Is the Defender really worth owning?

[@raymondallo9947]

I have Puma 110 (2013). My daughter bought a TD5 (2002). We look after our cars and we love them. It is car with a soul. Classless, timeless. It is our daily driver. I had X5s, Q7s, VW Touareg. Lovely cars, but nothing puts a bigger smile on my face then driving my Defender.

[@guyincognito215]

❤❤❤❤

[@revydmat]

Another case of Land Rover Defenderitis. Seems like this strain is heredity...

[@hatiingolfsson]

"every single trip in this car is an event" ... and THATS IT! I enjoy every single kilometer with our defender! 👍🥰

[@Zepyhp]

Yeah and your wallet enjoys every moment hahaha

[@hatiingolfsson]

yes, it is huge 😂

[@markriley2733]

The most sustainable car by far ! A few modest tweaks and they are a joy to drive every day

[@RookieRestorations]

Totally agree mate.

[@malcolmheavens2213]

Good review. I have had my 110 for 18 years. She is a gem. My best buy ever. Just so useful and not expensive to maintain. Yes, it is a 29mpg vehicle, but so much fun and ultra reliable.

[@minitrundle]

Had mine since 2011. Pumped a lot of money and time into it but its worth the smiles it puts on your face when you drive it. Seeing the 2 you have lost, I dont think I would emotionally recover from that.

[@DavidBrown-bs7gg]

A Defender is like an old granny.. its old, it leaks eveywhere, its a pain to live with.. and yet its adorable, its part of the family, and you wouldnt be without it

[@williamrogers5367]

I own a 1987 Land Rover 90. I’m 18 and she is my first car… looking to pass my test in a few weeks, so wish me luck! I absolutely love her

[@pistonhedd]

I was a bit older than you (23) when I got my first 90 (1985 'C' Reg) - back in 2008 , cost me a small fortune mostly through an engine conversion (2.5 N/A Diesel > 200Tdi [Disco version]) amongst over thing's, sold it 12 month later as I was nearly potless. Two words summed that motor up..........White Elephant

[@LandRover300]

Mines 38 years young. 15 of those with me. Cant imagine being without it.

[@IamNasman]

Got my 110 from new, it hasn’t cost me a lot in unexpected ways, its not my only car (but the other ones a 55 year old lightweight), 9 years later, still going strong.

[@brianhoskins1979]

I've wanted a Defender since I was about 5. There is a photo of me sitting on the bonnet of a Series 3 from about that age, and that was the start of it. I got my first Land Rover in 2004, at the age of 24. But it's taken me pretty much 40 years to be the proud owner of a Defender. And now I've got one, I'm keeping it. And now my own Son is 5. And we were talking recently about how I would keep our Land Rover forever. He thought about it for a while, and then asked "What about when you are dead?" (typical 5 year old!!! 😂) but my reply to him was simple. "Well, Son. Then you'll be the proud owner of a Defender won't you?" EDIT: link to said Defender: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKa1hmiqYqh-gtU

[@joseaubesosierra6323]

Yo también tengo uno y cuando lo conduzco siempre digo que me hace feliz.

[@graham-martin5847]

i could afford to buy a new defender but i still stick to my old defenders i have three of them so i would say its not about the money or the fuel its about being a defender owner mine just make me smile and i love fixing them painting building the lot mine get grafted pulling trailers etc with lots of weight on them they are simply brilliant

[@horster2783]

I bought a 3 door td5 110 in chawton white not too dissimilar to the one you owned previously (which gave me some inspiration). Previous owner fitted a new turbo and fuel lines, new cylinder head, 265 bf’s and new fuel system. So I’ve only had to do the cosmetic jobs which is more fun anyway. Roof tent ready to go on in couple of weeks. Can’t wait!

[@GerhardBothaWFF]

I have owned my Td5 110 CSE since new from 2004. I never want another vehicle. I bought it new for ZAR 305 000. Over 20 years I have spent about another ZAR 300 000. It has 400k km on the clock and mapped stage 3. Big wheels are stupid. Keep the 235/85-16. I load a tonne baggage/camping gear, 4 people. I drive 2400km at highway speeds on mostly tarmac and then go fishing on the wild coast in Namibia or photographing inthe Okavango etc and it goes anywhere. If you think a Defender doesn’t handle etc it’s because you are not experienced / or your vehicle is neglected. I just love it

[@MilitaryMobility]

Great video, great insight

[@peterc5167]

Useful video. Falling prices might be driven by many cities across europe increasingly banning diesels, particularly old diesels.

