Landy, we love you (Land Rover Defender 90)

Member Name: 8704236

Product:	Land Rover Defender 90
Date:	28/03/03 (1025 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: load capacity, handling, visibility

Disadvantages: relatively thirsty, large turning circle

We all know that the Land Rover Defender is the ultimate
utilitarian off-roader. But what's it like as an everyday
road car?

You have a large turning circle, but it's not as large as the
Defender 110.

The square corners mean you don't have to guess where the
corners are, but it also effectively makes the turning circle
larger.

You have good visibility, over the roofs of the rest of the
traffic. For best visibility have rear side windows.
Otherwise, you can't look over your shoulder to check the
blind spot, and you have to be perfectly positioned when
turning right onto a road in order to see all the traffic
to your left.

The big mirrors are also excellent, allowing you to see
plenty of the road behind you. Combined with the straight
sides you can easily see where your rear wheels are when
reversing on a bend, and you can more easily line yourself
up when passing parked cars.

If you don't have power assisted steering, then low-speed
manoeuvering can be hard work.

You have a good low first gear for pulling off, plus the
option of the low ratio gearbox for the most challenging
of off-road work.

The naturally aspirated diesel is not very powerful, and
you will struggle to get over 50 mph. However, there is
still plenty of torque for towing. The later turbo-charged
diesels have a lot more power and make cruising at motorway
speeds a doddle.

In the cockpit it may look like a long reach for the gears,
but even 5'2" women can drive a Defender.

There is plenty of ventilation from the large flaps below
the windscreen. But when things turn cooler, you have a
powerful heater.

Naturally, there is a large load space in the rear which can
seat four people or a lot of luggage right up to the roof.

In the front you have plenty of elbow room, provided you

don't have 3 seats. In which case things would be rather
cosy. With just 2 seats in the front a central cubby box
provides a handy table, as well as practical storage.

The resistance of four wheel drive means that the engine
will slow down a lot quicker when you take your foot off
the throttle. So, you can drive around and hardly use the
brakes at all, controlling your speed solely by the use of
the throttle and the gears.

The higher centre of gravity also increases the body roll,
so sharp corner at high speed is inadvisable. That said,
I always find that I can maintain my pace on the bends
while other vehicles following have to catch me up on
the straights.

If you intend to buy, make sure that you get rear window
wash-wipe and demister. The aerodynamics mean that a lot
of road spray is deposited on the rear window, and the size
of the interior means that the heat from the front will have
a hard job making any impression on the window at the rear.

Also, if you want a diesel, the favourite is the 300TDi
for its power. The newer TD5 engine has much more electronics
like most other modern cars, removing maintenance from the
owner and placing it with the garage.

Summary: