Defender owner conversions……

Question. How many of our Scottish Grenadiers are past or current owners of Defenders? Proper or modern.

Why the change?

Several beat up SIII's when I was a young loon. Two brand new Def 90's and three 110's over the years once I started earning grown up wages. Also an ill fated dalliance with a Freelander in the noughties and most recently a brand new Disco 5 with fried electronics from the get go. Every vehicle bar the Disco had transmission woes and every vehicle bar the Freelander let water into the cabin, but it was probably only a matter of time!

The Disco5 experience was the final nail in the coffin, I am never going to buy another JLR product as long as I live. Great vehicles when they work but too many gremlins for a mainstream premium marque manufacturer and zero f**ks given by any JLR dealer once you have made the purchase and driven off the forecourt

I still have my 2014 110 Puma for now! Bought new and used as my daily, as well as our holiday car towing our Opus trailer. To be fair its been great, however its been steadily developed with much £££ spent with LOF, Bowler, BAS etc. the one thing I never felt 100% happy with was the puma engine, I just don't like it...so had always planned to swop it out.
I followed the IG story all the way, but wasn't in a position to get one until this year, I drove one on road then off road and it was everything I hoped it would be and more, its unsurprisingly more refined than the 110, so much better suited to family duties, tows well and that engine..wow! I've driven several of the new Defenders and found them sterile and they didn't make me happy , I don't like the look of it either...The IG like my 110 make me smile!

MMmm.. Puma engine. Was yours the 2.2? I had the 2.4 in my 2008 110 XS station wagon. I quite liked it. Certainly reliable - the thin gs let it down (immobiliser. engine heat censor etc) I never liked the TD5, but my favourite must be the 300tdi.

Coullabus said:

MMmm.. Puma engine. Was yours the 2.2? I had the 2.4 in my 2008 110 XS station wagon. I quite liked it. Certainly reliable - the thin gs let it down (immobiliser. engine heat censor etc) I never liked the TD5, but my favourite must be the 300tdi.

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Yep, Puma 2.2, I had a 2.4 puma in my 90 HT before the 110...I think the big issue with the Classic Defender was simply no development...which then does make me laugh about some of the reviews and comments(particularly on Facebook) relating to the Grenadier...as its chalk and cheese, and the new JLR products seem about a durable as a chocolate wrist watch..LOL

I love Land Rovers and there will always be a spot in my shed for an old one.

Had quite a few over the years, in various flavours:

‘77 Land Rover series 3 88” 2.25
'83 Land Rover Series 3 109" FFR 24v 2.25
'93 Land Rover Defender 110 CSW 200tdi
'86 Land Rover 110 ex-mod 2.5 petrol
'86 Land Rover 110 v8 CSW
'92 Land Rover 110 2.5NAD GS soft top
'03 Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 CSW
'03 Land Rover Discovery TD5
'08 Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7 TDV6 GS
'07 Land Rover Freelander 2 2.2 S
'09 Land Rover Freelander 2 2.2 GS
'93 Land Rover Range Rover LSE

Of those my favourites were the 200tdi CSW, the v8 110 and the s3 109.

The 110 v8 had a galv chassis, engine from a TVR 350 and cost me £3000! I put an r380 in it, tidied it up, had it for 3 or 4 years and sold it for £8k when it was old enough to be USA exported. Really wish I’d kept it.

My uncle taught me to drive in a series 3 when I was 9, on his farm in Orkney. He’s an old man now but still has the landy, it’s not been taxed, MOT’d or even road worthy in a number of years and he’s promised it to me, just need to get up there with my trailer for it. My plan will be a mechanical restoration, but keeping bodywork original and enough of the patina to keep it feeling authentic.

McGeordie said:

Yep, Puma 2.2, I had a 2.4 puma in my 90 HT before the 110...I think the big issue with the Classic Defender was simply no development...which then does make me laugh about some of the reviews and comments(particularly on Facebook) relating to the Grenadier...as its chalk and cheese, and the new JLR products seem about a durable as a chocolate wrist watch..LOL

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Absolutely agree.

I’ve not really got along with LR products since the D3 - which was a superb vehicle.

I didn’t even contemplate a new Defender.

Shame…but they’re selling well and Land Rover is without doubt a more successful company by going the route they have.

Just as well Ineos stepped in to fill the gap

Did my training with Land Rover in a Defender TDci. I had a succession of Defenders 300tdi's, last was a TD5 110 which was mildly tuned to 165bhp and was ( still is a lovely vehicle). Sold it because in my line of work I don't see many Defenders, it's mostly pick-ups (which are surprisingly capable) that my customers use. Always wanted a Discovery 4 as I think they are probably one of the best all round vehicles JLR have ever made but I would never trust it!
Opportunity to own a Grenadier came along so I made the most of it.