USED Land Rover Defender 4x4 (90 - )

My car

I own a 110 TDI Hard top. It's broadly similar to the TD5 and latest Transit engined 2.4 so here is my anlysis after 10 years and 130,000 miles of daily use including 4 trips to Africa...

Economy - bearing in mind the low gearing (for heavy towing etc) mpg averages about 28. The office block aerodynamics don't help at over 50 mph.

Build quality....unfortunately the management at LR have been short sighted here and spoilt an otherwise brilliant vehicle with trashy materials quality. Chassis, doors, bulkheads all rot in 10 years or so. Roof leaks wet your trousers !

Reliability...Many say that LR's are unreliable but mine has been totally reliable. Read about the problems owners have with their high tech BMW's and VW's - it's all news to me. I do keep on top of the maintenance though (using an independent) and only use genuine parts. Oils are always top quality.

Driving experience.......This vehicle is basically a light 4 wheel drive truck! Handling is very good especially if you keep the weight distribution front-rear balanced. Almost everyone gives way to you, even BMW drivers, and every journey is an absolute hoot - can you say that about your car?. Yes the Tdi (less so later more refined models) is noisy and bumpy but it's no worse than many other commercial vehicles. They are not really fast enough to get you into trouble.

I think the latest models make good family cars but the writing is on the wall due to their high CO2 emissions - around 290 gm/km.

My car

In order to move into 'her' choice of house in East Devon, I suggested to my good lady that I was more than happy..if I could have a 'Defender' to get along the unmade road to the property. We did make that move from Essex to Devon with two young sons 2 years ago..but I only got my wish in Nov 07..thanks to forward facing seats in the new 90. My Golf GTi's, BMW's and even living here new Audi A4 Quattro are history. This vehicle does what it says on the tin..no nonsense..you are always involved in the driving experience..a 'great stereo' and 'no slight rattles'.. are now somehow irrelavant. Chugging towards a corner in 5th or 6th does focus the mind..and serves to improve your ability to plan ahead as you would on a motorbike. So my advice is not to consider this so much as another car..but as a new and engaging driving experience for you and your family, with many a smile along the way. Buying the new 90 also means that you can no longer offer a lift to a 5th passenger..which can be a benefit in some family situations!

My car

I purchased this car in July 2007, having ordered it in December 2006. My previous cars were Ford Escorts. I had been warned by a gentleman - who incidentally owns four of these vehicles - that the long wheelbase would take some getting used to.

I am very pleased with this car: It's more wieldy than I expected; you quickly get used to the long wheelbase. The height makes for better, safer and more enjoyable driving. It cruises comfortably on the road or on a long, hard strand, where it easily drives through river estuaries. It has never lost traction on soft, desert-like sand or on mountain tracks made for tractors. I lost traction only once, on a muddy field, and only because I had neglected to engage the differential lock (I was so used to such good traction I forgot I had the facility; a tribute to the capability of the vehicle. Still, that was the only time I have ever needed to engage the differential lock.)

The Land Rover Defender is built up to a standard rather than down to a price; lives depend on these vehicles. As a local farmer remarked to me, 'It doesn't get shorter in an accident!'.

My mother (92) and aunt (90), frequently pleasure passengers, love it as much as I do, on road or off.

I never want to drive an ordinary car again. If you are thinking of buying one DON'T HESITATE! I wish my first car had been a Land Rover Defender and I hadn't waited until I was 58 and retired to discover it.

My car

I have just bought myself this model (W reg) in pillar box red. I am pretty smitten with the vehicle. Over the years I have owned several 4WDs, but living in the country and owning several dogs makes it difficult to keep interiors clean. It is liberating to own a vehicle with such a rudimentary design. No fussy cleaning-a sweep out now and again will do. The ride is firm and bouncy on the road, but it hugs the corners well and is capable of motorway speeds.I have towed a broken down vehicle with it, and its power was pretty impressive. Trips around town make her thirsty, but on the open road, she returns around 30 mpg. This vehicle is immense fun and because she looks like Postman Pat's van, I have posed Pat and Jess models in both rear quarter windows, much to the amusement of children!