Finally got the Defender!!!!

Submitted: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 12:34
ThreadID: 12624 Views:1859 Replies:12 FollowUps:10
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Hi all - The search is over!

We finally found a Defender at a decent price, and couldn't be happier. I'll post some rig pics in a couple of days.

If only it weren't mothersday this weekend, it might actually get a bit of a try out..... Oh well..
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Reply By: DEFENDER-110 - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 13:12

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 13:12
MATE
WELCOME TO THE RANKS i could not be happier with my 110
cheers peter
AnswerID: 57300

Reply By: The Banjo - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 13:58

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 13:58
Good on you Chump......if you love it, that's all there is to it.....but I still can't appreciate how an owner could be confortable in there......for the record, could you share your height and weight ? I'm 180cm in socks, and 95kg out of the shower (ok...I eat too much) and having sat in one, could not imagine being comfortable....handbrake, driver's door, central hump, wheel etc all seem to intrude on what other vehicles provide as the driver's space ! If it was not for that, I may well have bought one, because I know they are tough, economical and highly capable.
AnswerID: 57310

Follow Up By: Chump - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 14:10

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 14:10
Banjo,

I am about the same as you, only about 10kg heavier (ummm....it is all muscle....well...most of it....lol....).

I seem to fit OK - I am blessed with my fathers short legs and long body.

I do believe I am lucky though - I can see how someone of a different build would have problems. My legs fit OK with the seat about 3 quarters of the way back, and my head is just above the top of the seatbelt. I can reach the handbrake and gearstick OK as well.

I do agree - there is little space to move, but that is not a bad thing. I have come from a series 2 Disco, with heaps of room - I actually enjoy sitting in and driving the Defender a lot more. My right leg leans against the door, and my left just touches the handbrake when it is on - there is heaps of room when it is off.

The seat itself is pretty comfy, but I assume this would not be so for everyone.

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FollowupID: 319057

Follow Up By: The Banjo - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 14:34

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 14:34
Thanks for that considered comment.........I've seen Les Hiddens during his BTM days in the 110, but was mindful of the fact that Les probably never bought one....drove it in the Army and then promoted it for Landrover ! Cheers..........
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FollowupID: 319061

Follow Up By: Rod - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 13:40

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 13:40
errhh... I believe Les did in fact own a County as has been seen driving around Townsville in it. More recently though he has been seen driving Discos.
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FollowupID: 319201

Follow Up By: The Banjo - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 14:09

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 14:09
I yields to your local knowledge Rod.......
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Reply By: Alex H - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 17:34

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 17:34
Why is Mothers Day a problem? Take her to see those wonderful scenic places you can't get to without a 4wd!!

Good choice mate, I love my 110 - you'd have to pay me more than the GDP of most African countries to get me in anything else!!
AnswerID: 57339

Follow Up By: Member - StevenL - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 17:50

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 17:50
Maybe that's why you see so many of them in African countries!!!!!

Only kidding.......maybe.

Steven
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Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 20:53

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 20:53
Chump

Enjoy ... bloody great beast ... and nothwithstanding all the cheerful rubbishing you'll cop .. you've got yerself a seriously capable vehicle. Sure, they're not the most ergonomic truck you'll drive ... but you'll keep going when others fall by the wayside.

Happy travels
AnswerID: 57364

Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:18

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:18
Good on yer Chump, go enjoy it, don't forget tho, if you get everything you want you'll want everything.
.
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AnswerID: 57373

Reply By: Member - John- Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:51

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:51
Good onya! You have to think different to appreciate a 110. I am 182cm and 100kg and fit just fine in my 110.

It seems awkward to get into, you do seem rather crowded, it is noisy (Isuzu diesel) but it just grows on you. The seats don't look much but my old 110 is the first fourbie I can drive all day in low range rough stuff and get out feeling just fine.

I think about driving my father's old 1951 Morris Commercial 1.5t truck around the farm and realise what a luxury limo my 110 is !! It's all relative... right??

No other fourbie, past or present straight off the showroom floor (or 20yrs old) will allow you to carry a huge payload (1070kg) in relative comfort all day across rough country and you can get out for a stretch and feel just fine.

