Happyoldgit

I have slept since then, and I'm too lazy to dig the paperwork out, but if memory serves me correctly the last 4 Defender 110 XS CSW's I personally bought new with my own cash came in at around 30k. That was a negotiated price that included quite a few pricey toys to sweeten the deals. During that time there was a marked deterioration in customer service. Pick up and delivery of courtesy vehicles when warranty fixes were required [which they all did at one time or another] became a time consuming chore as nearby, long established, dealerships closed resulting in longer and longer trips to dealerships. Also during that time and a few years preceding there was a marked change among many new Defender owners. Polishing paintwork and and fitting loads of expensive off road kit mostly for looks seemed to be becoming popular. Build quality became poorer as did the quality control with regards warranty work. I just got fed up with it all. Yes I could have fixed things myself, and I did but there are limits - especially after you've laid down a pretty substantial amount for another cash buy. Besides, by that time I had gone past some of the willy waving seen on some forums where kudos is gained by eating rust flakes for breakfast and having no other hobbies other than fixing up and repairing stuff. As I said been there, done that long before some of the poo pooing types were able to walk.

Now that is a useful and practical review from someone inan industry that used to be one of LR's main targets and customers. As has been said many times before, 80k and a weird model placement is a real had scratcher to many though.

Agreed. In a fit of lust in the late 70s I chopped a Lightweight that I had lavished much money, care and attention on for one. Loved it, except I did the deal in midwinter with several inches of snow on the ground. Snowchains on the rears hardly did much for the loss of face when I found it couldn't manage the tiny incline to park in front of the house lol.

Yep, been there, done it and all that. Don't need to prove I can still do it. That said the synchros on the T-84 in the Jeep are well worn so I had intended tp pull the box and rebuild it over winter. Fate messed that one up so I'll pay someone else to do it instead.

When I think back to the countless days, nights, weeks, months I spent fettling, fixing and generally messing about with daily driver and hobby Land Rovers from the 70's onwards I realise what a waste of time it was. I would have been far better off getting rid of the worry, the interminable time on the phone ordering bits only to find when they turned up the stores bloke had two glass eyes when it came to part numbers, for ever dealing with the dire build quality, bolts made of boiled pasta and the general physical effort and instead when young keeping my hands scrubbed and callous free and getting laid far more than I did. Nowadays I would never DIY on a single vehicle that I relied on as daily transport. I just can't be bothered with the hassle - too many late Sunday nights decades ago desperately trying to get a job done on a vehicle I needed the next day. I've restored loads of stuff, old pre war stuff but I'm fortunately in a position now that if I want a toy I'll buy the best I can and drive it as and when the fancy takes me. My days of buying boxes of bits and dreaming of the day when I have something shiny and drivable at the end of a lot of blood, sweat and tears are long gone ...and that feels good.

Here's wishing you a Happy Christmas and hope the New Year proves to be a better one for all of us.

Thanks Steve 🙂 Yeah, I'm a pretty pragmatic sort and live by the one day at a time/ what will be will be approach. I'll just have to come to terms with the new me much as I did after the accident I had 30 years ago. Not sure why I felt the need to spill it all last night, but a lot of us have been here a long time, and its good to share with friends right 🙂

I had another Covid swab at the local drive through today, standard procedure for anyone having hospital treatment - in my case chemo on Tuesday. As I kept the A&M team briefed throughout so will now let you all know that I was discharged from hospital a couple of weeks or so ago after being in for nearly a month. I self admitted suffering from severe stomach pains and unable to keep any food or drink down. The initial diagnosis was bleak, very bleak. However after more investigations, tests etc they came up with a treatment plan that if successful may, may provide a less bleak outlook. May - nothing is guaranteed. As my immune system is now shot I have to continue to isolate. I've lost a huge amount of weight due to no food and just sips of water for days was - just IV hydration. They eventually put a permanent PICC line in my arm and then I was able to recieve liquid nutrition 24/7. So now you know. All the staff from consultants to nurses, ancillaries, porters, cleaners etc were lovely. While in hospital they were Covid testing patients every two days. Try and have a good Christmas but above all stay safe guys.

Retro it is but generally not as desirable as pre BL memorabilia

Oh ok then.

British Leyland signs dont fetch the same figures as the earlier make types. Is this a sales thread?

Been there and partially done that with a 101. Got the vehicle, did the designs, stripped it out, started the work but found the thing so uncomfortable to drive that I sold it and moved onto a lovely 1ex RAF 27/130 ambulance. Followed right through with the conversion on that one and then had a fair bit of fun with it when the kids were young. Sold that on some years ago too. Pics and thread should still be on here somewhere.

Personally I have no problem with that whatsoever.

Actually that is the whole point, been there, done it more times than I care to mention and don't want to do it again ...manually strip layers of MoD paint that is 🤣

Back in the day I took individual panels to a blast cleaners and left them to it. That said you have to have ensure they are experienced and use the right mediums the right way. Make sure they know the materials the panels are made from so as to avoid the tea boy going at it as if it was steel rather than soft alloy. I don't think I could be bothered manually stripping old MoD cammo paint these days, especially under current circumstances, life is just too short.

My Ranger has both auto and manual lights on facility which is all controlled from a rather neat, easy to use and interpret switch. Foglamp control is likewise pretty idiot proof. In fact in the three years I've owned it since new its shown me what a bag of overpriced nails the last Defenders I bought new were and how much damned hassle they were getting warranty repairs done virtually straight out of the showroom.

God I find that pompous, flaccid little man so irritating to watch. His presentation style comes across as being so on the spot deep and considered but it's just plain annoying.

That is the manner that all my JLR servicing was handled in my last new purchase Defenders were handled. That is up until the last one when the dealer started saying I had to take the vehicle in to pick up the loaner. Such was the inability to fix issues first time round on my last new (old style) Defender I got rid of it. I just couldn't be bothered with the inconvenience. I'm in the UK, nearest dealerships now 20-30 miles.

Keuring is good wood but hideously heavy. My big Ifor needs doing and will be looking at some of the commercial boarding made from recycled plastics in due course. I wont be fixing it with anything that requires drilling the boards but rather use a light mastic adhesive.

^^^Good advice. Of all the jobs I've tackled on countless Land Rovers over the years removing umpteen layers of MOD camouflage paint ranks up there as one of the worse. Sometimes you get lucky and find the adhesion of the first layer or two to the factory finish isn't that great but often it's stuck fast like cats shyte to a blanket. Experimentation is key but if you try abrasion then don't forget to mask up, likewise with decent strippers, find gloves that are able to cope with the chemicals. Good luck

I recall big water ingress problems either side of the windscreen frame on the early ones and well remember a photo in the AWDC mag showing someone holding an umbrella over the front roof of a hardtop 110 as it was peeing down with rain ...which was then peeing in the footwell. .

Indeed as I am sure my numerous friends across the pond will attest. BTW My comments were somewhat tongue in cheek 🙄

Maybe so but that is probably what quite a number of folks I know would think.

Hmmm, quite like that, in a funny sort of way it looks a bit more straightforward and less funny that the Pretender. Not sure I'm a ball cap wearing "whoop, whoop, all riiiiiiight, yahooo, yeah" kinda guy though so I'm probably ruled out from owning one.

Social history and observation don't ya know 🧐