No its not broken its just an ongoing resoration project )

[Rod]

I could write it but Pam would tell me off

or should i say

I-C-W-I-B-P-W-T-M-O

[bandiflip]

Here ya go !!...Job sorted !!!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/lada-niva-4x4-off ... 27b5aa0d3a

[Bo]

Pam, I was with you, I cut my teeth on bulletin boards back in the mid 90's.
How sad was it when you could read the tones of the modem and knew when you had a good connection. 14600k baud rate was shear luxury!

[Zedman]

I had a Defender lined up with a trusted pedigree but the sale fell through so now I am looking on eBay and there is a lot of choice, 600+ when I just checked a few mins ago. I need a little bit of help please.

Main problem is most of the vehicle are a LONG way away, no problem for collecting but impossible to drive round the country checking them all out.

Sooo, If anyony spots a good defender that meets the specs below and is in your town or you think its worth me driving out from knaresborough please post me some info, what I am looking for is:

SWB Defender, 200 or 300 TDi engine, manual, no welding needed, must have Tax and MOT so I can drive it home, to be honest I'm not that fussed if its truck cab or not.

Off road mods would be welcome as I'm buying it for club trials.

Please don't just post random links from ebay that 'look' cool, as i have seen loads but you can't tell till you see the vehicle and take a test spin.

Also please feel free to suggest more parameters that I should be considering to buy the right defender first try )

[Zedman]

I have renamed the post more in keeping with all the extremly helpfull information that has been given

'How to choose and buy your perfect off road vehicle'

In years to come it may help other people and avoid answering the same questions )

[bandiflip]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LANDROVER-90-AWES ... 3f0421997d

[Zedman]

I'm off to take a look at a Defender in Boroughbridge tomorrow evening (about 15 mins ride), can anyone give me a guess on what I should be paying for the following please,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-DEFEND ... 3cb1dabec8

300TDi engine I think

[davew]

It should be 300TDi although the description suggests it's a TD which wouldn't be at all good !

Price all depends on condition, particularly the chassis, engine and gearbox. I'd also knock at least £500 off for those tacky aftermarket plastic wheel arch things. You can sell the wheel spacers on Ebay, you can't use them for MSA events any more.

Plus side is the rear door has been replaced with the much better later type

Top price for one in excellent condition would be around 5000, bottom price around 1500. At that age it's possible it's due for a new chassis (it's the same age as Pam's was when I replaced that) or it may be that it's pristine, you never know until you give it a good poke.

[bandiflip]

Its not very clear what engine is in it.....The motor is important,find out what it is,just check what Dave says really,check engine number and chassis number are correct and not tampered with as they are an easy motor to clone.
Look on ebay and see what others are doing,It is an excellent way to see what things are worth because thats what people are bidding......good luck !

[Bo]

Another good place to get an idea of price is the auto trader web site. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/

[Zedman]

How can I tell if its a 300TDi, is it stamped on it somewhere or is there something I should look for to identify it ?

[davew]

I'm no diseasel expert but the easy way to tell is that the 300TDi uses a serpentine belt, all the older ones use V belts as far as I am aware.

[TwoSheds]

I'm off to take a look at a Defender in Boroughbridge tomorrow evening (about 15 mins ride), can anyone give me a guess on what I should be paying for the following please,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAND-ROVER-DEFEND ... 3cb1dabec8

300TDi engine I think

I don't know what it is but something about that ad makes me uneasy... Sorry - I hate to be negative (especially without good reason).
Roger

[madcalc]

I think his bad spelling would put me off! (and the ripples in the paintwork):lol:

[bandiflip]

He hasnt even looked at it yet and youre all scaring him to death !!!