so anyway, ended up buying a *brand new* shiny 110. First new car I have ever bought myself (company cars don't count do they?)
was a bit nervous about going to a poxy little 2.2 diesel, and something so shiny I'd be afraid to use it but... I'm loving it!
Things I like about it:
- The little diesel works hard, top gear up the Bombay hills no problem, tows the boat fine
- uses *no fuel at all* (as far as I can tell). The 90 liked to stop at every petrol station.
- Apparently the 2.2 is quieter than the 2.4 it replaces, you could barely tell it's a diesel.
- The 6 speed. 6th gear is the bomb for the highway.
- The traction control works well, so far anyway.
- It's still a Defender. Wheel travel is adequate - even with the anti-roll bars
- It's already given a deer a ride to the butcher, a tarp in the back with the seats folded down worked fine.
- the 110 has a better ride than the 90, the longer wheelbase smooths things out.
- the service interval is 20,000km.
- It has electric windows, and heated seats.
Things I don't like about it?
- under the drivers seat is a mess of electronics, and a hole to let water in.
- It leaks, just like the old one. But less I admit.
- The aussie forums are full of stories of woe about spring lifts going bad. The front driveshaft is very short and doesn't cope well. So I won't be adding a lift in a hurry.
- the service interval is 20,000km. Which just seems wrong.
- I am not taking it on the beach or into deep mud in a hurry. That sort of bugs me. But I want to get 15 years from it like I got from my 90, and I reckon 3-4 years of beach work is all it takes to stuff a truck.
- Turning circle of a supertanker.
- It has electric windows, and heated seats. Which just seems wrong.
