 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > First Time Buyer - Advice Needed |
 
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1428   
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Hi, and welcome to the forum.
Have you driven a Defender before, are you sure it's the right vehicle as your daily driver in Canada? They really are very different to own and drive when compared to any modern vehicle from the last 30 years. What looks cool initially can become a pain in the ass every day. Firstly, the noise and comfort. The body was designed in the 1950's and dropped on a suspension system from the1960's in the early 1980s to make the 110. What was fine 40, 60 and 70 years ago might not live upto your expectations today. Likewise for safety, if you prioritise that for yourself or your family. No airbags, no crumple zone, no side intrusion beams, flimsy upper body with no rollover protection. Engine power. 122 BHP in a 2 Tonne vehicle. Yes it can be tuned, but it's still going to be the slowest vehicle on the roads today. Modern North American small to mid size SUVs and pick up trucks will generally have 250 to 350 BHP. I have a late 2.2 tdci and have used it as a daily for almost 10 years, for a short 3 mile commute and camping trips. I also have other vehicles that are used for longer runs of more than 200 miles or need to get there quickly in comfort. There are times I do not want to drive the Defender. Just be sure it’s for you before going through all the trouble and expense of finding one, importing it and sorting all the issues on a 15+ year old vehicle. |
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29th Oct 2024 11:31am |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1428
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First thing to do to any vehicle, BEFORE it's shipped to Canada:
Drain, flush and refill the coolant system with Canadian winter spec antifreeze. A friend of mine shipped a Discovery to Halifax NS. While it was at the port waiting collection, the coolant froze loosening the core plugs. It lost the coolant on the drive home from the port and had to be recovered 600miles on a trailer. |
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29th Oct 2024 11:45am |
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| Jerry Member Since: 13 Nov 2015 Location: Cardiff Posts: 199 
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not mine, but looks great and would save you alot of hassle...
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic93288.html |
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29th Oct 2024 11:56am |
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| ds_discosport Member Since: 28 Oct 2024 Location: Toronto Posts: 5 
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Honestly that has been my struggle. I have dreamt of owning a classic defender for so long. It's all I ever search for online, on the roads, etc. I literally act like a kid when i see one. No i have never been in one, and therefore, never driven one. I love everything i stands for, and perhaps it's just being delusional! lol I totally agree with everything you've said above, but I feel that in itself is the experience that you get which you don't in modern day cars. I'm willing to accept the discomfort and the HP. My daily commute is a mix of highway and streets and roughly 70km return trip every day. I don't mind driving in the right lane with the slow traffic. I don't plan to have kids in there often, but will definitely being school runs and perhaps some local weekend errands and trips. We have a 2018 Disco Sport that has all the bells and whistles and would be used for longer commutes, family outings, and perhaps the go to car majority of the time when kids are with us. I don't even drive a manual! lol so i need to learn that first!! haha...i know..im a hopeless case.. Safety is a huge concern, but are there any options to increase the safety? Roll bars? heavy duty bumpers? I'm not sure. They are pricy here in Canada, so importing gives me access to 2008/2009 models and relatively decent mileage. But again, buying unseen is tough. Any points on what to look for and do before importing or when I get it first? |
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29th Oct 2024 5:39pm |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1428
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Look up a local LR Club in your area, someone will be willing to let you have a look round their Defender and take you for a ride. Talk to them, go to a meeting or event and take along the Disco Sport to show you're serious.
Earlier models, TDi or TD5, are different in character though and won't be exactly like a Puma. Corrosion of the body and chassis is one of the big things to look out for. Buying from a warm dry climate, that doesn't use salt on the roads, will help with that. Also be careful of one from a coastal area where the climate is also salty. I'd be looking for one in Southern Europe, Spain, Portugal or Italy. The steering wheel will be on the correct side too. Unfortunately I can't recommend a dealer to source one and ship it. I wouldn’t buy anything without a trusted person giving it a thorough check over. Good luck  |
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29th Oct 2024 10:12pm |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1087  
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Apart from the driving experience, you need to like tinkering. And expect to chase down parts regularly. For most people this is part of the attraction. It's certainly not for everyone.
But you could do worse: buy a P38! It's in its own tinkering league altogether |
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30th Oct 2024 6:51am |
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| Screbble Member Since: 26 Apr 2015 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2108 
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I agree with what has been said already.
