This is the Defender review I've most wanted to see! No sugar coated, glossed over excuses! It's why we love this car! :)

Why would you buy a Land Rover Defender? Here are the top 3 reasons: 1. Because it’s a Land Rover Defender 2. Because it’s a Land Rover Defender 3. Because it’s a Land Rover Defender

2:02 The energy at collision gets absorbed by the other car :P

I love mine, why buy a defender? Until you drive one you will never know. Nice film

I'm fortunate enough to have a Hummer H2, a Jeep Wrangler and a Land Rover Defender 90. If I had to only keep one. It would always be the Land Rover Defender.

If you have to ask, you'll never understand.

The other day I sat in an ex United Utilities 110. It was clean and tidy, low mileage and sounded great. As I relaxed, yes relaxed into the seat. A voice came into my head and it said. 'You are a thing of beauty and a tear came to my eye!!! How mad is that! What a Vehicle, I love them. No other car has ever done that to me. None!

In the uk the defender is the safest car on the road ie the lowest deaths per thousand accidents. Why ? You don't drive fast because your having so much fun driving it you don't want to arrive in a hurry.Most drivers see you coming and give way to you. You are more relaxed in a Landrover just listening to the engine and seeing over the hedges. It won't go fst and you won't get done for speeding very easily. Just buy one it will last you a lifetime. More fun than any other vehicle. Phil

I would have a defender over ANY new car on the market today

So I can pull 3500kgs So I can load it up with shit and not have to worry about the load bed rotting out as it's aluminium So I can knock the aluminium panels about without worry about them rotting So I can use it for camping trips with it loaded up with all my gear So I can get about in bad conditions when the roads flood and the snow falls So I can maintain it with simple tools and do it myself So I can put a soft top on it in summer and hardtop in winter So I can run a PTO winch from the gearbox So I can wash the inside out with the hose when it's muddy from my work boots So I can use it for my everyday vehicle So I don't have to worry about paying hundreds for my insurance I've had mine for 16 years now and it's covered 280000 miles and in my ownership it's let me down once with a clutch problem. I'll keep it for the rest of my days and pass it on to my sons as it's part of the family. You either hate them or love them!

Agreed Sir, these simple cars have so much wrong with them compared to modern machines which do every thing for you, but it's the absolute character that captures your heart, its beautiful simplicity, plus if you buy one for the right reasons, it will be the best car you will ever buy, these cars become part of the family, unlike ordinary cars you change every few years

shock absorbing??? in defender with the mass and force it has, the object that you are crashing into becomes your crumple zone :D

You’ve got it all wrong, the defender wasn’t built for comfort it was meant to work in all conditions all around the world and be easy and cheap to fix. It’s still one of the best off reader all rounder in the world

Absolutely loved your video! 14min 10secs summed it up for me - all Defender drivers are special people - it's very true! It's why we wave at each other! Great video - loved it - and the last few minutes made me smile so much - we go through all these problems but there is just something about it which we love!! Thank you for putting this up - great video! All the best, Damian

My dad's defender went through Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique in the last couple of months. Not just drive through but doing work under the WHO. The defender lasted where the other vehicles did not.

I've driven thousands of kms in my old Defender and at 6'4" tall it's one of the most comfortable cars I've ever driven.

One of very few vehicles that you can abuse for years, leave to rot in a field for another decade then sell for more than you paid for it in the first place.

Love Land Rovers , the best of all the 4x4 Without a doubt .

A hilarious tongue and cheek look at Defender love! These motors are one sexy beast to drive. Mine is not as posh as yours as it has a 2.5na diesel (68bhp) and no power steering, but it makes me smile every time I take it for a drive! Well done.

i love defenders, and seeing people who love their defenders like you make me happy :)

I do love it when people slate old landrovers , why compare it to modern cars , i for one hate modern cars rubbish electrics that go wrong expensive and have to go to dealer to fix just like the lifeless cars of today .my 1988 landrover 90 is going strong and i love it its not fast i drive it carefully unlike todays motorist in euroboxes going around round abouts at 30 mph , and most euro cars have been scrapped after 7 to 9 years life after all a landy is an light utility l vehicle

Owned Land Rovers for more than 50 years. You have given such an accurate descriptrion of the Defender TD5. No nonsense. You are spot on. Thank you.

