Bowler As A Daily ?

[reddiesel]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/146652838574?_skw=defen...


Ive been a great admirer of these for years and I have been considering something like this to replace the Car in the winter . The trouble is I can find little in the way of information as regards how easy they are to live with on a day to day basis . I should add I have never owned a Landrover but it looks a more characterful place to be than a Hilux . I also work in Construction so wont be visiting Waitrose .

Edited by reddiesel on Thursday 18th September 07:05

[blueST]

I'd say you must drive one. They are not like a modern car. Even a pick up. Also, that looks very nice condition cosmetically, if you are using them every day, especially in winter it takes a lot of work to keep them nice. Corrosion starts to set in very easily.

[A.J.M]

I wouldn’t run a defender in winter.
The salt will destroy it, chassis rot will take hold, the doors will eventually start to go etc.

That’s a summer car imho.
It’s a lovely thing though, those wheels alone weren’t cheap.

[Ranger 6]

You can run one but consider a number of things:

Mentioned already - corrosion, stay on top of cleaning it regularly
- Comfort, it's not a spacious driving position with the windows up

- Tyres - A/Ts are not the grippiest things on wet tarmac
- passengers, it's a tin box with a bit of leather - cruising is noisy, don't even think about motorway journeys being comfortable

Otherwise, if you drive it and like it, they're great, use them sensibly and they'll get you anywhere (almost!) and keep on top of the maintenance

At the risk of being picky - that's not a 'real' Bowler, which are off-road racers - it's a crew cab with bits added

Buy carefully, recognising the differences and try and drive one of each - you may find the premium pricing hard to swallow against a standard one

[alscar]

When we bought our first “ classic “ defender ( 90 CSW ) the Indy dealer ( James French ) said they were a cross between a Tractor and a Lawnmower - slight exaggeration but they are certainly marmite and get under your skin.
Would echo most of the other points made.
Maybe also look at Jim Hallam’s website to get an idea of what else is about.

[Benson11]

I had a short drive in a similar spec Bowler 90 years ago. The gearshifter was a nice addition over standard, and I guess it had a mild remap as it pulled nicely but not fast by any means. The suspension was the downside for me it was a bit hard and crashy for road use in my opinion but I think some people wouldn't mind this so you'd have to try it for yourself.

I like all the styling parts on the bumpers and rock sliders, the decals a bit OTT for me.

[ChocolateFrog]

Think I'd be inclined to put straight pipes and AT tyres on a V8 L322 for a Bowler lite experience.

Defenders as a daily is fun when you're 20 and not paying the bills.

The pluses wouldn't outweigh the cons for me.

[reddiesel]

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions thus far

[reddiesel]

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions thus far

[LooneyTunes]

I ll offer a different view.

My 110 (a 2016 USW, like a 2014 SW before it) goes from mud terrains to winter tyres when the weather turns. The 2014 was a daily for 4 years iirc.

It s great in winter, actually (probably irrationally) prefer it to the Range Rover, which stays on all-seasons, when the weather is awful. Mud stuff heater deflector solves the issue of the heater roasting your leg, and and snow cowl live on it all year round (stops snow blocking the heater intake).

Underseal helps reduce rust. The side steps could do with removing and refreshing but they all need that after a little while

Other than that, usual 110 feedback: objectively they re crap. Slow, noisy, turning circle of a supertanker, cramped