There are a few things you can do in the driver's space to improve comfort.. The dedicated L-R chat groups can help you there or join a L-R Owners Club near you.

JohnS
AnswerID: 57385

Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:54

Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:54
Chump,
I took an Extreme out for a test drive then I eventually bought my GU, it was an interesting drive, I wasn't to sure about the driving position where you appear to be jammed against the drivers door, the dealer told me the driver was that far over to allow easy viewing of the outside of the vehicle when doing the hard stuff, which I gave some credit to, my Range Rover has a similar driving position and yes it is good and very handy sometimes, that is one of the really good things I like about it to make up for lets say the oil leaks........ One thing I wasn't to keen on, I used to drive a 1965 series 1 landy, the dashboard is still similar, plus the air vents are still the same. If the GU ever outlives it's usefulness I would seriously the Defender or an Extreme, they are just that bit different, my wife thought it was great. Just some thoughts.
Keep the shiny side up

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AnswerID: 57386

Reply By: Member - jtb - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 00:54

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 00:54
good 2 here wlecome Chump enjoy & dont forget 2 wave cheers
AnswerID: 57412

Follow Up By: Chump - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 09:48

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 09:48
lol...on the subject of waving cheers....

I just love the way everyone waves to everyone else in the defenders. You just don't see that any more, do you? I think in the last week I have driven past 3 other defenders, and we have all at least waved, and even said hi on one occasion.

It was like that with my old series 2 - i think i knew by sight all the landrovers in my area, and their owners - just not their names!

lol - this is getting better and better.
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FollowupID: 319161

Follow Up By: Rosco - Bris. - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 20:58

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 20:58
Spot-on

We certainly seem to be a friendly bunch ... if not a little eccentric.

Well .. at least that's what those other strange fellows would have us believe.

Cheers whot old chap and pip pip
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FollowupID: 319299

Reply By: BenH - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 17:10

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 17:10
Hi Chump,

We will very soon see just who is more comfortable after a full day out in the rough stuff with 2 whinging kids in the back and a grumpy wife in the front seat (we have these as standard extras in both our vehicles.........bugger)
I very much look forward to many challenging drives with the Patrol and the Defender in the years to come,
I will see you soon, I think we should put some money on who gets stuck first!!!!!

BenH
AnswerID: 57499

Reply By: gordjo - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 21:38

Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 21:38
Hi Chump,
Sorry to say but you really are a chump for buying a 110. Been there done that, biggest regret I have ever made. Broke down and broke bits numerous times. Useless on sand we had so many problems I just havent got enough room to name them all. I wish you the best of luck with yours. Luckily we still kept our 80 series landcruiser which we still have to date which has never given us a minutes grief. (GOES ANYWHERE, AND EVERYWHERE). Goodluck Chump hope your in the RACV.
AnswerID: 57550

Follow Up By: Chump - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 07:10

Friday, May 07, 2004 at 07:10
Please tell me what went wrong.... I would love to know.

Your 80 series must be pretty heavily modified as well....

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FollowupID: 319354

Follow Up By: Rosco - Bris. - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 07:23

Friday, May 07, 2004 at 07:23
Don't worry old mate, there's obviously a few of your namesakes on board.

Cheers cob
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FollowupID: 319355

Reply By: Chump - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 07:26

Friday, May 07, 2004 at 07:26
lol - there are a few of them, aren't there?

Funny thing with landrovers - those that have them, absolutely love them. Those that don't...well.....

lol
AnswerID: 57577

Follow Up By: marcus - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 22:14

Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 22:14
Hi Chump,
100 percent right most landrover owners absolutely love em.I too have a disco 11 td5 manual and swear by it.Have been intrigued by talk of the seating position in the defender so when offered a test drive in an '03 extreme i jumped.I stand at 5feet 8 and didn't feel cramped at all wheras with the new patrol couldn't see far over the bonnet as was sitting too low.There is something about the defender that gets the pulse going rugged.strong and built to last.Went off road in a 20 year old county recently and it still hardly had a rattle in it due to its tough construction would love a defender as well.
cheers mark
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FollowupID: 319658

Reply By: Member - jtb - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 03:10

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 03:10
(CORRECT)
AnswerID: 57701

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