Defender 110 pile of crap
Discussion
I've owned mine from new since 2015.
Driven off road several times. Often quite extreme - clay roads, boulders, through deep flood water, snow, all sorts.....
It's been 100% reliable and tough as old boots. In fact, I can never understand when I hear reviews like this. Mine has been driven off road plenty of times, it's had pallet trucks in the back, it's been 7 up with luggage over hundreds of miles, I've driven 3000+ miles in 3 weeks across varied terrain.
I think a lot of the rust people see is just not visible in a modern car because they're covered in plastic - for example no one ever saw a rusty Navara, till they split in half! With the defender, there's nothing covering the metal so you see everything.
I did Waxoyl mine from brand new. Again spotless.
Let's remember your car is 6 years old - how many 6 year old Fords look spotless?
Mine's almost 4 years old and has been utterly perfect. Serviced regularly, looked after, and has done massively harder work than you could ever submit a normal car (or normal 4x4) too. The structure of the car (chassis, suspension etc.) is very, very rugged, and even if you did have issues, what car is so easy to fix for so little? You can theoretically replace a chassis for £3k and do the work in a week (I know... more if you need to pay a garage).
The only car I can think of to replace mine would be a G Wagen, but I don't think it'll be as tough, they don't carry 7 people, and you couldn't put all sorts of stuff in the back without worrying about scratching it. In terms of pickups, the approach / departure angle is no where near as good, and they're just not as accomplished off road. In terms of modern Landrover offerings, they're just too plasticy, and not tough enough. Driven plenty and they feel like plastic - you could not drive over s
t roads regularly in them without breaking them.
What other car is available now and built like a tractor? A fast tractor. Which was the original product remit for the Landrover Defender.
Driven off road several times. Often quite extreme - clay roads, boulders, through deep flood water, snow, all sorts.....
It's been 100% reliable and tough as old boots. In fact, I can never understand when I hear reviews like this. Mine has been driven off road plenty of times, it's had pallet trucks in the back, it's been 7 up with luggage over hundreds of miles, I've driven 3000+ miles in 3 weeks across varied terrain.
I think a lot of the rust people see is just not visible in a modern car because they're covered in plastic - for example no one ever saw a rusty Navara, till they split in half! With the defender, there's nothing covering the metal so you see everything.
I did Waxoyl mine from brand new. Again spotless.
Let's remember your car is 6 years old - how many 6 year old Fords look spotless?
Mine's almost 4 years old and has been utterly perfect. Serviced regularly, looked after, and has done massively harder work than you could ever submit a normal car (or normal 4x4) too. The structure of the car (chassis, suspension etc.) is very, very rugged, and even if you did have issues, what car is so easy to fix for so little? You can theoretically replace a chassis for £3k and do the work in a week (I know... more if you need to pay a garage).
The only car I can think of to replace mine would be a G Wagen, but I don't think it'll be as tough, they don't carry 7 people, and you couldn't put all sorts of stuff in the back without worrying about scratching it. In terms of pickups, the approach / departure angle is no where near as good, and they're just not as accomplished off road. In terms of modern Landrover offerings, they're just too plasticy, and not tough enough. Driven plenty and they feel like plastic - you could not drive over s
t roads regularly in them without breaking them.What other car is available now and built like a tractor? A fast tractor. Which was the original product remit for the Landrover Defender.
kbf1981 said:
What other car is available now and built like a tractor? A fast tractor. Which was the original product remit for the Landrover Defender.
The pickup trucks such as a Hilux or Ranger offer an alternative to a Defender 130 double cab quite well.The Jimny was always small, the new one is too, but does a good impression on a modern take of a 88" Series 1 hard top.
And of course the Wrangler, which is superior to the Defender in every way, on and off road. But it's targeted at recreation not utility. Thus you only get a max of 5 seats.
Both the Jimny and Wrangler have poor tow ratings, no reason for the Jeep too, but my belief is Jeep don't want it stealing Ram sales in the US. And simply don't care enough for the EU/UK market to worry about changing it. The vehicle and components are all capable of towing much more.
