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Author Topic: Land Rover Defender 110  (Read 36118 times)

Harold Clark

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #20 on: January 02, 2015, 03:49:05 pm »

I too have entertained the thought of a Defender, in Canada we can import 15 year old cars. Memories of the 94 Range Rover I owned for a few years though quickly bring me back to reality. I am sure my mechanic has retired by now from the money he made keeping it on the road.

( Land Rover: Go anywhere, stop anytime ). If I do feel the need to abuse myself in a similar fashion again, I would look at the LR2. Surprisingly capable off road and I think more reliable than the older designs.
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Colorado David

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #21 on: January 02, 2015, 04:12:50 pm »

The newer models, LR3 and LR4, have a much better V8 engine.  The older 4.0 and 4.6 V8 engines were an old Buick designed engine that Land Rover licensed from GM.  They are an aluminum block with sleeves and aluminum heads.  They are prone to damage from overheating (as are all aluminum blocks) and you simply must pay attention to regular maintenance.  I wouldn't be the least bit worried about an LR4.  For me, an important factor is being able to sleep in the back.  My Series II Discovery is just a bit short for me even with the back passenger seats removed.  I've thought a lot about getting one of the Autohome roof top tents.

mjrichardson

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2015, 04:02:44 am »

Morning

It's worth remembering that the defender was designed for a purpose, one that it excelled at, i.e. farmers in the UK wanting something they could chuck crap in to and drive around fields without worrying about it, towing trailers and driving through mud and across rough terrain, it does all those things really well. The fact that they have become desirable to a wider demographic means that LR have responded by giving people what they want but it's impossible to get away from the fact that they were never designed to be more than a utility vehicle. They were built of cheap off the shelf parts so could be fixed easily and quickly by a farmer with a hammer and had lots of helpful design features like letting you know when it needed more oil by no longer leaking!

I worked for LR as an apprentice many years ago and have owned lots but I don't expect them to do anything more than what they were designed for, having relied on vehicles everywhere from Iraq to Afghanistan to Darfur, the only vehicle I would buy for reliability in dodgy conditions is a Land Cruiser 70 series but unavailable in a lot of places, if I want to drive on the road I'd have a Discovery if I wanted a LR or a Land Cruiser 100/200 series or something like that. If I want something to play around with, drive in stupid places, tinker with at the weekends then I'd buy an older LR and treat it as a toy, they are just different vehicles.

All good fun!

Mat
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IanB

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #23 on: January 03, 2015, 05:56:41 am »

It's also worth remembering that the LR Defender is at root a late 1940s design. It is a testament to how good they were in their day that they can still cut it well on UK farms etc., and the army still use them. However, it is also not surprising that more sophisticated designs have come along since from both LR and other manufacturers.
Here in the UK parts are widely available and mostly pretty cheap, and almost anyone who grew up on a farm can fix one. There is also a thriving community of users, and plenty of dealers and specialists. Nevertheless, they are mostly enthusiasts' vehicles now - but they really do have a certain quality to them that few other vehicles can match, so enthusiasm remains strong. Long may it do so!
Outside that community, and in larger countries with longer distances to travel, they really may not be the most practical option...
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mahleu

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #24 on: January 03, 2015, 06:17:22 am »

Go big or go home. Get a Unimog.
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Hulyss

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #25 on: January 03, 2015, 07:13:50 am »

The land-rover defender is not made any-more and the production stopped this year in England (because many things are missing like ESP and so on). And, having owned two,one of them being a 5 cylinders, they are good 4x4 (I have them in Alps) but very very unreliable.

The best 4x4 to date is the Fiat Panda 4x4. You do not care to crash it.
« Last Edit: January 03, 2015, 07:19:53 am by Hulyss »
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Brent Daniels

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #26 on: January 03, 2015, 12:29:01 pm »

If you end up looking at Jeep Rubicons but want something a bit different take a look at what these guys are producing.

http://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/jk-wrangler  ....even more hardcore...  http://www.aev-conversions.com/vehicles/brute-double-cab
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Petrus

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #27 on: January 03, 2015, 02:54:51 pm »

OK, two more contenders for the King of the Hill:

Mercedes G 6x6 AMG: http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/mercedes-benz/g63-amg-6x6

The ultimate expedition trucks from Unicat: http://www.unicat.net
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Justinr

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #28 on: January 03, 2015, 04:05:50 pm »

Having had five Landies over the years, from a Series I to Discovery TDi , the conclusion is that if you want comfort, reliability, economy and value for money then buy something Japanese, but if you really want to get away from the tarmac and be fairly sure of getting back, then get yourself a Land Rover.

I'd have another now but the road tax is prohibitive.
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Justinr

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #29 on: January 03, 2015, 04:16:59 pm »

Go big or go home. Get a Unimog.

