[DickFox]

Hey Guys,
I have a series 3 land rover and my father has recently purchased an '04 2.5 turbo Diesel discovery. Having always had toyotas before this he wasnt real keen on changing to Land rover, but now he quite like it. He still has a toyota troop carrier but he is now thinking of trading it in, maybe for a defender. Now i like the defenders and the new discovery, but the power of the toyota's 4.2L turbo diesel is amazing. Although the discovery has power and torque at high revs its nothing on the cruiser.
I have just been reading bout the defender being a real four wheel drive without all those fancy bits which suits my old man fine. We want something that we can get mud all over, throw tools in the back with out having to worry bout the interior, take on the beach etc. But the main issue is the power!!!! I have always been of the opinion "there's no substitute for cubic inches", and having a work horse with only 2.5L is a bit of a worry to me.
What is the general opinion out there. Do the defenders have enough power?

Also, my series 3 has galvanised chassis and firewall etc, is it possible to get a brand new defender and order it with galv chassis? custom made so to speak.
Thanks for the help guys,
Dick

 

[Disco]

From what I've heard about the new TD5, is that, if you do a chip upgrade, it goes like the "clappers"! Personally I think you should go for the defender.

 

[130CC]

I have to be honest, I feel that the power on road can at times be a pain not all the time but yes there are times it feels a bit slow. The pennies go aside every week for a chip becasue after driving a Defender with one it makes a difference worth the outlay. But i did not buy the defender to race I got it for it off road performance it's solid axels ,none of that computerised traction dodads even though the new def's have it but most of all after the first week of owning it and it was sitting on it's side waiting to find it's way back on to it's wheels, it was then that I realised how glad I was I owned a defender. The straight panels plus the slow and gradual sink in the mud to get on to it's side showed only few scratches and one small dent and not much else when placed back on it's wheels something rounded pannels would not have survived. The go anywhere style of a fridge on wheels has more beauty than a mass produced toyota could ever have. But back to the power I towed a toyota surf/hilux 50k or so through thick bush then 50k's or so through twisting roads through the mountains the 30k's or so on the highway and it did not even feel like i had a trailer on the back and the fuel was only a little more than normal. Go the defender it a car you can hose out to clean.
Adam

 

[Searcaigh]

Three of my friends here in UAE have just chipped their TD5s (two 90s and a 110), the difference is awesome.

In addition the guy with the 110 has also fitted an intercooler and moves like faecal matter off a siliconized digging implement

Being a V8 petrolhead I was never a fan of oil burners but I am now impressed.

 

[DickFox]

Thanks for all that guys.
Well i got home from uni today to find out he went and test drove one. I haven't spoken to him yet so will fin out how it was. How much is a chip to put in it and how hard is it to do? Does it have any side affects on say the temp of the engine etc or is it all positive. I have to admit, I love the rugged look, and the hosing out of the interior is wonderful, i do it all the time for my series 3. Yep, i think he will be getting a defender, and hopefully I will be borrowing it at regular intervals.
Dick

 

[Disco]

As you haven't said where you are, it's a bit difficult to give you a price estimate. There are quite a number of chip manufacturers, such as unichip, superchip, perfectpower. If you do a search you can contact them for a price. Most chip upgrades are not that expensive.

 

[130CC]

If you are in Aus most are around $1300 to $1500 if anyone can point me in a cheaper direction in Aus that would be cool. But here are some places that do them.
Discovery Auto I am not sure what chip theuy are using
Tunit V-PD
Hope this is of some help.
Adam

 

[spectric]

Hi there

Why not have the best of both, fit the nice big Toyota engine into a Defender .

Is this engine a good basic diesel or is it covered in chips & spagheti ?

 

[Disco]

Covered in chips & spaghetti? Can't you guys in England wait to get home to cook your dinners?

 

[Tanami]

I owned a Landruiser 80 series for 3 years. Now drive a 2003 Defender.

Here's my differences:

1) Comfort: LC is basically an oversized sedan with considerable comfort. Def is rather agricultural in comparison. Wife would like LC back ;-)

2) Load carrying: LC has okay loadspace but hard to make good use of because of rounded rear wheel arches. Def is much better, especially w/o back seats. I built a false floor at the height of the rear wheel arch boxes which runs full length to front seats. Space underneath for storage boxes & kit. Space on top to sleep double bed camping matress. Long roofrack on top, Bob's ur uncle. Very nice. Need the windows open!

3) Off road: LC is excellent off road, but Def is better. Specifically ground clearance is better due to wheel location and LC's spare wheel under the rear. Even moving the spare wheel wouldn't make the clearance better. LC is really a highway cruiser with off road capability. Def is designed for rough country. Also Def's traction control works very well. My 80 series LC didn't have.

4) Power: LC has unbelievale power. Stalling on hills almost never happened, it just kept climbing. Def you need to make sure plenty of revs and nice low gear. Not surprising because engine is 40% smaller. But wait: Def is plenty powerful for all situations, you just have to think about your driving (and who says thats a bad thing?). I didn't accuratly measure Def's fuel consumption so I can't say. I'd expect it to be better since smaller more efficient engine but... no figures.

5) Cost: In Australia LC is around 20% more expensive. Service regime for LC is high (6 months or 5000 kms they say, Def is 20000 kms unless harsh conditions).

I love the Defender because its more practical for camping and touring on dirt roads and it is perfectly comfortable on the highway. LC is basically a luxury 4WD and very comfortable. But it never felt like a real 4WD.

Mark

 

[johan thiart]

Johan Thiart

Hi,

I would like to replay on your request regarding defender v/s L/Cruiser.

I live in Namibia and our Country has one of the highest densitys of offroad vehicles when it come to ldv`s and 4x4`s due to the rugget and desert terain. The most commen competition is ussualy between the above mensioned 4x4 vehicles. I am a strong beleiver in buy a vehicle to your needs.

Therefore I would not tell you straight forward to buy a Defender, but rather advise you to look at your needs. If you need a 4x4 that can do any work and even have picked up a fiew scares in the process and still look as if it was suppost to be in that codition, than you need to buy a Def, but if you are someone who like to continously like to peticure ore menicure your 4x4 you need to buy a L/Cruiser because they look old and used after a fiew scratches. About the engine I cant give you any advise because whe were lucky to have Defenders that was factory fitted with 2.8iL BMW engines.


Hope you do the right thing and become part of the family!!!! :drink1:

 

[Series 3 guy]

defender-defender-defender!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :buttrock: :beer:

 

[Moeras]

moves like faecal matter off a siliconized digging implement.

Searcaigh

This is a good one!!!

 

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[thepersuasions]

go defender!! Diesel land rovers of any sort are still rare in New zealand but I would like to quote from "Australina 4wd Monthly"- "The 200tdi, a four cylinder donk used until 1999, puts out the same power as Toyota's naturally aspirated 4l six while drinking almost half the fuel. No wonder defender owners would rather fight than swap!" p49 november 2005.