90's Defender 110

[nellyleelephant]

Morning, this is my first post in this section, so be gentle!!

I've always had a softspot for Defenders, I think the go anywhere ability and relative simplicity is the attraction but how suitable, and reliable, would one be for a 250 - 400 mile trip to France be? I know that the cruising speed is not going to be that high, but we often take our time getting there anyway.
We go about once a month, and I would need to fit in a 5 foot long telescope, so I'm guessing that the van version (is that what you call it?) would be suitable. It would also be my daily drive too, but I live reasonably close to work, so it won't be going that far!

I have 5-6k to spend.....is that realistic?

Thanks in advance.

[tuscan_al]

How tall are you and do you like leg room would be my first question. GO sit in some...

[nellyleelephant]

Are they restriced in leg room then?

I'm just under 6 foot, not lanky!

[varsas]

I'm pretty sure you would get a 5 foot long tube in a short wheel base version, there's getting on for 6 foot of room in them.

You get two main variants, the '90' (which has a 90ish inch wheelbase) and the '110' which is about 20inches longer, all the extra space goes to the back, the front is the same.

You can get 'van' type vehicles, i.e. without side windows/seats etc in the back but I doubt the sub version (station wagon/van or whatever) will hurt/help you carry a telescope unless you get one with forward facing rear seats (only very new ones or conversions as far as I know). A 110 with no rear windows will be a b***h to manoeuvre, the SWB 90's are bad enough.

I am just over 6foot tall and have no problems with legroom in my series 3 88 although I drove a triumph spitfire to LeMans so I may be more forgiving then most. My brother is taller then me, I dunno...6foot 3inches or something and he has trouble driving it, his knees are jammed under the steering wheel.

LRO has a price guide each month, might be handy. Also the '90' and '110' models (as in, that's what they are called) are basically the same as the 'defender90' and 'defender110' models, the main change is with the engines (TDi was introduced with the defender name?)

For driving long distances '200TDi' engined versions are the way to go, your budget should get you a nice defender TDi

Edited by varsas on Thursday 13th May 14:07

[nellyleelephant]

Thanks for that, perhaps rear windowless is a bad adea then!

Can anyone tell me the free length in the back of a 90 then? my telescope tube is 1540mm long.

Thanks.

[300bhp/ton]

You can always have windows put into a "van" style 110 or 90.

[Bill]

nellyleelephant said:

Thanks for that, perhaps rear windowless is a bad adea then!

Can anyone tell me the free length in the back of a 90 then? my telescope tube is 1540mm long.

Thanks.

Windows in the back (especially on the nearside) help pulling out of angled junctions, but it's no hassle not having them IMO. Hardtops are cheaper and windows are easily fitted if you want. 110s are cheaper than 90s IME because the off-road crowd prefer the 90. You should easily be able to find a 300Tdi for your money.

A 110 is 6ft from rear door to bulkhead.

I'm 6ft2 ish and find the driving position very comfortable but it seems to depend how you're proportioned. A Defender isn't a great road car though IMO as I find the lack of go frustrating.

[300bhp/ton]

Tdi's can be tweaked for cheap and will change how they drive.

[HellDiver]

TD5's are getting cheap, and a remap makes a huge difference on those. See TD5-Alive on the web.

[varsas]

My Series 3 brouchure says 1.206 meters for the SWB, 1.850 for the LWB, LWB station wagon is listed as 2.032meters....odd.