Need some info please

[Disco1]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I'm thinking of moving back to the UK after 13 years in the USA. Given that the cost of fuel is so high in the UK, I was thinking of getting a deisel Defender, now, I know my Discovery inside and out, but have had no experience with Defenders. Question, what is the most cost effective way to go, 2.5 ltr deisel, with or without turbo, anything else I need to take into account? What kind of mpg's are you getting? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[jozg44]

Hi,

The diesel options in Defenders are:

2.5 non-turbo (1984-1990): 68 horsepower, slow (just about do 70 MPH, cruise at 60) but very reliable and about as simple as an engine can get. 26-32 MPG depending on how you drive it. Surprisingly capable off-road. Check the timing belt has been changed when it should be (45,000 miles), change the oil every 4,000 and it will last forever.

2.5 Diesel Turbo (1986-1990): 85 horsepower- HUGE improvement over the non-turbo in terms of on- and off-road performance. Will cruise at a rather noisy 70. 23-28 MPG. Doesn't have a good reputation and needs PERFECT servicing to last. The later ones were much better (mine is one of the very last,has done 136,000 miles and still going strong) but if abused and neglected will crack pistons and cylinder head. Most of the bad ones went bang a long time ago so the good ones are left. There are lots of them about at reasonable prices.

200 & 300Tdi (1990-1998): 107 horsepower (200Tdi) and 111 horsepower (300Tdi). Enough has been said about these engines. In a whole different world compared to the older engines- performance is pretty average by car standards and you can comfortably cruise at 70. They last forever if maintained, but if not they wear out fast. Generally it seems that 200,000 miles is an average life, but some go WAY over that. 200 Tdis are noisier and have head gasket problems. The 300 is quieter but some early ones had a cambelt fault that should have been fixed by now. You can get 32 MPG out of a Defender Tdi if you drive it properly. Like all diesels, good at off-roading and towing. The downside is that Tdi Defenders are very much in demand so the good ones are much more expensive than the earlier ones, especially late 300Tdis.


If you are after cost-effectiveness, 2.5 non-turbo Land Rovers are cheap and will do everything you ask of them- they're just very slow on the road (0-60 time is something like 28 seconds). 2.5 turbos are much more useable and are also good value to buy so long as you get a good one. Tdis are brilliant to drive but carry a suitably inflated price tag.

Hope some of that (at least) helps.

Jack

[Disco1]

Wow...

That was quick. Thanks for the information it was very useful.

Sorry to throw this one in too, but what about the diesel Discovery's, I'm guessing they use the same range of engines as the Defenders, I'm really a Discovery guy, and enjoy the extra bit of comfort. I have been checking on E Bay and there is a lot more Discovery's available than Defenders.

Once again, any input would be of great help.

[jozg44]

Hi again,

Discovery Series Is use the 200 and 300Tdi, the only difference between them and the Defenders being that in the Disco the 200 delivers the same 111horsepower as the 300 did in both vehicles (for some reason Land Rover decided to de-tune the 200Tdi slightly in the Defender). The engines are exactly the same with the same good/bad points.

The Disco has higher gearing than the Defender and weighs more, so Discos aren't as lively as the Defender, but our 300Tdi Disco seems to do 0-60 in about 15 seconds and is a great motorway cruiser and easily does 32 MPG without trying. Its done 104,000 miles (30,000 of them with us), we service it every 6,000 miles and it hasn't had any problems at all. That includes some quite heavy towing and a little light off-roading (when I can get hold of the keys )

Jack

[Disco1]

Jack,

Thanks for all the good info, really appreciate it.

Looks like I will have to see what great deals are available when I get back to the UK.

John

[Spyderman]

You'll get a much better 300tdi Disco for the same money as a Defender in the UK. The Disco depreciates much heavier than the Defender. The choice is endless. I'd say the 300tdi is the best engine that Landrover have ever made.
Good Luck.