Land Rover Defender SUV (1983-2016) | owner reviews: MPG, Problems & Reliability

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I have purchased my Defender as an investment , it is in storage and will only come out occasionally , I own a lovely piece of history and an Icon of a vehicle . The vehicle has only done less than 300 miles

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Its rough, noisy, hard to drive but anyone who decides to buy it falls in love with it.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's a vehicle that will do virtually anything you throw at it, green laning, going to the dump, occasional snowy day commuting, transporting 9 people to a party, sunday morning drives, and most importantly it was my wedding car! It has cost me £500 quid as I couldn't do the work myself, not bad for virtually every expendable part changed including bearings, that's the first time in 7 years! Yes they have their moments, but if you look after it (I get under mine twice a year and clean and waxy oil), don't let things get worse if they need fixing, and don't be afraid to do it yourself, suspension brakes oil and fluid changes are simple, it will last forever. Mine's 27-years old and still going strong, 85,000 miles on a V8 which has never had the rocker covers off. Buy one, you will want to sell it if you do, unless it's to buy anther one.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Superb machine - may not be the most comfortable on a long journey from the Lake District to the Alps but that's not what it is designed for. Local Land Rover dealerships are superb. Excellent in winter (including deep snow), and residuals are very good.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I took delivery of this vehicle at the Solihull factory in August 1966 and the following month drove it through Africa to Mocambique via the Sahara. It had no special equipment fitted for the trip other than a capstan winch, water carriers, fly screens and an assortment of spares suggested by the factory which included a spare alternator, a spare set of wheels, a shovel, sand mats, fan belts and the necessary fluids. It performed impeccably throughout the journey and served me for the next 10 years being driven over the roughest of terrains, including many miles on pristine beaches towing a seven-metre ski boat with two large (115hp) Mercury outboard engines. On my departure from Mocambique I passed it on to the local Anglican Mission who, to the best of my knowledge, still have it.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Most off road fun on this planet, yes i do break it, but so simple to fix. No electronics so all bills cheap, still loads of aftermarket spares, do not knock these vehicles, they belong in the world of FUN. Sadly missing today, think what are the essentials of a 4x4.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Never let's me down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's reliable

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Yes Green thumbs up

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For a car of its age its doing well, dont see many other cars around from that year

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Yes Green thumbs up

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some minor niggles oil leaks etc,two failures of the abs system

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Yes Green thumbs up

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small pump failed

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Usual issues with a 20 year old car, have had a few bits break or wear out

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Very reliable just getting old and has the usual Land Rover problems

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Excellent

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Problems

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Starts every time in all weathers and has never let me down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's 25 years old!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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For age and mileage, not bad, just age related issues

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Starts everytime, never had a problem and it will literally go anywhere.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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There is always something going wrong but only minor and that can be repaired easily. Has never let us down.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's a typical land rover

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Reliably unreliable

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No Red thumbs down

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1462455472

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No Red thumbs down

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Excellent, no problems and main Dealer very proactive.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No problems, except one electrical fault sorted under warranty

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Steering column wore through a breather pipe & door hinges rusting - not what you would expect from a Landrover!

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No Red thumbs down

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Most unreliable points are the wiring loom between the engine and ECU and until rewired the wiring running through the chassis.

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No Red thumbs down

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Compared to many who have the same or similar vehicle mine seems to have no faults

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Absolutely brilliant I have changed the radiator but that's it besides all the parts are usually fairly cheap to buy.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Quite old car. Just niggles such as drive belts nothing major. Considering the use really quite good

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Rarely breaks down anywhere

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Red thumbs down

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does exactly what it was bought for

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Very good

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Yes Green thumbs up

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excellent

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It is pretty reliable, but as a 15year old land rover I expect a fair amount of wear and tear.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Two faults since new. Engine management problem and leaking roof

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I'm quite happy with it, as if there's an issue I can repair this myself

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No Red thumbs down

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A few niggles with poor quality fixtures and fitting like switches, door locks etc

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Rear axle failure, corrosion, water pump leak, in cabin water leak

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No Red thumbs down

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Never missed a beat. Only needed servicing so far in 2 years of ownership

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Yes Green thumbs up

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better than expected

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Just keeps going Easy to repair

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Car is only 2 months old so total reliability is what you'd expect - despite some of the horror stories you hear about Land Rover products.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's a Land Rover.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Only owned for 5 months bu no problems to date

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No problems other than the starter motor so far

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's an old land rover!!! What could go wrong.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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perfect

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Yes Green thumbs up

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quite happy considering the age of the land rover

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Yes Green thumbs up

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never lets me down and can fit all kids and dogs in and all their stuff!1

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I have only had the car 4 months it has not broken down at all

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No Red thumbs down

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The only issues I have had so far is a wiper motor failure and a coolant hose which rubbed through on a clip.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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For all the abuse it gets, its tremendously reliable. Only one issue that actually stopped it in past 3yrs. As its getting on for 10yrs old now thats pretty good in my book

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Yes Green thumbs up

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never had a problem

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Yes Green thumbs up

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only ever let me down with battery and alternator

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Very reliable and robust considering the varied road and track conditions that I regulary drive

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Yes Green thumbs up

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never majorly lets me down and is very capable

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Clutch slave cylinder failed.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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very good and very easy to fix myself

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Its a land rover!!!! Reliability is its middle name!!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No problems so far.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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The only real problem with it's reliability is the UJ joints don't last that long on the prop shafts.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No faults since new.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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never had a problem.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Only had flat battery

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Yes Green thumbs up

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The car has had issues in the past which were sorted, it now just needs general maintainance

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Yes Green thumbs up

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It's simple to maintain and no computers or complicated electrics to go wrong. It starts every time wet or dry or freezing it gives a average mileage of 38mpg which is better than some modern cars the parts are cheap if it ever goes wrong and can be easily fitted. This keeps the overall cost of the car very low to keep on the road.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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No Red thumbs down

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Just small niggles. Nothing major goes wrong but manufacture quality is rough and the vehicle is very basic and prone to the off leak and badly fitted door.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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returned 4x for air con faults and corrosion

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No Red thumbs down

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No problems in 4.5 years

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Yes Green thumbs up

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I have no problems with reliability. serviced every year

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Yes Green thumbs up

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only minor stuff goes wrong, but it s regular!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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never breaks down and go anywhere

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Yes Green thumbs up

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A few minor niggles but it has never let me down

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Only replacement parts needed as car is 25 years old and have worn out.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Good reliable Vehicle no major problems

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Never had any issues, never let me down.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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no problems

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No Red thumbs down

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Due to age there are some things to sort from time to time

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Awesome!!!!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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The defender is a go any where work horse. Living in the countryside it is a must but can be relied upon for town and city work too. Reliable, durable and a amazing piece of kit off road.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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My landrover defender d cab is the dog,s bolcks but that just me thanks lee

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Its the best car ive ever had,my husbands got the same model and he thinks exactly the same.

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Iconic and unbeatable

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Yes Green thumbs up

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My landrover 90 5 td5 pick up has given me no faults in the 5 years a have own it and is idle towing and getting my motor bike in the back

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Yes Green thumbs up

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The defeneder is an amazing vehicle. May not be the fastest or easiest to drive but off-road nothing can come close! They really do look the part and are something britan should be truely proud off!

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Yes Green thumbs up

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Awesome...Land Rover will for me always be the most magical vehicle producer...if you cut me in half i'd gave land rover through me like a stick of blackpool rock... :-)

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Yes Green thumbs up