Hello - Defender virgin
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Your post is confusing. Series Land Rovers (I, 2,2A & 3) are the 'original' leaf sprung versions, made from 1949 -1985. Land Rover Defenders are the leaf sprung versions which look very similar, but with a one piece windscreen, introduced 1983, and still made. (I simplify. LR buffs forgive me). Series 2A & 3 vehicles are capable, cheap (£500 starters), slow and uncomfortable, but may be just what you need. Available in petrol & diesel versions. Neither is economical (15-17mpg petrol). Defenders are more comfortable, although not really any more capable off-road, a bit more expensive, & available with a range of engines, of which the diesels, especially the 200Tdi, are the best (still talking cheap here, £1,000 to £2,500 depending on condition). Mechanically all LRs are pretty straightforward & reliable. Remember the LR maxim: if its not leaking its empty! Underbody corrosion is the thing to look out for with any LR. Big box section ladder chassis rots big style anywhere that leaking engine oil doesn't protect, so at the front where the bumpers bolt on, down the sides, where the outriggers support the floor, rear spring hangers, and the rear cross member. Most other things are fixable, or livable with, but major corrosion fails MOTs & costs the earth to put right. Take a big screwdriver with you when you go to look at an old LR and poke anything suspicious underneath very hard. Hope that helps. I'm sure others will add more, but perhaps that's enough to get you going.
edmason said:
Your post is confusing. Series Land Rovers (I, 2,2A & 3) are the 'original' leaf sprung versions, made from 1949 -1985. Land Rover Defenders are the leaf sprung versions which look very similar, but with a one piece windscreen, introduced 1983, and still made. (I simplify. LR buffs forgive me). Series 2A & 3 vehicles are capable, cheap (£500 starters), slow and uncomfortable, but may be just what you need. Available in petrol & diesel versions. Neither is economical (15-17mpg petrol). Defenders are more comfortable, although not really any more capable off-road, a bit more expensive, & available with a range of engines, of which the diesels, especially the 200Tdi, are the best (still talking cheap here, £1,000 to £2,500 depending on condition). Mechanically all LRs are pretty straightforward & reliable. Remember the LR maxim: if its not leaking its empty! Underbody corrosion is the thing to look out for with any LR. Big box section ladder chassis rots big style anywhere that leaking engine oil doesn't protect, so at the front where the bumpers bolt on, down the sides, where the outriggers support the floor, rear spring hangers, and the rear cross member. Most other things are fixable, or livable with, but major corrosion fails MOTs & costs the earth to put right. Take a big screwdriver with you when you go to look at an old LR and poke anything suspicious underneath very hard. Hope that helps. I'm sure others will add more, but perhaps that's enough to get you going.
I agree with most of what Edmason said - and you should definitely buy some form of Landy!! The only differences are that the 1985 models were called 'Land Rover Ninety' and 'Land Rover One Ten', and the Defender name was not actually used until 1991 when the 200TDi engine came out (when the Ninety was called the Defender 90 etc - using '90' instead of the word 'Ninety'). The name was used to distinguish the Defender from the Discovery. Most people just use Defender as a generic term (a bit like 'Biro' or 'Hoover') The early versions are quite cheap but the true Defenders start at around £2.5k depending upon body style and mods - and there are no official Station Wagons until 1994 just before the 300TDi came out - so they could sell more Discoverys. Many people advertise earlier versions as Defenders so they can hike the prices. Most parts are available and cheaper than Disco parts - and battered Defenders look better than battered Discos!! Hope this helps and you're not too confused!!Gassing Station | Land Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff