Land Rover Defender, what are they like?

[Compostella]

Thinking about getting a Defender roughly about 15 years old.

As most vehicles this age will require ongoing maintainence I wanted to know if parts were expensive or hard to get hold of.

Also, what are they like to own? Good reliable workhorses or great big money pits?

[homer75]

I have had two series 3 diesel landovers and I loved them. They are brutish, uncomfortable and very noisy. I never had any problems getting parts and have had a notion for another one for many years now. I would think that the Defender will be a bit more comfy than the series 3 but maybe not all that much. It's a vehicle that grows on you and I wish I had never parted with my last one. If I do get another it will be a Defender.

[Catso]

1/ Parts are not usually expensive. As well as official LR parts, there are many other suppliers in the market.
2/ Generally reliable BUT you must service and maintain them properly. Regular servicing and checking, preferably by a LR specialist, is essential. Don't do it - it'll break down.
3/ At 15 years things will be starting to wear. Make sure it has a full service history. Don't buy it if the previous owner(s) has skimped on maintenance or you'll suffer from a backlog of problems.
4/ Particularly check the gearbox. They have a track record of failures (main shaft, I think) due to poor heat treatment and/or poor lubrication due to a design fault. Later gearboxes fixed this problem. Very expensive if you have to have a new box.