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I’ve said it before: Land Cruiser. Not really answering your question. But it’s a better car.
And if you insist: fellow forumite Franky Four Fingers is your best source when it comes to all things LandRover
After getting a working cocker spaniel puppy 12 months ago (his name is Dave btw) I have realised that keeping a car nice and having a dog just doesn't work, so I need a second car (mine is now looking decidedly shabby!). I'm considering the options, but I keep coming back to the Land Rover Defender as favourite. I am feeling a little out of my depth though, and so I would appreciate some help / advice (I know there are a few past / current owners on the forum). I have started casual browsing the internet, but there is so much choice I'm getting a bit overwhelmed. I keep getting drawn to the older cars just because they have so much character, but I'm not particularly mechanically minded and so concerned they will be trouble unless I'm lucky enough to get a good one (and I'm generally not that lucky!).
I realise the Defender isn't exactly a comfortable drive by modern standards, but it is intended for local journeys only (it's main job will be transporting Dave & I to our favourite locations for walks) - journeys of any distance will be made with my other car, so I don't think this will be an issue. I've no need for the LWB so a SWB is the one I'm considering, but it would need to be hard top (the pickups look very cool, but I can see Dave being less than happy under a tarp in the winter!). Engine wise I am told that either the TDi or TD5 are the ones to look for (more reliable), but I stand ready to be corrected on this.
I have about £30k max to spend (hopefully there's no need to spend that much, but I could go to that at a push), and intend to keep the car for a good while (I don't change cars often, and so it is not out of the question that it would be kept for the next 15-20 years). I'm in north Devon btw, if that makes a difference.
So if anyone has any advice I'd be grateful. All the cars I've bought in the past have been either new or nearly new, so I feel a little out of my depth here. Any sites I should look at for advice? or anyone know of any reputable dealers / LR specialists in the South West?
and for anyone who is interested, this is Dave
I’ve said it before: Land Cruiser. Not really answering your question. But it’s a better car.
And if you insist: fellow forumite Franky Four Fingers is your best source when it comes to all things LandRover
Ring me if it would be easier...pm me
I had the pleasure of meeting Dave this summer, he’s awesome 😁
Cheers..
Jase
No idea on the LR but Dave looks pretty special :)
Save your money and buy the best Toyota Rav4 or Honda CRV for around 5k and no worries about anything and far nicer to drive.
special needs, maybeOriginally Posted by TheTigerUK
I'm joking of course, he is. He's from working stock, so he doesn't have an off button and needs lots of walking, but he's a great dog
Imagine the road tax on a Land Rover in 15-20 years time!! I doubt you’d keep it that long…..
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Drive a Defender and see whether you still want one. I have a low mileage 2013 XS which I use every other Sunday to go shooting and it’s a hateful thing to drive but looks cool.
They’re clunky, rattle, rust and don’t ride well on road but I don’t intend to sell mine. It’s pretty much depreciation proof but make sure you investigate extra security as they’re easy to steal and targeted for parts.
Stan dislikes the back seats of my 90 as it’s so bumpy
Untitled by Alex L, on Flickr
Last edited by Alex L; 30th August 2021 at 18:41.
I can’t help you on the LR front unfortunately but what constitutes a working dog?
I understand sheep dogs, security dog, police dogs etc, but when it comes to pets I don’t know what would be classed as a working dog.
I have a lurcher, but she’s 100% pet. If I understand the term correctly, if I used her for hunting, then she would be a working dog. Is this correct?
Beautiful dog by the way.
Last week I drove a Defender for the first time, but only on some forest tracks so I didn’t get it out of 2nd gear. It was a ‘Twisted’ version (TD5 I think) so it had a bit more grunt, and looked like the dog’s danglies.
What a bag of rubbish! They are terrible to drive, rattly uncomfortable things, and it felt like a kid’s toy compared to driving my Disco 4 (it felt so small when driving it).
But I thought it was great! I can see why people love them. However I was very happy to be back in the Discovery when I drove to the local village!!
Wow! £30k on a car for walking the dog? I’ve heard it all now.
I was thinking the same, Defenders are horrible places to be in, better off with a boot liner for whatever 1-2k economical cheap to run car you can pick up. The dog doesn’t give a toss.
Back to my LandCruiser story: My neighbour has two dogs for hunting and drives an old Freelander with two travel benches in the back. If you use it only for local trips, why not a Suzuki Jimny or similar! Small, compact, easy to maintain, rugged etc.
Only a fool would by a Defender for taking the dogs for walks.
Here's mine
Last edited by SimonH; 30th August 2021 at 20:09.
We have had 3 . The first two were elderly 2 1/4 petrol that were for snow use only. The last one was a 110 County TD that carried all the kids and most of their friends which SWMBO ran as her daily driver for the best part of 11 years.
It was slow, uncomfortable, noisy and in the winter it was cold ( heater ineffectual) and wet (moisture condensed on the roof and dribbled down your neck) .... and she loved the thing. If the chassis hadn't rusted beyond repair she would still have it today.
At about the same time I had a SWB Shogun which was in a different league in most respects
You either love Landies or can't understand what the fuss is about.
Our tree surgeon at work has a 60 plate defender pick up I’m 6ft tall I’ve driven it a few times and it’s horrendous steering wheels 3 inches from my chest and I have to dislocate my leg to press the clutch down how these pieces of shit ever passed any crash tests defies belief there are countless 4x4s that are better to drive a dog around than one of these antiques
We had one for horse box towing duties a couple of decades ago, a 1995 SWB Defender 90, and although it was pretty good at towing that was it.
It was purchased as a workhorse, but needed an engine rebuild early in its lifetime, despite on the button servicing.
Very claustrophobic inside, the wipers were a cruel joke and there was nowhere to put my right elbow.
