2020 Defender

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
Why not? Unless you totally bash it, you aren’t going to suffer much loss in value.

I guess that highlights the difference in people's idea of what "off-road" is. Here, the way I wheel, two things are going to happen. One is inevitable. Trying to negotiate an obstacle I'm going to run tree limbs down the side of my rig. That's going to happen every time I go out. We are going to end up on a little used trail that will have overhanging limbs in the way. The other is that sooner or later I'm going to whack something. That's why the best trail rig I've owned was an old CJ. Mechanically I had been over every inch of it but to look at it you'd think "kinda a POS". But when I slid down a slick hill and couldn't make the turn at the bottom, thus hitting a tree, it was just something that needed dealt with and not "OMFG".
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Why not? Unless you totally bash it, you aren’t going to suffer much loss in value.

At that price, it's not always about losing value. In such a small market, it can be about losing a sale to another car without that scratch on the bumper, or with a little less orange peel in the paint. Sometimes there are fewer customers than there are cars for sale.

Now, that may not matter; perhaps you're cool waiting a year, but that's another year of potential damage. You might even be that customer yourself, and have no intention of selling the vehicle. Value doesn't really matter there, either.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
To me it's not just about loss of value. Look, if one's idea of off-road is a desert trail, or a gravel lane, then more power to you. But that's not me, and then it becomes why would you want to do that to such a beautiful truck. Could you buy a Jag and enter it in a demolition derby, sure. But aren't there better choices?

If I'm looking to get something I can drive to the trail and get with it then this is a starting point.
 

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kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
NAS trucks in good condition are collector's items, or at least Sunday cruisers. For offroading, buy a cheap ROW import. They're the best thing to happen for NA LR enthusiasts in a long time.

Now that the ROW gate is opened, I don't really understand NAS Defender purchases. It's the same car. What's the point?

You can call up builders to produce vehicles that are exactly as you want them for that price, and in better condition. I don't see how the things are going to hold their value when the really clean foreign models starts to build up in the market.

What's the difference? The VIN and a cage? You can still buy the cage brand new, and if you don't want to, any iron-worker in the nation can build it.

I think it's a poor long-term investment to begin with, but this stuff is incredibly unpredictable.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,759
563
Seattle
Using ye olde inflation calculator, if you bought a D110 in 2019 for $118,000, that is the equivalent of $66,000 in 1993 when they were for sale in dealerships. So as long as you paid less than $66,000 for your Defender 27 years ago you've made money - as an investment. I forget what the original MSRP was. In the fifties?
 

K-rover

Well-known member
Jan 15, 2010
2,170
63
Raleigh, NC
So yeah, if that LR3 went through this I'll give him props, but I have to think there are multiple lines. Because I ain't buying that LR3 went this way.

Yeah he made it up, but then slashed a sidewall on the way back down the backside. We had to secure him with a winch so he could change the tire. He also ran from the cops when they caught him with weed liquor at the campsite! lol
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
If so, that's an expensive hobby.

One of these days I'll pick up a 130, but I'll be finding one overseas somewhere.

Cheers,

Kennith