scoaf Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Hello everyone, I need some advice. I have just put a deposit on a 2009 90 SW XS in part ex for my F2 2010 HSE. I also have a 1986 90 ex mod which I plan to sell. My reasons were 1. Running 2 cars too expensive. 2. Freelander 2 depreciation is more than SW 3. Combination of the 2 vehicles. 4. Versatility for 4 dogs. 5. Safari roof rack for extra storage. Anyway my wife hit the roof! No suitable etcetera I was hoping for advice as to if it is a ridiculous move. Could I swap out cubby box for 3rd seat that is baby/child friendly? Any advice would be appreciated. 110 are too big for me btw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanuki Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 I've run a TD5 90CSW for a decade or so as my main car. I don't have a family, so the rear seats have spent 99.9% of their time folded up. The back-space is fine for "Dogs and Logs" duty - I've got a section of stable-matting cut to sit on top of the rear floor-area, which both protects the standard carpet-thing and provides additional sound-dampening. The usual German Shepherd canine passenger has been trained to sit in the back and not try to invade the driver/passenger space. I fitted Koni gas-filled shock-absorbers which gave a spectacular stability-improvement, specially when towing our big 3.5 ton Bateson flatbed. The worst thing about running a Defender as a daily-driver is the noise, specially when doing 300-mile legal-limit-plus-20% cruise duty on motorways. You get rather used to 22MPG, specially when you can pass the fuel-bills on to clients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 As I understand it you can't fit a centre seat due to the legalities that a late model like yours must adhere to. That said you can't fit a child seat on a centre seat anyway. Mine is a daily driver and it's a hardtop - no rear seats. My wife sits in the middle and a child seat in the passenger seat. I need to look at fitting a forward facing rear seat in the back if we are going to start driving into Europe though.... I guess your answer is all down to what your wife actually makes of it .... ? Negatives are: Noisy, quite a bit of maintenance, poor economy, back seats are impractical, usually let water in etc etc Positives are: I love it. Don't know if that's much help ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studmuffin Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Mrs S and myself are empty nesters but I always transport my working dogs in a dog box as, in an emergency braking scenario, an unrestrained dog in the back becomes a missile. A dog guard may stop it hitting you but probably does a huge amount of trauma to the animal. Problem is a dog box helps restricts the distance a dog can travel and reduces impact but a box suitable for 2 Spaniel sized dogs means that you cannot use the fold down rear seats.Usinga fixed halter for dogs is an alternative but IMHO is not ideal. Barry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 We have a 90 and a disco 1(at the moment) both are dailys we have 2 kids 3.5 and 0.5 years the disco is great but rear seat belts are a bit short. The 90 has fwd facing rear seats which are a right pain with 2 kid seats we normal end up with 1 in the front the 2nd and wife in the rear (i'm way to tall for the rear) you would struggle to get anything bar a hand bag in the back aswell. But the bottom line is it is doable. Oh and it's I believe illegal to have a dog guard in front of the rear seats as only one door so a mate was informed by a copper. My advice would be stick with the freelander if you don't off-road much or buy either a disco or a 110 sw. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoaf Posted December 24, 2013 Author Share Posted December 24, 2013 Thanks for all the replies. Really appreciated. Looks like I will have to stick with what I have and replan. Deposit lost but better that than losing a wife! (In most cases anyway...???) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Can you test drive one with your wife ? Or better still borrow one ? My reply was a little flippant - the truth is that it's not for everyone but for you and your family it may be fine ? For us it feels like an adventure every time we go out.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Part1cle Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 We had a D1 and a Defender, both '98 300TDi's, and needed to change the D1 so we had a go in a new Defender and Freelander but I'm afraid to say we didn't buy either and have moved away from LR! Still got them both but the D1 will go after Xmas. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Can I point out a 110 is smaller than a ford mundaneo saloon so a 110 isn't that big test drive one you might be suprised I was. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacr2man Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 why not try a last model Freelander 1 TD4 Auto , as most depreciation will have taken place , a 90 really isnt a family car . JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 110 SW all the way! My main gripe with my 90 is the lack of passenger carrying ability. I can carry either people or stuff, whereas with a 110 you can carry both. It's either that or a Disco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoaf Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Thanks but the discos don't really float my boat. Beautiful cars (3/4) but too expensive to run etc. My wife loves my 1986 90 so she should love a 2009 xs model. I had a freelander 1. It was awful! Sorry. We don't have any children yet. Only dogs. 4 of them. Would a defender hold its value better then? In that case I may get the 90 and then trade up for a 110 when children are imminent. Thanks for advice everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoaf Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Oh and merry Christmas! ?