PaddyMac Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I am the proud owner of a TD5 Defender which I bought around this time last year. I was drawn to the Land Rover because of it's no nonsense utilitarian easy to work on package that you can drive anywhere you want. But what I bought was a second childhood/mid-life crisis. After many years of buying and modifying fords ( the early escorts etc) when I was 20 years younger and into rallying, all of a sudden I'm back looking through parts catalogs, searching the garage for my old toolbox and learning what Terrafirma means to your wallet. Speaking of which I'm broke...lol How much have you spent on yours since you bought it or what was the best bit you ever done to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill van snorkle Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Yep, we're mad as Hatters, all of us! And if you don't get any other responses bar this one, it's because everyone else is in denial . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 What was that thing someone on here said recently ? "Land Rover ! - Making rich men poor and poor men desperate since 1948" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Some of us are just plain sick.not content with just tinkering I have a habbit of building them from scratch. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Certifiable, who in their right mind actually buys a car knowing full well it has had a hard life and then pumps humteen thousands into it and then seems to actually enmky rolling around cin the ud when stuff breaks? I am around €4000 in on this build and it was supposed to be a fewwelding patches and a bit of wiring. Not as bad as some I know, a buddy back in the UK is over £18,000 in on a build up of an early 90, started out as a new cross member, then a galv chassis, recon engine and gearboxes, H/D everythin in the drive train 35"tyres and the list goes on....... But what else are we supposed to do with our time and money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyMac Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 F***CK Mike you got it bad, I don't even think there's OEM pills for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve King Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Shhh!! Apart from routine servicing, so far it has been a sticky turbo waste gate and a new MAF sensor! The DMF is as noisy as ever when cold, but has not got any worse!! Obviously the DMF and clutch will need replacing in a year or two... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 I could have bought a fairly large house with the money I have spent on cars over the years. I used to keep all my reciepts, had a four drawer filing cabinet full of them, but adding them up one day frightened the life out of me.....................And I had only got through half of the first drawer. But as my old Grandma used to say "There are no pockets in shrouds", and none of it will matter after they have nailed down the lid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 The misses says it's great it's the only peace she gets especially when my eldest joins me. But then she drives my ex ladoga trophy truck so what can she say about it. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacr2man Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I think we have to have a different perspective , I reckon running Landrover series/defenders for the best part of 40+ years has saved me a fortune , as I look at what I have spent on other vehicles in the same time , especially the depreciation losses due to having to replace them at regular intervals , and later on the electronic gizmos replacement costs , including discos, and rangerovers including conventional cars . The defender will probably be the last model of its type that this will be possible with, when it finishes in 2015 . Its also been quite amusing as the series /defender was slowly left behind by modern vehicle travel speeds , and now it has come back to meet them , to the point where even a half decent series can keep up with the traffic flow now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyMac Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Hi Tac, Don't get me wrong I agree with what you just said. That is one one the reason's I bought the Defender. I was sick of losing money on depreciation. The last car I had before the defender was a lexus v6 and when I bought it I paid €13,000, a year and a half later it was worth €6,000 in the same garage???? Service cost's were higher €100 a spark plug and it needed 6 of them (ok they were long life ones but still) and don't even mention the annoying Engine Management light that kept coming on needing a computer to turn it off or tell you what was wrong. You felt obliged to wash it every week as even the smallest dirt made it look ****. Most people who enjoyed years ago, tinkering/servicing lament the loss of a simple engine & drivetrain. So huge thumbs up for the defender/series. I'm sorry really I didn't buy one years ago to be honest... What I do find mad is my inability to leave well enough alone. Having said that the defender is all the better for the upgraded brakes, HD suspension, drivetrain, seats, insulation & sound-proofing, the list goes on..lol ....... see what I mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I am the proud owner of a TD5 Defender which I bought around this time last year. I was drawn to the Land Rover because of it's no nonsense utilitarian easy to work on package that you can drive anywhere you want. But what I bought was a second childhood/mid-life crisis. After many years of buying and modifying fords ( the early escorts etc) when I was 20 years younger and into rallying, all of a sudden I'm back looking through parts catalogs, searching the garage for my old toolbox and learning what Terrafirma means to your wallet. Speaking of which I'm broke...lol How much have you spent on yours since you bought it or what was the best bit you ever done to it? I really don't want to think how much I've spent over the years. My greatest fear is that when I drop dead, my wife will sell the Landrovers for what she THINKS I paid for them.