New Defender 110, why not?

[LD1Racing]

Ok guys and gals, I've owned two of Solihull's finest in the past (though neither built in the last 30 years), and am pretty close to placing an order for a 110 XS. Am I making a mistake? how are the new Transit engines for reliability? Talk me out of it if you can...

[Hooty]

Bloody good man! Go for it. You will love it.

I have a Transit-engined 110 XS station wagon and the thing has got so much soul that it practically talks to me.

The engine itself is much quieter than the TD5 but, in standard form, a bit underpowered. I have a J E Engineering Stage 2 on mine ( www.jeengineering.co.uk) which is declared to my insurers and this fixes it. It's now got the perfect amount of power in my opinion.

The non-XS spec cars are a bit spartan on the kit side of things so I'd look for one of those.

I've had many cars and change them every year or so normally. I won't be changing this car though.

[ian964]

Hooty said:

Bloody good man! Go for it. You will love it.

I have a Transit-engined 110 XS station wagon and the thing has got so much soul that it practically talks to me.

The engine itself is much quieter than the TD5 but, in standard form, a bit underpowered. I have a J E Engineering Stage 2 on mine ( www.jeengineering.co.uk) which is declared to my insurers and this fixes it. It's now got the perfect amount of power in my opinion.

The non-XS spec cars are a bit spartan on the kit side of things so I'd look for one of those.

I've had many cars and change them every year or so normally. I won't be changing this car though.

+1 - I've had mine for about 3 weeks, and love it. You hear a few scare stories, but as usual you only hear about the bad experiences not the good. Have a look at some of the LR forums, e.g.
http://www.defender2.net/forum/index.php,
http://forums.lr4x4.com/,
http://www.lro.com/forum/

Edited by ian964 on Monday 8th February 19:25

[x type]

only problem they've had in work so far with the ones we have is the gearbox gets stuck in 1st

happened twice on the same one ,guy from Land Rover comes down and has no idea why it's happening ,brute force in the end to release it .

[Skywalker]

Hooty said:

The engine itself is much quieter than the TD5 but, in standard form, a bit underpowered. I have a J E Engineering Stage 2 on mine ( www.jeengineering.co.uk) which is declared to my insurers and this fixes it. It's now got the perfect amount of power in my opinion.
.

Did your insurers load your premium massively for this?

[Hooty]

Well, yes and no. Initially Direct Line did load it by a couple of hundred quid. Then I bought Land Rover Owner and looked up all the specialist insurers at the back and found one that quoted as much as I was paying with Direct Line before the extra power. They also did greenlaning cover so it was a no-brainer really.

[Skywalker]

Thankee.

DL do love an excuse to charge more, don't they?

[crmcatee]

why do you need greenlaning cover ? It's a public road.

[Hooty]

crmcatee said:

why do you need greenlaning cover ? It's a public road.

I know, I know. I'd prefer not to have this discussion at the time of the claim, that's why I ensured the policy was greenlane friendly. I have zero doubt that a normal insurance company would try like hell to deny a claim for me falling into a ditch off the Happy Valley in Wales, miles from a 'normal' road. Just thought it was a sensible precaution even though, as you say, green lanes are technically 'normal' roads.

[LD1Racing]

Sounds good so far. Just need to decide the colour now.

BTW, does anyone have a pic of a 110XS in Keswick Green, thinking about it but have a feeling it will look too military. Will probably go for Galway Green instead.

[Hooty]

Mine is in Cairns Blue which is lovely. The metallic red they do looks great too.

[BMW343]

I have a 110 Defender XS in Red.
Love it
Buy one
Best decision ever.
If it new and something goes wrong the deal service is excellent also.
I use mine daily. Only challenge is using around town, turning circle is a little large
Other than that excellent machine

[300bhp/ton]

LD1Racing said:

Ok guys and gals, I've owned two of Solihull's finest in the past (though neither built in the last 30 years), and am pretty close to placing an order for a 110 XS. Am I making a mistake? how are the new Transit engines for reliability? Talk me out of it if you can...

1st off, let me state I'm a huge Land Rover fan (currently own 2!!) so bear than in mind when I say this:

Buy one of these!




Why?


Well it's quite simple really. Every thing the Land Rover does, the Jeep does better.

Unless!

You want a full out work horse for hauling crap and towing.

But the Wrangler can do that too to an extent and tow 3500kg.

But look at it like this:

	Jeep Wrangler	Land Rover 110
Economy	X
Power	X
Performance	X
Standard spec/equipment	X
Optional equipment	X
Price	X
On road	X
Off Road	X	X
Removable Roof	X
Removable Doors	X
Fold Down Windscreen	X
Optional automatic transmission	X
Strong axles	X

I'm sure you get the picture.

I love the Defender, had a D90, parents had a V8 110, brother had a V8 90 and my uncle has FOUR, yes 4 90's at the moment.

But the Wrangler is faster, better specced and over all more capable with more and better options. And cheaper too.


As for the new transit powered Defender. Well I know a few people with them. 1 has been no bother at all, while another (a 60th Anniversary Edition one) has been a total PITA. It's on its 3rd gearbox already and has had a number of other issues, both major and minor. Last I heard the owner was in talks about handing it back. Which is a shame as he's a long time Land Rover owner. Had a D2 before the 90 and also has a V8 powered Series.

