Defender 110 - talk me out of it!
Discussion
Just moved out of the City. Will be needing a vehicle that can handle proper snow and ice, will be able to tow the 7 when I want, can be used for lugging "s
te" generally and that I can use for the station run (7mls each way) without too much hassle other than fuel (eg is not a magnet to cretins when parked up; starts reliably etc).
Long runs will be done in something else unless there's a specific need (at which point a bit of discomfort will be acceptable).
I love Defenders and have a "heart" notion that all petrolheads should own one at some point.
Been doing a bit of research and am thinking
- 110 so I have more space inside (people and tat)
- 300TDI seem to be generally recommended as a decent combination of reliability and value?
- does a larger athlete fit ok (6'4". Fat)?
- am I barking up the wrong tree?
- is sub 10kGBP sensible for a decent example?
- can they really cope with 200k miles, hence looking at one with 100k on the clock is ok?
- have Walton Motors cornered the market?
Talk me out of it please
All advice very much welcomed!
te" generally and that I can use for the station run (7mls each way) without too much hassle other than fuel (eg is not a magnet to cretins when parked up; starts reliably etc).Long runs will be done in something else unless there's a specific need (at which point a bit of discomfort will be acceptable).
I love Defenders and have a "heart" notion that all petrolheads should own one at some point.
Been doing a bit of research and am thinking
- 110 so I have more space inside (people and tat)
- 300TDI seem to be generally recommended as a decent combination of reliability and value?
- does a larger athlete fit ok (6'4". Fat)?
- am I barking up the wrong tree?
- is sub 10kGBP sensible for a decent example?
- can they really cope with 200k miles, hence looking at one with 100k on the clock is ok?
- have Walton Motors cornered the market?
Talk me out of it please
All advice very much welcomed!Murph7355 said:
Talk me out of it please
No. Buy one 
I've had three 110s over the years: 300tdi, TDi and a V8. Love 'em. Watch for rot in the bulkhead and chassis. 300tdi (and 200tdi) will go forever.
If you are a bit of a porker, make sure you are happy with the elbow room, the cab is a bit narrow. Otherwise, enjoy!
Just the sort of advice I need.
What sort of mpg can I expect? Not a massive concern, as long as it's over 15-20.
Also, were chassis galvanised from the factory? Have seen one advertised with a galvanised chassis which I would have thought a "good thing" from a rot perspective?
Looks like I need a trip to Walton motors
What sort of mpg can I expect? Not a massive concern, as long as it's over 15-20.
Also, were chassis galvanised from the factory? Have seen one advertised with a galvanised chassis which I would have thought a "good thing" from a rot perspective?
Looks like I need a trip to Walton motors
The Defender is a strange one... You either fit and are comfortable or you hate it. It's like the Marmite of the car world. Make sure you take one for a drive before you decide. Take it on some very twisty, tight roads too so that you're sure you can cope with the turning circle. I've seen 40' trucks with tighter turning circles than my 110!!!! 
a) Will suddenly make you a better driver in snow & ice
b) Have to 'bling' it up with winch, raised air intake, suspension lift, big tyres, etc...
With a little bit of training, the standard car will go most places and probably more places than a numpty in the aforementioned 'blinged-up' car! It's also worth noting that if you're thinking about winter, narrow tyres will perform much better in snow/ice than a 'fat' set of mud tyres anyway.
As for where to get one... You might as well go to a dealer. There are so many 'blinged-up' piles of overpriced ste on the market, unless you know what you're looking for, you are going to be better off going to a decent dealer.
HTH
M
- MPG will probably be in the mid 20s.
- Chassis have never been galvanised, so anything advertised as such has had a new chassis fitted.
a) Will suddenly make you a better driver in snow & ice
b) Have to 'bling' it up with winch, raised air intake, suspension lift, big tyres, etc...
With a little bit of training, the standard car will go most places and probably more places than a numpty in the aforementioned 'blinged-up' car! It's also worth noting that if you're thinking about winter, narrow tyres will perform much better in snow/ice than a 'fat' set of mud tyres anyway.
