Am I mad?

[strugrar]

Hello all, long time lingering on here first time poster in the landy section. Could do with a bit of a sanity check from you chaps if you dont mind. Apologies for the long post.

I am considering (3-3.5k max) a 110 defender as my every day drive, either diesel or V8 with LPG is fine. Reasoning is that I enjoy the outdoors and tend to do some mountain bike racing, currently I drive to the event and then back again the next day for the race which can be a major pain. I figure that if I bought a good defender, roof tent and rear door cooker and fridge unit I'd have a usuable everyday mini weekend vehicle that could take me, the wife and my son (due in July) plus 2 dogs to the bike events ( or beach, peaks, lakes etc) and that wouldnt leave me stranded in fields when its sopping wet, or at practice days (its happened quite a few times). I also love the idea of taking the family when the nipper is old enough accross Europe etc for a few weeks and this again seems to lend itself to one of these vehicles........

Thought about a VW campervan but these are pretty highly priced and would still leave me waiting for the my turn to be towed out of the field on winter days.

I do cycle to work a few days a week so this would help with the fuel and driving costs (14 miles each way).

Currently I'm not into off road but I think it is something that I could take up given the chance to do it, but being realistic 90% of the time it would only have road use (are there forms of off road that involve going fast?)

I guess things making me think twice are maintainence involved on the vehicle (I can do it myself if needs be) plus the noise and slowness of them and if I am truly honest the economy too, however maybe the fact your left with a fully useable proper multi purpose vehicle out weighs this? Also despite my best efforts as I get older I seem to have less and less time to do outdoor leisure pursuits so maybe its an extravagance I could/should live without.

Am I being completely stupid? And should I just buy a vw passat estate and a tent or maybe put the money saved in fuel to putting us up in a b&b (probably the wife's preference)

Any thoughts welcomed?

Thanks Ryan

[budrover]

Defenders come with a 'premium' and at your budget it will be well used... you will get far better value by purchasing a 300 tdi Discovery ...a few Japanese imports are about which come with no rust but are saddled with an auto gearbox.

[300bhp/ton]

I'm a huge Landy fan. And a 110 is a great vehicle in terms of space and overall ability. I think you might struggle at your budget though. But it's worth knowing you can replace every single part of a Land Rover, so they can always be saved.

Early diesels are pretty slow and noisy, although a 200Tdi swap is easy on them.

V8's are ok, but will drink fuel. 12-17mpg maybe lower. LPG is a good idea, but even if you fit it yourself you are probably looking at £700-1000. If you want it fitted it'll cost a fair bit more.

As someone else said, you'll buy more Disco for your money. I'd also look at Cherokees/Grand Cherokees. Easily as good or better than any LR offering.

I've not used a roof tent, but I struggle to see the main benefits of them. Personally would rather have a bigger tent on the ground. A portable gas hob is also pretty cheap too.

[anonymous-user]

300bhp/ton said:

I've not used a roof tent, but I struggle to see the main benefits of them. Personally would rather have a bigger tent on the ground. A portable gas hob is also pretty cheap too.

Ground tent:
Prone to damp, needs flat, dry ground that you can bash pegs in to, attracts creepy-crawlies, and you sleep on a roll of packing foam in a sort of human cocoon. Also takes a bit of time to erect (obligatory "fnarr-fnarr")
But they're cheaper, lighter, don't affect the car's C of G and can be left at the campsite when you go off laning for the day.
Roof tent:
Doesn't get as much moisture inside it, more of a challenge for creepy crawlies to get in to, can be put up anywhere you can park the car (I've used mine parked up on the tarmac at Dover docks whilst waiting for an early ferry), has a near full size solid-floored bed and nice fluffy duvet, takes less than 5 minutes to go from engine off to in bed. Great views in the morning, subject to where you park. Oh and I found it's actually noticeably quieter to be up at roof level in a campsite full of kids. Also, the overhanging bit (if it's that type) can have sides added to make a convenient shower cubicle.
But, they're eye-wateringly expensive for what they are, they raise the CofG and reduce overhead clearance at the same time, and can't be left at the campsite when you want to pop down the shop you passed on the way in to the campsite.
Better suited to long range expeds, which is what they're meant for really.

[anonymous-user]

Oh and forget those gimmicky rear-door cooker shelves.....
When it leaks fuel and bursts in to uncontrolable flames you'll really regret permanently attaching it to your car.

[strugrar]

Right o so possibly I am a bit mad then, for some reason it still really appeals.

