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III Series or a Defender?

bimmerx5

bimmerx5

In Third Gear
Hi all.
I´m looking into byuing a landy, but am not shure which model to choose. Have had a -77 110, but don´t need that much space though. Heard some negative things about the Defenders, so I´m grateful for any piece of advice which to buy.

Cheers,
Benny
 
I think Benny means 1977 109" Series :) What are the negative things you have heard about defenders. If the long wheel base was larger than you needed then the logical step is to get a short wheel base. If i had the money and wanted a SWB I would go for a defender for its coil sprung chassis and better standard articulation/ride.

CHeers
 
And I'd go for the Series III. Easier to repair and maintain IMHO. Parts generally cheaper. No problem with the ride with good leaf springs. (Come on Satancom, be a real man)
 
bimmerx5 said:
Hi all.
I´m looking into byuing a landy, but am not shure which model to choose. Have had a -77 110, but don´t need that much space though. Heard some negative things about the Defenders, so I´m grateful for any piece of advice which to buy.

Cheers,
Benny
Click to expand...


Hi Benny
My advice would be to first check availability of spares in your surrounding areas. I live in SA and series 3 spares are becoming harder to find. Defender spares on the other hand - you could still by from dealers and scrapyards dedicated to LR parts. Defenders and late Series 3's are mostly the same, just a few nitty gritty changes. Defenders would be a beter choice and smoother ride in my opinion.( eventhough I drive a S3 ).

l0n3i200n
 
To give an answer you need to tell us a bit more. Will this be your everyday car? Just a plaything? How much millege will you do in it? How much are you able to spend? How good is your hearing? :)
 
Depends what you want it for really.

A defender would be nicer to live with every day as a commuter, more comfy, better ride with coil suspension, holds the road much better than a series, especially at higher cruising speeds.

Also comparing both as bog standard with no mods, the defender is better off road, as it had greater axle articulation, and no leafsprings under the axle to get in the way.

Having said that series have more charm, and a more oldy world agricultural feel. Most people will tell you sereis are way easier to work on, true they are easier, buy not that significantly easier. The defenders have more modern engines which does make them a little more tricky for the home mechanic.

If you want to tow, a standard defender would be better than a standard series, they have much better breaks, and have a bigger towing capacity rating. Series can still tow alot, they just do it very slowly.

If you just want a play thing a series is a whole lot of fun, and can do 90% of what a defender can do, but with way more charm, which will put a smile on your face.

I think if I lost my series landy, as much as I love her, I would maybe contemplate upgrading to a defender.

tell us what you would like the landy for and we can give you our thoughts.
 
Another thing to look into is vintage/exempt road tax status. Here in Ireland any vehicle older that 30 years qualifies for vintage road tax (42euro). Sweden has its own car industry there may be regulations to perserve older cars.

Steve.
 
adrianandkate said:
And I'd go for the Series III. Easier to repair and maintain IMHO. Parts generally cheaper. No problem with the ride with good leaf springs. (Come on Satancom, be a real man)
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That's part of why I rebuilt mine, along with Lightweight's comment that the character of a SIII makes driving that much more engaging and fun.
 
adrianandkate said:
And I'd go for the Series III. Easier to repair and maintain IMHO. Parts generally cheaper. No problem with the ride with good leaf springs. (Come on Satancom, be a real man)
Click to expand...

Heeeey :P This is what I would recommend for others.. I drive a leafer and will do for many years to come im sure :rolleyes: Even if it has girly 'softer ride' parabolics on it :p
 
Satancom said:
I think Benny means 1977 109" Series :) If i had the money and wanted a SWB I would go for a defender for its coil sprung chassis and better standard articulation/ride.

CHeers
Click to expand...

Satancom said:
Heeeey :P This is what I would recommend for others.. I drive a leafer and will do for many years to come im sure :rolleyes: Even if it has girly 'softer ride' parabolics on it :p
Click to expand...