It’s not just a mode of transport, it’s a way of life. If you don’t like tinkering or fettling, then maybe it’s not for you. There nothing wrong with buying with your heart (to a point) just as long as you also use your head. Most of my family, friends, acquaintances do not like Defenders and cannot understand why I own one. I couldn’t really care less what they think. I love my Defender and it always puts a smile on my face (well…nearly always…). I have access to other cars so mine is not a ‘daily driver’ but it is my ‘go to’ if I want to put a smile on my face 😀 Having said all that, you do need to enlist the support and advice of someone trustworthy and local to assist you with your purchase as it can be a minefield. Good luck 👍 |
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30th Oct 2024 8:00am |
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| Johan_B Member Since: 20 Sep 2024 Location: Gothenburg Posts: 33  
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Owning a Defender is an adventure! Go for it! Chances are you will be like a kid when commuting to work, buying groceries, taking your kids to the soccer game, etc. It may not wear off and you will catch yourself turning your head as you walk away from it on the parking lot, even after many years.
What you are being warned about above is also the very things that will make you love it. I would try to find one with little or no rust if that is possible and that has passed a recent MOT. That should give you some time to build the relationship before the trouble starts. But there are no guarantees. General problems with this model: Gearbox output shaft - wears, finally you loose all drive. MY 2007-2009-ish seems better than later ones. Transfer box oil leak onto parking brake - parking brake can't hold car. If not leaking, then probably fixed. Vacuum pump oil leak. You will see it when opening the hood. New vacuum pump needed. Oil pan wrong geometry, touches front axle when articulating. Could have been changed by Land Rover, otherwise new pan needed if you're gonna go off-road. I bought mine in May with one or two missed services at 130000km and just passed the MOT. Since then I've had multiple problems but none of them could have been predicted from the service history or from general problems with the model. Therefor my advise is, get the car you really want, with as little rust as possible and be prepared to work with it. |
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30th Oct 2024 11:15am |
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| Dover mike Member Since: 01 Aug 2023 Location: Dover kent Posts: 14  
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hi mate i have a TD5 90 and i use it every day and at the moment im doing about 140 miles a day and every time i get in its like going on an adventure my grandkids love it in the back and don't play on there phones as they face each other so they talk but it takes a lot of time keeping it in good order
go for it and if its not for you you can always sale it there and possibly make money as well |
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30th Oct 2024 12:04pm |
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| Ianb Member Since: 25 Oct 2023 Location: Devon Posts: 405 
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I do understand the more seemingly negative posts about Defenders in here, it's important to recognise its a rough agricultural vehicle, but I will say out of all the vehicles I've driven, its the most fun.
It's noisy, 'uncomfortable' (by comparison to most other things) etc etc, but I recently just did a near 500mile trip (200+ there, bit of faffing about at friends for the night/following morning, then 200+ back) and I wouldn't really have wanted to drive anything else...our car which was the other option to take has heated leather seats, 2.5litre turbo petrol engine and 230ish bhp... it's boring... Take what others say as the warning of preperation, but it also sounds like you're aware of things to do. I change our oil (and filter cos it's cheap to do so) every 5k miles. Also just chatting to the wife we were saying it feels weird when not driving the Defender and passing another Defender as you can't wave to them (without getting a funny look). The community (waving) is a big part of the Defender owners as well. The Yeti - 110 Camper https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic90308.html Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@YetitheDefender Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yetithedefender/ |
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30th Oct 2024 1:46pm |
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| ds_discosport Member Since: 28 Oct 2024 Location: Toronto Posts: 5
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Thank you all for all your advice, insights, and sharing your experiences. Very helpful tips and will definitely keep this log.
I do love everything about the classic 110, and agree with all of you, it definitely is an experience and i have no doubt it will keep me smiling while driving. As long as it's driving! LOL I definitely don' want to take up too much of your time, but i've short listed the below four listings. Any thoughts on any of them? I'll be working with an importer, and they do provide a service for a full inspection at additional cost, but im sure it's well worth it. But on the face of it, any thoughts on these four? in order of preference: 1) https://www.autoscout24.com/offers/land-ro...able=false 2) https://www.autoscout24.com/offers/land-ro...able=false 3) https://www.autoscout24.com/offers/land-ro...able=false 4) https://www.autoscout24.com/offers/land-ro...able=false Thanks again to this community for all your help. |
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30th Oct 2024 9:25pm |
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| BrickBox Member Since: 05 Oct 2021 Location: Wales Posts: 840  
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Number 2 & number 4 for me.
Number 1 has chequered plate everywhere inc the bulkhead. Number 3 seems to have seen a lot of adventure off road. 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS. |
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30th Oct 2024 10:18pm |
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| Not_Given Member Since: 25 Dec 2017 Location: UK Posts: 94 
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I'll Second what BrickBox says.
I have too much plate on mine, buy at least I know what it's hiding! Be wary of what it conceals. No. 3 may have been re-sprayed, looking at the rivets behind the rear door. |
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31st Oct 2024 3:01am |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1428
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Also 2 & 4 for me.
No 4 has had some welded repairs on the rear crossmember. - the 2 plates that wrap onto, and are welded to, the rear face. That raises questions about the condition of the rear section of the chassis, and indeed the whole chassis in general. |
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31st Oct 2024 9:19am |
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