Hi guys,
Been driving my 2004 Defender 90 for almost one year now, so thought of sharing my experience.
First thing — owning a Defender is completely different from owning a normal SUV. Every time I park somewhere, at least one person comes and talks about the vehicle 😅 The attention this thing gets is crazy.
At the beginning, driving it felt a bit hard because I was used to modern vehicles. Steering is heavier, the ride is rougher, and cabin noise is there. But after some time, you actually start loving that old-school feeling.
Maintenance-wise, yes... You need to spend a bit. During this year, I had some small repairs like oil leaks, bush changes, brake work, and electrical fixes. Nothing shocking for a 20-year-old vehicle, honestly.
One important thing I learned — don't ignore small issues on a Defender 😄 If there's a small sound today, fix it early before it becomes a bigger bill later.
Fuel economy is average only, but I knew that before buying. Nobody buys a Defender expecting Prius mileage anyway 😂
The best part is driving on rough roads. Bad roads, floods, village roads — this thing feels built for Sri Lanka. Overall, no regrets at all. It definitely needs care and patience, but the experience is worth it.