The Defender in fairness has always been rather unique in it's market placement and abilities. And is one of the few vehicles that could be optioned with 10 (or 12) seats.
This is on it's way, but I don't know if we will get it. And again is unlikely to be pitched at the utility market.
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!
What utter bs. Just because he hasn't used it for off roading, that is not an excuse for the bodywork oxidising! Also 45k miles is nothing in the motoring world. My Discovery 3 has 185k on the clock!
I'm not 100% convinced on the rusting. Are we talking about the paint peeling away off the hinges and bulkhead. That might not be rusting and could be an easy repair.
Not surprised that it hasn't been taken off road. Think more have been bought as Chelsea Tractors in its final years rather that farm vehicles. Think the farmers gave up on Defenders years ago and moved onto L200s and similar.
The trick is to think of it as being like owning a 1970s British classic or a kit car built by someone else. If that's not your thing, a Defender will prove frustrating. However, I'm sure that wasn't in the sales literature before you put the deposit down.
Fixing and improving all the faults and problems is my hobby, I wouldn't have anything to do if it all worked to perfection.
Fixing and improving all the faults and problems is my hobby, I wouldn't have anything to do if it all worked to perfection.
300bhp/ton said:
And of course the Wrangler, which is superior to the Defender in every way, on and off road. But it's targeted at recreation not utility. Thus you only get a max of 5 seats.
What's the load rating of the Defender vs Wrangler? You can carry a LOT more weight on a Defender than a Wrangler - so for expedition work, a Defender is superior. Not sure how you compare durability / ruggedness. They're both good on that front I'd agree.
kbf1981 said:
What's the load rating of the Defender vs Wrangler? You can carry a LOT more weight on a Defender than a Wrangler - so for expedition work, a Defender is superior.
Not sure how you compare durability / ruggedness. They're both good on that front I'd agree.
Hence the word “utility” Not sure how you compare durability / ruggedness. They're both good on that front I'd agree.
. Not sure what a Wranglers GVW vs the Defender. So you have figures?The Wrangler is arguably more rugged. Better axles and a more modern hydroformed frame.
300bhp/ton said:
kbf1981 said:
What's the load rating of the Defender vs Wrangler? You can carry a LOT more weight on a Defender than a Wrangler - so for expedition work, a Defender is superior.
Not sure how you compare durability / ruggedness. They're both good on that front I'd agree.
Hence the word “utility” Not sure how you compare durability / ruggedness. They're both good on that front I'd agree.
. Not sure what a Wranglers GVW vs the Defender. So you have figures?The Wrangler is arguably more rugged. Better axles and a more modern hydroformed frame.
Ayahuasca said:
Lol. Wrangler is such a good off-roader that needs a special bit of aftermarket scaffolding bolted to its nose to stop it cartwheeling down slopes.
Well let’s look at it rationally. Land Rover axles are made from chocolate and can easily be broken with stock 32” tyres. The Dana axles on the Jeep are much stronger and even offer 33” MT’s as a factory standard tyres. And have optional Dana 44 and 60 axle options to support upto 40” tyres.
They also have lockers, either optional or as standard. Electronic ditachable anti roll bars. A lower crawl gear. And Hill Decent Control.
The Landy only manages electronic traction control. But so do all of the Jeeps.
The suspension on the Jeeps also offers more travel and doesn’t need to dislocate when modified.
Not too mention be choice of manual and automatic gearboxes and engines with way more power.
As for the aftermarket stinger bumper. Something very specific to rock crawling, which is rather thin on the ground in the muddy U.K. It seems they fit Land Rovers too.
Oh btw I own 3 Land Rovers and 0 Jeeps
eliot said:
I upgraded my rr classic half shafts to std factory 110 half shafts, they run 35 mud tyres and have the power of a 5.7 turbo'd v8 driving them - never broken one.
110 runs a Salisbury rear axle which is based on a Dana D60 centre. Latter ones use a p38 based axle. I don’t believe the half shafts are interchangeable with a regular Rover axle as used on a RRC, D1 or Defender. https://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/halfshaft...
