Used buyer's guide: Land Rover Defender

What to look for

Go for the newest Defender you can afford, as you’ll be getting a more developed car. There are 90, 110 and 130 versions to choose from – these numbers refer to the wheelbase in inches. The 90 has a two-door cab, the 110 generally offers four doors while the 130 is a stretched four-door. There are estate-type or pick-up bodyshells, with all cars featuring a manual gearbox. The four-cylinder engines (2.4 and 2.2 litres) are better than the five-cylinders they replaced, but these newer cars also cost significantly more.

Recalls

Land Rover has recalled the Defender seven times since 2000. Four were for braking issues, and of these, three related to potential handbrake problems; the other was down to the front offside hose rubbing against the tyre. A recall in 2000 was due to the possibility of the engine’s flywheel breaking up, while front seat latching issues led to a 2001 recall. The most recent action was in 2012; seatbelt mounting brackets could fail in an impact on Defenders built from February 2010 to January 2012.

Driver Power

Our view The Defender hasn’t appeared in our Driver Power satisfaction surveys, but the Freelander and Discovery 4 have. They finished 73rd and eighth respectively in 2013, with both marked down for reliability and running costs. Handling is another weak spot.

Your view Roger Hamson from Whitby, North Yorks, is on his fourth Defender. He says: “I tow a trailer, often in poor weather, and the Land Rover never gets stuck. It’s unrefined, but that’s the attraction; it won’t appeal to anybody wanting luxury.”

Contacts

Official www.landrover.co.uk

Forums www.defender2.netwww.defendersource.comwww.landyzone.co.ukwww.landroverforums.comwww.landrovernet.com