Defender 110 pile of crap
Discussion
Where to start? I jumped into Defender ownership in 2012, buying a 6 month old, low mileage example. For 4 + years, I really enjoyed the experience, high driving position, ......good in the snow etc.... Last year the reality hit home. RUST...in all sorts of places, I protected the underside a coupe of times, but when rust is bubbling around the windscreen? Underneath, it’s clear that the “so called” experts did a shoddy job of waxoyling, as it’s rusting..even the wing mirrors are rusting! RELIABILITY...half shafts needed replacement, left me stranded on the side of the road......MAin dealer servicing costs ridiculous it’s become a money pit. This is a low mileage ( 45,000) no off road abuse, garaged car!!So I’m done. Have taken off my rose tinted glasses, Defenders are crap in the modern world..anybody want to buy?
Defenders are still very popular trucks, stick it up on eBay with a sensible reserve and it'll be out of your life in 7 days.
The difficulty is what you buy to replace it, most SUVs depreciate terribly and aren't as reliable as you'd expect. When I was looking to replace my Defender last year I looked at several options, test drove a few possibles and made an offer on a Mercedes G350 but the main dealer selling it in Bedford was so useless it put me off so I ended up sticking with the Defender.
They aren't always the most reliable, they do suffer corrosion, they aren't the most comfortable but with near zero depreciation and huge aftermarket parts & servicing outside of the dealer network, they aren't expensive to own so on balance I ended up keeping mine
The difficulty is what you buy to replace it, most SUVs depreciate terribly and aren't as reliable as you'd expect. When I was looking to replace my Defender last year I looked at several options, test drove a few possibles and made an offer on a Mercedes G350 but the main dealer selling it in Bedford was so useless it put me off so I ended up sticking with the Defender.
They aren't always the most reliable, they do suffer corrosion, they aren't the most comfortable but with near zero depreciation and huge aftermarket parts & servicing outside of the dealer network, they aren't expensive to own so on balance I ended up keeping mine
Glendower said:
Where to start? I jumped into Defender ownership in 2012, buying a 6 month old, low mileage example. For 4 + years, I really enjoyed the experience, high driving position, ......good in the snow etc.... Last year the reality hit home. RUST...in all sorts of places, I protected the underside a coupe of times, but when rust is bubbling around the windscreen? Underneath, it’s clear that the “so called” experts did a shoddy job of waxoyling, as it’s rusting..even the wing mirrors are rusting! RELIABILITY...half shafts needed replacement, left me stranded on the side of the road......MAin dealer servicing costs ridiculous it’s become a money pit. This is a low mileage ( 45,000) no off road abuse, garaged car!!So I’m done. Have taken off my rose tinted glasses, Defenders are crap in the modern world..anybody want to buy?
Breaking a half shaft doesn’t leave you stranded. Just put it in difflock and drive on. Half shafts breaking would likely be due to some reason. Plenty of people give Defenders lots of abuse off road without breaking them.
Rust round the windscreen is also odd at this age. So again must be a reason more specific to yours. Chassis surface rust is common though. But at 4 years old isn’t going to be an issue.
Glendower said:
Where to start? I jumped into Defender ownership in 2012, buying a 6 month old, low mileage example. For 4 + years, I really enjoyed the experience, high driving position, ......good in the snow etc.... Last year the reality hit home. RUST...in all sorts of places, I protected the underside a coupe of times, but when rust is bubbling around the windscreen? Underneath, it’s clear that the “so called” experts did a shoddy job of waxoyling, as it’s rusting..even the wing mirrors are rusting! RELIABILITY...half shafts needed replacement, left me stranded on the side of the road......MAin dealer servicing costs ridiculous it’s become a money pit. This is a low mileage ( 45,000) no off road abuse, garaged car!!So I’m done. Have taken off my rose tinted glasses, Defenders are crap in the modern world..anybody want to buy?
Low milage does not mean "not abused". My 1996 110" is close to 300,000 miles and dependable.Incorrectly applied rustproofing can be worse than none because if the coating isn't continuous moisture wicks in and can't escape meaning by the time you've found the rust it is too late.
I replaced the rear halfshafts after 250,000 miles because they had worn the splines on the drive flanges - no doubt because the factory didn't shim them to control endfloat from new.
I concede that the product was neglected (save for engine changes) and that the quality of the post 1990's vehicles I have seen is appaling with fairly new ones having horrific surface corrosion on the rear chassis.
Glendower said:
Where to start? I jumped into Defender ownership in 2012, buying a 6 month old, low mileage example. For 4 + years, I really enjoyed the experience, high driving position, ......good in the snow etc.... Last year the reality hit home. RUST...in all sorts of places, I protected the underside a coupe of times, but when rust is bubbling around the windscreen? Underneath, it’s clear that the “so called” experts did a shoddy job of waxoyling, as it’s rusting..even the wing mirrors are rusting! RELIABILITY...half shafts needed replacement, left me stranded on the side of the road......MAin dealer servicing costs ridiculous it’s become a money pit. This is a low mileage ( 45,000) no off road abuse, garaged car!!So I’m done. Have taken off my rose tinted glasses, Defenders are crap in the modern world..anybody want to buy?
Your two biggest mistakes were going to a main dealer and using it for "low mileages and no off road abuse". These things like being thrashed - no wonder it's complaining!Deranged Rover said:
Your two biggest mistakes were going to a main dealer and using it for "low mileages and no off road abuse". These things like being thrashed - no wonder it's complaining!
I don’t think so, I used so called “specialist” non franchise dealers for servicing and repairs, they were cheaper “hourly rate” but both of the ones I used were pretty poor. I have it a good go but frankly stand by my view, after 6 years of ownership, enough is enough.....it will only get more rusty and expensive .......
The Wookie said:
So you’ve discovered your Defender is a pile of crap and you’ve fallen out of love with it... you’re cured, pity the rest of us
I think it’s quite clear that you definitely don’t need my pity, enjoy the anachronism, Landrover clearly didn’t take any care with the build quality of the vehicle....I went for a Jimny. Widely regarded as the baby 'pretender'. Have covered 15k miles in it (124k total), has been absolutely reliable, and work I have done has been cheap as chips.
Would trade it for a defender tomorrow if I could afford it. I drive my friends 90 300tdi on the odd occasion, and it is utterly addictive, the bumps, rattles and that farty "BRRRRRERRT" exhaust note when you nail it from low rpm. Most depressing thing his he paid the same for that defender 10years ago that I paid for my Jimny. And his is worth 5x that now. They are definitely a marmite experience, some folk 'get it' and love them, some see it as the badly made 70s tractor that it is.
Sadly the city slicker big money crowd has picked them up as fashion accessories, now us country bumpkins can't afford them. If it just doesn't click with you the new Jap crew cabs are absolutely fantastic.
Would trade it for a defender tomorrow if I could afford it. I drive my friends 90 300tdi on the odd occasion, and it is utterly addictive, the bumps, rattles and that farty "BRRRRRERRT" exhaust note when you nail it from low rpm. Most depressing thing his he paid the same for that defender 10years ago that I paid for my Jimny. And his is worth 5x that now. They are definitely a marmite experience, some folk 'get it' and love them, some see it as the badly made 70s tractor that it is.
Sadly the city slicker big money crowd has picked them up as fashion accessories, now us country bumpkins can't afford them. If it just doesn't click with you the new Jap crew cabs are absolutely fantastic.
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