As for where to get one... You might as well go to a dealer. There are so many 'blinged-up' piles of overpriced s
te on the market, unless you know what you're looking for, you are going to be better off going to a decent dealer.HTH
M
Hi. I have had four defenders now and would never be without one. Mine is a 2004 110 td5 xs with a hanibal rack and is used for everything. I have done 60k miles in 5 years in my current Landy. Mpg is just under 30 and reliability has been spot on. And service costs are very cheap. I will never ever sell it! Get one!
Do it . Lots of comments above about rust etc so get it checked.
Buy a set of 'mud rails' for the seat, raises it slightly but gives you about 3" more legroom. Means you can stretch out and as your elbows are not so bent you can drive without smacking your elbow all the time.
Stu ( happy 90 puma owner )
Buy a set of 'mud rails' for the seat, raises it slightly but gives you about 3" more legroom. Means you can stretch out and as your elbows are not so bent you can drive without smacking your elbow all the time.
Stu ( happy 90 puma owner )
Errm. Ive had more landrovers than you can shake a stick at. And still do. But if i was inclined to go for another Defender then it would be a puma engined XS. Personally i went with a Dodge Ram. I can tow what i like. Will seat 6 in supreme comfort. Is 4x4 and more load space in the rear than a 110. The biggest plus in two years of ownership is running costs. Apart from fuel its just had a basic service each year. And nothing has broken or ever failed to start. But like i said if it was going to be another Defender then it would be a puma XS Model.
Aren't Puma engined cars much newer?
This'll be a workaday car for me and spending more than 10k doesn't really make sense I suspect (I'll feel far less irked if a cheaper car picks up knocks and dinks for a start). Doesn't have to be supremely comfortable, just needs to work and put up with taking the brunt of crap jobs.
This'll be a workaday car for me and spending more than 10k doesn't really make sense I suspect (I'll feel far less irked if a cheaper car picks up knocks and dinks for a start). Doesn't have to be supremely comfortable, just needs to work and put up with taking the brunt of crap jobs.
Murph7355 said:
will be able to tow the 7
So you've already got one hand-assembled mostly-aluminium British built 50-year old cold-in-winter hot-in-summer noisy rattley over-priced uncomfortable unreliable enthusiast's car?And you want another one?
Do it. I did.
If you love a 7 you'll love a 110 for all the same reasons. They both fill a very specific niche without compromise.
Crossflow Kid said:
So you've already got one hand-assembled mostly-aluminium British built 50-year old cold-in-winter hot-in-summer noisy rattley over-priced uncomfortable unreliable enthusiast's car?
And you want another one?
Do it. I did.
If you love a 7 you'll love a 110 for all the same reasons. They both fill a very specific niche without compromise.
And you want another one?
Do it. I did.
If you love a 7 you'll love a 110 for all the same reasons. They both fill a very specific niche without compromise.
Am going to try and get to look at some this weekend.
Not sure where everyone's seeing 300TDi's for 7k though (other thread) and them being cited as nick able is a little concerning. I was hoping no one would bother.
Murph7355 said:
them being cited as nick able is a little concerning. I was hoping no one would bother.
Au contraire Murph.Because Defender is so Meccano-like, it's dead easy to dismantle and move on in bits. There are urban myths a plenty of 110s vanishing, and within 24 hours Plod following a Tracker signal to a barn full of spares.....but no whole vehicle. Also a big makret for them in Africa (despite what Toyota owners will tell you).
There are a few very easy steps you can take to make one less nickable.
Crossflow Kid said:
Au contraire Murph.
Because Defender is so Meccano-like, it's dead easy to dismantle and move on in bits. There are urban myths a plenty of 110s vanishing, and within 24 hours Plod following a Tracker signal to a barn full of spares.....but no whole vehicle. Also a big makret for them in Africa (despite what Toyota owners will tell you).
There are a few very easy steps you can take to make one less nickable.
Agreed. When the pikies moved into our village, all I did to my S3 was get the steering lock on & then remove the steering wheel. It also has a dead mans key that kills everything.Because Defender is so Meccano-like, it's dead easy to dismantle and move on in bits. There are urban myths a plenty of 110s vanishing, and within 24 hours Plod following a Tracker signal to a barn full of spares.....but no whole vehicle. Also a big makret for them in Africa (despite what Toyota owners will tell you).
There are a few very easy steps you can take to make one less nickable.
