Calling All Land Rover Owners

[Humakt]

Any Landy owners on here?
Come next year and I'm thinking of getting a new car.
Specifically, I'm thinking about a Land Rover Defender 90.
Am I doing the right thing? Are they reliable or do they keep conking out? Anyone got any experience and can offer any advice?

[ammo]

Hi pal.
I own an 80 Landcruiser, which ive had rebuilt. The Missus said if she can have it i can get what i want.
Two weeks ago, i gave in to my desires, thats it im getting a landy 90.Ive had 3 Discos but nothing looks as cool as a 90 defender. ( except a 40 seires landcruiser ) My plan was to spend about 4-5 grand then a couple for repairs and preventive maintenance.
The first a 300 tdi which is the best engine. faster and more economical than the newer td5 due to the fact that the td5 complies with emmission regs. Also the td5 has too many elecs and the ecu is positioned too low and can cause probs, also anyone with a mechanical brain can work on a 200/300 were as the td5 needs a diagnostic machine.
Anyway. The first broke down within a 100 meters on my test drive. The second i could see through the floor, the 3rd had some iisues with the thrust plate. The 4th i the doors had dropped a common fault which makes them leak and the lack of power couldnt pull the skin off a rice pudding. I tried a few more but gave in.
Ive done 3500 miles around India in a Defender and didnt have a problem, that seems to be the exception rather than the rule. They do have serious reliability issues but if you are good with a spanner set you can sort most of it yourself, part of the appeal for me.
They are iconic with great approach and departure angles for off-road. On road they are pretty poo. Terrible mpg. Noisy , drafty, slow, sqaushed inside, basic doesnt come close. I knew all this and still wanted one lol still do.
With all this in mind i would still recomend one but not as your only car, as a back up or workhorse.
Get a Landcruiser 80 or 100. Save yourself a fortune and they are simply better.
Good luck.
Ammo.