Defender On Road Manners

[Plotloss]

Ok.

Need a van for work as my Saab, good old girl though she is, isnt projecting quite the right image at client sites.

Cant quite bring myself to buy a van van so am looking at options.

Always loved Land Rover products, particularly Range Rover and Defender.

Trouble is, I do a lot of miles.

Based in Windsor, have clients in Essex, Notts and will shortly be opening an office in the South West and will be travelling down there more and more as time passes.

Will the 'agricultural' feel of a Defender be too harsh for big-ish mileage such as this? Would I be better off looking at a Rangie or maybe even a Disco?

If Defender is a potential go'er, what vintage? Corporate colours will pretty much mandate anything I buy being resprayed and a bit of bodywork etc I'm not concerned with. May possibly be able to stretch to a new one depending on what the accountant says about the best way to finance a work only van. So over to you really.

Thoughts appreciated gents

[w1how]

You are better stretching to a new one if you plan to do a lot of miles-there are lots of improvements on the 07 model to make it easier to live with every day.Ive done about 3000 miles in mine in 2 and a half months and I love it however Defenders are an acquired taste so you must drive one for a good while before you agree to buy-some people just cant get on with them at all.Average mpg on mine so far mostly towing and not hanging around is about 25mpg.If you like to press on on the motorway then a Defender is not for you-speed is limited to 82mph or so.

[Podie]

I'll be honest, a Defender will ing cripple you. You'll fall out of love with it, the minute you do more than 60 minutes in it on a motorway.

Great vehicles, but not for motorway hacking...

[biglepton]

Depends how much of a wuss you are!

I drive mine all over the place including Spain, Italy and North Africa. And mine is a 1989 V8!

Get the seat set up right and get yerself wedged in and you'll be fine. Always drive with the drivers window down though, even if snowing!

[w1how]

Podie said:

I'll be honest, a Defender will ing cripple you. You'll fall out of love with it, the minute you do more than 60 minutes in it on a motorway.

Great vehicles, but not for motorway hacking...

Why??I regually travel long distances on the motorway in my defender despite there being many other vehicles at my disposal.It doesnt tire me,I enjoy the driving position and only being able to do 84 mph is a bonus as usually whatever car Im in I drive with my foot to the floor

[biglepton]

w1how said:

and only being able to do 84 mph is a bonus as usually whatever car Im in I drive with my foot to the floor

Did I hear somewhere that the 2007 Defenders are speed limited? My Old V8 (slightly modded!) will easily show 110mph but it gets a tad vague and scary above 95!

[Bish]

It is speed limited but you can get a chip to confuse the limiter into thinking it is doing 41mph when it fact it is doing 82mph. Allisport are working on a more permanent solution.

[Graham]

IF your looking newerish I've got an 03 disco 2 td5 commercial.

Looks exactly like a 5 door disco just with very black rear windows. you can even get the rear door windows to work if you pop in a couple of window regulators and some switches.

drives exactly like a standard disco complete with compfy seats, cd, air, electric windows etc...

throw in an intercooler and ecu upgrade and there quite quick. you can probably get them from about 10k...

nene overland to the disco 3 as a commercial as i dont thin l/r do an official one yet

[superlightr]

Just got myself a great G4 defende 110 SE. Town driving and some mways. No problem at all so far.

Did 4 hrs mway and fast A roads last week, fantastic. Loved it. I find the driving style more relaxing than my pork and come out of it less stressed. Your not looking to zip here and there, you plod on at 70 enjouing the ride.

Agree with the obligotory window down, arm out & big grin on face.

Edited by superlightr on Tuesday 14th August 09:31

[mechsympathy]

Podie said:

I'll be honest, a Defender will ing cripple you. You'll fall out of love with it, the minute you do more than 60 minutes in it on a motorway.

Great vehicles, but not for motorway hacking...

It depends what your driving style is like. I like to push on and get frustrated in the landy as it doesn't have the speed to work round the slow coaches and MLMs. The driving position suits me well though. The new Defender has the transit engine and a 6spd box and is apparently leagues ahead better.

(And bear in mind that you'll be speed limited as a car derived van)

ETA: It was bizarre, as soon as we hit SA (and tarmac again) I was getting frustrated with it Off road it's perfect.

Edited by mechsympathy on Tuesday 14th August 12:28

[JohnnyHayward]

Graham said:

IF your looking newerish I've got an 03 disco 2 td5 commercial.