Don't do it
After 12 years of 90 ownership (300Tdi's and Td5) the 110 crew cab seemed to make sense (3 kids, 2 dogs, move to the country). Bought one and regretted it within weeks, sold after 18 months and back to 90's. The 110 is ok but lacks the manouverability of the 90, is too slow and ponderous and only beats the 90 on long motorway trips (not the best enviroment for any Defender).
If you can fit into a Griff a Defender is no problem, keep the flag flying.
Good luck in your search.
After 12 years of 90 ownership (300Tdi's and Td5) the 110 crew cab seemed to make sense (3 kids, 2 dogs, move to the country). Bought one and regretted it within weeks, sold after 18 months and back to 90's. The 110 is ok but lacks the manouverability of the 90, is too slow and ponderous and only beats the 90 on long motorway trips (not the best enviroment for any Defender).
If you can fit into a Griff a Defender is no problem, keep the flag flying.
Good luck in your search.
Thanks guys.
I have the use of other vehicles for non-"slow and ponderous" cross country work. If I'm carrying bikes, logs, crap or kids/inlaws/dead bodies speed will be of little consideration. Most things can become the last one after all
Off to see a couple Saturday.
Will see how I get on
I have the use of other vehicles for non-"slow and ponderous" cross country work. If I'm carrying bikes, logs, crap or kids/inlaws/dead bodies speed will be of little consideration. Most things can become the last one after all
Off to see a couple Saturday.
Will see how I get on
I bought one in July. £9k, chipped, diffs, lots of other stuff done. 62k miles (genuine too!).
If you plan to keep long term, there are a good buy if you can find a decent on. Puma's were too pricey, tdi's too many miles so I settled on my third TD5. No complaints here except a bit of a pain to insure with mods. £370 pa, as opposed to £150 without!
If you plan to keep long term, there are a good buy if you can find a decent on. Puma's were too pricey, tdi's too many miles so I settled on my third TD5. No complaints here except a bit of a pain to insure with mods. £370 pa, as opposed to £150 without!
OK.
I suspect I'm going to wuss out.
The car I went to look at seemed in very good nick (though how lostinespace got his car for 9k I don't know.....).
Dealer was spot on, very honest and straightforward.
The problems started with the driving position. Very unnatural to me, and as a larger athlete in most directions it wasn't....comfortable in even a short drive (there's not a st load of adjustment available, even if I considered turning into an 11 seater by fitting longer seat runners). Felt like trying to play the organ (I imagine) whilst trying to drive.
This didn't set me off in the right direction, and whilst I'm used to "compromise", I started to imagine jumping in at 0600 on a winter's morning for the 7 mile drive to the station and thinking that there was a good chance I'd start to hate it...
I still need to think on it some more, and maybe go and look at a few more. But the other thing nagging at me is what 7k-10k will buy in terms of cars that can handle a little (stress little) mud, snow and ice. I was thinking I wouldn't care what I chucked in a Defender. But to be honest, at that price point I could probably be equally nonchalant about myriad other options (eg XC90; Discovery; etc) as I suspect they'll hold value in an ok fashion anyway.
I still want a Defender. But for the first time in my life, head is taking over heart....for now.
I suspect I'm going to wuss out.
The car I went to look at seemed in very good nick (though how lostinespace got his car for 9k I don't know.....).
Dealer was spot on, very honest and straightforward.
The problems started with the driving position. Very unnatural to me, and as a larger athlete in most directions it wasn't....comfortable in even a short drive (there's not a s
t load of adjustment available, even if I considered turning into an 11 seater by fitting longer seat runners). Felt like trying to play the organ (I imagine) whilst trying to drive.This didn't set me off in the right direction, and whilst I'm used to "compromise", I started to imagine jumping in at 0600 on a winter's morning for the 7 mile drive to the station and thinking that there was a good chance I'd start to hate it...
I still need to think on it some more, and maybe go and look at a few more. But the other thing nagging at me is what 7k-10k will buy in terms of cars that can handle a little (stress little) mud, snow and ice. I was thinking I wouldn't care what I chucked in a Defender. But to be honest, at that price point I could probably be equally nonchalant about myriad other options (eg XC90; Discovery; etc) as I suspect they'll hold value in an ok fashion anyway.
I still want a Defender. But for the first time in my life, head is taking over heart....for now.
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