90 to 110

[stevenmd]

Been thinking... yeah, I know... dangerous.:victory: But here goes anyway: since my family seems to keep growing (early next year we will be at 5 children) I am in need of new transportation. Neither my wife and I are the mini-van type so we need something else. I'm not really into the big chevy or ford type vehicles either. I am wanting to stick with a Land Rover.

I have a few choices: 109 or 110.

Although I think the 109 is the essence of what a landie is to me, it is probably not the vehicle my wife would like to drive all the time. A decent (drivable) 109 can be had for $10,000 to $25,000+, depending on condition. Yes, I could get one cheaper but that would usually mean a lot of extra work. And no AC. Got to have AC to please the wife. OK, me too.

A 1993 110 can be had for $40,000 to $65,000, depending on the condition. A 1983 110 can be had for around $12,000 to $18,000, again, depending on condition.

Or I could get a 1997 90 and have it put on a 110 frame, have it all rebuilt in the process.

Hmmmm... any thoughts and opinions appreciated.

Thanks.:sunflower

 

[maxingout]

The answer to your dilemma is simple. There are lots of late model Defenders in Australia, and all you need to do is move to Australia, and as a bonus, you will have millions of square miles of outback to explore with your new Defender.

I feel your pain. I have owned five different Defenders in the past fifteen years while I was living outside the USA, and the governement won't let me bring any of them into the USA. I had three Defender 110s in Saudi Arabia, and I still have a Defender 110 in New Zealand and a Defender 130 crew cab in Australia.

http://www.outbackandbeyond.com/four defenders.htm
http://www.maxingout.com/captainslogarchive16.htm

When I returned to the USA, I looked at Defenders and found that they were $40k to $65k which was outrageous to pay for an old vehicle. I paid $25k for a new Defender 110 in Saudi Arabia about six years ago. I love Defenders, but there was no way that I was going to pay that kind of money for an old worn out vehicle here in the states.

Right now, I only have Land Rover Dreams. When I get back to Australia and New Zealand, then the good times will roll once again.

 

[Michael Slade]

Do you, yourself, and anyone you love (your wife) a big favor and don't get a 109 as a DD. Don't even get a 110. And never ever EVER consider stretching a 90 into a 110 as a means to an end.

If you want the truck you are describing get a Landcruiser. Trust me.

 

[TeriAnn]

Do you, yourself, and anyone you love (your wife) a big favor and don't get a 109 as a DD. Don't even get a 110. And never ever EVER consider stretching a 90 into a 110 as a means to an end.

If you want the truck you are describing get a Landcruiser. Trust me.

Ah, now I understand why you recently purchased that kevlar vest.eepwall:

 

[LC/LR4Life]

Buy a Land Cruiser 100 and you'll both be happy. Or cut the 90 and add 20 inches :smileeek:

 

[LC/LR4Life]

If you want the truck you are describing get a Landcruiser.

That's two words, as in Land Cruiser...

 

[stevenmd]

No offense to the LC crowd but I can't fathom seeing myself driving something that has no personality. I've always driven vehicles that are not mainstream.

I also can't see the use in spending a ton of money on something that has no personality. I would rather buy a used 110 and rebuild it from the ground up like new. Now that is something I would consider to be a good use of money.

I don't want a DII. Too much electronic trickery. I've already had a DI. I drive a RRC now. I love my RRC. It is nicely built - notice I didn't say overbuilt. I would even consider putting a 110 body on it.

 

[stevenmd]

Buy a Land Cruiser 100 and you'll both be happy. Or cut the 90 and add 20 inches :smileeek:

Again, no offense to the LC crowd but I do not find them appealing. An LC is out of the question. I am wanting to get away from electronics.

 

[Michael Slade]

Alright. Since you are hellbent on making it as hard as possible on yourself, here's what you should do.

1. Aquire rusty 1983 110 from England
2. Take it apart
3. Replace frame
4. Replace bulkhead
5. Replace doors
6. Replace engine
7. Replace tranny
8. Replace t-case
9. Replace axles
10. Replace everything else
11. Watch bank account evaporate
12. Watch marriage dissolve
13. Watch NAS 110's price drop below what you have already spent
14. Have a truck that still isn't as good as an NAS 110
15. Regret not getting a Land Cruiser

How do I know this will happen? Don't ask.

