Used Car of the Day: 1997 Land Rover Defender

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

If a left-hand-drive diesel Land Rover is your kind of thing, check out this listing.


Coming to us from Miami, this 110 five-door 300tdi has a five-speed manual and appears to be in good enough condition to drive daily.

The listing is a bit sparse, so you might have to do some digging to find out more, but based on the pics, the Defender mostly looks good, though there does appear to be some rust.


[Images: Seller]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by  subscribing to our newsletter.

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 13 comments
  • Arthur Dailey Arthur Dailey on Dec 14, 2022

    Let me just set this money on fire.

    • Add Lightness Add Lightness on Dec 14, 2022

      Way cheaper fashion statement than a new Jeep and relatively minor depreciation.


  • MaintenanceCosts MaintenanceCosts on Dec 14, 2022

    The styling of an early-industrial-age machine tool, the reliability of a low-bid contractor, the power of a trained squirrel, the handling of a Roman ox cart, the fuel economy of a natural gas flare, and the comfort of a jail cot? Sign me up!

  • 2ACL My girlfriend currently drives a 2018 SE hatch. Automatic, but I've been handling the fluid services (looking to do another along with the filter soon) and it's been a solid runner for her. My only issue with its dynamics is the transmission's gingerly kick down out of corners (the SEL is the lowest trim that offers manual control functionality IIRC). Otherwise, none of the quirks that've blighted the Powershift's reputation have manifested.A stick would drastically extend its life expectancy. I know she isn't as committed to stick life though, which influenced my approval.
  • MaintenanceCosts GM hasn't put any effort into any Cadillacs except the Blackwings and the electrics. They're getting out what they put in. Pretty simple, really.The XT4/5/6 are all just slightly up-styled versions of Chevy products, but priced as if they were on dedicated luxury platforms like the BMW and Benz competitors to the larger two. The XT6 is especially embarrassing.Even the Escalade is just a Tahoe/Suburban with a few trick design touches and a halfhearted materials upgrade. The good news for Cadillac is that the Tahoe/Suburban are seen as upscale enough that a half-a$s upgrade to them can be a legitimate luxury car.Where's the "gotta have it" factor? Where are the dazzling interior designs? Where's the swagger? Until those show up the brand is just a set of memories.
  • Dwford The problem with Cadillac is that the only Cadillac they sell is the Escalade. Cadillacs are supposed to be large imposing vehicles that are visually impressive. Only the Escalade meets that standard. Everything else Cadillac sells are knock off BMWs. Cadillac shouldn't be in the business of selling compact 4 cylinder crossovers. Dime a dozen vehicles. You'd be better off buying a high trim version of any mainstream crossover than an XT4. Why does a CT4 start at the same price as a Camry XSE? Why do Buicks have nicer interiors than Cadillacs? Why to CHEVYS have nicer interiors than Cadillacs?
  • EBFlex “Insatiable demand” Pretty sad when even the Uber deranged EU doesn’t want EVs.
  • Jbltg Had a rental like this once, stock of course. NYC to Vermont. Very smooth and quiet, amazing fuel economy. Not the best for interior space though. Back seat and trunk barely usable.
Next