My Jimny days appear to be over!

The law on driving without an MOT

If your MOT has expired, the only circumstances in which you can drive it is directly to the garage for its test or to and from somewhere to be repaired. If you're stopped on the way by police, you must be able to prove that you have an appointment booked at the garage.

If your car fails its MOT you can only continue to drive it if the previous year's MOT is still valid - which might occur if you submitted the car for its test two weeks early. You can still drive it away from the testing centre or garage if no 'dangerous' problems were identified during the MOT. You will otherwise need to get the necessary repairs carried out. Remember your car must always meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness at all times.

So you could take it for MOT or somewhere that could weld it and then give it an MOT, but I understand all of the other problems. Such a shame though.

Sad news, you should buy a welder and learn to weld, would be such a shame to see the jimny get scrapped its such a nice truck. If you have seen my thread on my jimny you will see my jimny was a rot box when i bought it and iv welded it all up. I love d2’s but 2 of my mate’s have them that i go out with they are capable off road And comfortable but Mega unreliable they are always Breaking down. Hope you get sorted with whatever decision you make.

As with any vehicle, you can get good or bad.

My 2005 Defender is definitely a good one, l bought it at 9 years old and 56,000 miles.
lt's now on 123,000 and apart from routine maintenance it's never let me
down and has never needed my RAC membership.

Discovery 2 is the same, good and bad, sadly the bad ones outweigh the good ones.
Discovery rear floors can rot out, and the earlier TD5 engine was prone to head gasket failure.
Don't forget these vehicles are now all at least 15 years old and have in many cases been hammered for most of their lives.

Few Defenders or Discovery's were looked after, and they need to be
really. After twenty years of farm use, horse box towing, off road pay and play sites, and a service once a year if they are lucky, it's not surprising many of them are sheds now.

Sadly Land Rovers were not always great from new, it was luck of the draw as to what yours was like.

We had a Defender new in 2006 and it was fine for the eight years we owned it. Went back twice, once for the wipers and once for a vibration in the driveline.

lt's generally accepted that Freelander 2 was Land Rover's best product.

But they are a bit dull. l would say Defender over Discovery 2 mainly because it's easier to
see what you are getting and easier to fix the faults.
Budget £2,000 on top of the purchase price to get it right.

Don't buy TDCi
Buy TD5 from 2002 (after the dash update and better engine) also it was improved again in late 2004 with better one piece doors that don't rust.
The XS Station Wagon is the one to go for. Prices start at £14,000 for good ones.
The hard top (van) version is £2-3,000 cheaper and you can fit the rear windows and seats for around £1,000

Get a good one and it will last until you give up driving.

D2 is still cheap but prices are going up for good ones.
Good Defender 300tdi's are out there but you won't get one for less than £10,000

Have a look at Jeep Wranglers . I have a 2007 2.8 crd auto which is a good comfy car to drive and comes with air con, cruise etc so quite civilised. They are better priced than Defenders and a lot more comfy and civilised to drive. I do still of course also have my Jimny!

The Wrangler is an option, l've looked at them
myself.
They seem well made and long lasting, although petrol ones are very thirsty.
l wouldn't say no to a LWB Wrangler 2.8 but the post 2011 ones l've looked at are £15,000+

I find It is difficult parting with something that I have put so much energy into. This is similar to having a dying pet put down, you just have to call the vet and say your goodbyes.