home.
Tim has a story about towing a J24 from Italy to Ireland, he was offered a Range Rover for the tow, the insurance company wouldnt even consider cover for the Rover, he happily towed it in his Jap L200, 56000 miles later and still on that same clutch.
Defenders are enthuasists vehicles, some one who has the time to do the mods, recalls and repairs, thankfully the Japs build 4x4s I am not Defender bashing, but lets be honest here


I took this quote from review centre.com 2 reviews about Defenders
this is one of em

Bad Points
Don't touch the Td5 Engine - mine self destructed at 59 349 miles and 4 years old. Land Rover tell me this is acceptable so I have had to replace the engine (£5 000 all in ouch).

another customer wrote

2000 Land Rover Defender 110 County Station Wagon from UK and Ireland
Previous Next
Great vehicle ruined by poor quality workmanship
Search for Used Land Rover Defenders available in the UK

Get a UK Insurance Quote for a Land Rover Defender
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rear differential was replaced, complete rear axle was replaced, now the transfer gearbox is being replaced, all in less than 2000 miles on a brand new vehicle.

Upon delivery the sunroof leaked and the front passenger door lock was defective.
General comments?
Insufficient quality control at the factory, very poor workmanship on vehicle assembly.

A wonderful vehicle if it was reliable. Land Rover need a serious rethink about their quality control procedures if indeed they have any.

And from the same site
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Internal plastic trim either side of the rear door has come loose, nothing a bit of glue can't fix!

N/s door slightly buckled around the hinge due to over opening, door definitely needs strengthening.
General comments?
For a two ton vehicle it handles very well, I had 70mph out of her around some very twisty country lanes despite the 235 section general grabbers giving me a very vague feeling through the steering. Body roll was minimal. the TD5 engine is gutless when off the turbo which hinders progress when in low range under idle when negotiating fords or steep gradients causing the engine to stall where a 300tdi would have plodded on regardless. A bit of throttle with the diff-lock engaged and the rover will go over and through anything albeit under less control. axle articulation is still very impressive considering my model has anti-roll bars front and rear, I crossed a particular section where I had previously x-axled a '95 disco. Air con installation is very bulky and takes up most of the passenger footwell. oh and to cool the whole vehicle down you need the unit on full blast and whats the first thing in front of the air-con vents? the drivers shin


And finally


What things have gone wrong with the car?
New radiator, new camshaft kit, every engine orifice leaks, rain leaks in the doors.



Did I just read that

[gavin]

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread....highlight=l200



here is 13 pages off a post as why not to buy a Defender including links to prob pages etc, in the end Daniel TD5 bought an L200