Defender for daily drive?
Discussion
I did have one years ago and loved it.
I've just bought my wife a new Freelander as the family car, so I'm thinking of something to use 5 days a week or so, doing 14 miles each way - and for a bit of fun, so a 90 XS appeals instead ofr watching my Discovery being parked up and plummeting in value.
It might also slow me down a bit and keep my licence clean.
So, what do you guys reckon. Do you use your's every day and how do you find it?
Any pros/cons to consider with the new ones?
I test drove one 10 days ago and am borrowing one for a day from the dealer shortly.
I've just bought my wife a new Freelander as the family car, so I'm thinking of something to use 5 days a week or so, doing 14 miles each way - and for a bit of fun, so a 90 XS appeals instead ofr watching my Discovery being parked up and plummeting in value.
It might also slow me down a bit and keep my licence clean.
So, what do you guys reckon. Do you use your's every day and how do you find it?
Any pros/cons to consider with the new ones?
I test drove one 10 days ago and am borrowing one for a day from the dealer shortly.
Well, dropped her back off at the dealer and back into the Disco.
Loved the Defender but my left arm is aching from all the gear changes.
Great fun and not at all sluggish. Small footprint and much better steering than my old previous one.
Got waved at by loads of other drivers - which was nice!
Even kept my speed down a bit too.
Pondering now.
Couldn't squeeze even one of the kids into the back of a 997 so that option is now out.
Loved the Defender but my left arm is aching from all the gear changes.
Great fun and not at all sluggish. Small footprint and much better steering than my old previous one.
Got waved at by loads of other drivers - which was nice!
Even kept my speed down a bit too.
Pondering now.
Couldn't squeeze even one of the kids into the back of a 997 so that option is now out.
king arm, so probably doesn't get much exercise.
Well it all started off pretty badly really.
Collected her and the very next day, on my way to the Classic Car Show at Tatton Park, the engine warning light came on.
Called at the dealer, who was nearby anyway. Nothing we can do as it's the weekend - call LR Assist. Rang them and they said limp home and we'll be there in three hours, so missed the show and went home.
Three hours later, they came out and said that it need to go to the dealer - where it was just three hours earlier.
Anyway, after three days at the dealer, engine sorted and an annoying rattle was also sorted, which has now come back. It's a high pitced squeak sound around the door pillar on the driver side.
It drives really well but the ratle is driving me insane, so back she'll have to go for a second attempt.
Collected her and the very next day, on my way to the Classic Car Show at Tatton Park, the engine warning light came on.
Called at the dealer, who was nearby anyway. Nothing we can do as it's the weekend - call LR Assist. Rang them and they said limp home and we'll be there in three hours, so missed the show and went home.
Three hours later, they came out and said that it need to go to the dealer - where it was just three hours earlier.
Anyway, after three days at the dealer, engine sorted and an annoying rattle was also sorted, which has now come back. It's a high pitced squeak sound around the door pillar on the driver side.
It drives really well but the ratle is driving me insane, so back she'll have to go for a second attempt.
I had one about 25 years ago and loved it.
I've had various Discoverys, Range Rovers and now seem to be going backwards from a Range Rover Vogue (08), a Discovery 4 HSE (61) to this.
I bought my wife a Freelander as the family car and bought this as an inexpensive winter hack / commuter, so that I can buy a toy for the better weather.
I loved the Vogue but never really fell for the Discovery - great and sensible vehicle as it is.
I do like the Defender as it's a much less cosseted ride and basic drive - but this bloody rattle / sqeak is right close to my bloody ear!
I've had various Discoverys, Range Rovers and now seem to be going backwards from a Range Rover Vogue (08), a Discovery 4 HSE (61) to this.
I bought my wife a Freelander as the family car and bought this as an inexpensive winter hack / commuter, so that I can buy a toy for the better weather.
I loved the Vogue but never really fell for the Discovery - great and sensible vehicle as it is.
I do like the Defender as it's a much less cosseted ride and basic drive - but this bloody rattle / sqeak is right close to my bloody ear!
Thanks for that.
TBH I have few doubts about reliability. The engine warning light was just a sensor. The car starts and drives fine and the warning light probably didn't need the urgent attention that it got - it's just that the manual says seek urgent attention or something like that.
Driving it does make me smile, so we'll see if she's a keeper or not.
Just back from a 600 mile round trip up to Perth and back and she didn't miss a beat and mostly at 60 - 70'ish.
Really quite impresssed and a much more involving drive than doing it in a Disco. I think that the trip has loosened up the engine quite a bit too.
TBH I have few doubts about reliability. The engine warning light was just a sensor. The car starts and drives fine and the warning light probably didn't need the urgent attention that it got - it's just that the manual says seek urgent attention or something like that.
Driving it does make me smile, so we'll see if she's a keeper or not.
Just back from a 600 mile round trip up to Perth and back and she didn't miss a beat and mostly at 60 - 70'ish.
Really quite impresssed and a much more involving drive than doing it in a Disco. I think that the trip has loosened up the engine quite a bit too.
Edited by Davel on Friday 14th September 10:15
Done 2,000 miles in her to date and the problems have been sorted by the dealer and they were not major issues just bloody annoying.
The seal(s) which go around the car, just below the windows and windscreen, had to be replaced, as water was coming in and it has rained a tad here recently.
The worst rattle was something to do with the rear side window frame, on the driver's side, which has also just been replaced.
Oh and they replaced the driver's seat belt, which was wet and affecting the reel / tensioner.
Engine wise - no problems at all and she never missed a beat on a recent trip to Scotland.
Picked her up last night and noticed another bloody rattle - which turned out to be because they hadn't shut the back door when they valeted it.
Really enjoying her now and a great daily drive.
The seal(s) which go around the car, just below the windows and windscreen, had to be replaced, as water was coming in and it has rained a tad here recently.
The worst rattle was something to do with the rear side window frame, on the driver's side, which has also just been replaced.
Oh and they replaced the driver's seat belt, which was wet and affecting the reel / tensioner.
Engine wise - no problems at all and she never missed a beat on a recent trip to Scotland.
Picked her up last night and noticed another bloody rattle - which turned out to be because they hadn't shut the back door when they valeted it.
Really enjoying her now and a great daily drive.
Well I spoke too soon.
After the EGR sensor fault, a couple of days after buying it, the engine warning light came on last Wednesday and so off we went to the dealer.
I collected her last night and, two hours later, the problem re-occurred.
Due to staff sickness the dealer wasn't taking cars in again for a week and they took the stance that the fault had been fixed and cleared and so the re-occurrence was a fresh issue, so I'd have to wait or take it to another dealer.
Courtesy car was provided of course, so no complaint there. I took the car to another dealer.
So with this and other issues (five visits in four months), I have told them that I want to get rid.
Apart from wasted time going to and from the dealer, I've had to postpone several trips to Scotland on Business and it is really becoming embarrassing now.
They are trying to arrange a new car at a discounted price and with a virtual credit on what I paid for it in August - but do i really want to risk all this hassle again?
I really don't know what to do now.
After the EGR sensor fault, a couple of days after buying it, the engine warning light came on last Wednesday and so off we went to the dealer.
I collected her last night and, two hours later, the problem re-occurred.
Due to staff sickness the dealer wasn't taking cars in again for a week and they took the stance that the fault had been fixed and cleared and so the re-occurrence was a fresh issue, so I'd have to wait or take it to another dealer.
Courtesy car was provided of course, so no complaint there. I took the car to another dealer.
So with this and other issues (five visits in four months), I have told them that I want to get rid.
Apart from wasted time going to and from the dealer, I've had to postpone several trips to Scotland on Business and it is really becoming embarrassing now.
They are trying to arrange a new car at a discounted price and with a virtual credit on what I paid for it in August - but do i really want to risk all this hassle again?
I really don't know what to do now.
Not wanting creature comforts but do need four seats, hence the 90.
Happy with the lack of performance and the drive - just fed up of 5 trips to the dealer in 4 months and each for a several day stay.
Friday's collection at half four, for the same problem to occur two hours later has really annoyed me.
My old Defender (a D reg) never had an issue and I've had Range Rovers, Discoverys, Range Rover Sports too since then.
Happy with the lack of performance and the drive - just fed up of 5 trips to the dealer in 4 months and each for a several day stay.
Friday's collection at half four, for the same problem to occur two hours later has really annoyed me.
My old Defender (a D reg) never had an issue and I've had Range Rovers, Discoverys, Range Rover Sports too since then.
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