Land Rover Defender (2003-2016)
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30 reviews · Statistics
Love these cars and would never get anything else
Defender 130It’s a car with a lot of flaws but an absolutely fantastic car none the less, everyone who owns one loves them like one of their children and for good reason it will treat you well and never fail you. It’s very basic in features but is sufficient and personally I like not have it a million sensors beeping all the time. Unfortunately the handling is rubbish and it’s extremely noisy to drive. There are a lot of problems with the car but majority of them are fixable and there is a wide range of parts both genuine and aftermarket, you can really ma
... Read moreke this car in to something amazing. The car was definitely designed to be used off road and excels in that but they didn’t focus too much on the city driving aspect of it. If you want to stand out, turn heads and feel proud driving a car this is that car and the community around the car is fantastic too, you will often have people going out of their way to have a good look at your whip and other defender drivers never fail to give you a wave when they see you on the roads mine handles the Australian outback like a dream, I use my car as a daily and go 4wding as often as possible because that’s where the defender is most as home, the car is one of if not the best farm driving cars out there and will beat almost and 4wd in their usability (except in power perhaps hard to beat a V8) if you like this car just get it you will not regret it, I took a risk on one and have never looked back even tho I’m broke now. It’s a car with a personality and is instantly recognised by all, more importantly not a basic b*tch car thoPurchased in for $40,000.
- Transmission: Manual
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2004
Very bad experience with Defender 90.
Defender 90Bought Defender 90 Brand New, in the 3rd week it started feeling that whenever engine turned on car vibrates for good 10-15 seconds. Then after 9 weeks software blew including the screen & speedometer. Rest is fine.
Purchased in for $96,000.
- Transmission: Automatic
- Bought: New
- Year: 2022
Special feels when driving
Defender 90excellent 2nd vehicle, its a weekend car, definitely not a city car. i fell in love with it the first time i saw it in the show room. cars like this makes you feel very special as there is nothing like it on the road. you will not find the character and charm in another vehicle. new defender coming out at the end of 2019 is definitely not a defender. if you have one, hold on to them as long as you can and pass it onto your kids, these cars will outlive you!
Purchased in for $60,000.
- Transmission: Manual
- Bought: Used
- Year: 2014
Amazing
Defender 90It may seen old but it works a treat! I bought it second hand and is in good condition and I asked the person were they got it from and all this stuff and soon fell in love it is the best for off roading and fits 5 people and can fit 7 if we had 2 seats added it!
- Badge: XS
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- Transmission: Manual
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- Date Purchased:
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Best this ever happen to me
Defender 110I have no words to express my satisfaction. If you want 4wd drive just buy this. Best on the road and off road. Very Fuel efficient and amazing power. Only 4wd drive that i know has Anti Staff Feature which is amazing. This car will never let you down. Will never go to another car.
- Badge: TDI
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- Transmission: Manual
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- Date Purchased:
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- Drive: 4WD
Land rover Perentie 110
Defender 110Just thought a few people might be interested in the Military Land Rover Project Perentie 110 Defenders now finding there way onto the market in numbers after 30 odd years of "in" service. Next month makes for 7 years of ownership and have personally covered approx 70 000 km in all conditions. Mine was sold at the Eagle Farm Frontline Machinery Auctions in June 2013, sold as incomplete and non operational - it was partially Stripped for Quarantine being an EX Timor vehicle. Once back together shortly there after, hasn't missed a beat since. For
... Read more several years it only seen my boat in and out of the water at the Local Ramp with the occasional out of town Highway trip into Hervey Bay and back, approx 100km round trip and occasionally a few hundred Km up to Rockhampton or down to the Sunny Coast for one reason or other, but other than that was used mostly just for day trips around the Fraser Coast which is renowned for its never ending Sand tracks and of course Fraser Island itself. That all changed in 2016. For the past 4 years now not only does it still reliably chauffer me around the Fraser Coast and everyone of its never ending tracks, but I have done literally dozens of road trips to Brisbane and return since, in fact once every 2 weeks for FIFO work out of Brisbane. A return trip to Burrum Heads of approx 700km each time. The good - Super reliable given the age and immaculate Military Maintenance, but mainly with thanks to the Isuzu 4bd1 light truck engine as fitted standard, an Engine well known for durability and longevity in the Isuzu circles. The Gearbox and Transfer case are also well known in Military circles as being almost indestructible given the 101 Forward Control Truck and Range Rover V8 DNA they carry. In fact all drive line components had well and truly been tested by time and torture in other arena's long before being fitted to the Perenties. Even the 4 wheel Coil Sprung ride is XLNT for a 4 x 4 by todays standards. Again almost Range Rover by DNA which were very well known in their day for comfort. Given standard gearing, road speed is quiet comfortably maintained at 110kph where allowable, very comfortable at 100 in fact but approx 120-130 is about the end of their legs. Off road it really comes into its own. These things grunt like nothing I have ever driven down low and get every bit of it to the ground smoothly without axle tramping or wheel spin like more powerful vehicles. The Bad - Excessive Engine Noise, open vehicle "White noise" requiring Ear plugs so as to not go deaf and an Engine that would rattle the eye teeth out of anything when cold at Idle. Once warm however, idle perfectly and quite smoothly, especially if you idle them up a few hundred RPM. As for Engine noise, Tis just the nature of the beast and very normal for the era it was built. Also on the point of noise, the Transmissions given a long stroke Engine pulse get gear chatter badly at idle, particularly when the oil warms up a bit and thins out. I elevate the idle a bit with the hand throttle when the Engine is cold which smooths the vibrations out and I never sit at Traffic lights in Neutral with the clutch out, in fact the gear chatter can be quiet embarrassing! Body wallowing does present in certain circumstances, particularly under heavy breaking at speed and when over recommended speeds cornering which leaves for a very ominous feeling at times. Increased spring ride height compared to Civi vehicles was an ADF requirement and I believe against Jaguar Rover Australia's recommendations from what I read but were fitted anyhow as it helps the vehicle immensely when off road, but a point to be very wary of at speed when on Road.Purchased for $16,000.
- Transmission: Manual
- Bought: Used
- Year: 1989
Can I choose 10 stars?
Defender 90It’s a different feeling. It’s hard to manoeuvre, uncomfortable, no airbags & loud. But who cares! The best 4x4 ever & goes anywhere. Approach & departure angles and ground clearance unbeatable. And the character that you don’t get in any other 4x4. The Army uses them for a reason! Ain’t selling mine ever!
- Badge: TDCI
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- Transmission: Manual
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- Date Purchased:
2000 TD5.
Defender 110Exceptional 4x4 out of the box and performs better of road than many highly modified 4x4s. Great room, good economy for a 4x4 this size app 12 litres per 100. Biggest issue heads not repairable. Parts no dearer than any other. A bit of an enthusiast car. Heaters non existent and air conditioning very average.
- Badge: X-Treme
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- Transmission: Manual
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- Date Purchased:
Owning one is addictive
Defender 90Incredibly built car that is capable of anything you throw at it.
The constant 4wd is an incredible safety feature which actually doesn't contribute significantly to fuel consumption as so many believe.
It has a full aluminium roof rack and still averaged 11L/100km. It is a great balance between tarmac and dirt driving.
Not suitable for the tall person and also if you have a weak left knee - clutch is heavy and cabin is small.
Stock clearance is much higher than most 4wd. I had a friend who recently purchased a Hilux SR5 and my stock clearance was much higher than his even after he had put bigger wheels on.
