Defender 110 TD5

[codprawn]

My mate ended up selling poor Monty(109 series III) as his wife's back couldn't take it. Didn't help the sill old bugger was running around with 45psi in all the tyres - I tried to explain you only needed that sort of pressure if you were carrying a wombat but he wouldn't listen to me!!! He paid £900 for it and sold it for £1600 - not bad.

Lightweights are great but hold their money very well.

[Jono]

I’m on something like my 12th LR product, so you might say that I have a "soft spot" for Solihull's finest...and you'd be right. I love 'em.... but....
I still, currently, have a 110 Defender on the “fleet” which has only done about 70 K miles. It costs a feckin' fortune in maintenance to keep it looking and driving right. You have to look at the surface rust underneath the beggars and factor in the cost of having the underside cleaned off and repainted and sealed. I simply don’t have the time or inclination to do the work myself anymore, so servicing is not cheap. Dampers and bushes need replacing far more frequently than most people do, if you want to ensure that the ride doesn’t become too vague or clunky. Oil leaks? I’ve had a few…. Rusty fastners? Yup... Paint falls off rear cross-member? Check... Leaks? Well, you know about those..Want to know how much an injector costs, when they go?
Noisy, cramped, slow, under powered and not the best build quality……. But…. It has oodles of “character” and I still keep the fecka on the fleet despite the cost! It is my first choice to use if we have a shitty site to get to or a towing job.
Would I buy another? No, I wouldn’t. LR treats Defender owners as second class citizens and it pisses me off. I’d buy another Landcruiser Colorado.

[Simon B]

Agree with all so far, if I had the cash to buy a nearly new LR110 I probably wouldnt, I'd go for the refinement of the japanese vehicle you are used to or the the newer Discos. If you fancy fun go for an older "cheaper" 110 but expect to regualrly hose it off with parts and money. My V8 3.5 did about 10mpg towing our 5.5 metre Delta, interestingly my previous badly tuned 4.6 did about 13mpg on the same run. Will see what the new 4.6 returns with its more efficient set up when I fit it.

Landrovers you love and you hate them

[Kernow Buoy]

yep, agree as well, don't think I'd be tempted by a newer Defender, certainly as an everyday car. I have an 1988 110 V8 which is great, reliable for its age and really cheap parts if required. It does all I want, will carry 12 people a 4 piece rock band with full PA and amps (its then referred to as the Band Rover!) carry bags of sand and cement, cope with 3 very wet muddy springers, 3 lads wearing wet wetsuits and move caravans around the park all day everyday with no hassle. Having said all that I then jump in my wifes Disco 3 and go 'wow!'. Best advice would be to try one.

[randski]

Originally Posted by Jono

I’d buy another Landcruiser Colorado.

Had a number of 4x4 over the years, and the Colorado will take some beating ( wish i had not got rid of it )

[randski]

Originally Posted by Kernow

I have an 1988 110 V8 which is great, reliable for its age and really cheap parts if required. It does all I want, will carry 12 people a 4 piece rock band with full PA and amps (its then referred to as the Band Rover!) carry bags of sand and cement, cope with 3 very wet muddy springers, 3 lads wearing wet wetsuits and move caravans around the park all day everyday with no hassle.

It does sound GREAT as well

[codprawn]

Talking of Defenders the new one just out should cure many of the problems of the old one.

The biggest problem of all was the cramped interior. This was partly down to some old tax laws which gave VAT exemption for vehicles with 12 seats - hence the middle seat that was only suitable for a 5 yr old.

The new Defender is much the same as the old one with improved seating and comfort. It now has the new Transit engine and a 6 speed gearbox. Decent aircon and a load of other creature comforts.

They have now got rid of the flaps under the screen which is a damn shame. They had a marvelous use on dusty tracks. By opening the flaps in created an overpressure in the vehicle which stopped dust and sand coming in through the back door seals. It is all very well to say that if the rear door seals were better it wouldn't come in anyway because no matter what vehiclke the dust gets everywhere.

[Nasher]

Thanks all, some interesting comments.

My thoughts so far.

All my original concerns are well founded. Perhaps I should have just listened to the two gurus who gave me them. (You know who you are).

I must try to borrow one for a weekend.

Can I live at only 70MPH on the motorway, and not hear the finer points of ZZtop ?

If I did end up with one it would need to be quite new, and I’d end up getting it chipped.