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Jeff i'm just going to put in my will all land rover values are x10 what you think darling. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I've thought about that with my motorbikes - all the parts and the like could look like a pile of junk. So I suggested friends she could ask to come and sort through stuff and help realise a half decent value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanuki Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Mad? Sure - but being occupied lying under our various LR products fixing the sticking handbrake/leaking oil-cooler/crapped-out propshaft UJs/knackered radius-arm bushes/grumbling transfer-box/rusty-crossmember at least stops us wandering into the nearest town and disturbing the locals by trying to engage them in random conversation. In a way, "Fettling Land-Rovers" could be considered a valid alternative to 'care in the community' for the mildly-deranged. Now, if only we could get new diff-oilseals and Waxoyl prescribed to us on the NHS... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Lol. Excellent ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyMac Posted November 9, 2013 Author Share Posted November 9, 2013 Mad? Sure - but being occupied lying under our various LR products fixing the sticking handbrake/leaking oil-cooler/crapped-out propshaft UJs/knackered radius-arm bushes/grumbling transfer-box/rusty-crossmember at least stops us wandering into the nearest town and disturbing the locals by trying to engage them in random conversation. In a way, "Fettling Land-Rovers" could be considered a valid alternative to 'care in the community' for the mildly-deranged. Now, if only we could get new diff-oilseals and Waxoyl prescribed to us on the NHS... Now, if only we could get new diff-oilseals and Waxoyl prescribed to us on the NHS... ( and heat for the shed ) A PERFECT WORLD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 Making rich men poor and poor men miserable is the saying I always hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Ranged Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 I would say I have a different approach or mindset since I had my first car I have changed, fixed or modified every vehicle I have owned (including my heavy equipment lol).... what better to have than a Landy, a vehicle with so many quirks and issues that need fixing lol I havent even got the motor in the one I've got (let alone the trans, axle swops, power steering, competition guards, roll cage, rear mount radiator, new front suspension etc) and Im already sorting out what Im going to do to the next one... and sourcing parts & the truck lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdderlyOffroad Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 In a way, "Fettling Land-Rovers" could be considered a valid alternative to 'care in the community' for the mildly-deranged. Tanuki, I'm printing this and putting it on the wall in my garage! The way I've always looked at it is: Land Rovers are the closest we come to adult Meccanco/Lego. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggie Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Love this thread & to think I was considering selling mine............... I must be mad, or am I mad for keeping it............now I'm confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 i am definately mad, as for how much i have spent, i have spent £2000 on it, i had spent £2000 on it after i had put it back on the road, and despite spending lots more on it, i have still only spent £2000 on it.... Honest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 i am definately mad, as for how much i have spent, i have spent £2000 on it, i had spent £2000 on it after i had put it back on the road, and despite spending lots more on it, i have still only spent £2000 on it.... Honest! That made me smile I have included everything I bought for the build inc, paints and sprays, sundries and consumables as this is a one off build. £2000, better hope your GF don't sell him one day for that tiddly little amount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 my GF knows if she even thought about selling my truck she would be gone before it could be put up on our favorite auction site, sad, maybe, but true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddyMac Posted November 13, 2013 Author Share Posted November 13, 2013 I put the Landy in for some work today and already going through separation anxiety mad,mad mad and it's all free so I'm still at the €2,200 mark (sshh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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