- Badge: TDI
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- Transmission: Manual
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- Date Purchased:
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Better than a Toyota Hilux SR5
Defender 90I'm a Camping & 4WD enthusiast. I owned a 2008 Hilux SR5 Dual Cab TD for a little over 8 years before upgrading to my dream car...Lando. Over the course of the 8 years owning the Hilux I spent about $20K on it making a little better here & there: bigger intercooler, suspension/shocks, brakes, exhaust, wheels/tyres, etc, etc. and the list of things I still wanted to modify to it were endless. It always needed (sometimes wanted) more. I'd find something else that wasn't quite...right. It kept bottoming out in ruts, needed a change in gear ratio b
... Read moreecause it wasn't low enough for the rough stuff and so on. So when I heard that they were to stop making the Defender I had to make a call and get my hands on one (2015 Defender 90). Thinking that I'd have to part with more of my hard-earned on upgrades, I was pleasantly surprised at how capable the stock Defender is on the tracks (in both the really boggy stuff and the rubble). I was able to keep up with an 80 series Land Cruiser (that had 35" tyres on a +7" lift, turbo, 3" exhaust, engine re-map) and a GU Patrol (33" tyres, 2.5" lift, 3" exhaust, engine map re-tune, diff lockers). It was after this trip that I realised despite the initial expense for the vehicle, there is very little that I NEED to do to it. It's already a star performer. It'll remain a classic, looks the part, isn't made of cheap plastic or light-weight body parts like most cars are these days. Looking forward to some epic adventures!- Badge: 90
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- Transmission: Manual
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- Date Purchased:
Nothing compared
Defender 901995 NAS Defender 90 soft top
AA YELLOW, 5 speed, 3.9 liter Gas engine
Original owner
Acceleration: very good
Top speed: 100 MPH if pushed
Handling: Installed anti sway bar, tightened up cornering nicely
Towing ability: can tow heavy loads
Interior noise: loud with soft top
Better with fiberglass hard top
- Badge: NAS defender 90
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- Transmission: Manual
So glad I got it
Defender 110Leaks when it rains, stones hitting the bottom sound like bullets, turns like a cruise liner, catches the wind, I can't seem to get in the passenger side without falling in, nearly gave myself a hernia taking off the spare! When people come over to talk about my car, I tell them it 'now' has cup holders!
- Badge: Zoro Rules Forever
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- Transmission: Manual
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My New Best Friend
Defender 90I always wanted a Defender 90 - my hand was forced when the final sales deadline was June 26 last year. A long 8 month wait & finally my new best friend arrived. Have done around 4,000 kms now & it gets better every day. Was surprised by its power & prowess on road & how good it is the the rough stuff. It is much more comfy than I expected & everyone I know wants a ride - the drivetrain takes some getting used to but once mastered - it is great. Also surprised how good the brakes are. If you have ever hankered for a Defender 90 - just do it! The only vehicle that puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. I also like the camaraderae that comes from Defender ownership - it's a small & exclusive club. Enjoy!
- Badge: 90
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- Transmission: Manual
It depends on your perspective
Defender 90If you've never been in one before.... It's loud, clunky and slow. It turns like a tugboat, the aircon & heating are ordinary, there's nowhere to put your right arm, they have very few creature comforts, stones hitting the (non lined or undersealed) inner wheel arches will scare the crap out of you. It's too tall to fit in most city underground carparks, and the fuel tank is too small. When you wade (or in heavy rain) your feet will get wet, and the seats don't recline... But none of this will matter to you because it not only looks awesome, but is one of the most capable off-road vehicles on the planet.
- Badge: Limited Edition
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- Transmission: Manual
An Old Friend
Defender 90Having been around 4x4's for most of my life (first car memory was a Land Rover Series 2a) - and having owned most of the major brands out there over the past 40 years, I found myself purchasing a new 2.2 Defender 90 a few months ago without a test drive - why... it was on the bucket list and time was running out on being able to buy a new one - so what started out as a "Moment of Madness" has turned into a rather unique friendship!
Why a friendship - well as we all know, friendships are built on compromises (nothing is perfect), but for me
... Read more(and some others) - the D90 is less compromising than most. On-Road it can be hustled along at speeds that would take a little explaining and Off-Road.... well when the going gets really rough - short'ies come into their own. Have not meet anyone without a good memory of either owning or having a ride in a D90 - kids queue up to go anywhere in them and hopefully will grow up with great memories of what is now considered by most to be a modern antique! The motor - Fantastic, just get a snorkel fitted as the induction noise will drive you nuts! The Gearbox - Excellent having 6 speeds - 1st is low but starting off with a full load means that you are never slipping the clutch Seats - much better than you would expect! Economy - getting better by the day and is entirely speed dependent - slow down to 100kph and it is excellent.- Badge: 0
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- Transmission: Manual
Questions & Answers
My defender 2015 - mileage 39k making abnormal noise from rear and will not move. Seems like the rear axle is blocked and cannot turn. Have change the rear flanges but problem persist.
Are the 2.4 130 defenders tow all right
I have a 1.5 ton camper
Is it fits engine 20t4h from rovers to ex-carbinieri defender?
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Details
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| Category | Small / Compact SUVs | Small / Compact SUVs | Small / Compact SUVs |
| Replaced by | Land Rover Defender L663 | Land Rover Defender L663 | Land Rover Defender L663 |
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