Defender or G Wagon

[gwm]

Want to buy a project 4x4, something basic, to use off road (ish) and when the weather is snow-y.

For whatever reason, I'm thinking about either a Defender or G Wagon. That kind of utilitarian tough vehicle.

I'm really looking at the bottom end of the market too, with the idea being it's mostly mechanically sound and just needs updating cosmetically. Don't want to bling it out or anything, but long term plan would be to make it super clean and modern ish.

Budget less than £5k.

Any opinions either way? Need to able to drive it on motorway (G Wagon +1) and b secure enough to leave over night remote places.

[TRUENOSAM]

5k for a decent defender or g wagon
Is a tall order, maybe a early 90's defender, just check for rot on the chassis

Bear in mind comfort isn't an option on the defender.

[williamp]

How about an old shape range rover or g wagen? Clasic and sportscar mag compared the two last month

[veevee]

Land Cruiser FJ40?

[Wigeon Incognito]

A G Wagon at that price point would scare me due to rust. Very expensive to repair rust.

Seek out a clean one though and you'll be onto something special.

[gwm]

I realise a G Wagon is probably a big ask for that money, from the ones I've seen anyway. Defender definitely do able.

Land Cruiser? Mmm, hadn't considered them. Definitely don't see many of them about.

Same with the old Range Rover, never considered them an option.

I'd say I'm leaning towards a G Wagon. Scary prospect, but it is a project after all. How hard can it be...?

[Efbe]

gwm said:

I realise a G Wagon is probably a big ask for that money, from the ones I've seen anyway. Defender definitely do able.

Land Cruiser? Mmm, hadn't considered them. Definitely don't see many of them about.

Same with the old Range Rover, never considered them an option.

I'd say I'm leaning towards a G Wagon. Scary prospect, but it is a project after all. How hard can it be...?

honestly I think you should start from the absolute beginning and work out what you want to do with it.

so far i've heard utilitarian, offroad, motorway and secure. A landy will not do the motorway or secure well, given that a 90 is one of the most stolen cars in the country at the moment, certainly around my way. a G-wagon is going to be way over budget


so how about:

Nissan Patrol newer LWB: http://r.ebay.com/WrVqGN
Nissan Patrol older SWB: http://r.ebay.com/PPJfob

or even:

Suzuki SJ
Rangerover
Toyota Landcruiser SWB: http://r.ebay.com/6NWzM3
Mitsubishi Shogun
Isuzu Trooper
Jeep Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee

[gwm]

Efbe said:

honestly I think you should start from the absolute beginning and work out what you want to do with it.

so far i've heard utilitarian, offroad, motorway and secure. A landy will not do the motorway or secure well, given that a 90 is one of the most stolen cars in the country at the moment, certainly around my way. a G-wagon is going to be way over budget


so how about:

Nissan Patrol newer LWB: http://r.ebay.com/WrVqGN
Nissan Patrol older SWB: http://r.ebay.com/PPJfob

or even:

Suzuki SJ
Rangerover
Toyota Landcruiser SWB: http://r.ebay.com/6NWzM3
Mitsubishi Shogun
Isuzu Trooper
Jeep Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee

Like the Patrol SWB and the Shogun, ta.

I more meant I like the style of Defender and G Wagon, but to use it off road (think mild off roading in the Highlands) I'd need to drive on motorways/ fast A roads to get there - so wouldn't want to be stuck at 50mph with my teeth rattling out. Security is more that if I left it parked in a car park all day full of stuff, how easy would it be to get into (Defenders sliding windows seem to rule it out).

[davepoth]

You don't really want a Defender if you need to do any serious motorway driving - maybe a Discovery would fit the bill a bit better?

[Efbe]

gwm said:

Like the Patrol SWB and the Shogun, ta.

I more meant I like the style of Defender and G Wagon, but to use it off road (think mild off roading in the Highlands) I'd need to drive on motorways/ fast A roads to get there - so wouldn't want to be stuck at 50mph with my teeth rattling out. Security is more that if I left it parked in a car park all day full of stuff, how easy would it be to get into (Defenders sliding windows seem to rule it out).

defenders are a nightmare for security. they are actively targeted as the parts are worth so much, they are easy to get into, and easy to start. you'll see a lot of this on the web:
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/land-ro...
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10659888.Own...

apparently 4th most stolen vehicle in the uk!: http://funrover.com/stolen/

For mild offroading, then your choices are wide open. Any of those mentioned and many more will be able to handle more than you are ever likely to throw at them.
Just because you don't see a Discovery or or Grand Vitara or Cherokee rock climbing often doesn't mean it won't be able to take on some impossible offroads. You will actually find that the biggest limitation with offroading is how willing you are to damage your vehicle!

IMO a g-wagon or defender is complete overkill for what you are looking for, and also rubbish to live with!

Edited by Efbe on Sunday 6th October 00:30

[GravelBen]

Efbe said:

Nissan Patrol older SWB: http://r.ebay.com/PPJfob

These things (also called Nissan Safari in Jap market), along with Landcruisers are about the most popluar trucks you'll find among serious 4wd-ers in NZ/Oz - very capable, reliable, built like a tank, heaps of aftermarket upgrades available. Some had optional factory difflocks, PTO winches, disconnectable ARBs and so on.

I quite like how they drive too, wider track means they don't have as much body roll as some.

[jimbop1]

Just interested to know why an older discovery hasn't been mentioned

[billzeebub]

Defender or. Discovery

[loafer123]

Cherokee XJ.

Buy one for £1500, upgrade the suspension, add auxiliary lights, new tyres for £1000 and you will have a smart, comfortable and capable 4x4.

[Pdelamare]

It's a G-WagEn.

Both cars are awful to drive. If you need to cover a lot of miles, go for something else.

[kVA]

Isuzu Trooper...

Choice of farmers (when they still made them and many still running)

Get a really good one for £5,000

SWB Petrol 3.5 V6 has over 200 bhp (thirsty, but doesn't matter as an occasional use / project car)

Very nearly as comfy as a classic Range Rover, almost as capable as a Defender (with decent tyres)

I've had one for 14 years and worked for Land Rover for 6 of them... Would I swap my Trooper for a Defender? Not a chance...

OK, so I've just killed mine, by not checking the oil (oops), but other than that, in 14 years, 2 shock absorbers, 2 coil packs, 1 exhaust, 1 brake calliper and a rear diff (another lubrication misjudgement - wrong oil for LSD) is the sum total of maintenance above routine service. Total cost about £1,500 - not bad for 14 years!

[eltax91]

Depends how many brave pills you take, but I noticed last night that early L322 v8 rangies are getting below £6k now! That seems like great value, will do theotorway thing you want brilliantly, and possibly nearly as good off road as a defender, with the trick air suspension and traction control.

We went out laneing as a group of defenders and disco's with a hilux and an L322 in tow. The L322 went everywhere my 90 did, including climbing the fearsome stanage edge!

[eltax91]

Like this

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[Miglia 888]

Gunther Holtorf chose a G Wagen, for a 500,000 mile 23-year road trip, and he's still going:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18910560

[gwm]

Disco's - Dad had a couple and tbh, that's enough to put me off. (I didn't say I was going to make a logical choice).

Pdelamare said:

It's a G-WagEn.

If we're going to be pedantic, it's been G Class since 1994.

kVA said:

OK, so I've just killed mine, by not checking the oil (oops), but other than that, in 14 years, 2 shock absorbers, 2 coil packs, 1 exhaust, 1 brake calliper and a rear diff (another lubrication misjudgement - wrong oil for LSD) is the sum total of maintenance above routine service. Total cost about £1,500 - not bad for 14 years!

Interesting. I wonder how easy they are to get parts for. Certainly not something you see many of.

eltax91 said:

Depends how many brave pills you take, but I noticed last night that early L322 v8 rangies are getting below £6k now!

And a newer Rangie would terrify me!