[@douglaseuritt3919]

My daily driver for 7 years was a 1964 88" Series IIA (with a truck cab, the neighbor kids called it "Towmator!). If you can turn the wrenches yourself I don't think the reliability/maintenance will be an issue for you. They're as much farm tractor as automobile and the easy access and simplicity of design is something you just don't see in most other vehicles. We just bought a 1988 110 we are rebuilding as a camper (All-Cab Icarus with a galley and head) and I'm already finding excuses to drive it instead of our other vehicles as it makes even a trip to the corner store an adventure of sorts... One often overlooked benefit is "minimal maximum" speed-I used to be a couple of points away from automatic license suspension often but the Land Rover will slow you down and make you a responsible driver whether you like it or not. 😄

[@Jason-cl8hk]

Good luck with the chanell. Thanks.

[@sailingsvandorina9758]

We love our TD5 Double Cab. It does have A/T 285/75/16 tyres which personally I find drive really nice, but not without further mods first. Good bushes all round, castor corrected lightweight arms, upgraded shocks and springs, and most importantly, a big intercooler and remap. The extra torque and bhp make it an absolute joy to drive and we can comfortably sit at 70mph all day long. (85mph plus on autobahns). Other big modification is of course sound deadening, and lots of it! Finally, at 6'4" the original seats are awful, we always fit heated smart car seats into our defenders as they are easy to fit, with low bolsters.

[@matth8445]

I've had my defender 110 TD5 for 17 years...still going strong. The 4 wheel drive system is simple....it's permanent....just the centre diff lock which left engaged will destroy your propshafts! It's very green considering in it's lifetime there would have been 5 new cars built if you work off the 3 year hire purchase/lease cars most people have...food for thought

[@RookieRestorations]

and will probably be around long after those cars have rusted away.

[@zeparente]

I think the same about my 99 LR Discovery! Just an opinion, but makes sense. Regards

[@cedarcanoe]

I drive my 110 from 2014 daily. 100% reliable car. I just love it and will never sell it.

[@jeffreyscott4564]

I've owned 8 Land Rovers in my life. Series, Disco, RR, Defender 90-110 Are they the best 4x4xFar. ?? I don't know, There's just something about Driving a Land Rover. It puts a smile on my face.

[@pistonhedd]

I'm on my 6th LR in 15 years - MK1 Freelander 2005MY. Had three Disco MK1's and two 90's in years gone by.

[@tomjet1000]

Way to go mate.......it,s my 5th and I will never sell it, my daily driver too, greets from Zurich

[@RookieRestorations]

Yea they get in to your soul!

[@tomjet1000]

Also I got 285 tires on and they don't feel different from the 265 BF Goodrich 😉🤔

[@BigArch6564]

Cracking vlog buddy!

[@RookieRestorations]

Thanks dude! They be getting a little more regular hopefully.

[@Farmer2492]

Hi quick question i have a Landrover county with a v8 diesel, we are wanting to buy a Defender Twin cab but here in Australia iam hearing so many different stories people saying they are no good for towing a 14 foot van no good as a daily driver, ect ect what is the best reliable engine in the defender for daily driving and towing any help appreciated

[@RookieRestorations]

@@Farmer2492 Daily. If you're not doing motorway driving then a 300TDI is great but the sweet spot for me is the TD5. I've got three of them and I think they are great. I've towed defenders with defenders no problem at all.

[@Farmer2492]

Thank you very much what year td5 is the best

[@HeliRy]

What wheels are you running on them? Kinda look like Zu but hard to tell.

[@RookieRestorations]

Yeah that's right!

[@williamrogers5367]

“Gears. You might as well be stirring porridge” A lot of defender owners felt that 😂😂

[@highdownmartin]

Try the four speed box.

[@williamrogers5367]

@@highdownmartinmy lt77 was impossible 😂😂

[@MultiEski]

I would like to know , how much cost to run this car ? Regular maintenance clutch replacement cost ? New timing belt etc how often owners have to fix it :) ?

[@RookieRestorations]

Every car is different. Based on how well they're looked after. Lots of videos to give you an average breakdown. ✌️

[@biccazzapassione603]

Je roule beaucoup et je loue régulièrement des voitures modernes avec tous les équipements de sécurité et de confort d’aujourd’hui mais aucune ne fait rêver , seul mon crew cab 110 td5 à une âme !

