DRIVE TD5 DEFENDER

Your‘ve check the Td5 defender and the drive is a dream. First impression slightly scruffy Defenders still look reasonable, but should coast less. Don’t make its Land Rover excuses evaluate it critically, as you would a car. Straight lines and flat panels make accident repairs easy to spot. under the bonnet oil level should be checked when the engine has been stooped for five minutes or longer, Low levels neglect much too high possibly diesel in the sump. Feel the oil between fingers should be slippery and smooth Check coolant header tank.

Interior if your vehicle has the rear body bulkhead, can you properly. Seating has limited adjustment, steering has none. Engine smooth and powerful, missing when accelerating at high speed probably oil in the ECU via the wiring harness. Drive at high speed in low gears and watch the temperature gauge. Throttle is fly by wire might be easy to stall when moving off, but adjustable. Gear change smoothly, but don’t rush it. Make sure high/low ratios and diff lock select sometime stiff from lack of use. Noise when the clutch is depressed clutch release bearing. Feel through the gear lever for transmission vibration flywheel problems on early vehicles. Steering very light and accurate. Make sure the vehicle stay straight ahead and doesn’t pull to one side. Brakes an empty defender will stop very fast if road and tyres are good. On poor surfaces it’s easy to lock a wheel if ABS isn’t fitted. Built for towing. so the brake should be really good. Handling feels fairly stiff and stays quite upright in bends even at speed. Corners reasonably well. if the vehicle is an early one, paperwork proof that head dowels have been attendant to would be good news. If it’s been a fleet vehicle, check that any invoices match this vehicles registration. You want originals, not photocopies. Where the service on mileage or thousand of mileage adrift never buy without a complete VIC. Good Land Rovers typically stay with their owners for long time if that’s not the case see if there is a reasonable explanation why not.