I do have fond memories of it, or maybe it’s being 20 years younger and doing the things I was up to then, but I wouldn’t rush back to buying one, there is better out there especially for a £30k budget.
I did once see an achingly cool looking series 1 canvas back with a faded RN on the side of it parked up in Westminster though, they are certainly iconic looking vehicles.
When I were a lad we fed our dogs all sort of tripe sh1te and they left big white chalky dry turds all over the garden. They lapped it up.
Now they get 30 grand Landys especially to ferry them around.
The world has gone made I tell ye.
It comes down to how you are using the term. If you are using it to describe your specific dog, then yes, I suppose if you used your dog for hunting it could be described as a working lurcher, but "Working cocker spaniel" is a strain of English cocker spaniel. Just as a welsh terrier doesn't have to come from Wales, a working cocker spaniel doesn't have to be a working dog. There are two recognised strains of English cocker spaniel, "working" and "show", and it comes down to the characteristics of the breed that have been pre-selected as desireable by the breeders. Working dogs are bred for strength & stamina, rather than looks. Dave's parents are both gundogs, from long lines of gundogs, working on one of the Exmoor estates, but he is most definitely a pet.
Just as a matter of interest, I recently took Dave for a walk on the Burrows here with a mate and his dog. He put a gps tracker on his dog at the start of the walk to see how far he travelled. Our walk was 7 miles - according to the tracker the dogs ran 32 miles. Never very far from us, but always running.
Word...aren't we supposed to be considering our impact on climate, resources, energy...2nd car to take the bleedin' dog to a nice walking spot, c'mon folks we'll never save climate/ ourselves thinking like this.
I offset my Defender against 9500 miles ridden on my pushbike each year!
OP, Frankie Four Fingers is your man. He gave me invaluable advice when I was looking at Defenders. He's South West based as well. I bought my Defender from Land Rover Taunton. Best car I've ever had, it's made driving a pleasure again. You either love them or can't see the attraction.
And a cracker it is too, yours was discussed yesterday at length and ideally what he needs to be looking at, obviously budget allowing.I offset my Defender against 9500 miles ridden on my pushbike each year!
OP, Frankie Four Fingers is your man. He gave me invaluable advice when I was looking at Defenders. He's South West based as well. I bought my Defender from Land Rover Taunton. Best car I've ever had, it's made driving a pleasure again. You either love them or can't see the attraction.
Has the smell worn off yet?
Haha, yeah...but I love the smell of Waxoyl in the morning!
Further to the OP....I've got a Welsh Springer Spaniel but there's no way I'd let it in my Land Rover. It's too nice for that. It only travels in Mrs T-7's Skoda :-)
The defender does have it quirks, steering Wheel doesn’t even line up with the drivers seat, leaks oil from about 4 different places and that’s considered normal, right arm is pressed against the door (just open the window) - mine is an old 90 tdi but I doubt they changed the ergonomics - I can highly recommended getting a redbooster clutch servo assist so the clutch is nice and light and your good to go - so many accessories for them, perfect working vehicle or country hack. It can be a pick up or convertible, or a van - terrible for long journeys though, noisy and uneconomical. Love mine to bits and often get in it instead of a much nicer vehicle!
My other car is a Mazda MX-5 ND2, they couldn't be more different.
Today I went out in the MX-5 at lunch time for 40 minutes. This evening took the dogs for their walk in the Defender. Enjoyed both drives massively, for polar opposite reasons!
You can't argue with the Defender critics really, but for those of us that like them they are great fun to drive in their way.
Every day’s a school day. Thanks for that.
How about a jimny. Very small. But I’m pleased with mine. Collected it today
https://postimg.cc/gallery/yNv2Z6L
Last edited by lenlec; 31st August 2021 at 23:23.
Aren’t these crazy money now. Saying that, a bit like a defender I guess
I paid £20k. Which is the list price. Some on auto trader going for £28000Aren’t these crazy money now. Saying that, a bit like a defender I guess
I'm in the "never owned one and don't get it" club as far as LRs go and the idea of a rustic driving experience with dodgy reliability isn't attractive. I'd be looking at a Jimmy, Rav 4 or similar, possibly even a Panda 4*4 as they're supposedly quite fun and capable for most off road purposes.
#32 Due to work I've had a couple, and even though they're far from perfect they do have a certain charm, as for your list, I'd include the Diahatsu Terios, a very capable 5 door vehicle with mostly Toyota underpinnings, however the OP has a hefty budget and maybe it's something he needs to get out of his system.
Last edited by number2; 1st September 2021 at 09:02.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
If I wanted a rustic old workhorse I would probably opt for a Fourtrak.
But things like a 3 series, CJ and BJ 40s have a charm that is undeniable and it may indeed be an itch that will need scratching.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
It’s more of a characterful driving experience, if you are used to modern cars it’s much more involved until you get used to it. The rav4 is super reliable but has no soul, although the maintenance costs are not much less overall - if you service your landy it will be fine they keep chugging on, mine has never broken down but it’s looked after mechanically.
I've no doubt you're right and there's clearly a large following that agree with you. I prefer no squeaks/rattles, comfort and more of a modern day driving experience with no fettling required (even with a hammer) but I can see why folk like them/think they're cool.
Neat little thing, but it needs lots of galvanised/black powder coated chequer plate and a roof rack
p.s. where do your passengers sit?
I've found that you really need to go for what your heart is set on. I've always hesitated with big purchases and have been deterred by other people opinions only not to be satisfied with their recommendations. As long as you know what your getting yourself into and have done some research then I'm sure you'll be happy. You can always test drive one and see what you think of the drive. Everyone has different expectations and you might agree or disagree with your original thought process.
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