I used to drive Defenders in the military... I always wanted my own one... Now I do and I'm keeping it for life.

Great film!!! Very difficult to explain how lovely the defenders are, but you did it! It is something that comes from the heart. I will keep my old one forever, and take care of it always!

Sir, you are my hero. What a fantastic video. THANK YOU! Just bought my 1993 Defender 90 and I couldn't be happier.

One of the best Defender Reviews ever! Love it! Thanks so much. :-)

You Sir have some awesome positivity right here. Very inspiring the way you handle all the negative comments from those with short attention span that did not make to the end of video before jumping in the comments to criticise. Nice video. Gotta love the Defender!

Thanks for the video. I am happy to drive it for 40 years and not interested for modern cars except a Range Rover but the classic of course.

I grew up up in northern Patagonia in and around land rovers... later as an owner of one I experienced many of the things you mentioned, I get your point, BUT you totally missed the main reason you buy such an icon: you did not go off-road!!! And besides, I would never want to be in a far-away place in a 4x4 that depends on complicated electronics, and that you cannot repair yourself. Simplicity as this straight-forward car has is the greatest asset! I would even be interested in having a Series 1, because I know that if it already functioned for 60 years, it will still easily function for other 60... what other car can offer you this? (perhaps a citroen 2CV, renault R4, willys jeep, volvo C303... and others of this kind, which I also love)

I've got one and the reason why I bought one was because I hate car's, they either rust, or in the UK they need MOT's something we have to comply on the roads with here. Around here also you will still see plenty 30 year old Defender's still on the roads and yes they still have parts that rot away but the parts are easy to get hold of and the ability to fix them told me something, yes they have their problems especially the comedy steering every time I hit a pothole and the handbrake also too but there still around. I chose like your one a TD5 engined one becase the tune ability on them and because they have a timing chain which will last slightly longer compared to a belt, the other reason was I hope it outlast my driving licence, and I also like my tractors too especially my International 956xl, it's matches me perfectly too. Great video.👍

My family had defenders when I was growing up. It rumbled, it had 3 seats in the front, it vibrated, and it had bench seats in the back. I remember going on a trip with one of my friends in a normal car, and it felt so smooth, quiet and low down, I felt like a peasant. It was so smooth that I could barely feel how fast I was going and it was horrible. When the tables were turned and my school friends went in my landy, they loved it. Everyone was so excited to be in the back of that thing.

D1 owner - close enough! 😄 Absolutely enjoyed your vid. Was taking my time to rebuild brakes this past few weeks. Reduced to using the Missus' sedan.... uggghhh! Back on road this morning after 4wks, and sitting tall never felt so good! Lol Think I'll take a sunset cruise to the sound of my 300tdi. Thanks for the vid! 🖒🖒

Land rover defenders are built for off road and harsh environment conditions. So yea it drive like crap on the streets and gets bad gas mileage and doesn't have air bags but it's not built for comfort. It's built to get u where u need to go without having to use a helicopter.

An incredible statistic I learned today....95% of Defenders are still on the road, the other 5% made it back

Love the honest intelligent review. Thanks.

I've owned my '94 reg defender 110 300tdi for 7 years, it's an ex expedition vehicle and has done over 200,000 miles, even so, the engine sounds great, in 7 years it's gone to the garage 3 times for work I wasn't able to do i.e. new rear x member, clutch replacement for hd clutch and timing belt change within a month of buying, other than that all repairs have been done in a car park or by the side of the road using only basic tools, sockets spanners hammer etc, no gadgetry no electronics to go wrong and definitely no need to link a laptop up to it either, I've owned many cars, this landy is by far the best motor I've had, I knew it was uncomfortable load economical bla bla, but I didn't buy it for that, in fact in my opinion 31MPG for a 2.9 tonne beast, that sends other drivers clambering for the grassy verge whenever I face them on the road, and you say it's not safe?, ever wondered why ncap never published its crash test results for the defender?, because they couldn't find a concrete barrier big enough, as the defender destroyed the barrier every time, one test you failed to carry out was it's off road ability, ease of maintenance, that's why we defender drivers buy them and love them,

That was the most sincere review that I saw at my hole life! I have a defender 2002 for until my end of the life.

After serving in the British Military for 10 years, I now wish I had bought one many years ago when I left in 1995. I now live in the US and regret the decision as they are way out of my budget since they ended production. The Landrover Defender definitely served its purpose, it runs forever and is a no nonsense vehicle. I would gladly give up my Ford Explorer for one any day (if it wasn't a company lease, dont think they would appreciate it as much as I would). Just have to wait for a rich uncle to pass before being a privileged Defender owner. Driving off road is the best, and through the desert is a breeze in one of these. Towing capacity is awesome and takes a bullet like a Vietnam movie hero. Has anyone bought an ex military version? With the white rear diff and small light to illuminate it for night driving convoys. This was a pleasant memory of driving through the desert during Desert Storm leading a convoy of 22,500 liter fuel tankers to the bulk fuel installations.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You summed it up beautifuly at the end. I love my `96 110 which I´ve had since new

at the last part of the video you got to the point. The Defender is an old car living in the "modern days" you can not expect the technology all the others cars have now, this is for real driving and not pushing buttons to help you driving.

Great video, and a very honest review, exactly what I was looking for. I'm trying to purchase one in the States, wish me luck!

The "BUT" comes at 14:06. The rest is to deter other people wanting to buy all the defenders

Thank you so, so much for this fantastic video. It is the most unbiased and realistic review of a dream car and it helped me a lot.

Thanks. I had one once. Car was rubbish. Man, did I love it. Coolest car I ever had. 5 minutes of driving and all the sorrows are gone and you feel like being on the way doing something of importance - at least until you arrive. This car broke my heart and I am still in love.

I'm from central Africa, where we relied on Land Rovers only to cross jungles and Sahara for many years.When you go there , you would never ask for a luxury car with airbags and environmental engine that play music !.Who cares for the heated seats there ? but you would seek a car which is capable to cross Africa from North to South and return you back to Europe.Land Rover proved itself in taking you wherever you want. It's simple and reliable. Ayman Abbas (Mr)

Great video. The only thing tougher than a Defender is my 1977 (40 years old this year!) ex-Australian Army Series III Landy. Asking why you drive a Land Rover is like asking why you like to ride motorcycles: If you need to ask the question, you won't understand the answer! In a Land Rover, the other car is your crumple zone...

I bought a 110 LR Perentie from Australian army. Used to drive high end Audi A4 which was trouble free. I have spent as much on Perentie as I got for the Audi A4 when I sold it. I am much happier with Perentie and I can't explain why that is. It is an involved drive, go anywhere car that seats 10, can drive on beach, through rivers, over deserts, snow mountains, has a mechanical winch that can pull the car out of anything. Has a Isuzu $BD1 engine that can do 1,000,000 kms no trouble. Pretty water proof but in summer I have a convertible because I just roll up the canvas back and sides. Nothing can stop this car except your imagination. My Audi had 18 bang and olufsen speakers, was dreamy to drive on country roads and ) to 100 in some incredible time. The Perentie is better. Drive one and tell me I am wrong. Great video.

Love the video. Have to watch till the end, to appreciate it. I have the 2005 110 TD5

something or everything about the Defender just tickles my heart. I love it.

ITs designed for farmers, its designed to be used in many configurations, (hence rivets) you complained a lot!

I've had A defender since 2007 and the more advanced new cars get the more I love My Defender. The reason I bought one in the first place was no electronics easy to maintain and first of all charisma. I use it for towing and over landing and as a daily driver you can't find any car as versatile as this. It is build for a purpose and it does fortunately not drive like a modern car. I simply love it. Thanks for this review you mention all the questions any Defender owner asks them self now and then thanks quite fun. Cheers Claus from Denmark

Absolutely one of the most honest and funny reviews i have ever seen on KZfaq. I love it. :) keep being just like you are. Dont change a thing

I'm very interested to see what is in store for the new Defender. I really hope they keep it true to it's roots as a go anywhere off-roader. All they really need to do is make it lighter and safer. Address a few things like comfort and cabin space, sound deadening/ insulation and it would be a perfect machine. Especially with engine tech these days it would be far more fuel efficient, twice so with less weight from alluminium chasis. I drove these for years in the military and they're far more bare bones than the road going versions, but they were great! You wouldn't believe some of the places we took them off road, especially the 6 wheel versions.

