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Arctic



Member Since: 25 Aug 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 45

Planning to buy a new Defender...
Greetings all!

I am planning to buy a new Defender later this year and I have a few questions I thought someone may be kind enough to answer, as follows:

1. I am looking at a 90 Hard Top, very basic spec. e.g. no electric windows, heated seats, special interior trim etc. How much should I expect to pay for such a model? I mean, what kind of discount can be had on the prices listed on Land Rover UK's website?

2. I understand that the base models do not include ABS or ETC. Would these be a good investment or is the standard four wheel drive system good enough for most applications? Normal road driving and rough tracks, fields etc. are the ABS and ETC systems durable in the long run or could they get expensive?

3. My thinking is to keep the extras to a minimum in order to have less to go wrong over time. Does this make sense? Of course, keeping the cost down is one point too.

4. I have had a hard time deciding between a late TD5, refurbishing a 300tdi on a galvanised chassis and the new Puma TDCi. My conclusion is that a new TDCi would be the most comfortable for everyday use and should last many years if looked after well from new (rust protection etc). Is this the general opinion?

Any thoughts on the above would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Post #39031 25th Aug 2010 1:42pm
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harveyg77



Member Since: 09 Apr 2010
Location: Derby
Posts: 309

United Kingdom 
I agree with your conclusions. I looked at refurbishing a 170k mile Td5 110 hardtop into a 110 usw, butdecided a TDCi was better.

Hunters LR Derby have a base spec 90 HT TDCi in at the moment, it gets you a TDCi at much less than the new price - check it out if you get chance. I'm sore it's around 2007/2008 and approx. 13-14k.

Good luck,
Harvey
Post #39032 25th Aug 2010 3:14pm
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spudfan



Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4646

Ireland 
Have had a Puma for two years now. Cannot think of any reason not to buy one. Wonderful machine, no journey too long when you are driving one but plenty of journeys seem too short! Buy it, relish it, and allow yourself to be just taken over by the sheer joy of it. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai
Post #39039 25th Aug 2010 4:26pm
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Arctic



Member Since: 25 Aug 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 45

Thanks for the replies, they seem positive. I took a look at the one for sale in Derby but I think that, given some of the problems that people have had, I'd feel safer with a newer one and long warranty. I thought that, if I sell my car and use it as my only vehicle, I could in some way justify the extra cost. So, any ideas what a new base-spec 90 Hard Top could be had for? I assume the dealers have some margins to work with or?
Post #39041 25th Aug 2010 4:33pm
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
spudfan wrote:
Have had a Puma for two years now. Cannot think of any reason not to buy one. Wonderful machine, no journey too long when you are driving one but plenty of journeys seem too short! Buy it, relish it, and allow yourself to be just taken over by the sheer joy of it.


Thumbs Up Couldn't have summed it up better!!! Thumbs Up If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #39045 25th Aug 2010 6:24pm
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spudfan



Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4646

Ireland 
Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai
Post #39048 25th Aug 2010 7:25pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8003

 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
personally i would buy it with all the extras you can afford. its harder to add bits later and can cost more. Heated seats and front screen are a god send and ABS/TC is worthwhile in my experience. Cheers

James
110 2012 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop
Post #39050 25th Aug 2010 7:43pm
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johnnyturbo2002



Member Since: 21 May 2009
Location: Poniente Granadino
Posts: 371

Spain 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Java Black
I ditto the above, buy it with as much pazazz as you can afford, even if for sheer resale value. Mine has the full leather seats, heated, windscreen heat, air, and what ever else comes with that package and it is very nice to have them when you want or need them.
Cheers Spudfan, well said. 2008 Defender 110 60 year Edition (sold unfortunately)
IN the hunt for another Puma for the wifey!
2008 Kia Sorento LX 😁 2.5crdi
Post #39051 25th Aug 2010 7:47pm
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Froogle-Yorkshireman



Member Since: 10 Jul 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 350

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
Thumbs Up Spot on spudfan Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up Spot on JST Thumbs Up

XS is the way to go Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Proud owner 110 Utility XS
Ex RR Sport HST V8
Ex Td5 90
Post #39059 25th Aug 2010 8:41pm
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MrFlips



Member Since: 27 May 2009
Location: Cardiff
Posts: 682

Wales 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 PU Santorini Black
I was also hugely tempted to go down the route of buying a fully refurbished TDi on a galvanised chassis, but eventually went with the Puma as a three year warranty appealed a lot. My only regret with buying such a new vehicle has been the fear felt when driving it off road when the going gets a little rough (that said, I wouldn't want to change it).

I bought the County, and as such don't have ABS and ETC, and the only time mine has ever let me down offroad has been down to my own inability - the Defender is more than capable of keeping up with anyone else.

Just to go against the flow, if I was buying one I'd go for the base spec - I like modifying things myself, and it saves me having to find any more space in my house to store seats, mudflaps, towbars, wooden cubby-boxes, low-spec radios, etc. It depends how easy you want it to be if you need to sell it. As Spud and Johnny say, the higher spec it is, the easier it will sell (personally I'm keeping mine until either me or the Landy dies, so it wasn't a factor).

Whatever Defender you buy, it'll be wonderful. Thumbs Up Peter
2008 SWB Truck Cab
1952 80" Soft top
Post #39062 25th Aug 2010 8:46pm
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Arctic



Member Since: 25 Aug 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 45

Thanks. The plan would be to keep it for a long time and I therefore thought the less to go wrong the better. I mean, thinks like heated seats, electric windows etc are nice but then may fail when the vehicle gets older. Or do most people here see the new Defenders as shorter term vehicles like other modern cars? That is, they expect to trade them in or sell them after say 3-5 years for a newer model? What kind or percentage would you get from a Land Rover dealer if doing just that after 3 years? Do they depreciate a lot in that time? Of course, the Defender may not be around later, another reason I thought of buying one to keep. Any thoughts would be appreciated as it is a lot of money so I want to make an educated decision.
Post #39108 26th Aug 2010 11:05am
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KarlB



Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 91

Australia 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Rimini Red
If you are going to drive the vehicle hard then I think you are crazy not to get ABS. D90s are surprisingly zippy and great fun to drive but they do not handle like a sports cars. ABS equals safety and the associated traction control does increase their 'off-road' capability. You may well be able to tackle all the same testing conditions, and get through without ETC but you will put more strain on the vehicles and this reduces reliability and longevity.

Cheers
KarlB
Post #39109 26th Aug 2010 11:06am
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Arctic



Member Since: 25 Aug 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 45

That makes sense yet how reliable are the ABS and ETC systems? I don't plan to drive it hard and am used to vehicles without ABS and ETC, both older cars and a SWB Series II I have. My main concern is to have a simple and reliable vehicle which will last and not cost a fortune one the warranty has run out.
Post #39113 26th Aug 2010 11:22am
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KarlB



Member Since: 08 Feb 2010
Location: Canberra
Posts: 91

Australia 2010 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Rimini Red
I have not seen any suggestion that ABS and ETC are not totally reliable. I had an ABS failure in a Discovery after about 1000 km but have since done another 180,000 km without a hiccough. Even with the ABS failure, I still had 'normal' braking.

Cheers
KarlB
Post #39187 27th Aug 2010 5:52am
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K9F



Member Since: 12 Nov 2009
Location: Bournemouth
Posts: 9610

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
KarlB wrote:
I have not seen any suggestion that ABS and ETC are not totally reliable. Cheers KarlB


You have now, allbeit a minor one, but with several sufferers!

http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic2394.html?highlight=abs If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!

Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!!
Post #39198 27th Aug 2010 7:46am
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