Looks exactly like a 5 door disco just with very black rear windows. you can even get the rear door windows to work if you pop in a couple of window regulators and some switches.

drives exactly like a standard disco complete with compfy seats, cd, air, electric windows etc...

throw in an intercooler and ecu upgrade and there quite quick. you can probably get them from about 10k...

nene overland to the disco 3 as a commercial as i dont thin l/r do an official one yet

Land Rover do an official Disco commercial now, it's been available for about 3 months or so.

[Pugsey]

w1how said:

Podie said:

I'll be honest, a Defender will ing cripple you. You'll fall out of love with it, the minute you do more than 60 minutes in it on a motorway.

Great vehicles, but not for motorway hacking...

Why??I regually travel long distances on the motorway in my defender despite there being many other vehicles at my disposal.It doesnt tire me,I enjoy the driving position and only being able to do 84 mph is a bonus as usually whatever car Im in I drive with my foot to the floor

I agree for the same reasons. Not needing to rag it means I get out at the other end feeling strangly relaxed. Be warned though - you said you needed a van and the rear load space isn't as large or as practical as you might think - mines a 90 though. Even less so in the new version btw - unless you remove the seats.

[w1how]

Pugsey said:

w1how said:

Podie said:

I'll be honest, a Defender will ing cripple you. You'll fall out of love with it, the minute you do more than 60 minutes in it on a motorway.

Great vehicles, but not for motorway hacking...

Why??I regually travel long distances on the motorway in my defender despite there being many other vehicles at my disposal.It doesnt tire me,I enjoy the driving position and only being able to do 84 mph is a bonus as usually whatever car Im in I drive with my foot to the floor

I agree for the same reasons. Not needing to rag it means I get out at the other end feeling strangly relaxed. Be warned though - you said you needed a van and the rear load space isn't as large or as practical as you might think - mines a 90 though. Even less so in the new version btw - unless you remove the seats.

The rear seats in the new model cannot be removed unless theres a socket set handy!

[JohnnyHayward]

Will hope you are still enjoying the XS, are you ready for another one yet ?!

[w1how]

JohnnyHayward said:

Will hope you are still enjoying the XS, are you ready for another one yet ?!

Hi Johnny,yes Im still enjoying it.Its working hard for its living!It attracts a lot of attention,most people knowing that it is an 07 model and asking if its an improvement over the previous model(of which there are quite a few around here).Speaking to various people,our local lr dealer does not have a good reputation so maybe I can put some more business your way.
All the best
Will

[JohnnyHayward]

Will pleased you like it and have it working hard, feel free to send anyone my way and I'll look after them, plus you get a £100 referral for each person that buys a car too !

[Fane]

Disco 2 or 3 Commercial is the way to go imo, depending on budget. In April I used a 90 Defender to tow a car from Manchester to the borders and back again. Whilst good for a laugh in a roadtrip kind of way, I was knackered when I got out. If you do decide on a Defender, get one with cloth or half leather seats rather than vinyl. Sweaty backs don't impress customers!

[Liszt]

I think they are an aquired taste. I love my 110. Can drive 200+ miles no problem. Other people are more fussy and feel it is really uncomfortable.

Horses for courses. Try a disco commercial and a defender. If you don't need huge articulation or are going to be worried about panel damage, stick with the disco

[Pugsey]

w1how said:

Pugsey said:

w1how said:

Podie said:

I'll be honest, a Defender will ing cripple you. You'll fall out of love with it, the minute you do more than 60 minutes in it on a motorway.

Great vehicles, but not for motorway hacking...

Why??I regually travel long distances on the motorway in my defender despite there being many other vehicles at my disposal.It doesnt tire me,I enjoy the driving position and only being able to do 84 mph is a bonus as usually whatever car Im in I drive with my foot to the floor

I agree for the same reasons. Not needing to rag it means I get out at the other end feeling strangly relaxed. Be warned though - you said you needed a van and the rear load space isn't as large or as practical as you might think - mines a 90 though. Even less so in the new version btw - unless you remove the seats.

The rear seats in the new model cannot be removed unless theres a socket set handy!

Which there will be if it's a true Defender - along with a bale of hay, some rope, shot gun, wellies, something dead and mouldy and finally a strong smell of dog - a £0 option if I remember rightly!

[w1how]

w1how said:

JohnnyHayward said:

Will hope you are still enjoying the XS, are you ready for another one yet ?!

Hi Johnny,yes Im still enjoying it.Its working hard for its living!It attracts a lot of attention,most people knowing that it is an 07 model and asking if its an improvement over the previous model(of which there are quite a few around here).Speaking to various people,our local lr dealer does not have a good reputation so maybe I can put some more business your way.
All the best
Will