[@juliancarter557]

Peronally I stay with the stock 235 tyres, albeit BFG, had my trusty TD5 110 for 12 years, the wife has and end of production (built 16th Jan 2016) since new and of course thers the S1 and S3 in the collection too. Yes there are times I'd like an auto (my avatar is my old 300 TDi auto) but I prefer manual most of the time. Just towed our twin axle caravan to Cornwall and back with the TD5 hardly missed a beat though the alternator did die on the return but it ran for 130 miles on the battery before swmbo stalled it 1m from home. Dont skimp on mainainance and they are as much a part of the family as my dogs.

[@windsorbailey1839]

Great video, but I was a bit stumped with the suggestion to buy now when you also say (quite correctly) that prices are falling due to the global economic downturn? Surely then it would be wiser to wait out buying until the prices have dropped further still? I see it across the board right now as you said - people with ‘toys’ are quickly trying to offload them to free up capital. Here in Canada I’ve been closely watching a few premium sports cars for sale and they have been stuck for nearly 6 months, so far with only marginal price reductions.

[@RookieRestorations]

You are absolutely right Windsor. I always shoot these videos a little on the fly so it not uncommon for me to contradict my self. However in this instance both points could be true as both buyers and sellers are finding them selves in rather unique situations financially. As always I think the only winners right now will be the very rich or retired with minimal outgoings. On the other side people are already hitting crisis point in the UK so. There will certainly be some deals to be had. Like you I scan the market quite regularly and I think sellers are realising after having cars sat for months that their vehicles are worth no where near what they were a year ago. The bubble has well and truly burst.

[@tupaicindjeke275]

Simple answer, yes

[@xdmooo]

How did you lose the car in the fire? was it a mechanic fault?

[@champ6702]

Can I ask what the cause of the fire was? I have a Defender myself that I have spend way to many hours and money on and I always worry about losing it in a fire… it can happen so quickly!

[@RookieRestorations]

We have no idea BUT check the wire that connects your ECU to your engine. Oil backtracks down this, and if it doesn't cause a fire can certainly ruin your Defender.

[@AnthonyWilliams-vh1ds]

For daily / weekend camping should I be looking at TD5 or TDCI 2.2?… Do I spend £30k of a really nice TDCI? Or 15-20k on an older TD5 and put some money towards a toy as I’m approaching mid life crisis 🤣

[@erhardt1477]

Well… First of all sir… greetings from Germany, as a Landy owner 110 HT myself, I appreciate this video. Having said THAT … so far I found one point of disagreement, but that may be unique to the fact that reside outside of the UK 🇬🇧 Prices aren’t dropping here, in Germany 🇩🇪… at the moment, I think … they not not rising as sharply as before. And no, I’m not splitting hair… It still is a pretty good investment… So finished the whole video sir… nice job 👍 no doubt… Yep … the BF Goodrich All terrain tires 🛞 are a blast… or shall we say… the sweet spot. What most of the time folks don’t realize is what you said sir… You buy a OLD vehicle… basically a truck… and not a muscle car. … I’d like to pose a question sir… I do have trouble with my TD5 fuel ⛽️ pump … any recommendation, where to get a NEW one ..? Thx for your time and effort 👋

[@RookieRestorations]

Hey thanks for the feed back. If you're having trouble with the fuel pump my first thought would be that it could be the fuel filter so try changing that first. If not then go for the pump. I've fitted cheap aftermarket pumps to mine with no issues at all I believe VDO are the best pumps to buy. Hope that helps ✌🏼

[@erhardt1477]

@@RookieRestorations Thx 🙏🏻 for your feedback sir… filter is clean … I’ll definitely check out VDO fuel pump ⛽️👍

[@highdownmartin]

And if you think the defender is rough round the edges , poorly braked, ponderous steering and agricultural, then try daily driving a sixty year old lwb series two. Extra in all departments. But they’re great and I love it.

[@RookieRestorations]

Unfortunately I feel this experience may be in my purchasing future 😀

[@d2cdl]

My brother parallel imported a td5 90 in 1999 for £11k plus vat. He's still got it, and it's probably worth nearly what he paid for it🤯 Defenders are iconic, simple and robust👍My other brother is just about to pick up his new Grenadier🤑

[@RookieRestorations]

lols at the grenadier. Not seen one yet, whats your thoughts?

[@thetallcarpenter]

@Joshua Wanders He is supposed to be picking it up this week, and is really excited😀 We'll see what it's like soon enough🤔 (I'm Man Stuff UK)

[@richardtedeschi9290]

For me it is worth owning what others think I don't care.

