Defender 90 - buying advice

[Doug Ward]

First post in the land rover area of this site, I've searched through previous posts and found half the info i'm looking for but not all and wondered if anyone would kindly offer their opinion.

I'm about to head out and buy a second hand defender 90 from a landrover approved used dealer. I'm looking in the 1-2yr old category so last of the TD5's or early transit engine. Question is which one?

It seems one can get a last year TD5 XS for ~20k with <20k mileage and the same spec new engine on a 07 or 57 plate, similar mileage for 23k. My question is whether the new engine and refinements worth the difference.

Should I also be cautious about buying the first production year of a new variant?

[5 wh]

Ive run most variants of the 90 over the years and currently have a transit engined 90.In my opinion it is quite a bit better than the TD5,mostly because it is a lot more refined(esp with the 6th speed on the gearbox),and revised dash etc.The only thing I miss over the earlier models are the dash vents which open up giving a nice draft in the summertime(and lots of squeaks all year round!)

[Monocock]

I have recently bought a new 90 and have the following comments:

The engine is a huge improvement and you can cruise at 80 with hardly any noise. Mobile phones on handsfree can now be heard in the cabin which is much better. The limiter (85mph) is slightly annoying but you get used to it.
Fuel consumption is no better than in the TD5 and I am averaging 25 mpg....
The dash looks better and the heater is so quick to warm up it's great.
I too looked at a late TD5 and was sold the new one buy a good salesman.
In hindsight I would say that there isn't a huge amount in it. I feel that the sheer grunt of the TD5 and that lovely agricultural noise has gone with the new engine. My wife still has a 54 reg TD5 110 model and I have to say I still really love driving it.

So, to summarise, it's a more refined drive but I wouldn't actually say the vehicle's performance was any better at all except for being a bit quiter at speed

DONT FORGET THAT THE RESALE VALUE WILL BE BETTER WITH THE NEW ENGINED ONE IN A FEW YEARS WHEN YOU COME TO SELL IT! That's the main reason I went for the new model in the end.

Hope that helps

Edited by Monocock on Monday 17th March 16:54

[stuttgartmetal]

Don't.

HTH

[Doug Ward]

Thanks for all the advice. I went ahead and bought a 57 plate 90 XS in the end! It's a dealers ex demo car so has been quite well spec'd but also decently discounted despite only having ~2.5k mileage. Hope to pick it up in just over a week. Planning to use as main car, transporting surfboards/wakeboards and possibly towing a speedboat or trailer and track car.

[baggiebird]

I like my Defender, and you will like yours. However following the Budget the road tax is annoying as it is, £210 in 2008-2009 and then £440 from 2009-2010.