[300bhp/ton]

[quote=Hooty They also did greenlaning cover so it was a no-brainer really.
[/quote]I don't know for certain, but since a green lane is still a public road, as in part of the Queens Highway, shouldn't any motor car insurance for road use cover it regardless?

[Hooty]

300bhp/ton said:

[quote=Hooty They also did greenlaning cover so it was a no-brainer really.

I don't know for certain, but since a green lane is still a public road, as in part of the Queens Highway, shouldn't any motor car insurance for road use cover it regardless?

Technically, yes, but read my post above.

Wrangler? NO!

Edited by Hooty on Wednesday 10th February 13:40

[gavm5]

300bhp/ton said:

LD1Racing said:

Ok guys and gals, I've owned two of Solihull's finest in the past (though neither built in the last 30 years), and am pretty close to placing an order for a 110 XS. Am I making a mistake? how are the new Transit engines for reliability? Talk me out of it if you can...

1st off, let me state I'm a huge Land Rover fan (currently own 2!!) so bear than in mind when I say this:

Buy one of these!




Why?


Well it's quite simple really. Every thing the Land Rover does, the Jeep does better.

Unless!

You want a full out work horse for hauling crap and towing.

But the Wrangler can do that too to an extent and tow 3500kg.

But look at it like this:

	Jeep Wrangler	Land Rover 110
Economy	X
Power	X
Performance	X
Standard spec/equipment	X
Optional equipment	X
Price	X
On road	X
Off Road	X	X
Removable Roof	X
Removable Doors	X
Fold Down Windscreen	X
Optional automatic transmission	X
Strong axles	X

I'm sure you get the picture.

I love the Defender, had a D90, parents had a V8 110, brother had a V8 90 and my uncle has FOUR, yes 4 90's at the moment.

But the Wrangler is faster, better specced and over all more capable with more and better options. And cheaper too.


As for the new transit powered Defender. Well I know a few people with them. 1 has been no bother at all, while another (a 60th Anniversary Edition one) has been a total PITA. It's on its 3rd gearbox already and has had a number of other issues, both major and minor. Last I heard the owner was in talks about handing it back. Which is a shame as he's a long time Land Rover owner. Had a D2 before the 90 and also has a V8 powered Series.

And so lacking in character is almost blends in with the background !

[plasticpig]

Aircon in a Defender is just wrong IMO. As for Jeep:

Part's are expensive and the supply chain in the UK can be a bit crap.
Very limited specialist support outside the dealer network.

[300bhp/ton]

Hooty said:

Wrangler? NO!

Edited by Hooty on Wednesday 10th February 13:40

Sorry but that's such a dumbass kind of response.

Are you saying
a) you won't drive a vehicle a homosexual does?
b) that no gay people have ever driven a Land Rover




Because that really would be a totally stupid thing to claim.

And before you get on your high horse, remember where this came from and what chassis it is built on!

[300bhp/ton]

gavm5 said:

300bhp/ton said:

LD1Racing said:

Ok guys and gals, I've owned two of Solihull's finest in the past (though neither built in the last 30 years), and am pretty close to placing an order for a 110 XS. Am I making a mistake? how are the new Transit engines for reliability? Talk me out of it if you can...

1st off, let me state I'm a huge Land Rover fan (currently own 2!!) so bear than in mind when I say this:

Buy one of these!




Why?


Well it's quite simple really. Every thing the Land Rover does, the Jeep does better.

Unless!

You want a full out work horse for hauling crap and towing.

But the Wrangler can do that too to an extent and tow 3500kg.

But look at it like this:

	Jeep Wrangler	Land Rover 110
Economy	X
Power	X
Performance	X
Standard spec/equipment	X
Optional equipment	X
Price	X
On road	X
Off Road	X	X
Removable Roof	X
Removable Doors	X
Fold Down Windscreen	X
Optional automatic transmission	X
Strong axles	X

I'm sure you get the picture.

I love the Defender, had a D90, parents had a V8 110, brother had a V8 90 and my uncle has FOUR, yes 4 90's at the moment.

But the Wrangler is faster, better specced and over all more capable with more and better options. And cheaper too.


As for the new transit powered Defender. Well I know a few people with them. 1 has been no bother at all, while another (a 60th Anniversary Edition one) has been a total PITA. It's on its 3rd gearbox already and has had a number of other issues, both major and minor. Last I heard the owner was in talks about handing it back. Which is a shame as he's a long time Land Rover owner. Had a D2 before the 90 and also has a V8 powered Series.

And so lacking in character is almost blends in with the background !

Blends in - only if you are a blind and dumb maybe. But apart from that - don't talk such nonesense





As for character - give it a break. You do realise the Wrangler has a BIGGER and LONGER heritage than the entire Land Rover brand, let alone just the Defender

It's brimming with character - but as you evidently are very biased and I suspect haven't driven one, i.e. a stereotypical stuck up Brit! Then you probably won't listen to reason or logic, so it'll probably degenerate down to insults.

Shame...

[Hooty]

Sorry mate. I think you've taken this rather seriously when I was just having a lark. You might want to retract the Brit comment and show some respect.