Practical experience Land Rover Defender: nostalgic longing

The original Land Rover Defender colors this section a bit differently than you are used to, because if one thing becomes clear, it is that one Defender is not the same as the other. In fact, in this article you will even come across cars that do not officially bear this name. Before 1990, the British simply gave this model a number, ’90’ for the short version, ‘110’ for the long and there were a few others. Before that it was simply ‘Land Rover’, to indicate that you are dealing with an icon here.

Daily ease of use

A Land Rover Defender may once have been intended as a rational means of transport, but in modern times it is no longer that. Owners know this too, although they do have other reasons for choosing this model. “I use the Defender for business and private purposes,” writes the driver of a 1999 Defender 110 TD5. “I don’t know any other car with which I can take a holiday trip of several thousand kilometers to some inhospitable place at one time. and can immediately get back to work with an off-road driving training upon return.” The fact that newer models offer more comfort does not matter much to this owner. “Other types of Land Rover cannot match this and believe me, I have driven them all and still do so regularly.”

Another reviewer, with a ‘short’ TD5 from 1999, also uses the Defender daily. Yet that is less surprising, because this car and its owner reside in South Africa! It soon becomes clear that he therefore views ‘practical convenience’ differently. “On the way we saw a five-ton truck lying on its side due to a blown tire. Another truck was trying to get it upright… but the Defender 90, loaded with eight men for traction, was the only one able to get it upright with its short wheelbase and powerful reverse (low range)!” That alleviates other minor suffering: “A disadvantage of the car is the absence of luggage space, not even a little. For trips with more than four people, a roof rack is simply necessary.”

The owner of a car that is comparable in every respect agrees. “In daily use, my Defender is quite practical, although I do accept certain known shortcomings. The 90 is too small to travel with children because the rear seats are perpendicular to the direction of travel.” His tip: “If you often ride with more than two people, go for a 110 or 130.”

Comfort? Who cares…

No one will immediately shout ‘Defender’ when asked about ultimate comfort. Rightly so, if we can believe the driver of a very new 110 from 2005. “I can’t say much about the comfort, except that the Land Rover seats are always comfortable. Furthermore, for the longer journeys, it is of course a drama, but hey, who cares.” Nevertheless, there is a comfort-enhancing facility on board. “What’s funny is that I had heated seats in this car, which is nice in the winter.” Ultimately, it could not stop this driver from trading in his Defender for a BMW 523i after 161,000 kilometers.

Another description of the driving experience is as follows. “When I did a test drive with a normal Defender 90 at a dealer, I wanted to turn around after 500 meters,” writes the later owner of a Defender 110. “The noise! That turning circle! No comfort at all! It’s a car Jim, but not as we know it, that’s what I thought.” The logical consequence is that this driver signed for his own Defender immediately after the test drive. What that yielded also turned out to be comfortable. “You are in a kind of parallel Defender universe, where you no longer care about the whole hyped-up and crazy world.”

Land Rover Defender with Heritage Customs interior.

How it drives

The above owner may not sound very rational, but he can put his experiences into words well. “After 6,000 km and a trip to the Ardennes, I no longer want to drive another car, especially now that it is equipped with comfortable Recaro seats. It makes some noise, but it’s not disturbing. From 90 per hour you have the feeling of sitting on a vibrating plate, but it is not disturbing. And it’s my own fault: I drive with mud tires because I like them.”

It is clear that the rationale in this article is completely overboard. The driver of a 2010 Defender 90 confirms this. “In terms of driving characteristics, the Defender cannot be compared with any other car. It bumps, makes a lot of noise, is not a speed demon and has the level of finish of years ago, but… what a great car!”, he exclaims. Here too, the basic driving experience is explained as a positive characteristic. “The car is relaxing, the high torque makes the engine very strong, it has extremely good off-road properties, is well-organized and full of character.” Piece of consumer advice, now: “If you drive 200 to 300 km every day, then I don’t know whether this is the ideal car. But for my work, a maximum of about 100 km per day, it is a pleasure to be able to drive this car. Every morning when I get in, I have a smile on my face…”

The above experiences mainly occurred on a paved road. Of course, you shouldn’t want something that luxurious at all, says the owner of the short Defender from 1999. “In the meantime, I have done all conceivable off-road courses at home and abroad with this car and often look for the necessary challenges with friends. The Defender shows its best side. Whether on boulder-heavy paths or in wet and muddy terrain, my buddy just keeps going,” he reports. There is also a universal disadvantage: several owners report that the turning circle is gigantic at 14 to 15 meters.

Is he really that unreliable?

What is striking is that owners hardly do their best to fight against prejudices, nor do they do so when it comes to business security. “Reliability will depend on some loving maintenance. However, this car does not stop if something rattles, ergo, if nothing rattles anymore, you have to watch out,” writes the driver of a non-Defender V8 from 1986. The owner of a restored V8 from 1985 is also enthusiastic. “The 90 has only had a problem once in eight years. During a trip to Belgium the lights went out completely. I was unable to drive any further that night. A day later, in the garage, it turned out that a relay had burned out. Yes, literally burned out, never seen it before.”

The driver of a Defender 110 from 1998, a car with more than 300,000 kilometers of experience, cannot complain either. “Technically the car is top, despite the mileage. Sometimes a little oil sweats from the gearbox, otherwise it is always start-run.” Another rider also completed quite a few kilometers without any problems, although that does feel like a victory. “Maybe I’m the first to say that after 100,000 miles I haven’t had a single problem with this car. Once the fuel line was shot off because a clamp had come loose, but nothing else. I think that’s an achievement.”

With all that putting things into perspective, you would almost forget that things really do break sometimes and the Defender is no stranger to rust. “Land Rover eczema, aluminum on steel,” the owner of a 1996 Defender 110 calls it. “Furthermore, some small things such as two light switches (Lucas = ‘Prince of Darkness’). No problem anymore after modification.” A Defender 90 driver: “Oh well, it remains English. It leaks water along the doors and once the fuel gauge spontaneously failed.”

After reading the reviews, you understand why some swear by the old Defender? Even if you don’t aspire to it yourself, the romance oozes out. For those who would like to experience this feeling themselves, the owner of a 1999 Defender 110 has a tip. “I am regularly approached by people who say they would actually like to drive such a car, but who have chosen not to do so for all kinds of reasons (and I don’t mean financial ones…). A word of advice: if you like this, follow your dreams and start driving it! You will never regret it.”