L/R 110 Extreme advise please

[tuff-trol]

Greetings !

I have a mate who's in love with a 2000 model L/R Extreme and he doesn't have internet acess so asked me to ask the experts ....

Could you please tell me the weakness - strengths , and to's and againsts so i can print them out and pass them on for him .I have a 2000 Gu and have never even sat in a L/R so i am no help to him

His requirements are :

Daily driver
Recreational 4x4ing
Future touring around Aust [laden with camping equip]

Price is $30k and has alsorts of mod's and 75thou KM on the clock .

thanks alot

[TuffRR]

If he can put up with the seating position, then it would be well suited. A lot of people comment that the Defenders do not have a lot of arm room to the right and i agree. However, i know plenty of guys who actually own them and say they are really quite comfortable to drive.
IIRC, a 2000 model should still be running a salisbury rear diff (good) and should still have the stronger chassis (i'm no expert on Defenders but i recall something about a weakness in the rear of them in the newer models).
For a tourer, a defender is awesome. Plenty of room, the td5 has good fuel ecomony and good power.
Despite what Nissan and Toyota owners may believe, the Defender is the most capable 4x4 out of the factory (even taking into account that it has open diffs compared to LC and patrol).
Its not a perfect 4x4, but its damn good and suited to what he wants. Especially for the money.

[tuff-trol]

thanks for that !
The one he is looking at has a Salisbry rear and is it Maxi-Driven ? locker and axles in rear .
The gent in question has done it up for long distance travel inc VKS and xtra long range tanks , but his wife had a stroke and he can't travel now , so Jason is pritty happy with his find and can't wait to get to the bank

oncve again thanks

[ISUZUROVER]

Sounds like it is perfect for what he wants. The Maxi-Drive lockers are very good and he shouldn't have any problems.

Make sure he checks that the gearbox/t-case is OK (no clunks), but by 2000 the minor oiling problems the early models had were sorted.

The only weak point in the driveline are the small front inner axles (1" 32 spline) where they go into the CV joints, but this is the same as all defenders of that era, and is fine for a touring vehicle on sensibly sized tyres.

Does it have a 300Tdi or TD5? If it is the last of the Tdi's then it should have no problems - if an early TD5 check the service history, and maybe get the injectors/pumps checked before purchase since they are expensive to replace later.

[tuff-trol]

Its a TDI 300 , he brought it today and its sitting here in my driveway and he is beaming from ear to ear
I must say from a Nissan nut , i find it more than a suitable 4x4 , the hand brake digs in my leg but hey im 6 foot 3 lololol , wow the view from the seats is amazing looking down over the bonnet rather than along 4 foot of Nissan bonnet

the tires on it are 255x85x16 BFG M/T so i recon they would be 33 inch ???

well having never really taken time out to look over one before ... iam impressed .... pity the Jap's didn't make a non plush interior so you can get in and wash out but hey we have 5000 flashing lights and cig lighters


once again thanks a lot for all your input Jason is wrapped !!!

[TuffRR]

Good stuff, sounds like a good vehicle.

255/85 = 33" approx. Good size tyres for the Defender.

[Maggot4x4]

Post up some pics

[ISUZUROVER]

the hand brake digs in my leg but hey im 6 foot 3 lololol.
the tires on it are 255x85x16 BFG M/T so i recon they would be 33 inch ???

I am 6'3" too. for me the handbrake is a leg rest!!!

255/85 are 33" - or closer to 33.3" if they are BFG. I have 285/75 (same diameter) on my 110, and you have to have the right rim offset to make sure they clear without rubbing too much (I have 1-2" spring lift as well).