Is that because you won't have the money for the Defender, or you want two vehicles, or you don't want to go through the same effort as Nobber (:eek: ), or you just aren't clear with your answers? I thought you were going to put a quiz up by the way. (Kate, supreme quizmistress:D )
 
Only thing Ill swap my series for is a 110 crew cab pick-up like Ada's.. and thats because i like the crew cab's and not the fact its a 110.

I did see a crew cab conversion down sodbury last year.. looke d alittle ropey, but even so much better than what I could manage :)

With Regards to the quiz.. Next time I win one Outright ill do so :P
 
The only reason I've ever owned a Series 3 is that one became available with very low mileage at a very low price at the right time. Good motor as it turned out, too:D However, I'd never purposely go out looking for one. They lack the comfort of a Defender without having the "Land-Rover-ness" of a lights-in grille Series 1 or 2, which to me limits their appeal greatly. They also have a rather nasty notchy gearbox and too much plastic inside for my liking.
For Land-Rovering in it's purest form, go for an early Series vehicle and enjoy the Vintage feel. For everyday comfort, go for the Defender. If your budget stretches to it and you don't mind TD5, then the '02 onwards models should hold up much better as the years roll by.
 
i am bias but a series 3 is hard to beat, it soaks up abuse and neglect, can be modified in almost infinate ways and in terms of maintenance and repair responds well to 2lb hammer and most things will still work with only half the bolts/parts or when completely worn out. they are a bit like the terminator they just never stop ( a lot to do with the drum brakes really) but if you can get used to the vibration, the ringing in the ears, the draughts, the leaks, sore arms and bum, and left leg from lack of power anything you can have fun. it will go almost anywhere and it will usually get you noticed in tescos car park.
oh and lastly you can still get a real pedigree landrover cheap!
 
Hi all!
Wow, thank´s guys for your thouhgts and feelings for both the Series and the Defenders. I´m bit of a nature-hiking-climbing-guy, in winter I go skiing and skating and need a more robust car to take me places. Can´t deny that the LR Series have a bit of nostalgica around them, and maybe they are part of the "free man/cowboy" myth we men sometimes use as an exscuse...? ;-) I used my 109 as a expedition car/moving office, and shure it added cred to my company. So I guess what I´m loking for is a SWB, to go some greenlaning but also some road.
In my attempts to look for a car, I´ve come in contact with a Swede who´s importing LR from UK, and he is sold on the Series. He is not a big fan of Defenders, meaning the have engines which bbrake down to easy, and some other quality problems. Consequently I turned to this forum to learn moore about the LR family, and thanks yo you guys, I am! As an ex CO in the Rangers, I´ve had my share of driving in the terrainbox...always with a guy leading the car forward with signs, but wife says now she is tired of that...!!! ;-)
Cheers
Benny
 
Satancom said:
Heeeey :P This is what I would recommend for others.. I drive a leafer and will do for many years to come im sure :rolleyes: Even if it has girly 'softer ride' parabolics on it :p
Click to expand...

Can't say better than that. I have had mine for more than 10 years and don't expect to part with her.
 
what kind of moiney you looking to spend?
a crap worn out defender will cost the same as a really sorted , nice series.
 
bimmerx5 said:
In my attempts to look for a car, I´ve come in contact with a Swede who´s importing LR from UK, and he is sold on the Series. He is not a big fan of Defenders, meaning the have engines which bbrake down to easy, and some other quality problems.
Click to expand...
The TD5 Defenders have their problems, mostly electronic (the engine is fairly tough, but the throttle and ECU are prone to trouble). Their build quality and corrosion resistance is abysmal. A Tdi Defender isn't much more complex than a SIII, though, and their engines are notoriously great for longevity and reliability. Some 300s had problems with the P gasket (water pump), timing gear (fixed under warranty, so none should still be like that) and occasionally the head gasket goes behind the no.4 cylinder, but they're very dependable engines and drive extremely well.
 
series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3 series 3:D :D :D :D :D
 
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