Member Since: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Auchinloch
Posts: 254
SMC Defender
Having bought one myself, I'd consider talking to SMC (Spectrum Motor Company) before talking to the others. Spectrum are probably the largest specialist modifiers of Defenders in the country and yet are almost unheard of. You'll get what you want from SMC rather than standard fare that others want to sell you.There are 10 types of people in this world ~ those that understand binary and those that don't.
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Discovery 5 TDV6 HSE LUX - On order
Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 HSE
Range Rover TDV8 Westminster - Now gone
Land Rover Defender 90
Honda VFR 800 Vtec
19th Jan 2015 11:16 pm
Mark Hope
Member Since: 13 Mar 2011
Location: Scotland
Posts: 155
thank u LT that's some thing I forgot to consider was safety whooooooopsI hate it when people see me at the supermarket and they're like 'Hey, what are you doing here?' I tell them 'You know.. hunting elephants.' -
19th Jan 2015 11:17 pm
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
1,000 miles in one sitting in a defender.... no way Jose!
Did 250 miles in my 110 and whilst its a back to basics driving experience, its nothing like the Discovery for comfort. 1700 miles back from the alps in one hit, stopping to refuel each 500 miles and swap drivers. Get out and feel refreshed in seconds as opposed to having to have your own massage crew follow you (in thier Discovery ) to undo all the knots and aches from the 32 mile trip for each stop on the way home.Bodsys Brake Bible
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset See It Here
19th Jan 2015 11:17 pm
Blobby
Member Since: 28 Feb 2009
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 277
Mark Hope wrote:
…...I do a lot of motorway driving for example I go up to Scotland a lot. nearly 1,000 mile round trip…...
Maybe once to Scotland in a Defender for novelty value but its so not a relaxed long distance motorway cruiser like the Disco. You'll arrive knackered and aching albeit you will look cool in the Defender. Don't do it.
19th Jan 2015 11:35 pm
Gdrinky
Member Since: 28 Nov 2014
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 50
My old nan always told me ' never buy a car that you have to drive with the window open because there's no room in it' and she's right, too bloody narrow for me.
Last edited by Gdrinky on 20th Jan 2015 11:02 am. Edited 1 time in total
19th Jan 2015 11:36 pm
armalites
Member Since: 17 Aug 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 1918
For what those Twisted Defenders cost you could probably sell your D4 and buy and older one and a brand new Defender from the dealer.
No doubt the price of used Defenders will rise when production ceases but that will be standard nearly new vehicles not ones that have been blinged to death with shiny tat and cost double what a standard one costs.IID PRO
MSV Extreme
Nanocom One
20th Jan 2015 12:03 am
tayaste
Member Since: 15 May 2013
Location: Chester
Posts: 7633
Bespoke do some nice defenders. I Had a look at some at billing last year, even swmbo was impressed
20th Jan 2015 12:14 am
Inigo
Member Since: 28 Feb 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 275
I went to the Alps last year in the Defender and it felt like a long way.
The Discovery is certainly much more comfortable for long motorway journeys.
Pros and cons for both.
Obvious solution - one of each!
20th Jan 2015 12:31 am
bellautos
Member Since: 02 Feb 2006
Location: NorthYorkshire
Posts: 2532
If your going to buy a Defender FORGET all the "branded ones" and just buy a defender from the dealers and have the work done you prefer your self.
Leather trim and sound deadening FCX, bolt on accessories and wheels for it are available from site sponsors and a few other specific web sites I can direct you to, led head lights and double din radio from Mobile centre, tuning I can do should you wish etc etc.
I was sat working it out a couple of days ago and if you spent less than 10k on decent quality modification items including a full leather interior you can build one for far less than the "Brandeis" are selling them for.
That all said. I do miss my D4 now its gone. I have a MY2015 Defender 110 and new Ford Ranger, the ranger gets used most as its smoother, quiter, more comfortable, better on fuel etc etc than the Defender
Regards Pete.
20th Jan 2015 12:46 am
Kingmav66
Member Since: 20 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1349
One of my customers had a Twisted 90, TBH it was quite good fun, and quick. But in the end (9 months later...) he got rid, impractical and uncomfortable
20th Jan 2015 2:04 am
maccers
Member Since: 08 Dec 2012
Location: SE Kent
Posts: 275
After my D3 engine decided to self destruct I sold it and bought a late 110 TD5 (different era i know but hey) I've heavily tweaked it and it goes like stink and very fun to drive. However I'm already looking to replace it, miss the sheer comfort and effortlessness the D3 offers. I knew what I was letting myself in for as I've had 6 Defenders now, and although i find the 110 much more comfy than a 90, its not quite enough after a drive to Coventry and back. No longer trust the TDV6 so will be looking for a V8 D3.
20th Jan 2015 10:38 am
dubbs
Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
Sell D4, buy a sorted and well looked after older D4 or D3.
Use the rest of the cash to buy a 2nd hand Defender then spec it up for fun days.MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
Prospeed rock/tree sliders w/steps
HSE Winter wheels
TransK9 B24
Travall Cargo Guard
Hatchbag
20th Jan 2015 11:25 am
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
traveling any distance in a Defender,most especially motorway journeys,induces Ebola-like syptoms.....bleeding from the ears and mouth, and every part of your body aches, making you wish it would stop soon....the transition from a D4 would only highlights these issues..
I love the look of Defenders,and my perfect scenario would be to go for what dubbs suggested above....but no way would I contemplate a Defender for long journeys "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
20th Jan 2015 12:07 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
I was sooo close last year to chopping in my D4 for a 110 with all the toys, finance sorted, spec sorted - in the end, I didnt for all the reasons above and I do about 16K pa.
I went on a long, long test drive - hard work TBH and very noisy on the motorway
Still think they look great though
20th Jan 2015 12:24 pm
Waldorf
Member Since: 09 Jan 2014
Location: Aalter
Posts: 72
If you intend to do long motorway journeys the Defender is not the way forward. I have had two of them, and loved them very much. But the D4 is so much better: it's more comfortable, safer and more practical.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
) to undo all the knots and aches from the 32 mile trip for each stop on the way home.
