Defender for daily drive?

[camel_landy]

stu harris said:

Job done. Wife drives it daily, never complains on the gear change...hates the handbrake location tho.

Don't bother using the hand brake...

Use the anti-stall for hill starts instead.

M

[Denis O]

stu harris said:

We ve a Puma 90 XS.
Raise the seat, Momo wheel, leather strap door pulls....that's the driving position sorted.
Noise killer engine blanket, that's dulled the ditch pump in the front.
Decent stereo and 4x decent speakers will at least enable you to listen to some tunes/news etc.
Play with the tyres pressures to get rid of a bit of the bounce ( we've fitted bilsteins all round to improve further).

Job done. Wife drives it daily, never complains on the gear change...hates the handbrake location tho.

Stu

All you need now is a slush box conversion and you've got the perfect 90.

Oh, and this will sort the handbrake

http://www.reedx.net/landrover/mods/handbrake/inde...

[Lefty]

Davel said:

So, to those of you who do use one daily, do you get aches from the constant gear changes?

Am I trying too shift to quickly, should I pause mid change?

Really still very tempted.

What you need is a nice stage 2 remap, intercooler, egr blank and decat from twisted or JE. Who needs gears?!

Seriously, I don't find myself getting arm-ache at all.

[Lefty]

stu harris said:

We ve a Puma 90 XS.
Raise the seat, Momo wheel, leather strap door pulls....that's the driving position sorted.
Noise killer engine blanket, that's dulled the ditch pump in the front.
Decent stereo and 4x decent speakers will at least enable you to listen to some tunes/news etc.
Play with the tyres pressures to get rid of a bit of the bounce ( we've fitted bilsteins all round to improve further).

Job done. Wife drives it daily, never complains on the gear change...hates the handbrake location tho.

Stu

Leather strap door pulls? That's a great idea, the plastic ones are are a total pain in the arse leg. Where did you get em?

[stu harris]

Lefty said:

Leather strap door pulls? That's a great idea, the plastic ones are are a total pain in the arse leg. Where did you get em?

These ones

www.nakatanenga-tours.de/shop/article_TGLEZ/T%C3%B...

You can get them from Brendan at 4x4 Overlander www.4x4overlander.com


Stu

[Lefty]

Cheers!

[300bhp/ton]

Davel said:

So, to those of you who do use one daily, do you get aches from the constant gear changes?

Am I trying too shift to quickly, should I pause mid change?

Really still very tempted.

Erm have you not driven any other manual cars??

Tis no different really.

[Davel]

Yep loads but only found this an issue with this car and, a few years ago a C4S.

It's not my wking arm, so probably doesn't get much exercise.

[Lefty]

stu harris said:

Lefty said:

Leather strap door pulls? That's a great idea, the plastic ones are are a total pain in the arse leg. Where did you get em?

These ones

www.nakatanenga-tours.de/shop/article_TGLEZ/T%C3%B...

You can get them from Brendan at 4x4 Overlander www.4x4overlander.com


Stu

Order placed

[Psimpson7]

Davel said:

So, to those of you who do use one daily, do you get aches from the constant gear changes?

Am I trying too shift to quickly, should I pause mid change?

Really still very tempted.

Assuming you are looking at TD5's still the R380 gearboxes all seem to have totally different shift feels...

They are so varied... I have 2 here, one in a 2001 TD5 90, and one in a 2003 V8 Disco 2A.

The box in the 90 feels fantastic, despite getting used very hard, including a broken layshaft. The Discovery one however is horrible by comparison, and a real chore in heavy traffic.

They both run Castrol Syntrans manual gear oil so it's not an oil issue.

80k miles on the Defender and about 75k on the Disco.

Both have been rebuilt aswell! 90 due to the damage, and the Disco got a bearing noise at about 35k miles

[300bhp/ton]

Disco and Defender have different gear linkages, maybe that's the cause of it?

[Davel]

Looking at a 2010 60 plate with 2.4 engine, 13,000 miles - or a 2012 12 plate with the 2.2 engine, 800 miles.

What is the difference driving wise between the two engines - is it noticeable?

[stu harris]

Davel said:

Looking at a 2010 60 plate with 2.4 engine, 13,000 miles - or a 2012 12 plate with the 2.2 engine, 800 miles.

What is the difference driving wise between the two engines - is it noticeable?

The 2.2 is quieter and punchier low down. But it runs a DPF with all the inherent issues of DPF ownership. LR say they've tested it extensively and it goes into a regeneration cycle earlier but only time will tell. So if you're only doing short journeys then best avoid them.

You also get a a piece of plastic string connecting the fuel filler cap to the filler area. Which is nice.

Stu

[biglump]

I test drove the 2.2 and found it to be better than all previous Defenders, but still most definately a Defender! Let's face it, you don't expect it to be the last word in comfort, speed or handling, but there's nothing else like them still being made.

Anyway, didn't put me off, ordered an 110XS Utility as there are a few tax breaks etc putting through the company. 4 month waiting list!!! Due in October.

[budrover]

Davel said:

So, to those of you who do use one daily, do you get aches from the constant gear changes?

Am I trying too shift to quickly, should I pause mid change?

Really still very tempted.

Driving a defender has to be a leisurely affair, the previous gearbox's LT77 & R380 never liked a quick change and sychros on 2nd and 3rd were weak... so most people enjoy the 'drive' .... having to take your time with shifts and planning what gear to be in....but still being able to get a bit of a 'hurry on'.

I drive 17 miles to work ....some days in TDV8 Range Rover and some days in my days a 200 tdi 90 ...or a 2ltr 86inch series 1 ....each has its own little quirks and I enjoy being able to drive them ... the RR is like a milk float ...press one pedal ...active cruise control..forward alert ..suprised it doesnt steer itself ... lovely ride but not a drivers car.

If you want a defender with easy modern drivability ...get an auto box fitted.

http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/index.php?...

[Robbo66]

I use my 90xs as a daily, 20-30 miles per day. As another stated, universally loved and totally classless. Fantastic. Off to France in it shortly, the antithesis to the Evoque (man bag). Wife loves it too. Do it.

[Davel]

Thanks all!

Off to sort one now......

[Lefty]

Davel said:

Thanks all!

Off to sort one now......

Nice one! TDCI?

[Psimpson7]

300bhp/ton said:

Disco and Defender have different gear linkages, maybe that's the cause of it?

No I don't think so. I have driven dozens, and some are really nice and some aren't. Its not speicfic to the linkage type, I just used the 2 I currently have at the moment for my example.

[uk_vette]

BLUETHUNDER said:

I had a 50th for 3 years. Loved it. And regret ever selling it. More compliant than the diesel models in respect of noise levels. Smooth changes from the autobox enhance the experiance. I once did a 70 mile dash in it at a constant 100 mph. Basically it couldn't go any faster as it was sitting on the limiter. Near enough emptied a full tank in that distance.

.
.
Jeeeezzzzzz

70 miles at 100 mph, and you have an empty tank ! ?

5 gallon tank ?

vette