Good news: I take delivery of a new Anthrecite/Camel w/Navi on Tuesday!!!

Bad news: Last night I sold my pride and joy - a 1997 Land Rover Defender 90 - I was the original owner (I've been driving her for 8 1/2 years). It was one of those cross roads you reach where you have to make a difficult decision.

I bought the Defender before I had any kids... Now I have 2 girls (ages 7 & 4). My family has outgrown her... Keeping the Defender as a third vehicle was an option, but given the fact that I could (and did) sell her for more than I paid for her brand new... the writing was on the wall. It was time to sell my Defender, get a new car and have some cash left over.

I know I'll love the TL, but life will be different without my Defender

 

Pardon my ignorance, but the Defender appreciated in these years? What's special about it?

 

....all of a sudden, the Honda Element doesnt seem that ugly anymore.

 

I know what you mean. I had to give up a little more. Last Sunday I took delivery of an 05 WDP with Parchment Interior. Yesterday, Friday I went in for the no more babys operation. I'm 46 and we have four great kids. The wife and I had been talking about it for some time now. The operation, not the car. The wife makes fun of me now, 'What some men will do for thier toys". She also thinks I have a sick sence of humor. Getting it done on the Father's day weekend. Anyway, I have been trying to convince the wife for over a year, the car, not the operation. Ever since I saw an 04. The car is beyond my expectations. It's better than I had hope for. The car, not the operation. Funny how life works sometimes

 

The defender looks more badass then the Element.

You know they are coming out with a male birth control pill, maybe you shoulda waited, just a thought, either way, I here it(the operation) is somewhat reversable.

 

Yes...believe it or not...the Defender 90, in good condition goes for near, at, or over what you paid for it new. It's truly the last of the classic, safari-type Land Rovers. They achieved cult status shortly after their discontinuation. Very few vehicles achieve such status and the Defender 90 just happened to have done it.

 

Defender 90's are only one of the most badass suv's ever. They stopped selling them in I think 97ish? They don't sell them in the US anymore because they don't meet US Safety standards, It was in motor treds cars they wish were sold in the US. They are comming out with a new defender in like a 2 years or so I think and that might be avalible in the US. OP, it is gonna be a big jump from a defender to a TL enjoy

 

It doesn't just look badass it is Badass!!!

 

Congrats on the TL....wow I had an Element ............both r ugly..

 

Defender 90's kick ass. Second best 4X4 after the Unimog. I hope the new model doesn't look like the Discovery they ruined.

 

Sounds like it was time for a change, the car AND the operation.
Both of you enjoy the new rides.

 

TennisJon - You're well versed in the history of the Defender... They imported them in 94, 95 and 97. Land Rover stopped importing them due to DOT regulations (airbags, ABS, etc). It didn't make sense to adapt the vehicle to meet US standards when 99.9% of them are exported to South Africa, Australia and the Middle East.

For those of you quick to dismiss the Defender, check out this video - which does a nice job of explaining why the Defender commands 4X4 respect and is second to none: http://home.comcast.net/~defender-90...rLandRover.wmv

This vehicle was basically a piece of farm equipment that was adapted to be used on the road.

Why was I able to sell my Defender for more than I bought it for after nearly 9 years of driving her? Land Rover US only imported 1800 hard tops (station wagons) into the US. Americans like rare things and are willing to pay good money for them.

Why did I sell it? Over the past 2-3 years she moved out of the asset column and into the liability column. $1K to $2K a year to maintain.... Beside the fact that the ride was so rough my kidneys were going to fail, it was time to get a dependable car that fit my current lifestyle - a white collar worker with a family in need of a dependable/fun commuter.

 

P.S. It says a lot about the TL that I sold my Defender for one... I'm not sure there are many (any) other vehicles that I would have parted with her for....

This forum provided me with a lot of the information that helped me pull the trigger on a TL. The people and information here are a fantastic resource.

 

Thanks, my mom was considering a discovery, actually I was considering a discovery for her a while ago and that is when I learned of the defender. I also have been to England where I rode in one for a minute and they are all over, including the 110. I then saw in motortrend the hottest cars they wish were sold in the US and the Defender was there. Good choice on the TL.

 

You'll forget all about the Defender once you start driving the TL

 

I always wondered why Defenders were so expensive even used.

I sold my 99 Tahoe to get my 2005 TL, I never liked driving trucks and only got the Tahoe to tow my 98 Firebird to the track. But the gas mileage sucked and it was boring to drive.

 

Why did I sell it? Over the past 2-3 years she moved out of the asset column and into the liability column. $1K to $2K a year to maintain.... Beside the fact that the ride was so rough my kidneys were going to fail, it was time to get a dependable car that fit my current lifestyle - a white collar worker with a family in need of a dependable/fun commuter.[/QUOTE]


careful how you toss around the "dependable" term... Sure the TL is a different ride, but be prepared to shed those el42s within the year, maybe some brakes as well.

Should have been able to get a decent deal since it is june and the 06s are around the corner...

 

Stuff like this doesn't happen often. You usually have to wait 15+ years before a car appreciates.....and it has to be a classic AND in good shape.

 

How rare are defenders supposed to be. I was driving by my dentist the other day and there was a lot with about 15-20, maybe more, selling them. I'll try to take a pic at some time. At least one was green.

 

There were 1800 Hard Tops (Station Wagons) and about 3500 Soft Top Defender 90s (2 door) imported in during the 94, 95 and 97 model years.

In 93 500 White Defender 110s (4 door) were imported (those a very rare)

There are a lot in the Northeast because 2 dealers in MA made a lot of money buying them from all over the US and selling them, (mostly) locally.

 

correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Land Rover take a loss on these as well?

 

I saw one white on there, didnt happen to notice if it was 2 or 4 doors.

 

Not sure... I knew the VP of Worldwide Makrketing back in 97 and he told me that the main reason they went to the effort to import them was to build the Land Rover image in the US. They had to modify each Defender that was imported to meet DOT regulations. Each Defender went through Land Rover's "Special Vehicles" unit where (among other things) they were outfitted with a fairly beefy internal/external roll cage. I could see where they would loose money on them!