Land Rover Defender (2003-2016)

Very bad experience with Defender 90 – Bought 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. Show details

Special feels when driving – excellent 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… Read more

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!

Amazing – It 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!  Show details

Best this ever happen to me – I 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.  Show details

Can I choose 10 stars? – It’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!  Show details

2000 TD5 – Exceptional 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.  Show details

Owning one is addictive – Incredibly 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… Read more

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.

Better than a Toyota Hilux SR5 – I'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… Read more

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 because 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!

Nothing compared – 1995 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 You… Read more

will get seepage when it rains, almost none with the hardtop. AC cools adequately, but in the warm weather the top should be off for God sake. As should be the window tops. Heat works, but when its really cold, dress warm. Interior is spartan, but can get wet and dirty and is easily cleaned. Not much legroom. Generally not very comfortable.

It has been very reliable and easy to fix if something goes wrong, but you need a qualified mechanic. It is probably one of the only vehicles that I still love driving 22 years later. I drive it at the beach for a month and to the mountains for a month. Turns a lot of heads, get a lot of offers to buy it. Iconic vehicle. Period. If it grabs a hold of you, it is the best you can buy, and is worth every penny.

So glad I got it – Leaks 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!  Show details

My New Best Friend – I 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 &… Read more ·  1

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!

It depends on your perspective – If 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… Read more

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.

An Old Friend – Having 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 -… Read more ·  3

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 (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.

Towing - beats my Patrol 4.2TD.

Range - you are likely to be looking for fuel in the 4-500km range - the plus side is that there are no more $130 bills when you fill up!

In summary - what others said was my "Moment of Madness" is turning out to a life long friendship. One thing is for certain - there are going to be great days and others where you go "Really"!!!!

Part of the family – Ive had landrovers since '78 and other cars in between , There is just something about the defender I and my wife love , I've purchased a 2011 2.4 litre 90 with all the fruit and in the process of sellng my terrific low kms '95 110 300tdi.(no air con.) I love the new dash and still like the high driving postion.Yes they do have there moments… Read more

,so to speak, but so did all the other 4x4s that I have owned in the past .You cannot beat the friendly WAVE from the other Defender owners on the road . Our Defender is garaged along with my wifes Disco 3 .the perfect partnership!

character plus – Well this awesome beast of a car was ordered last year in a moment of madness and recently arrived and i must say its proved to be a winner. Sure it has some little idiosyncrasy's however they just add to the character and likability. This is our 2nd land rover vehicle we have purchased (it joins a D4 we have). I say with hand on heart i love this… Read more

vehicle. Sure there is little elbow room and its a little noisy. But i cant fault it yet. If you want one hurry up before the factory stops manufacturing them.

A modern link to a wonderful heritage that you can enjoy every time you drive it – These are probably the last vehicles built today that were originally designed to be dismantled in the field if necessary modified easily due to the complete bolt together construction and expected to last for years doing what they were made for. Many users in modern times do not even understand why some features are part of this vehicle and are… Read more

sometimes seen as shortcomings like the way the body leaks like a holy bucket when driven through a river. But have you ever wondered why the tight as a drum Toyota or Nissan wagon starts floating away at the rear end and the Defender just plods across without floating even though the inside is not full of water then pees out draining water on the other side, well have a look inside the rear and those wheel boxes that seem to be the right size for a bench seat either side are made to reduce the boyancy of the rear cargo area in deep water thereby keeping all its wheels on the ground where they should be. Yes these do limit the amount of storage area when compared with other vehicles that have wheel arches but I am happy with a little less space in the rear and actually make it across a river than have the vehicle float down stream and maybe lost or drown. Yes they are quirky but you can't help but respect the vision for fit for purpose that the original designers had in when they were first made 1948.

The Best! – When you buy a Defender your not only getting the greatest 4x4 of all time but one of the most iconic vehicles ever made. When you buy one your joining a club. Get ready for other Defender owners to wave to you as you drive by. Kids will want you to take them driving just because it looks so different. If the Defender were a man it'd have a chest… Read more ·  1

full of War medals. These are the vehicles that opened up Australia and Africa. They've been the choice of Armies the world over for decades and for good reason. And best of all they don't age like other cars. The old ones look like the new ones!

200, 300TDi's are great but a little gutless. If you can get a TD5 even better and they tune up great if you need more power. Keep up the service and these vehicles will literally last forever.

Learn to work on them, they are agricultural and quite simple when you get a little experience.

Watch out for idiots who have owned and abused them. These cars are designed to go through hell and back but they need to be serviced properly so watch out for Defenders that have been neglected or submerged in salt water.

Find a good workshop and beware of mechanics who lack Land-rover knowledge their ignorance will cost you money. I really do think there are a generation of mechanics that only know how to work on mainstream vehicles. These are the guys that will burn you beware.

They say that 70% of these vehicles are still on the road since they were released in 1948 which is a testament not only to their reliability and quality but to their worth as a classic or collectible vehicle. 4x4 ability second to none, character and it's just FUN OK when it rains I sometimes go around a corner and get water on my lap

OK – The new model defender is a disaster to me. I never remember whether I had any warranty repairs with my previous Defender 300 TDI, which I owned for 10 years. The 300 TDI defender was trouble-free but the new model defender has been troublesome to me. It is very disappointing. Warranty is expiring soon but there is no extended warranty… Read more

available to the new defender owners under Land Rover. Extended warranty is available to all other Land Rover models. I do not feel comfortable to keep the new model defender without extended warranty. The traditional look is attractive and the new model defender is pretty strong to be able to pull a heavy trailer or a caravan, The load capacity is excellent as I can load tons of gear or anything into the vehicle and onto the roof rack. It is a very good work horse. Offroad wise, it is excellent particularly due to the high ground clearance and the drive angles. I had to drive on very deep snow situation but the defender was no trouble on a deep snow covered road. it is virtually a go anywhere type vehicle. It looks tough and goes very well on a tough terrain and under tought weather conditions. However, due to Land Rover's quality control problem, it breaks down too frequently and that is the drawback. Virtually the Lion vehicle gets sick too often and spend too much time at a dealer garage which is ustually miles away particularly when you live in the countryside. How anyone can thinnk of going on an outback or remote area trip?

Excellent – Personally i own the older Td200 model (1993)but i have driven the Td5 on and off road and it is sweet. Essentialy they are the same (Td5 heaps more powerful. I love my Landy and we have had alot of amazing adventures together (the misses comes too:) I work in the country, on powerlines, and the 'fender takes everthing throwen at it in its stride.… Read more

It loves the padocks, the creek crossings and the hill climbes with plenty of torque for the sand dunes. Every Defender is unique. Don't buy a defender for an urban shopping trolly. They are a serious 4x4 and you either love them or hate them. They are even better off and on road with a LPG conversion. I get all my parts from RoverCraft. Off road king. Suspension. Great fuel economy. Lowest factory gearing on the market. Lots and lots and lots of accessories. Great, simple, classic design. No bulbus plastic dash. Mostly easy to work on. Noisy. Leaky. Traction control(Td5. This can be disabled and there is a kit for a center diff lock)

Excellent – This car is cool....very cool. Cool people step out of defenders; farmers,soldiers,firefighters,aid workers, explorers, royalty, mountain rescuers, special forces. It's not a car for men who are so highly preened and plucked they look like women. It's not a car for men who have a need to be looked at or feel the need to have a highly tuned 'chick… Read more ·  2

magnet' with a 'woofer' box the size of a small country in the boot to prove they are a man. Metro sexual males will wince at the thought of climbing into a Defender in case they dirty their Armani jeans.

The man who drives a Defender is a down to earth, practical, modest all round bloody good egg that has a million cool stories about his life. He has no need for a 'big fast red' accessory to feel like he's made it in the world. When Landcruiser drivers criticise Defenders, Defender drivers just smile wryly. If someone criticises a Toyota you can bet you will receive an hour long lecture on why Toyotas are so good. Good maybe....but definitely not cool. One could say almost like any type of whitegoods....useful, practical but definitely not cool.

So there you go, if you are considering buying a Defender you will be part of a unique group of individuals, how many times have you driven a Toyota and had other Toyota drivers give you a wave when passing? Drive a Defender and you automatically enter into a unique band of people. Legendary off road ability...nothing touches it. My feet get wet when it rains. I can't hear my girlfriend talk when we drive (sorry, this should be in the 'Pros' section). What was the point in putting a stereo in......the only time you can hear the bloody thing is at the lights. The cabin was designed by a one legged 3'4" midget. It handles on road like a wheelbarrow full of walruses, ergonomics? what ergonomics!

Good – I love my Dfer and while I own a 2008 Toyota LC 200 Turbo Diesel for comfort and towing a van on long road trips, I would rather take my standard 1994 Defender for serious off road work. I'd love to see Land Rover build a new Defender with the current off road ability ( Keep the chassis) however with better ergonomics in the cab. Discoveries… Read more

are capable however they are more urban, pardon me disco owners.

Latest Disco V6 has 3 litres with power and still retains economy.

Love to see revised Defender Cab with chassis and Disco V6 or V8.

I'd sell my LC and buy one. A Defener will go further off road in standard trim without modifications than many others. The fuel economy is excellent empty or loaded off road and towing in heavy soft sand. Considering the engine capacity the engine power is good, although a larger capacity would be better for really heavy towing.

Toyota Land Cruisers/Nissan are more comfortable on road however off road the Defender suspension is superior and comes into its own. I frequently had to pull out and pass other large 4WD while they slogged through soft sand on the beach.

The drivers vision in my view is better than other 4WDs.My wife loved to drive it around the city and the driving position.

The 110 load area and capacity is useable. I've had a "pallet" load of Coke plus in the wagon. The early Defender 110 has suffered product problems over the years.

Gearbox issues, drive shaft spline wear.

Water leaks on feet same as old Series rovers.

While front cab is ok small to medium persons cramed and tight for larger people.

Good – Good solid vehicle, great payload in rear of vehicle whilst still being able to carry five adults in relative comfort. Roomy enough to sleep two adults in the back if needed. (I know I've tried it, forgot the tent!)I own an Xtreme and there is a huge difference from the standard 110 Defender. Traction Control works well in all conditions as does… Read more

the ABS. Overall, you either love 'em or hate 'em. I love 'em. They're tough with a classic design which keeps improving. Can't wait for the new one. Excellent Offroad ability Basic interior if you're used to japanese four wheel drives.

Excellent – The Land Rover Defender 110 is the pinnacle of Land Rover creation. It combines everything Land Rover has been working on and has come up with something like a lion/leopard cross - sinewy and loud but with speed and smoothness to compete with. I highly recommend this vehicle as it will last you longer than any other four wheel drive and give you… Read more ·  1

more than you ask for. Verdict: Diamond in the rough. Beautiful engine, tough and hardy, big on the inside, easy to drive. If this car can't drive through it, no car can. No elegance, but that's not sombiething you would expect.

Good – This is one of those vehicles that is very likely to be owned by an enthusiast for a life time or forever regret the day you parted with it. A vehicle that does not pretend to be anything other than a purpose built off road and brilliant tow vehicle very practicle body and engineering design that allows many off the shelf components and… Read more ·  1

accessories to be fitted very easily ( meccano construction )

Iconic design that will never date and is lost on the Japanese 4x4 manufacturers since the earily eighties.

Tows a three ton caravan up and down hills easily and economically with my 2002 td5 defender 110 and never had a mechanical faults. I do all my own service work so maybe this is where the reliability fails with some owners. Rain water flows from the roof gutter into an open front window if you wind the window down or open the door at the wrong moment.

ABS wheel sensors need better damage protection.

Should have an 80 litre fuel tank as minimum for Australian outback travel

Excellent – 1999 Td5 Extreme 110. Fantastic car. 160,000km including 30,000km offroad without ever [repeat ever] getting towed out or seriously stuck. Crusies all day everyday at 100-110km with or without a trailer - economically. Tows our campertrailer anywhere [including soft beaches, muddy swamps and rocky gully's]. We're not into cars / 4WD's but our… Read more

Landy is a very important part of our holidays, travels and lifestyle - couldn't live without one!! Unstoppable offroad. Tows anything with ease. Very economical [9-10litres / 100km]. Reliable [no major breakdowns in 10yrs driving]. Can carry lots of stuff. Can take you wherever you want [and further if you're game!]. East to get parts from Rovacraft, Brit Parts or online [via the UK]. There's some very passionate mechanics that know these cars exceptionally well [and love them]! Water leaks [onto your feet when raining]. Steel door frames prone to rust. Landrover dealers are terrible and dealer mechanics are morons [dangerous]. Engine electrics are high-tech making it difficult to fix by yourself.

Good – best car I've ever used off road, biggest limiting factor is me, can tow anything and 1.5 tonne caravan off road doesn't bother it at all, but its basic and very noisy so not ideal as a daily drive, wouldn't be without one though! built to go off road, does one thing really REALLY well, if you fit behind the wheel they are a good long distance… Read more

tourer! Built to go off road, does ONE thing really really well, if you don't fir behind the wheel you will be in agony after an hour!