Hello to you all

I am going to buy a new 110 XS Defender or a new Auto XS Disco. I have been lurking on this site for many months filling myself with info. So far at my local dealer I have test driven the Defender 5 TIMES and the Disco twice. The salesman has been very patient. The car will be my every day family transport including a 70 mile commute to work each day. Now I desperately want the Defender but the issues some of you guys are having causes me to lose sleep! The disco was superb but for me just seems to lack the character of the Defender. About 5 years ago I owned a 1982 109, now that was a right dog but I loved it! The difference being it was a toy not used every day.

Is the new Defender really all that bad in terms of build quality?

If I bought a new defender I would like to think I would have it until the day I die, I'm currently 37. Whereas with the Disco I think it would be great at first but within 3-4 years it would like any other car, I'd be bored of it and would want something else.

Could somebody also please tell me what the servicing costs are like on the TDCI?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

PS The missus loves the Disco but hates the Defender.

Hello and welcome
I had a D3 SE up till sept last year and part ex`d it for a new Audi A5 quatrro i then missed having a 4x4 so bought a 2006 90 County hard top as a toy but ended up driving it all the time
Then after trying the new Defender i was amazed how much nicer it was compared to the old one so i traded the 90 in for a new 110XS double cab, i use it every day rather than the Audi . The only problems i`ve had are water leaks into the cab and rattling brake pads. I too get bored with cars but keep coming back to Defenders, at least with Defenders you can keep adding bits to them Go for it and by the Defender you`ll love it

P.S buy a 110 utility or Double cab and you`ll have cheap Tax
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D3 Gone A5 Quattro Rocket Arrived + 90 County HT Gone 110DC XS Arrived

Hello & Welcome,

I too keep comming back to defenders and i have an RS4 sat in the garage that i dont drive. I rarely drive the defender but i never go home without taking it out of the garage for a potter about !

I too bought the defender to keep, i thought long and hard before i bought and i am chuffed to bits with it.
the Only problem i have had with mine is rattling brake pads but i believe this has now been sorted on the newer ones. Thats not to say its not going to go wrong but touch wood its been great.


Discoverys are OK now but in another 5 years like you have stated it will be very ordinary. the defender will still be turning heads and most importantly putting a smile on your face.

Get one bought ! and then you can see for yourself what all the fuss is about.
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DEFENDER XS CSW 08 TONGA GREEN

The Defender's still on the Top Gear super cool wall

I drive a new 110 TDCi as everyday transport. My wife drives a FL2 and previously I had a TD5 which I bought new in 2001. The D3 is the obvious choice, but where I live (Sydney) every second car on the road is a D3 doing the school run. The Defender has character. It also does the job surprisingly well. More comfortable than one would expect and excellent on the motorway. Running costs are low and resale value quite high. Servicing can be expensive if undertaken by a dealer, but a local garage is able to do it much cheaper and still stamp the book so as not to affect warranty.

Build quality is exactly as you see it. Rivets, wobbly panels and rattles. Water will come in when deep wading, but who cares. Surprisingly, the paint finish is superior to D3. The only trouble I've had with mine in 13,000kms is loose door stays. The TD5 had a couple of niggles during the warranty period but these were sorted and for the next 100,000kms very few troubles. And still on original tyres.

A Toyota would give zero problems, accompanied by zero enjoyment. I think the Land Rover is worth it.

Austen.

I bought a Range Rover Sport TDV6 (essentially the same as a Disco) roughly two years ago and I've since handed it to my wife and bought myself an 08 Defender 110. I love both for very different reasons. But I must say that the Dedender is more fun and a perfectly acceptable vehicle for daily/city commuting. Build quality is perfectly fine (no problems) and utilitarian. If you want a relaxing, comfortable ride go for the Disco. But if you want to be inspired, go with the Defender.
Cheers, Rick.
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2007 RRS TDV6
2008 Defender 110

The new Defender is most civilized of all models and it always puts a smile on your face as sonn as you drive off
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2.4 90 XS
1968 1/32 scale Britains 109 Pick up.

Like Sonic had a D3 SE and trade in for a 110 Utility(Tax is not at commercial rate so £400 a year at moment).
I thought I would miss D3 but no the defender is so cool even the local Chav's look and stare. The new interior is good, heater very good and just a great place to be. Alot less to go wrong than a D3 which was my main reason for changing.

