Classic defender - best engine ?

[Turn7]

Thinking about getting back into a proper Defender 90 again…

Will be my 5th , so I’m well aware of their idiosyncrasies.

Budget up to £24k but 20 is preferable.

300Tdi or TD5 ?

I like the 300, but have no experience of the TD5.

Will be used as a daily as well as some green laning .

[camel_landy]

Personally, I prefer the 300TDi (you can fix with hammer & chisel!!) but both are great engines.

Either way, buy on condition.

M

[Turn7]

Agreed , condition above all on these .

I like the Tdi and it doesn’t need a laptop to fix , but as a daily, I think the 5 could be a better drive .

[hidetheelephants]

They're both well understood as they've been around forever, the TD5 has better manners for a road car but it's bolted to a Defender so that's irrelevant really. A bit more power, ditto unless you're towing 3.5t daily. As the others have said buy on condition not spec.

[Familymad]

Have owned 5x 300 TDI’ and 2x TD5. The 300 is a simple old thing but noisy and not a nice sound. The TD5 has the offbeat 5 cylinder thrum and lovely power delivery. Can also be chipped and around 160bhp with a bigger intercooler is a big boost in drive ability for a Defender.

[camel_landy]

Turn7 said:

Agreed , condition above all on these .

I like the Tdi and it doesn t need a laptop to fix , but as a daily, I think the 5 could be a better drive .

TBH - As a daily, I'd buy a stter of a VW Golf and save the Defender for laning.

M

[Turn7]

camel_landy said:

Turn7 said:

Agreed , condition above all on these .

I like the Tdi and it doesn t need a laptop to fix , but as a daily, I think the 5 could be a better drive .

TBH - As a daily, I'd buy a stter of a VW Golf and save the Defender for laning.

M

Trying to avoid having an extra car tbh, it’s possible I could keep the Ibiza daily I have now, but then the Defenser will just nicked one day whilst I’m at work …

[WH16]

Both have pros and cons, but both are ultimately good choices. For day-to-day I would go TD5 personally, for travelling further afield the 300 or 200 Tdi.

Unlikely you will get a consensus here or anywhere else Land Rover opinions are shared.

[hidetheelephants]

WH16 said:

Unlikely you will get a consensus here or anywhere else Land Rover opinions are shared.

Let's discuss swivels; grease or oil?

[A.J.M]

For that budget and requirement, TD5 all day long.

I’d be trying to find a nice XS spec model and enjoy the relative comforts it brings.

A few choice mods makes the td5 engine a much nicer driver.
Plus the engines been out for decades now, it’s not some scary unknown.

[RustyNissanPrairie]

Both are good engines, the 300tdi for bulletproof old school overlanding, the Td5 for more daily usability…….but I’d go with an early 2.4Puma, better dash and doors/door cards and AC rather than a knee cooler.
Also 6speed gearbox.

[Arnold Cunningham]

My mates td5 was really good. 300tdi is the last of the old school mechanical injection. But then I’ve had a 3.9 V8 for the last 18 years and plan to keep it until I give up driving. Or die.

[andyb28]

I seriously consider a TD5 for shooting and picking up with the dogs, rather than using my new shape.

I have had a 2.4 and a 2.2 Defender previously and the 2.2 was an absolute pleasure to drive, compared to the 2.4. Everyone I have ever spoken to about Defenders, says the TD5 was the best engine they ever had. I do seriously wonder how much better it could be than a more modern 2.2. Or is it a bit of rose tinted glasses?

I am yet to find one sensibly priced that hasn't been to the moon and back

[Turn7]

It’s hard to find something honest and fairly original for sure …

Should never have sold this one…

[andyb28]

I knew I shouldnt have popped my head in this thread.

I am now looking at Defenders again.

[andyb28]

Turn7 said:

It s hard to find something honest and fairly original for sure

Should never have sold this one

That is lovely, what a great colour!

[Turn7]

andyb28 said:

I knew I shouldnt have popped my head in this thread.

I am now looking at Defenders again.

[Turn7]

andyb28 said:

Turn7 said:

It s hard to find something honest and fairly original for sure

Should never have sold this one

That is lovely, what a great colour!

Epsom green metallic with freestyle alloys , my fave combination…

[Lefty]

We have both a 300tdi disco and a td5 defender in the family and both are actually great engines.

From a simplicity point of view i'd probably prefer a tdi, i keep toying with the idea of buying a pre-defender 90 and putting an om606 in it...but that's just me

[Dave.]

Didn't some of the late 300tdi have an ECU under the centre front seat?

I vote for an early 300 or a td5, love the sound of the 5 cylinder, even if it is a diesel.