An older design than the Land Rover would you believe, and first made by a toy manufacturer in 1947 because the allies wouldn't let MB build 4wd vehicles until 1949.  There is some suggestion that it was actually designed for the Wehrmacht during the war but never produced.
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HarperPhotos

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #30 on: January 03, 2015, 04:18:08 pm »

Hello,

One thing I notice about the Defender when I photographed it in my studio was how cheap and flimsy the front plastic grill was made.

Cheers

Simon
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Simon Harper
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Justinr

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #31 on: January 03, 2015, 04:29:05 pm »

With all the smart people on this site.  Does anyone know the real reason why we in America can't get a newer Defender 110 here in the states.  Is there a way to get one imported.  Someone here must know.  I have been told some stories want to know if we can get one.  I need one and want one.  Thanks Tim

In Oct 2013, Land Rover announced that production would end on Dec 20, 2015, after a continuous run of 67 years, "due to legislative reasons"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Defender

A great shame and I think it was emmision problems that saw their sale to the states end a while back, but don't quote me on that. There is still a big Land Rover scene in the UK, however, and plenty of companies willing to sell you good secondhand models and most major ones will arrange export. This is one company that I had dealings with a few years back and they seemed honest enough -

http://www.neneoverland.co.uk/4x4neneinfo/aboutus.php
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azmike

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #32 on: January 03, 2015, 04:41:45 pm »

If getting TO the destination is important, if reliability is important, if reasonably comfortable blacktop driving is important, and straight-from-the-factory awesome off-road performance is important, then a good choice would be the newer Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. Here's mine in one of those "unreachable" destinations:

For an internationally regarded forum for "Adventure and Overland Travel Enthusiasts" where the virtues, etc. of the LR 110 vs. all the rest are endlessly discussed:  www.expeditionportal.com

Mike Coffey
Prescott
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dwswager

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #33 on: January 03, 2015, 04:55:42 pm »

To make this somewhat photographic related, I will say BUY Landrover vehicles.  I own Tata Motors stock that is the owner of the brand and their profits help me fund my photographic habit!
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Justinr

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #34 on: January 03, 2015, 05:22:33 pm »

To make this somewhat photographic related, I will say BUY Landrover vehicles.  I own Tata Motors stock that is the owner of the brand and their profits help me fund my photographic habit!

As good a reason as any!  :)
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Colorado David

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #35 on: January 03, 2015, 05:39:42 pm »

Hello azmike, I'm on expo. An excellent site and forum.

David Anderson

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #36 on: January 03, 2015, 06:24:32 pm »

the conclusion is that if you want comfort, reliability, economy and value for money then buy something Japanese, but if you really want to get away from the tarmac and be fairly sure of getting back, then get yourself a Land Rover.


There's no question the Defender is good off road and I drove mine many places you would be afraid to walk, but after having to walk out of a remote fishing location one day and then hitch hike to the nearest phone reception to arrange (another) tow truck back to the city ended all my off road trips.
Then the thing was pointless.

I think reliability should be a huge concern to anyone going off the beaten track unless you only do short drives in phone range.  ;)
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Justinr

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #37 on: January 03, 2015, 07:11:16 pm »

I was never left stranded but the maintenance was fairly intense, a problem would make itself known before failure normally, and I know of many beat up old examples that refused to die. However, I should point out all of mine were built before the ability to function relied exclusively on electronics.
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Peter McLennan

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #38 on: January 04, 2015, 05:23:11 pm »

I see the FJ is not made anymore...

At Eureka Dunes in Death Valley I had an interesting conversation with a park ranger who was driving a massive Dodge pickup.

"So this is the vehicle of choice for Death Valley roads?", I said.
"Nope.  This is what the government supplies us with.  My personal off road vehicle is an FJ Cruiser".

One of the major tech guys on my Sprinter forum also does Land Rovers.
He says: "I put two kids through medical school repairing Land Rovers and Mercedes.  If I'd chosen to fix Toyotas, we'd all be starving."
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Harold Clark

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Re: Land Rover Defender 110
« Reply #39 on: January 05, 2015, 10:01:34 am »

The newer models, LR3 and LR4, have a much better V8 engine.  The older 4.0 and 4.6 V8 engines were an old Buick designed engine that Land Rover licensed from GM.  They are an aluminum block with sleeves and aluminum heads.  They are prone to damage from overheating (as are all aluminum blocks) and you simply must pay attention to regular maintenance.  I wouldn't be the least bit worried about an LR4.  For me, an important factor is being able to sleep in the back.  My Series II Discovery is just a bit short for me even with the back passenger seats removed.  I've thought a lot about getting one of the Autohome roof top tents.

You are right about aluminum blocks, while my wife was driving the Range Rover it developed a coolant leak, she kept driving with predictable results, ie. new engine required. I think the new Land Rovers are more reliable, but I am sworn off gas guzzlers and don't understand why they don't import their diesel engines to North America. VW, Audi, Mercedes, BMW and even Porsche now offer excellent diesel engines. VW sells more diesel than gas in Canada, I believe that over 90% of Touaregs are diesel.
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