Go on any off road based Land Rover forum or spend time competing in them. Broken half shafts are pretty common. Hence the fact there is a market for making upgraded ones and charging huge amounts for them.
You can get Ashcroft upgraded half shafts. They cost quite a bit and are only rated for max 35” tyres.
The Wrangler Rubicon is the one with the lockers and upgraded half shafts. Sadly there is no 'Rubicon' LR, but the Rubicon is not the basic Wrangler. The LR could be upgraded to 'Rubicon' spec without much too much difficulty.
I love Wranglers too, so not hating on them by any means. But let's play the towing ability and passenger / luggage capacity cards of a Wrangler vs my 110. 110 fits 7 people easily. I once transported a local family - squeezed about 11 people, into my 110. You can fit masses of cargo on my expedition roof-rack. I could tow a boat whilst doing all this.
I love Wranglers too, so not hating on them by any means. But let's play the towing ability and passenger / luggage capacity cards of a Wrangler vs my 110. 110 fits 7 people easily. I once transported a local family - squeezed about 11 people, into my 110. You can fit masses of cargo on my expedition roof-rack. I could tow a boat whilst doing all this.
Ayahuasca said:
The Wrangler Rubicon is the one with the lockers and upgraded half shafts. Sadly there is no 'Rubicon' LR, but the Rubicon is not the basic Wrangler. The LR could be upgraded to 'Rubicon' spec without much too much difficulty.
I love Wranglers too, so not hating on them by any means. But let's play the towing ability and passenger / luggage capacity cards of a Wrangler vs my 110. 110 fits 7 people easily. I once transported a local family - squeezed about 11 people, into my 110. You can fit masses of cargo on my expedition roof-rack. I could tow a boat whilst doing all this.
It would frankly cost a fortune to get a Defender to Rubicon spec. And you couldn’t do it and use Land Rover parts. I love Wranglers too, so not hating on them by any means. But let's play the towing ability and passenger / luggage capacity cards of a Wrangler vs my 110. 110 fits 7 people easily. I once transported a local family - squeezed about 11 people, into my 110. You can fit masses of cargo on my expedition roof-rack. I could tow a boat whilst doing all this.
Basic Wranglers can be optioned with a rear locker (in the US at least. Jeep U.K. are utterly crap!) And they still have better suspension, engines, gearboxes and hydroformed chassis.
The 110 seating, as stated is rather unique in the entire market place. But I’ve said this already......
Although it has to be said. The 2nd row seating in an Unlimited Jeep is a heck of a lot more comfy than a 110 for any sort of distance. Tall people can also see out much easier, whereas in a 110 they have their eye level at the top of the Windows almost.
And I’ve already mention towing. There is no physical or technical reason why a Jeep can’t tow more. But Jeep simply don’t rate it for more.
3rd Wrangler has more seating than a late model D90 btw. And I suspect similar payload.
"What's the better over landing vehicle? The landrover by a long distance!"
Skip to 35 mins 18 seconds.
https://youtu.be/TsY5umMfUxg
Skip to 35 mins 18 seconds.
https://youtu.be/TsY5umMfUxg
bakerstreet said:
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!
What utter bs. Just because he hasn't used it for off roading, that is not an excuse for the bodywork oxidising! Also 45k miles is nothing in the motoring world. My Discovery 3 has 185k on the clock!
I'm not 100% convinced on the rusting. Are we talking about the paint peeling away off the hinges and bulkhead. That might not be rusting and could be an easy repair.
Not surprised that it hasn't been taken off road. Think more have been bought as Chelsea Tractors in its final years rather that farm vehicles. Think the farmers gave up on Defenders years ago and moved onto L200s and similar.
kbf1981 said:
"What's the better over landing vehicle? The landrover by a long distance!"
Skip to 35 mins 18 seconds.
https://youtu.be/TsY5umMfUxg
Yes have seen that vid, and it isn't a black and white conclusion as he clearly highlights the pros and cons of each. Have you watched his other Wrangler vs Defender vids?Skip to 35 mins 18 seconds.
https://youtu.be/TsY5umMfUxg
Gassing Station | Land Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff