landynewb

using those anoyingly advertised websites cofused.com and gocompare.com i got quotes backin the region of a grand. one was less than a grand! which is ridiculous that it is cheaper with me on a 2.5TD defender than an 11 year old straight 1.4 peug 306. cheaper by a good £400 as well. funding is starting to become a bit of an issue. not coming as cheaply as i hoped they would. might have to pull a good months full of shifts before ive got anything lke the money i need for a decent one . ive got savings and stocks and shares to my name going to the value of 15k, but im wanting to keep them as savings. wa splanning on takin out 1k, but for a decent one its looking at least 2k. might need a second job....

godlykepower you make some good points. got a lot of thinking to do yet....

ha that was supposed to be a "b bracket", not a B)

i think at the moment id stick with the engine in the truck i get because a) not that ambitious/experienced so far B) not got an engine hoist so for the moment at least, if i get a truck, the engine will stay put!

nah electronics shoud be no trouble for me. sitting exams in maths, physics and electronics, in fact ive got my electronics exam in 3 hours, and im hopefully going to edinburgh to do electrical and mechanical engineering! anyways, if i get stuck, theres nothing a haynes manual wont help with

hi guys. ive found a possible set of wheels. its a 1987 D reg defender 90, with a 2.5 diesel. its done 140k, which is a fair bit im aware, but benefits being its only £1250 and the dealer is 20 miles or so from mine. i think it could be a good starter for myself. if i were to go for a look at it (considering it looks in ok condition for its age) where would be easily accessible points to look for rust etc? thanks, tom

great tips guys thanks. keep them coming! In response to LCJ, ive never been a fan of going down to halfords and screwing sheets of plastic to your car therefore making it faster. i currently drive my mums 11 year old peugeot 306, but its just a bit, hmm, poo. Always been a fan of the defender, then one of my mates came into school driving his dads highly kitted out defender, and was amazed that he could drive it. when he told me that his insurance was less than mine, i decided i had to get one! i suppose the major benefit of the 110 over the 90 is that it has the extra row or seats, whilst still keeping the back free. hmmmm. can you get a 110 with hard top panels in the back? (if anyone understands what i mean there....) thanks, tom

aah ok that helps thanks. so would i be able to buy a whole panel already fitted with the window from some company or private sources, or do i need to go to my local glazier and order two bits of triangular glass?

Thanks everyone for your help. You've confimred what i thought you could do, but ive never been left alone with someones defender for long enough to have a dig around at the back. It appears ive still got a lot of research to do! ive just seen one which has got a triangle of glass in the side panel, presumably for visibility (which is half the reason for me wanting one with windows). is that a standard thing or as someone said, a botched job with a jigsaw and some duct tape? on regards with seats in the back, are bench seat irrtating at all when it comes to load space? and what about seat belts... thanks again everyone, tom

Hi all, Im an 18 year old fan of the Defender, and i'm now thinking seriously of getting one of my own as a long term project. At the moment im driving a hatchback, and as im a fairly inexperienced driver i plan to go for the Defender 90. This is where i begin to stumble. i think the correct terms are Crew Cab and Country, so using those terms; is it possible to change the panel above the rear wheels and below the roof so to change a Crew Cab into a Country? Or alternatively, if there is anything between them, such as a part glazed panel, that can be installed? Also, im in the Liverpool area and have up to £2000 to spend on a late 80s/early 90s, so if anyone is looking to sell something like what id like in that area, gimme a link! Many thanks for your time, Tom