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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006   
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Hi we have reached the point where the defender is in need of a quite significant amount of time and work in order to get get it to a suitable standard of reliability to continue with the heavy farm work it does, though to be fair our need to tow at full capacity has diminished. Anyway for the money we need to spend we could get out of an 18 year old tired defender and into an 9 year old cherokee with half the milage. Question has anyone here had one and what did you make of it? Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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28th May 2016 7:59pm |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2751 
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Last experience I had with a Cherokee did some light off-roading with a friend and couldn't open the boot afterwards!
Think there's a reason they never caught on in the civilised world 
Pretty good (thirsty) engines though Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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28th May 2016 10:43pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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Ok this is the short list of things to do to get the defender back to healthy working order, last time the head was off for a gasket it was noted that the hone marks were basically none existent, since then it also smokes on the overun when cold. The gear change is possible but not smooth or particularly accurate, the chassis while not Swiss cheese does need attention as does the bodywork though it is still fairly tidy for its age it is on the cusp of becoming scabby. One place that has looked at it quoted 7 grand to get it somewhere near another said we would be better off punting it as is and putting the cost of the repairs it needs with the sale figure and getting a better vehicle altogether, like they said even if handbagged to within an inch of its life it is still an 18 year old car and will never recoup the expense of bringing it up to a decent standard. Add all that to the fact it only did 1900 miles between its last 2 mot's and it starts to look like an expensive way of towing 2 and a half tonnes against a vehicle at half the cost, half the age, and half the milage. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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29th May 2016 9:21am |
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| Projectblue Member Since: 22 Nov 2011 Location: Devon Posts: 1096
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As a working vehicle it's never going to stand up to actual maths. Man maths, yes. Reality maths no.
The one thing in the Defenders favour is if you spent £7k on it, and refurbed it with new engine, box & chassis it would be worth £7k forever. It would outlast you (no disrespect on your age etc) be able to pass it to your kids (if you have any) and will just be a presence there forever. Or chuck in to auction, let someone else do the investing and you add a couple of G to what it makes and go shopping for a totally unknown quantity
As for it's replacement I wouldn't remotely begin looking at a Cherokee. Isuzu Troopers do well as do Landcruisers. That's all I would touch apart from a Disco 2. Or a classic Range Rover  New project and it's green: www.projectoverland.info |
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30th May 2016 11:02am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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If you want to change it, what about something like this?
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic46681.html |
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30th May 2016 12:19pm |
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| adbseries3 Member Since: 27 Apr 2016 Location: sussex Posts: 49 
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We used to have a Petrol V8 Grand Cherokee. I used to really like it (other than 18 to the gallon) BUT when it started to go wrong the parts were mad expensive so it quickly became uneconomic - although could get lots of stuff from breakers (presumably others had to scrap for same reason). Didn't think the ordinary Cherokee had much character, certainly not compared to a Defender. Wife got a Discovery, different class to the Jeep. The dealers were awful too!
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30th May 2016 1:19pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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sorry but having owned a defender for the last 5 odd years i really don't buy into the whole tough as an old boot hype, they are not tough, a defender is just as fragile as any other car and in certain aspects actually worse. A Subaru is tough and even my jimny is tough in terms of resisting the abuse suffered working on a farm, so if 'toy' cars like those can survive so can a jeep.
as for an old disco, been there done that and not going back, they are now too old and too full of tin worm to be suitable. interesting that parts are dear and dealers are unhelpful but i think that can be very subjective and given that i don't trust dealers anyway as they all seem to be on the rob i guess that is par for the course. i will however have a price up of a few common bits and see what i can expect cheers all. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon. |
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30th May 2016 1:56pm |
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| adbseries3 Member Since: 27 Apr 2016 Location: sussex Posts: 49
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you should buy what you want. Don't think Anyone said Defender was tougher, if anything for me it was the other way around, but drastically cheaper to fix. As you say subjective, and only an issue if you use OEM parts.
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30th May 2016 2:24pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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what i 'want' is a macan turbo but that would be in no way appropriate either as a tow car or for farm bashing so its a matter of buying the most appropriate tool for the job which is what this research is about. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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30th May 2016 2:49pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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what sort of size trailers are you towing?
Could you get rid of both vehicles and replace both the Defender and Jimny with one other? |
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30th May 2016 4:33pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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We have been going over and over that very idea for a while and tbh having the extra car does allow us to manage scheduled down time better. Whilst we have a 3.5 tonne twin deck trailer we only ever use it as a single so 2.5 or .6 tonnes is a realistic expectation. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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30th May 2016 5:03pm |
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| uncas Member Since: 22 Nov 2012 Location: Wentworth near Rotherham Posts: 340
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There are plenty of parts suppliers other than the Jeep main dealers I use Lighthouse for most bits. I've had body parts from Germany. You just have to look around. One thing I've noticed on the Jeep forums they don't come anywhere near this one for friendliness or appear to be as helpfull with problems etc. If you want a cheap as chips motor to use around the farm what about a Muso? dont laugh too loudly it would be more bulletproof than a Cherokee.
I've got a Yj Wrangler which I towed on a twin axle trailer back from Newcastle there isn' t a cat in hells chance that I'd have towed a 90 back from Newcastle with the Jeep horses for courses etc the Yj is a toy the Landy was a worker Barry |
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30th May 2016 9:06pm |
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| lambert.the.farmer Member Since: 11 Apr 2012 Location: harrogate Posts: 2006
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It is done. Deposit placed on a very clean looking example from a main dealer in Yeovil. Time will tell. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
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1st Jun 2016 3:23am |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3749
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I know its too late and not sure would suit your needs but most farms I see round Cheshire and Wales seem to have swapped for Pickups,
Nissan nivarda? frond ranger? that type of thing? Any car has its issues, if you go on any car forum of the make you have there will be stories of doom, Having had normal cars, my Defender so far at least the parts are cheap and everything is easy to get to fix. Good luck with your new work horse, are you getting rid of the 90? |
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1st Jun 2016 7:56am |
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