What sort of defender should I expect to be able to get for 3.5k? Seen a few early 90s late 80s v8s 110 with LPG already fitted for 2.5-3k..... Granted I've not actually been to view mind.

The cooker unit I saw was from landiebox or something I think. Anyone used them?

So how much do these roof tents start at?

And if 3.5k isn't enough of a budget to get me a worthwhile defender, then where do I need to be? 4k? 5k?

Thanks guys.

[300bhp/ton]

strugrar said:

Right o so possibly I am a bit mad then, for some reason it still really appeals.

What sort of defender should I expect to be able to get for 3.5k? Seen a few early 90s late 80s v8s 110 with LPG already fitted for 2.5-3k..... Granted I've not actually been to view mind.

The cooker unit I saw was from landiebox or something I think. Anyone used them?

So how much do these roof tents start at?

And if 3.5k isn't enough of a budget to get me a worthwhile defender, then where do I need to be? 4k? 5k?

Thanks guys.

That money won't get you any Defender

They did't come out until 1990/91

An earlier One Ten or Ninety is possible. Just expect it to be a bit rough round the edges. Door bottoms and front bulkhead rust, but all can be repaired. Same with footwells. Rest of the body work is usually fine.

Chassis can rust, but again can be repaired with moderate ease. And for more work can be replaced completely.

V8 engines are pretty robust. The early TD diesels some will moan about, but I don't mind them. Pretty slow and noisy but fairly solid lumps. My Uncle has 2 of them, one with well over 200,000 miles on and the other with 160,000 - 170,000 miles on. A 200Tdi bolts straight up as well and can be had for £300-400.

Gearboxes can be clunky, but fairly good otherwise.

Oil leaks are normal and expected while water leaks in (rain) are also 100% normal and should be expected. In fact if it doesn't leak there is something wrong with it!

[anonymous-user]

strugrar said:

Right o so possibly I am a bit mad then, for some reason it still really appeals.

What sort of defender should I expect to be able to get for 3.5k? Seen a few early 90s late 80s v8s 110 with LPG already fitted for 2.5-3k..... Granted I've not actually been to view mind.

The cooker unit I saw was from landiebox or something I think. Anyone used them?

So how much do these roof tents start at?

And if 3.5k isn't enough of a budget to get me a worthwhile defender, then where do I need to be? 4k? 5k?

Thanks guys.

A Defender for £3k won't be great. If you can stretch to 5k as you've suggested, do so. That'll put you in the outer reaches of TD5 territory, or a very nice 300TDi.
Bearing in mind a decent LPG conversion costs around £1500, consider how much of car you'll get after taking that figure in to account against a £2500-3000 asking price.
Just had a look at Landiebox too.....complete waste of funds. Ask yourself this...what do you actually gain by having that thing bolted to the inside of the rear door that a decent camping table won't offer? At over £300 it's just a gimmicky rip-off.
Put the money towards a roof tent ;-)
They crop up on eBay starting around £700.

[Caractacus]

Nope, you're not mad for considering a Defender as a daily drive. Just as long as you don't mind little in the way of creature comforts and poor mpg (on derv).

Your budget will need to be stretched (IMHO) if you want a nice tidy one. Personally if I were you I'd go for a 300 tdi and run it on biodiesel (they love the stuff!) as this is very cost effective and it smalls great as you waft down the road.

You'll find other Defender owners waving or flashing their lights at you as you'll be a minority in the 'burbs'. Not so where I am though as every 2nd car is a Defender!

Good luck with the hunt - let us know what happens!

C.

[300bhp/ton]

Caractacus said:

Personally if I were you I'd go for a 300 tdi and run it on biodiesel (they love the stuff!) as this is very cost effective

Where do you get biodiesel from that's cheaper than regular diesel?

[Caractacus]

300bhp/ton said:

here do you get biodiesel from that's cheaper than regular diesel?

There are quite a number of folk selling the stuff, depending on where you are, of course.

I had a cracking supplier here in West Wales but they've recently shut up shop.

The last batch I had cost me 0.92p per L Sweeeet! These days it is closer to £1.00L which is still a massive saving per tank.

BTW - the biodiesel I use is recycled chip fat.

[300bhp/ton]

Caractacus said:

There are quite a number of folk selling the stuff, depending on where you are, of course.

I had a cracking supplier here in West Wales but they've recently shut up shop.

The last batch I had cost me 0.92p per L Sweeeet! These days it is closer to £1.00L which is still a massive saving per tank.

BTW - the biodiesel I use is recycled chip fat.