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelw Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Def 90 with good file of bills for everything if you are going to service it yourself or a FSH will of course in time to come have a very appreciable resale value as soon as production stops watch the prices rise of even the tattiest tat!!! Although you can bet a 90 will be worth more than a 110 of same age and service quality too as it still has "Rugged, Must have bling" attached to it" in the form of being seen in a chelsea tratter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Yes - that sounds like a plan. They do hold their value well too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 Thanks but the discos don't really float my boat. Beautiful cars (3/4) but too expensive to run etc. My wife loves my 1986 90 so she should love a 2009 xs model. I had a freelander 1. It was awful! Sorry. We don't have any children yet. Only dogs. 4 of them. Would a defender hold its value better then? In that case I may get the 90 and then trade up for a 110 when children are imminent. Thanks for advice everyone. Sorry didn't realize you don't have kids yet in which case the 90 would be fine then trade up to a 110 when/if kids are on the horizon. Defender depreciation is glacial compared to most any other car. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matfield Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 I had a 90 hard top, and while it was tight with my girlfriend and our, at the time, 18 month old, it did us fine for a two day drive from central Ireland to Mull. I have since replaced it with a 110 CSW and have to agree with Retroanaconda, the seats in the back aren't huge but my daughter loves it now, and you can fit 2 other adults in there with the childs seat, and the space in the back is amazingly versatile! If you were to compare all 4 options; Defender 110; Defender 90; Discovery or Freelander the Discovery would make more sense every time apart from resale value (and the fact you don't like it) If I had no children I'd have the 90 back in a heart beat but I love the 110 as well. I've driven and owned all of the above and the 90 was without a doubt my favourite, but it has to be either a 110 or Discovery for practicality. So……. Buy a 90 then!! Hope that was absolutely no help at all Mat Happy Christmas!! (and I'm just back from Church and not started on the drinks yet incase you all thought I was bonkers!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoaf Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Thanks mat! I think I get your thoughts. My wife is completely against a 90 sw unfortunately! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 My wife loves my 1986 90 so she should love a 2009 xs model. My wife is completely against a 90 sw unfortunately! I don't get the apparent contradiction here ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matfield Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 My better half's opinion before I bought the 90... And I quote, "you are NEVER getting one of them... Nothing but a tin can!!" Let her drive it and realise there is a difference between the 86 and the 09, and let it sit for a while... Maybe... Just maybe there will be a spark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoaf Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 I know complete contradiction! 2009 xs is obviously vastly superior! She doesn't have a manual license so she couldn't drive it anyway. But she loves being driven! It's so frustrating as she doesn't understand my reasons for wanting to change! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bm52 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 I have a 2010 90 XS as a daily driver and we have been all over France etc in it. The difference which made it a great car is: Dynamat sound insulation, quieter than an FL1 at 70 now ! Koni shocks replaced HD rear springs with standard road LR spriings Uprated Kenwood HU, speakers, and Alpine SW. A few othe 'bits' like the glove box, rear door damper, Momo steering wheel, Mud Rails [long legs] etc. Oh......personal choice......I converted mine to an Ashcroft Auto box.......massive difference. I now have a personalised 90 XS that will go anywhere and my wife loves it, prefers to be a passenger but also drives it as well. Best combination ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoaf Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Great response, cheers bm. Music to my ears! Do you have kids/dogs though. The one I'm hopefully getting has a safari roof rack and ladder for extra storage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bm52 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Oh - I put on General Grabber AT tyres as they are very good and give a softer ride than BFGs. Dogs no Children Yes. The 4 of us are off on a day trip tomorrow and they choose the Puma over the FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted December 27, 2013 Share Posted December 27, 2013 My better half's opinion before I bought the 90... And I quote, "you are NEVER getting one of them... Nothing but a tin can!!" Let her drive it and realise there is a difference between the 86 and the 09, and let it sit for a while... Maybe... Just maybe there will be a spark Oh yes, now this is familiar, add ugly and noisy, too big and too heavy to drive, its unsafe, and what will the neighbours think etc etc. Can someone tell me why then, that it always seems to be used in preference, with the lamest of reasons, to her Toyota Yaris ? Even just for shopping. And mine IS an 86. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.