I still like the look of them.
Nothing looks the same, except maybe a Hummer or M500 G-Wagon.
(Remember my mid-life crisis)

I still fancy being able to chuck wet boat gear, kids, engines etc in the back without worrying about the upholstery.

Perhaps I should just keep the Shogun, spend some money on it, and worry less about the upholstery as it gets older.

Or Perhaps I should look a a slightly older Amazon.

It would be the family ‘Second car’ as we’d upgrade Mrs Nashers Pug 206 to something like a Rav4, or even Focus.

By the end of the year I’ll be looking at something completely different.

I wonder if the engine bay would take a 4.2TD Toyota lump?

I wonder if the engine bay would take a TDV6 Disco III lump?

How long before TDV8 Range Rovers are a reasonable price second hand?

Nasher.

[codprawn]

As far as refinement goes I would say a TD5 110 is no worse than my mates Warrior and better in many respects - leaf springs in this day and age......

I know you like tinkering with mechanical things so a 110 would be right up your street.

[Chris]

I had one of these with a Toyota 4 litre turbo diesel in. Its the best landrover money can buy mainly cause its unique. We had the engine fitted to replace the old V8 that was in it.

Drove it round Morocco for several months when I was 22 with 3 mates. Best road trip ever.

Shame its now sat at my mates farm under a tarpaulin where its been for the last 10 years slowly rotting. One day I'll get it sorted and back on the road.

Chris

[codprawn]

Turn it into a Judge Dredd one!!!

[Nos4r2]

There was one of the original Judge Dredd landies for sale for ages in a car lot on the A329 near Reading. It even had the solid tyres from the film on it still. Looked like fun

[osprey__viper]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Talking of Defenders the new one just out should cure many of the problems of the old one.

The biggest problem of all was the cramped interior. This was partly down to some old tax laws which gave VAT exemption for vehicles with 12 seats - hence the middle seat that was only suitable for a 5 yr old.

The new Defender is much the same as the old one with improved seating and comfort. It now has the new Transit engine and a 6 speed gearbox. Decent aircon and a load of other creature comforts.

They have now got rid of the flaps under the screen which is a damn shame. They had a marvelous use on dusty tracks. By opening the flaps in created an overpressure in the vehicle which stopped dust and sand coming in through the back door seals. It is all very well to say that if the rear door seals were better it wouldn't come in anyway because no matter what vehiclke the dust gets everywhere.

Hmmmm dont be too sure about there being more room. I am currently driving a 2007my 110 XS county with 200 miles on the clock now. It still has the same crammped driving position previous models had.

That said, the new engine and 6speed box are a real peach. You now have to keep an eye on the speedo And the strangest thing happened while going to work init this morning...............I had to turn the heater down, yes thats what I said, Down

Over all it's a massive improvment on defenders of the past. And proving popular

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

There was one of the original Judge Dredd landies for sale for ages in a car lot on the A329 near Reading. It even had the solid tyres from the film on it still. Looked like fun

I know where there's one for sale much closer to home..... Oh it's the same one in Codders pics...

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by osprey__viper

Hmmmm dont be too sure about there being more room. I am currently driving a 2007my 110 XS county with 200 miles on the clock now. It still has the same crammped driving position previous models had.

That said, the new engine and 6speed box are a real peach. You now have to keep an eye on the speedo And the strangest thing happened while going to work init this morning...............I had to turn the heater down, yes thats what I said, Down

Over all it's a massive improvment on defenders of the past. And proving popular

I think they have made a major mistake with the lack of seats in them now. The 110 was used as a crew bus etc a lot by the constuction industry to shift loads of sweaty workers around the building sites. You used to be able to carry 11 people quite easily - with the individual seats etc what's it down to now?

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Jono

I know where there's one for sale much closer to home..... Oh it's the same one in Codders pics...

Just out of interest, how much? It can't be easy to put a value on something like that.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Jono

I know where there's one for sale much closer to home..... Oh it's the same one in Codders pics...

Bloody hell what a coincidence!!!

[Jono]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Bloody hell what a coincidence!!!

Reckon I got me a stalker........................................... ................

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

.....how much? ......

Make me an offer.....

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by Jono

Reckon I got me a stalker........................................... ................

Nah don't think I would stoop as low as to phone up to see if you are telling the truth or not........

What other strange toys have you got tucked away then???