Whoeerr SNOW a little late...Land Rover wanted?

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Bill
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OK so I have sold my 4X4 and have a nice low hot hatch, figures LOL anyone else have snow today? Not just becuase of the late snow but I was thinking about a tow vehicle for other needs and saw a very nice Landy a few days ago, always flirted with the idea I would like one and the snow got me thinking again...so

Thinking of a cheap TAX FREE 1973/4 or earlier Land Rover Defender anyone have any buying info what to look for bar the obvious corrosion on outriggers and bulkhead.

Anything to avoid, I will be looking at a diesel initially but is that the best? can you get a TDI

Budget is 5k what will I get for that? a heap of trouble?
 
Hmmm... 73/74 won't be a Defender as such - the Defender name wasn't used until significantly later and LR moved from the 88 and 109 inch (wheelbase) to 90 and 110 inches as well as updating the engine range.
Depending on your mechanical abilities and workshop space, don't let a rotten chassis put you off, a brand new galvanized chassis can be rebuilt up using the old engine etc. and should keep your old registration.
However, the more modern Defenders, especially the TDi ones are much, much better and well worth the extra they'll cost in vehicle tax each year and may well save you the tax cost in fuel. My old ('71) SWB Diesel did around 20MPG with a top speed on the flat of 50, the 90 Diesel that came along later (L plate, whatever year that makes it!) with a 200TDi averaged 25MPG and would keep up with dual carriageway traffic.
Any Landy has the potential to be a heap of trouble but they are (well, the older ones are!) basically big Meccano sets with fairly basic engines - even the 200/300 TDis are mechanical injection so can be fixed with a socket set and a few big hammers!
Have a look at a few of the magazines that cover the marque and see what sort of money they go for, been a few years since I enjoyed mine so a bit out of the loop with them these days, although I am quite tempted by the idea of a V8 toy!
 
Ah - you mean this stuff has descended ?

And the first person that says my WB is off can go and raffle themself :) 2 different varieties of street lights , a house's security light that's on 24/7 and it's flipping COLD !!IMGP0006.jpg
 
Ah, Land Rovers... I cringe at the words now as a few winters back me and my MX5 got stuck in the snow so I want and got someone with a Landie and off we went to rescue my MX5. I sat there in the passenger seat in disbelief as the guy in the Landie drove straight into my MX5.
 
woof woof said:
Ah, Land Rovers... I cringe at the words now as a few winters back me and my MX5 got stuck in the snow so I want and got someone with a Landie and off we went to rescue my MX5. I sat there in the passenger seat in disbelief as the guy in the Landie drove straight into my MX5.
Click to expand...
Just showing his contempt that's all.:D
 
woof woof said:
Ah, Land Rovers... I cringe at the words now as a few winters back me and my MX5 got stuck in the snow so I want and got someone with a Landie and off we went to rescue my MX5. I sat there in the passenger seat in disbelief as the guy in the Landie drove straight into my MX5.
Click to expand...
Did that get you out of the snow?
Job done :-)
 
woof woof said:
Ah, Land Rovers... I cringe at the words now as a few winters back me and my MX5 got stuck in the snow so I want and got someone with a Landie and off we went to rescue my MX5. I sat there in the passenger seat in disbelief as the guy in the Landie drove straight into my MX5.
Click to expand...

Not funny and yet I did chuckle sorry Alan, not nice

Nod said:
Hmmm... 73/74 won't be a Defender as such - the Defender name wasn't used until significantly later and LR moved from the 88 and 109 inch (wheelbase) to 90 and 110 inches as well as updating the engine range.
Depending on your mechanical abilities and workshop space, don't let a rotten chassis put you off, a brand new galvanized chassis can be rebuilt up using the old engine etc. and should keep your old registration.
However, the more modern Defenders, especially the TDi ones are much, much better and well worth the extra they'll cost in vehicle tax each year and may well save you the tax cost in fuel. My old ('71) SWB Diesel did around 20MPG with a top speed on the flat of 50, the 90 Diesel that came along later (L plate, whatever year that makes it!) with a 200TDi averaged 25MPG and would keep up with dual carriageway traffic.
Any Landy has the potential to be a heap of trouble but they are (well, the older ones are!) basically big Meccano sets with fairly basic engines - even the 200/300 TDis are mechanical injection so can be fixed with a socket set and a few big hammers!
Have a look at a few of the magazines that cover the marque and see what sort of money they go for, been a few years since I enjoyed mine so a bit out of the loop with them these days, although I am quite tempted by the idea of a V8 toy!
Click to expand...

Great help is that, as I've not paid much attention to the marques progression cheers!


LongLensPhotography said:
Just get the winter tyres for snow driving. You will be fine.