[@Timmy.Hammer]

I’ve fancied a Defender for years but every time I nearly pull the trigger I decide against it. I live in Scotland and frequently travel into the highlands and my big Octavia Scout deals with everything the environment can throw at it. The big Defender is just too expensive to buy and run. It’ll only be a matter of time before it’s taxed out anyways. Technology moves on and unfortunately I think the big Defender has been left behind now.

[@RookieRestorations]

The scout is a great car but I'd disagree with the defender being to outdated. People like my self still love them and your money is pretty safe if you buy right.

[@Max-kn9yi]

Cant go anywhere..

[@nathanferguson7939]

this vid would've been heaps better without the music being louder than the vocals.

[@GoofyGoober713]

Did you hear this Joshua?

[@ccw5886]

Expensive?? This has not been my experience and I have have had three. All three of mine have not cost a lot and I have never ever really worked on one in any depth, I send it to a specialist, still not expensive to me. This may be because I have owned Porsche's and other more exotic cars that have had mind bending costs. To me they are really affordable. My Current Puma 2.4 is just fabulous and actually drives so well. Heated windows. air con, heated seats cold weather pack, all working . Mine is my daily driver and tyres ? 200 a corner? Yes! what is the problem? just paid £270 for a rear tyre on a Merc. you wont get a decent one for under 25k, probably much more these days. I purchased mine five years ago for 21k and was recently offered 31K. Im not selling. I love them. Its proper and oh so much fun to drive because you actually do have to drive and learn all its little quirks. They are a joy like so many other cars are not!

[@mornick15]

Yes it is, but it's impossible to be able to afford one...

[@LincolnPegg]

Why? Has the You-tubers favourite moved to something else? Is that making Landrover prices fall?

[@dnbdefender9142]

Ha Ha 100% right!!! now off to buy another

[@VineV-Dutch]

Without looking at the clickbait video: NO!! The old ones rust like crazy, the new one is an overpriced fashion statement. LandCruiser 70 series is much better. Again problem at the 4x4 holiday this year. Just like all previous decades; LR owners are doing emergency repairs on their vehicles, TOYOTA owners are chilling at the BBQ because no maintenance or repairs are required.

[@mikeboone4425]

Nice silent movie

[@kimbaxter6917]

Promo`SM

[@tommaude9388]

I have had my defender since 2005 still going strong better than this new piece of rubbish that calls itself a defender

[@pistonhedd]

Nice one, you've not been tempted to waste money on that new thing 👍

[@tommaude9388]

My brother in law has new defender and bits keep falling of it such as exterior trim not fixed on properly

[@pistonhedd]

@@tommaude9388 😅 Oh dear, best to take note then and stay away. I remember people chuntering on about the Td5 engines back in the day when they were new ''riddled with electronics'' and ONE ECU Now look at 'em with 85 ECU's jesus 🙄

[@Getaway2Scratch]

3 Land Rover en is nothing 😅

[@EMADBINAHMADALBAWRI]

I HOPE SOME DAY I CAN HAVE A DIFENDER 110 I WISH AND ONE OF MY DREAM I WAS OWNER OF RR CLASSIC 1988 & DISCO 1 98 & 2 2004 BUT THE DIFENDER STILL MY DREAM STILL SOME DAY BIG LOVE FOR ROVER'S

[@overlandready]

If you turned up to buy a vehicle off me and went at it with a screwdriver or wire brush; YOU'VE JUST BOUGHT IT!!! It's not your property to damage! So take a better aproach, use your fingers, if the rust is bad enough that you can flex the metal, or it is excessively crusty, then walk or calculate that into your offer, don't damage something that's not yours. Plus the parts that are going to be the real problem you can't get a screwdriver or wire brush into! Re diff lock lever, it's about 15 minutes to sort, after taking the tunnel off... It will be the base of the lever, probably filled with dirt and needs freeing and greasing. You cannot blame the vehicle for your lack of knowledge! It is all in the owners manual and that is avvailable about 1000 times on line if you don't have the book itself! You're not far off on don't go wide on the tyres, it's mostly pointless as sidth doesn't give you anything other than less steering lock! Err, td5's are not going up in price as they are not the best ones... To be honest, if you do the repairs corrrectly and spend the money, you'll not make a massive profit out of them selling at a reasonable price. Not even a Series 1 will make you rich. There are things you can do to slightly improve the steering, brakes and handling, but it is basically a 40 year old design based on a 75 year old design! You also have full knowledge of why people love them. I'm not selling mine, modded it a bit, but not how you think. 300tdi DC with toys... :-)

[@Zepyhp]

It will suck your wallet dry.

[@RookieRestorations]

Yep! Will be doing a video soon on just how much!