Yes - borrowed one of these today whilst mine was in for a fettle.
12 years later what had LR changed ?
Electric windows, fancy alloys, remote locking and er...that's it.
Nevertheless, the one I had was finished in Teal(?) blue and drove like a good 'un. It smelt new in a very retro 70s sort of way, what struck me was the solidity of the beast, driving position spot on, big steering wheel (but hell you need that for real off roading) on-off clutch just like mine. Some really retro bits, Ital style stalks, Marina key, but it all makes sense - perfect sense. This is not a prissy soft roader, this is the real thing. A light switch designed to be found in the dark, designed years ago for a gloved frozen paw - it works. Heater controls, exactly where they should be, again dead of night after birthing a 100 lambs in the snow test - perfect. Speedo, fuel, temp guages and a clock, spot on. The thing had a hand built quality. A heater fan that actually blasts and de-fogs, washers that work (wipers that would grace a Morris 1000), I love this truck. Another LR change its actually smooth at 60 on a Motorway, people keep away "who is this fool in a new Landie ?"
Forget your Shoguns, VWs, BMW and Volvo pretenders this is real 4x4 motoring, a very British experience; thanks LR for keeping the faith !
Oh and another thing they changed a speedo that was rock steady at every speed !
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The Land Rover could have introduced the original 90 and 110 in 1971 instead of 1983. A very similar chassis underpinned the original Range Rover. Instead they introduced the Series 3 - an update of a 1958 model!
The Defender brought direct injection diesels and rear disc brakes to the 90 / 110 but that's about all.
I had a lot of fun with my old petrol 90 and an acquaintance's 110 V8. I think the Defender does look a bit long in the tooth now. I wonder if it will still be in production when the SUV era is over and 'Chelsea tractors' have gone the way of trolleybuses.
Cheers, SS
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Would like your observations PU.
Some 10 years ago I owned an 85 90HT that I traded in for a Disco.
Recently traded the Disco in and now own an all black 04MY Defender.
I find that there was more room and more comfortable seating in the old one. Current feels like sitting on a roosters perch. Has it got smaller or me larger? And that pink fluffy dice handbrake on the left ankle......
Fuel pump lifter makes a hell of a noise on start up and when switching off noise from turbo like Concorde spooling down. Both points have been checked when I put it in for removal of swimming pool from front footwell and stated to be normal. The old one didn't seem as noisy.
But speed wise, boot it - the turbo kicks in and its hang on your hat time.....yeehaaa.
dvd
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I drove an 04 Defender 110 on the Land Rover Experience Course in Scotland. I have to say I loved it. The only thing I found odd is that there's little elbow room on the RHS. The door is too close, which is why I guess a lot of people drive with the window open.
When funds permit, I will probably replace the 200TDI disco with the TD5 Disco. Hopefully the Series 3 Discos will bring the prices down sufficiently.
This is assuming I can get the old Disco through another MOT.
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I recently bought a W reg 90 TD5. When switching off the engine I heard a turbo bearing type sound. I was worried in case of a big bill to repair the turbo, but was pleased to find that the noise was one of the 2 oil filters. One ordinary one, and one that spins round. It is this that makes this sound.
The Landie is a tough old beast, but they really should bring it into the 21st century. The back lights are too small, and on a hot day the gearbox makes it like an oven. It's too narrow as well, but it pulls a load of lambs nicely.
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PU
One significant change they made in the last 12 years....
The 300TDi engine was replaced IIRC by the TD5 at around S or T reg.
H
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