 

[PCRover]

Steven, be patient and do some shopping around and you can get a 110 for $25k-30k.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

Get a Top Hat

Cheap to own, no electronics, and definitely not mainstream. It also has little environmental impact yet it is an attention getter without being too ostentatious.

...or get a 110 right off the bat and forget about a conversion.

 

[Alaska Mike]

Defenders and Series rigs have tons of personality. They're also noisy, drafty, dirty, leaky, and smelly. Not exactly the most family-friendly rig if you family likes their comforts. You could spend a lot of money correcting all of the squeaks, leaks, and other "features". Even the newest NAS Defenders I've seen have those kinds of issues.

I certainly wouldn't consider the stretch, when '83s are legal to import and considering how much such a modification will cost you (in the long and short run).

You can do a lot when building a vehicle from the ground up, but there is a limit.

If I had the resources, I'd keep my eyes open for a NAS Defender 110 when the bottom drops out of the market.

 

[LC/LR4Life]

Again, no offense to the LC crowd but I do not find them appealing. An LC is out of the question. I am wanting to get away from electronics.

Well LC electronics aren't buggy like Rovers..... Anyway, no electronics - get a Land Cruiser FJ45 Troopie and you'd be set. The Troopie is a long wheelbase LC with a straight 6, reliable as hell and plenty of character.

If you're hell bent like another said on a Rover, you just need to ante-up and get the 110. Another said 25K-30K and I'd like to see one for that amt ANYWHERE in the US..... I normally see older D90s going for $35K around here in Texas and I laugh at them.

 

[Z O O R O P A]

what I have found over the last few months:

I see NAS prices dropping because no one will pay 50+K$ for a V8 engine on a 16 year old car when gas prices go over 4 or 5 bucks

in 1983, only a few thousand Defenders were built.
In 1984 40,000 Defenders were built

so next year there will be many many more available and many in Europe are catching on that there is a little money to be made in the USA on 25 year old Defenders

Comforts are easy to add to a Defender. You can change the seats out easily and there are many available to substitute

Things you won't get: Roll cage, just to much money to justify, the 110 cage is like 5K$ to buy

Then little things like windows, doors handles and the prospect of a 25 year old car living in a climate similar to Seattle

vehicles will improve as the UK according to LR Monthly and LRO magazines, that Americans require as much premium accessories and condition as possible. Unlike Europe we don't look at a vehicle as a long term investment.

But if you can wait, you can find a nice 110 with a 300 tdi and get 25-32 mpg if you have the right engine set up

when buying look for a solid engine, plan on changing rhd to lhd cost expenditure in your budget as it will open up new vehicles, and try and find one in fairly nice condition. keep your expectations minimum as parts are readily available in the USA

I explored the 90-110 procedure and it has been done but not prefferable as far as cost or being frugal

there is a guy in Montana that does it but he does not have a good rap. There is an importer in SC, NC, Maryland, I think one in FL.

Try to find one from south of the border or from Sothern Europe like Spain, Italy etc but the UK has the largest inventory

use ebay.co.uk to keep an eye out and buy a LR magazine as they have lots of resources for information, engines, parts, etc at very good prices

make sure you drive a Defender first s you know what to expect as it is a utility vehicle

 

[stevenmd]

Thanks for the input everyone. However, some of you must think I am new to rovers or have no knowledge of how utilitarian a vehicle can be. I know series and 110's are work horses, not the "plush" exterior we Americans demand. Frankly, I'm not one of those kind of Americans.:hehe: I grew up driving farm equipment. I find driving smooth vehicles sort of boring. I love to drive. I love to shift, double clutch if needed, I need to FEEL the road and vehicle when I drive.

My wife has a Benz she can drive. This current vehicle I am searching for is mainly for me. Whatever I get, I will put an auto tranny in it so my wife can drive it around town or short distances.

Thanks for the input Gary. I never even had that thought cross my mind. I suppose if I can find Ron a CT110 for $45K, I can certainly find myself decently priced 1993 110! I have been socking away some money every month for this occasion and because I refuse to have a car payment.