Defender 90 - any info?

[jdm61]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Jim, with all due respect to the 'Yota (I'm also a fan and owner) it cannot hold the jock strap of a Land Rover in terrain. It's really not even a contest. My Range Rover is unstoppable in a way that makes you laugh. You would swear the thing has claws.

That being said, I wouldn't advise anyone to buy one.

you sure? the FJ is based on the latest version of the REAL Cruiser that pretty much replaced the Rover in Africa, etc., not the Toyolexus pimp daddy soccer mom Cruiser. You could also go for a Jeep Rubicon or similar model.

[jyl]

Originally posted by Superman
This is just one of those totally surprising, counter-intuitive facts of life. 'Rovers are not used in Africa because of their reliability. There is, apparently, some other reason. We're still looking for that one good reason.

Based on my small sample of LRs, and on several years when I was really into the LR community, I can think of some reasons.

- The mechanicals are very rugged, and reliable. Its the electrical gizmos that aren't. In Africa, maybe they don't care that the cruise control stopped working, the airbag light is stuck "on", or the burglar alarm won't turn off. They probably chuck out the damned air suspension too.
- The older LRs are decently reliable overall. And when they do break, you can usually get home. I snapped a rear halfshaft, so drove with front wheel drive. Then my starter went out, so I started it with the crank. Etc.
- Toyota and other Japanese makes in fact did take over much (most?) of the market in Africa. The cost of LRs had something to do with it.

[Jims5543]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Jim, with all due respect to the 'Yota (I'm also a fan and owner) it cannot hold the jock strap of a Land Rover in terrain. It's really not even a contest. My Range Rover is unstoppable in a way that makes you laugh. You would swear the thing has claws.

That being said, I wouldn't advise anyone to buy one.

You would be suprised how well they do off road. I am a huge Toyota fan and only buy Tacoma for my fleet trucks. This FJ is quite capable and very sure footed. I am impressed and so are my co-workers in their Tacoma 4X4's.


http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/

They are not soccer mom mobiles. They are very rough around the edges, they drive like trucks, they are noisy like trucks and they have no luxury items like soccer mom mobiles.

[Paul K]

The FJ also has a locking rear diff...

I've read about how the Land Cruiser kicked the Land Rover out of Africa. It wasn't just price. It was also reliability, which is a big deal out in the jungle/savannah. That's always been the problem. My Range Rover was the best riding rig ever, but it was plagued with problems- and not just the small stuff. It needed a new engine after only 60k. I finally got all the bugs worked out of it when I sold it- but I'll never buy LR again.

Drive an FJ and see what you think.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Chilling in VT]

You have to ask yourself what do you plan on doing with the truck. A defender 90 is a very capable off roader. If you are looking , try to find a 94 or 95 with a 5 speed. Look for a bare bones model. The problems associated with newer Rovers seem to be mostly with all of the frills. I have a friend with a 95 and it has not been any trouble at all. The truck spends 75% of it's life off road. The 25% on road brings to light some of the compromises the off road prowess demands. Do not buy one of these just to be seen in a nice looking 4x4. Be prepared to be able to fix and repair items in the field. You can build one of these with hand tools and still buy every single item on one of these things from the factory.
I have an older series Rover and love it. It is simple, honest design (like the early P-cars). Some of the improvements that you get on a Defender are nice. Disc brakes and the coil suspension are two items. But you can add these to a series vehicle as well. There is a very enthusiastic following to these vehicles.
As far as the Toyota goes. I like the old FJ40's but have not warmed up to the new ones. If I were really looking for a new Toyota, I would look at the Icon instead. I saw one of these in Monterey last summer and it was impressive.
Good luck.
Joe

[red-beard]

I love my Series 90 Colt Defender. He's a picture of it on the night stand in my hotel room.



Oh, I thought we were discussing guns...

[thrown_hammer]

I think the Defender 90 is one of the coolest vehicles on the planet. I would really like to have one some day.

Of course I drive a Baja class 5/1600 race car as a daily driver so you can probably throw my opinion out…

[Dottore]

Originally posted by thrown_hammer
I think the Defender 90 is one of the coolest vehicles on the planet.

That's the irony. In many circles it IS the coolest car on the planet. Particularly among highly-Botoxed and permanently-suntanned women of a certain age who are seriously into horses. But they are still crap. Unadulterated crap. Even an Jeep Wrangler looks like a sophisticated piece of enginneering by comparison.

[Chilling in VT]

Originally posted by Dottore
That's the irony. In many circles it IS the coolest car on the planet. Particularly among highly-Botoxed and permanently-suntanned women of a certain age who are seriously into horses. But they are still crap. Unadulterated crap. Even an Jeep Wrangler looks like a sophisticated piece of enginneering by comparison.

What you have to keep in mind is that the Series (and then morphing into the Defender) Land Rovers, were designed for the farmers of England and Europe. They were an agricultural vehicle, desinged simply, manufactured simply, to be repaired simply. Unfortunatley, the poseur crowd has infiltrated the ranks and are trying to utilize them in ways they were not designed. I would gamble that most are not used off road (much like any other SUV).

[Rich76_911s]

I have had a '94 D-90 since new. I haven't had too much trouble with it, at least no more or less than most other car. They do have some minor build quality issues that I think should have been better. For example the rear mat in the back of my car dried out and fell apart. It is now covered with rhino liner instead. The center console box should have been better built. Mine has been replaced. I lived in southwest Colorado the majority of the time I have owned the car, but it has had a 4 year stint on the east coast. And I am seeing signs of rust where the metal roll cage bolts onto the aluminum body. Other small parts are rusting, check out the stuff on the back door that hold the wheel on. I just developed a leak in my rear differential. Hmm that is all I can think of right now from that standpoint.

I used it for a daily driver for 11 years. It is better as a second car. Highway driving is miserable (too loud). But the seating position is really comfortable. I don't have AC in mine, so summer driving with the top on is HOT if you are not moving. Moving with the rear windows out and the driver windows open is fine (and I lived in Florida for a summer). The heat is fine in the winter even with the soft top. Off roading I have yet to reach the cars limits before I reached my own. I've driven it in the southwest mountains of Colorado, and in Moab on several occasions. Here is a pic from one of the more mild trips the truck has been on. If you have any other questions and want an honest answer feel free to ask

[Chilling in VT]

Originally posted by Rich76_911s
I have had a '94 D-90 since new. I haven't had too much trouble with it, at least no more or less than most other car. They do have some minor build quality issues that I think should have been better. For example the rear mat in the back of my car dried out and fell apart. It is now covered with rhino liner instead. The center console box should have been better built. Mine has been replaced. I lived in southwest Colorado the majority of the time I have owned the car, but it has had a 4 year stint on the east coast. And I am seeing signs of rust where the metal roll cage bolts onto the aluminum body. Other small parts are rusting, check out the stuff on the back door that hold the wheel on. I just developed a leak in my rear differential. Hmm that is all I can think of right now from that standpoint.

I used it for a daily driver for 11 years. It is better as a second car. Highway driving is miserable (too loud). But the seating position is really comfortable. I don't have AC in mine, so summer driving with the top on is HOT if you are not moving. Moving with the rear windows out and the driver windows open is fine (and I lived in Florida for a summer). The heat is fine in the winter even with the soft top. Off roading I have yet to reach the cars limits before I reached my own. I've driven it in the southwest mountains of Colorado, and in Moab on several occasions. Here is a pic from one of the more mild trips the truck has been on. If you have any other questions and want an honest answer feel free to ask

Now that's how they should be used!

[Peterr]

I've had three D90's and still have two Series. Buy a 90, enjoy it for a year or two then sell it for what you paid for it. There are somethings to look out for, but information is plentiful.

www.d-90.com

PM me if you want more info.