"A tractor on wheels". What do tractors have if they don't have wheels?

Great video !! You and Phil Price nailed it. I grew up in Southern Africa with Series 2 and 3 models and never had to walk because most breakdowns could be fixed on the spot with simple tools. These vehicles grow on you and if you don't get the exposure to them you go for the plastic modern short-cycle Japanese or American cars. Like red wine...

You hit the nail directly on the head, you have to be a certain type of person to love a Land rover of any description. Since I was 19 when I bought my first 1972 Range Rover which was fitted with a Perkins 4203 (yes slower that a slug lol) I have been hooked. I have lost count of how many "series" land rovers, Discovery's, classic Range rovers and even a brand new 90 2.5TD in 1989. You love them or you hate them and you need to be able to do mechanical work or be wealthy enough to have them fixed pretty much each time you return home lol.

Great car for driving in city's - other cars move out of your way

Did you know there is a land rover in almost every country in the world and most land rover's are still going strong

Absolute brilliant review of a car that i bought 2 years ago.. And i havn't ever regretted it, well done...

Back in the 1970's whilst on a school trip, I fell out of the rear near side door of a Land Rover Defender 110. The teacher, who was sat next to me at the time, apparently, closed the door afterwards and didn't say a word about what had just happened to anyone! Eventually the driver, Mr ******** believed what the lads were shouting from the back of the land rover and dully turned around and eventually discovered me laying at the side of the road approximately half a mile or so away. I was then taken to a local veterinary clinic for a thorough medical check-up and given an anti-tetanus jab in my arse lol... many years later... I now own and drive a Land Rover Defender 90 and love it to bits - happy days! : )

At one point I thought he was going to set the Def on fire and walk away....

Nice video. I see you've got a winch, so I guess you take it seriously off-road sometimes. Maybe that's a good reason for a Defender :-) There's another vehicle that shares the air vent system: Citroën 2CV! My experience of the Defender is that it doesn't actually get as hot in Summer, especially when parked, as other vehicles. It's important for us as we're in S. France with a fairly big dog. I think it's mainly due to the windows being less sloping than other vehicles. You can certainly transport a lot of stuff in it even though, as you say, the rear door doesn't allow wide stuff like plasterboard sheets (l transported them on the roof - that's why so many Defenders can be seen with roofracks). Last thing: if you want to do your own maintenance, then it's usually quite straightforward. Many of the parts are not expensive because they're not sophisticated, and no electronics (my engine is a 300TDI). But you do need to keep to the maintenance schedule: I think a lot of the Defender's criticism of reliability is due to people not bothering with the grease gun, not changing the diff oil, gearbox oil or transfer box oil...

I only bought my first Defender 30 days ago, but reading all these comments here and of course watching the videos already make me a proud owner! 😅 Thank you very much Sir!!!

Great piece. I'm with you on this. I'm on my 3rd defender and agree with all you say. It really is very poor yet I love driving mine and always miss having one whenever my brain takes over and starts making decisions.

Land Rover Defenders are freakin GORGEOUS! What a piece of machinery I say!

A bit boring but he is right in many respects. As was stated by the editor of Land Rover Monthly, "Land Rover is fashionable because it is unfashionable; it is the statement of individuality for those who wish to rebel against the bland uniformity of today's homogenised automobiles".

A very sincere review of the car high lightening it’s many obvious drawbacks but ultimately explaining owning one is a statement of attitude . Well done ! Your level of English is excellent !

thanks for an amazing guide to the defender

Its the simplicity that makes it so good. It's not needlessly complicated. It's like a pair of jeans and a tee shirt. Just get in and drive it. Off road there brilliant and familiar. They will always be sought after.

I was despising you for 14mins....Then @ 14:06 you totality redeemed yourself!!! XOXO!

Thank you for an honest and true review of the car we all love and cherish. I started of with a late Series 3 109 but now we have a 110 TD5, we mostly use it on our farm for work stuff but once in a while we transform it to an overlander to enjoy the Swedish wilderness. Cheers!