Ta.

So do you convert your WVO to biodiesel or are you just running WVO straight or with a mix of reg diesel?

[Caractacus]

300bhp/ton said:

Ta.

So do you convert your WVO to biodiesel or are you just running WVO straight or with a mix of reg diesel?

I am in the process of buying a small WVO plant here and popping it in my garage. After starting at 25% WVO into a full tank and progressing on to 100% by the 4th tank I was away laughing.

The only thing I changed on the Def was the fuel filter after my third full tank of bio as the bio disolves all the crud (deposited by standard derv) in the tank/lines, etc and this ends up clogging the fuel filter.

Once this was done I had a smoother, cheaper and nicer smelling def! LOL.

OP - take a good shifty around the PH classifieds, Autotrader and even evilbay. You'll see a fair few 300Tdi 110's about, however from a dealer you'll pay quite a bit more, unless the dealer isn't used to having a Defender as stock.;)

[Caractacus]

OP - looksee here

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2763513.htm

Not too far away from your budget, but no rear windows.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2763511.htm

Double your budget, but looks like the ticket? With a bit of a haggle could be more in the running?

OK, this one has sold - http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2564078.htm but it gives you an idea as to what's about outside of the trade. Good price and was snapped up by some lucky chap.

Happy hunting!

Cheers,

C.

[anonymous-user]

If it were me I'd go and bite their hand off for that T-plate 110 van.
The N-plate bus for £7.5k is a bit pricey.

[strugrar]

Thanks for all the help guys.

All of those trucks in the link above look spot on, could stretch the to the higher priced one but would've prefered spending less especially for a weekend truck and occasional commuter. However looks like that to be in the running I'll need to up my budget.

Got some thinking to do as the wife is still dead against it!

Ryan

[Caractacus]

strugrar said:

Got some thinking to do as the wife is still dead against it!

Ryan

Well, what can I say?

My Mrs was not overly keen, either. However she's now a convert and loves driving 'Charlie' or her own Disco.

She loves the solidity, commanding view of the road, and the fact that 'normal' traffic doesn't tend to cut you up, tailgate or generally behave badly. In fact I think I get let out of more junctions when I'm in the Def than anything else (except perhaps my Cobra rep).

All the best though - by a good one and you'll not lose any money and it will provide countless options for fun as well as saving your bacon in the snow.

Cheers,

C.

[isv]

When I was renovating our house I bought a TD5 Defender hardtop as a daily drive - did 50K miles in 2 years and nothing went wrong, shoved everything and anything in the back and hosed it out once in a while. Wife hated driving it and I sold it when the job was done. Thing is, she's started asking me to get another one... kids tell me the Defender was so 'cool' I should get another...

I used to do a 250 mile round trip couple of times a week and to be honest I was drained at the end of it... I really did enjoy driving it though!

[RV8]

I say go for it, it's only 3.5k which is around what I paid for my 90, some people are happy to lose much more than this in depreciation on some soulless asian white-goods-vehicle. Worse case scenario is that you have to sell because you don't get on with it but you wont lose much, you may even make back a bit if you buy well to begin with. You will end up having to fix things yourself, there will be times then when you start to wonder why you bought one but I doubt you'll kick yourself for long. They are good fun to drive and it felt great getting out and about last winter on fresh snow while some people struggled with normal cars.

As mentioned before long trips are a bit draining, the other week I had a load of stuff up on the roof and in the back the raised COG made it handle like a ship in a gale. Mine is a V8 90, it's not what I would describe as quick (on a road anyway) but it's great fun to drive, like a small truck. It doesn't seem to matter how much crap I chuck in it the engine copes with the weight when driving like it isn't even there, I carried a ton (probably more than a ton actually) of concrete slabs and it made no noticeable difference to the way it went. I would have probably got two of those huge slabs in a normal car before the suspension starts to sink right down and it bottomed out on every pot hole. I have a calor gas camping stove in mine so I can make mini a fry up if I take a few provisions on a trip.

LPG is currently 72-75p £35 generally gets me about 120-150 miles.

[R12HCO]

Speaking from experience of both (off road with sutiable mods, greenlane and road miles all over england), I buy a discovery. They are alot better value for money, a hell of a lot more comfy aswell. You will get a nice discovery for £2k. Manuals can do 30 mpg if driven like a donkey and then aint too slow when you learn how to drive them (ie not rev the nuts of them). You will get all your stuff in them, but you just want get the roof tent. Also, do you realise how expensive the roof tents are?