Feedback on Defender Dealers

[hamiam]

Does anyone have any feeback (good, bad or ugly) on guys like Copley Motor Cars, Park City 4X4, etc who seem to be the major dealers? Any that I have missed? Regards MJH

[rmuller]

There is also www.landroversforsale.com ... they usually flip around a lot of trucks, but their website hasnt been updated in a while.. Copley generally sells the ultra low mileage ones in amazing condition... but you pay a premium there..

[WCURoverD90]

Copley has what seems to be the nicest of the nicest trucks. I know you are in the NE but check out Land Rover Asheville (NC). They keep a good bit of defenders in stock. I have never been there and not seen a defender.

[cellulararrest]

I bought my truck from Copley. They have very nice ones there. Keith and Stuart are great guys. You pay more there obviously (they're a bit negotiable), but I figure you're paying for their selection and service. If you have a problem they missed, they're very good about taking care of it. 90% of their business is customers buying sight unseen, so they're very good at that if that's what you're looking for. Just make sure if you like it, you snatch it up quickly. The good ones disappear quick!

PM me if you want any details or whatnot.

[hamiam]

thanks for the feedback guys. Im an idiot; my friend's wife is a part-time salesperson at a RR dealer in PA and her brother runs the service department. I appreciate the advice and Ill let you know how I make out. Another in PA has two soft-tops but I took a look at the carfax reports and both are troublesome in my opinion; they both show possible odometer problems and one has a salvage title. I think I shud pass on both unless anyone has a strong opinion otherwise.

[rmuller]

What are the issues with the odometers?

[WCURoverD90]

Originally Posted by rmuller

What are the issues with the odometers?

Yes, I am curious about that as well....

[TerryS]

Originally Posted by rmuller

What are the issues with the odometers?

93 (NAS110), & '94, '95 (D90) had mechanical speedos, so, obviously, their Odometers were also mechanical. They fail, as does the cable (less often, but do) at the transfer case. Mine soundsl like rusty beadsprings in the winter until the cabin begins to get warm.
The '97 D90 had an electronic speedo, with backlit LCD odometer. That display fails, so you can't even read the odometer, but the speedo, having a mechanical needle, is still functional.

[WCURoverD90]

Originally Posted by TerryS

The '97 D90 had an electronic speedo, with backlit LCD odometer. That display fails, so you can't even read the odometer, but the speedo, having a mechanical needle, is still functional.

Yeah thats exactly what happened to mine.....

[hamiam]

So vehicle #1: There are alerts in both the odometer rollback check and accident check parts of the carfax report. On 10/1/2001 a new owner was reported and he was issued a "not actual mileage title issued." Carfax comments: NAM title issued when owner discloses to DMV mileage fraud, broken odo or that actual mileage is unknown. Then on 7/5/2006 new owner reported and a "salvage title/certificate issued. VIN on this car is SALDV224XVA119246. Im not buying it as thw wife doesnt want yellow. Vehicle 2: In the odometer check box the carfax says "inconsistent odometer reading." Reading down 2nd to last odo reading on 10/12/04 was 65,570. Last odo reading at auction was 17,940. Vin SALDV2241VA109012. Dealer does say "dont know what real miles are." Do the odo's on 1997's only goto 5 places? IE I guess it cud have 117k miles. Prices on both seem too low for dealer prices.

[cellulararrest]

The odometers are prone to failing on the 1997's. They start to flicker and are unreadable. Usually they're replaced. If it's done right and documented, I don't think it's usually a big deal.

[rmuller]

Nah, as Terry said, the odo's break... they get replaced... the first one at least submitted the NAM which should include the old mileage... the last one the mileage is most likely over 83510... The odometer stuff doesn't scare me too much, but i'd run away from the salvage one unless the price is dirt cheap [and if it is, PM me with the info on it.. i'll take yellow!]

[TerryS]

Unless you are planning on turning the car over fairly quickly, I wouldn't be too hung up on either milage or a salvage title. This might not be the case if we were talking about an ordinary car, or one built such that inspection is difficult ro ascertain hidden damage.
Defenders are built in a very straightforward manner, and while the erector set analogy is tright (meccano, in the UK) it's pretty true.
A salvage title can be issued by the insurance company for a variety of reason other than collision. In most states, a theft recovery payoff gets the title 'branded', as does flood, fire, and collision. If this werre a garden variety Ford, it might turn me off, as I'd always like to know I can unload it if I chose. I have a Defender 110, even more scarce than a 90, so finding an affordable one means it may be worth compromising some rules. In my case, I located a fire damaged one in south Florida. I had a fellow buy it for me at the insurance auction and had it trucked to CT, where I rebuilt it completly. My total investment was less than half what they were selling for, which is not to say I would have considered paying the going rate.
High milage, or unknown milage wouldn't put me off a good truck at a good price either. The key is that either you are ecapable of inspecting it to your satisfaction, or have it done by a professional. Taking a hard line on either issue could mean a real bargain slipping through your fingers

[hamiam]

alright, terrys. ill give the chap in pa a shoot to try to explain some of this stuff. i take it there must be documentation somewhere if the odo was replaced, etc .

[rmuller]

I think if it was done professionally, they usually put a sticker in the door jam.