I'm not saying not to buy an SUV, but really right now it will be quite hard and expensive to source one!
Click to expand...


Just looking at that now! will need to go from 19 inch rims to 18inch plus winter tyres probably the cheapest and most sensible option.
 
I should add how much more civilised (well, OK, it's a Landy so maybe less uncivilised is a better way to put it!) the later models are, with heaters that actually warm the air in the cabin, wipers that allow you to see out and coil springs that soak up bumps far better than the best set up leaf springs can. Not to mention the way disk brakes actually slow you down compared to the drums (the 90 would stop from flat out faster than the SWB would, even with the upgraded brakes fitted to my old SWB.) Of course, a reasonable Discovery may well be within your budget too...
 
Should just point out that you'll need to go 1972 or old to get a tax exempt one as one of the first things Gordon did in 1997 was to scrap the 25 year rule, as such now only cars that were already tax exempt at the time are still exempt...

I love my land rovers but be aware they are a labour of love, and especially the era your looking at they are proper bone shakers, alright if you like that and I did love mine but if your expecting even a little bit of refinement walk away now
 
LongLensPhotography said:
Just get the winter tyres for snow driving. You will be fine.

I'm not saying not to buy an SUV, but really right now it will be quite hard and expensive to source one!
Click to expand...

My Nokian winter tyres on my Mazda Sport have been great. They are really grippy in cold temperatures not just snow. Can't fault them except slightly more road noise on some surfaces.
 
Snow tyres will give the majority of people all that they need. I've had them for the last 4-5 years on 2WD estate cars (Saab & Volvo) and the only time I got stuck was entirely my fault :(
 
wakarimasen said:
Snow tyres will give the majority of people all that they need. I've had them for the last 4-5 years on 2WD estate cars (Saab & Volvo) and the only time I got stuck was entirely my fault :(
Click to expand...
+1
On my Focus winter tyres grip really well, comparable to driving in the rain, had them on for about 5 years, bear in mind summer tyres wear quicker than winter tyres in cold weather.
Matt
 
The trouble with land rovers is they'll probably get you there ... but not back again.

Get a land cruiser - not for nothing is this the choice vehicle for the Taliban!

Jokes aside (the second line is from Top Gear and really was one of the reasons we bought one a few years ago) we had two TD5's and both cost us a shed load of money in repairs and they were only about 4 years old. Our land cruiser has been with us for many years and even increased in price soon after we bought it. It's a big car so maybe not for everyone but it really is so easy to drive. There's a place for the key to turn it on and off. There's a pedal for going and a pedal for stopping. And many switches to cover things like differential lock, hill descent, raise and lower the suspension. Ours is a 54 plate now with around 130k miles and many specimens - if you can find one - go for a good 200k miles. Last year's service and repair bill was about £1,300 but usually it's £500. Not bad for a car that sells new for over £50k.

If too big then a Suzuki Jinny or similar like a Fiat Panda or our favourite which is now discontinued, Subaru Justy, with good tyres (as mentioned) will be as good as any large 4x4 and, if truth be told, much better for getting you from A to B. Some people have two sets of tyres for their cars and vans, a summer/normal set and a winter set.

Just a personal opinion and perspective.
 
I used to drive a landrover, I love them but the seat never went back far enough for my legs and as much as they are designed to go anywhere, the concept of any comfort to the human inhabitant seems to have escaped the designers completely
The barbarian might not be so great off road but if I get stuck at least I'll be comfy while I wait on a landy to pull me out :)
 
Love landies, but after a few never again. Now have a 2wd Honda with all season tyres. Gets me most places 99% of the year.
 
EdwardL said:
The trouble with land rovers is they'll probably get you there ... but not back again.

Get a land cruiser - not for nothing is this the choice vehicle for the Taliban.
Click to expand...

When I lived in the Middle East, used to see the young Arab guys driving Land Cruisers at 45 degrees on their sides, on two wheels... Not just a few seconds, but right down the road often with others hanging out the windows or sunroof!
 
BlackCloud said:
When I lived in the Middle East, used to see the young Arab guys driving Land Cruisers at 45 degrees on their sides, on two wheels... Not just a few seconds, but right down the road often with others hanging out the windows or sunroof!
Click to expand...
I rest my case lol :D
 
MWHCVT said:
Should just point out that you'll need to go 1972 or old to get a tax exempt one as one of the first things Gordon did in 1997 was to scrap the 25 year rule, as such now only cars that were already tax exempt at the time are still exempt...

I love my land rovers but be aware they are a labour of love, and especially the era your looking at they are proper bone shakers, alright if you like that and I did love mine but if your expecting even a little bit of refinement walk away now
Click to expand...

I thought it was the "40 year" rule now... https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...0-year-rolling-exemption-for-classic-vehicles
 
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