Thrill of driving is not about how many electrics and settings it has , its about pure / raw excitement, experience behind the wheel,and the undiluted spirit of adventure, enjoying the simplistic, mechanical prowess... these days we’ve become too insulated from actually driving our cars to enjoy what they have to offer ....i'm speaking as a guy who has two defenders and never miss "modern" cars

On of the best cars ever built

yes it is beautiful Land Rover Defender. I have a friend overseas own a car dealer and he said they sell between $5k - $25k for a nice one!! I think that's very good prices. Thanks for the video

We borrowed a Defender 110 with a camper conversion for 900 miles around Australia. Ours had air conditioning, a V6 diesel, and comfort was still not a thing. It's made for the off road in the Third World, Africa, Australia and rougher parts of South America. In the developed world, it's a fashion statement.

I love my Range Rover Sport. The V8 kicks out a ton of horsepower and commuting along the motorway is a joy; you just tap the gas and you’ve overtaken almost every other car. But, there’s something about this riveting (pun intended) old fashioned behemoth. I’m definitely buying one.

You should try a Series. I totally get where you're coming from though. No other vehicle makes me laugh when I drive it. Also, knowing nothing about mechanics, having very basic tools and a manual downloaded off the internet I can keep my forty-five year old vehicle going. the thing is so very basic, it's like Meccano.

I love my 1992 SWB 90 it's uncomfortable, noisy and about as ergonomically comfortable as a three legged blind goat, but I will never sell it! It's quirky and British! I must say that yours is very modern... heated seats and electric windows??? Luxury 😜

What a great video, great entertainment love your style and presentation. Thank you for sharing.

This is an unusual youtube video in that it's not all bells and whistles. D3Sshooter tells us all the pertinent info we could ever need as an owner and driver of a Defender. I'm very impressed and really enjoyed it. I took away that the Defender is a bit pants.... but it's bloody ace. I still don't know if I'm getting one, as I love my tech and comfort, but I'll soon be needing a big practical thing that can deal with the countryside. I think I'll miss my brand new Skoda Superb Sportline Estate too much though.

It's like the old saying. If it's not broke don't fix it

sir! with all respect that wasn't meant to be a family suv or a luxury suv that was built for military purposes and because is so reliable off-road and mechanical people who buy this vehicles doit because they love the simplicity of a clasic off-road beast.

My first landrover was a 1959 series 2 troop carrier and I still wish I still had it. It was the most fun car to drive. When I want the most comfortable car to drive I chose a Range Rover but for fun in the sun it has to be a defender.

You can not judge a Defender with any normal auto parameters, my 90 leaks when it rains, is cold in winter, heavy on fuel, but its 27 years old and still going strong. They just seem so wrong until you own and drive one, and then its too late you are hooked!! EXCELLENT VID Thanks

Great story from a great brand! Well done

A good report and I still love my defender!

Great video! For off-roading would you recommend the 90 or 110, also diesel or petrol?

What you say at the end is very true. The Defender is a special car and it is for a 'Do it yourself' person. Thanks for a great video.

Although beautiful snd iconic, I’d prefer a Toyota Land Cruiser: cheaper, reliable, more easier mantenience, safer, and also great performance off road

Defender is only for Special People.

I liked the review. From someone That actually drives it daily and been around the vehicle enough to give a correct and good review. Instead of some test driver that have spent 1h driving it. Drive a car is one thing living with it is another. I would still buy one, it's a No BS car basically. And it's still better than the Lada Niva.

nice guy,great video, very true,I have a discovery 2 td5 from 2001 with 42,000 miles,I love it, not fast,not very comfortable but I love the way it plods along the road.

it's been around for so long because it is an excellent truck

Well if this old crow doesn't want his Defender then I'll happily take it of his claws.

Defender drivers are special. I had a County for many years. I would like to buy a more recent one now 2013-2015.

Great video and i do not own a defender but really want one sometime soon. All the best to you Sir from Manchester England

i love my defender! id never trade it with a different car!

well i,m six foot four inches tall and find my defender perfectly comfortable and an elbow out the window is not neccessary.

lovely analysis of a Landy, I pray that one day I should acquire one!

I was so heartbroken at the better part of the video. Its full of plain truth but i still adore this machine