Go for it, buy one and with the change left over from your budget buy your other half a soft top sports thingy to keep her happy

Welcome Sully and greetings from Chile

I was in the same dilemma 1 year ago. And we decide to buy the Defender 110 SW

Its true that the new Defender have some troubles and some of us had big problems also. But be aware that most of us have the 2007 model. Probably 2008 model will have much less problems.

On the other hand, we tend to post the bad thing to search for help but we forgot to said the good things of the new Defender. So guiding the decision by the things that you hear in the forum could be not the best.
Defender 2007 is a very good utilitarian vehicle with a superb performance and upgrading interior that made it more liveable.

We use ours as a family car every day in the city and we are very happy with him (dont miss so much our old car a Ford van).

Decision must be personal but in my case, knowing all the problems that I had, if I can come back I will Buy again a Defender.

Cheers
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Eduardo

110 SW PUMA 2.4

I have a 2007 110 xs and it has been a nightmare. Been back at the dealers 6 times now for warranty issues , one being a complete new engine , due to go back again next week as engine warning light came on - As a result selling it in Jan. and replacing it with guess what

Another Defender 110

Wouldn't drive anything else, nothing comes close to the flexibility and feel good factor of driving a defender

N.

Hello Sully, i think you've got two choices here really,

1. Buy a Defender and allow the wife to grow to love it

or

2. Buy a Disco 3 and after thinking of a Defender every time you see one, trade the Disco in for.... a Defender.


and finally due to the time of year i have to get this pun in..
'A DEFENDERS FOR LIFE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS'

Hi Sully,

I swapped from a Disco 2 to a Defender and don't regret it for a minute. The Disco 3 is a very capable car if someone else is paying the bills however if you're buying it yourself the Disco will be worth relatively little in 3-4 years time whereas the Defender will still have a considerable residual value.

Hello Sully

I bought a new Defender back in September and I had my fair share of problems with it over a 6-week period. It has been a real hassle and seriously inconvenient – electronic Engine Management Light issues and blowing fuses, 3 call-outs. Others here have been through much worse.

I’m of the opinion that manufacturing and quality control standards at Land Rover have been, and possibly still are, less than they should be, even in 2008. All manufacturers have their problems, it’s true, but LR doesn’t really inspire confidence by comparison, not for me anyway.

And all this ill-advised advertising talk about so many old Land Rovers still being on the road tends to mask to fact that for 60 years there have been an army of middle-aged blokes in greasy caps rolling about below them in puddles of leaking oil.

Reliability issues have to be taken into account before buying a Defender. But even so, touching wood here, I’m really enjoying my Defender. It’s a purposeful vehicle, solidly bolted together (well, mine is!), enjoyable to drive, great driving position, surprisingly nippy, and the cabin’s more comfortable in the long run than your wife may imagine.

True, there are irritations – handbrake, rear view mirror that vibrates so much you may as well have it in your pocket, occasionally limiting turning circle, uninspiring headlights, noisy heater fan... But you won’t lose sleep over any of that.

What you have to decide, Sully, is whether LR’s Defender reputation means it’s more sensible to look at other manufacturers. I for one would understand if you finally decided against it. By comparison, how often do you hear consistently bad talk about Toyota’s trusty Land Cruiser?

But good luck anyway!

Sam

I wonder whether you could rent the dealers demos for a week (maybe refundable from any future purchase) so as to get a real idea of your views and your wifes. Trying to decide with test drives or just in theory clearly is not working.

I've had a 90 XS SW since May and to date it has been fine, including 1800 miles over 10 days in Scotland on holiday including several off-road tracks. I also drive a comfortable auto estate car and switch back and forth between the two - they both have their plus points but the Defender is "special".

Best of luck with your decision.
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Trevor Wright
'08 90 TDCi XS SW

Hi

Many thanks to all of you for your helpful comments, it's very much appreciated. I've been test driving them again today, I've had about a 50 mile drive in each. Still love em both but the Defender appeals in many other ways. In fact I think the Disco was so perfect its boring!!! Still not put a deposit on either yet.
One thing that did concern me a bit today in the Defender was the notchy gear change and the loud clunk as I lifted the clutch in 2nd and 3rd. I tried to be rough,smooth,quick and slow,(not at the same time), but nothing seemed to stop it.

Is this normai? I haven't noticed it so much on previous test drives.

Or is this another dodgy gearbox?

It was an '08 110 with 750 miles on the clock.

Thanks again chaps

Sully