I am planning 2 but a LR defender. Is it worthy to buy an old one? will a 10 - years-old engine still ok?
Answers:
They can go on forever if looked after, a 2nd hand engine doesn't cost the Earth so worse case you can always replace it, but body woes will cost you plenty. There are Landies out there 40 years old and still going so 10 years is just an adolescent, the biggest things to look for is accident damage and corrosion, especially electrolytic between the aluminium panels and the chassis.
I seem to remember an off road test done by Top Gear where a new Range Rover got stuck in the mud and a '60's LR just chugged through = )
Hey dude, if you but a car, wont it hurt you head??
Engine wise the Defender with the 2.5ltr.diesel engine should be okay as this is a fairly robust engine. The main thing when buying a Defender of that age is making sure that the chassis and cross members are sound, as they are very expensive to repair, also check the body for corrosion on floor panels and the "A" & "B" posts for the doors, also check the bulkhead for corrosion. All spare parts are easily scourced and fairly reasonably priced as far as spare parts in general cost. I don't want to put you off one,but if you find a good one I don't think that you would be dissapointed. Yes I think that the Defender is the best all terain vehicle, I say that having had series Land rovers,The Defender,Range Rover and a Discovery
The chassis are weak and rust like fury, you want a diesel ideally newer the better, or for off roading an ex army lightweight with a V8 conversion, Probably need a new cam at 80 000 (not belt Cam) the Military Lightweight is ideal as an off roader or in town, combines the attributes of a cabriolet with those of a chelsea tractor, you did not ought to drive over other vehicles but it is reassuring to know that you can! mind you speed bumps are better flattened by 3 ton Disco 3s but a V8 lightweight can hold its own in town and if you do have a coming together it just enhances the rugged can do image of the beast with a few dents, no need to spend 1000s repairing the damage just paint another taxi symbol on the wing!
You need to take-note of what the Australians say about 4x4s. "If you want to go into the outback, use a 4x4, if you want to come back alive, make sure it's a Toyota."
Land Rover Defenders and Discoveries, without exception, are sh*it.
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