2011, the year of the last good Defender

This model of the Defender might be the newest, but is it the best?

Maybe this is the model to go for.

No, I don't have a special insight into Land Rover management's thinking and really don't know whether 2011 will be the Defender's last year. I'm not even talking about the latest Defender. Let me back up: the current model was introduced here in 2007 so the last of the previous model are coming up to five years old, will have depreciated quite nicely, and some owners will be looking to replace them. In my view, the late previous models with the Td5 engine were the best Defenders of all. Despite looking good on paper, the 2007-on model has been developed beyond its potential and Land Rover should not have bothered.

It's easy to be seduced by the current model. Its "new" and slightly more powerful 2.4 litre Tdci engine from the Ford Transit van came to it with a good reputation. Even though it needed a bump on the bonnet to fit – an easy way to identify the model – it mated well to the driveline. The Ford engine is fitted to a six speed gearbox that provides a much deeper low first gear and a higher top for more relaxed highway cruising, so you'd think those would be real pluses. Meanwhile, the dash has been totally revised with integrated air conditioning. After decades of bolt-on aircon that only sort-of worked, that too seemed like a major step forward. In the back of the short wheelbase 90, the four inward facing seats, uncomfortable and unsuited to long trips, were replaced by two comfy-looking forward seats, another plus, you'd think.

That's a nice engine under that stuff.

But with the exception of the engine, the improvements have not served the Defender well and if I were in the market and could get a nice 2006 or pre-change 2007, I'd jump at it. Here's why:

• The low first on the new gearbox is really too low for most New Zealand conditions. American rock crawlers would love it but ironically the Defender is no longer sold there. Meanwhile, in town, the ratios are such that the driver is forever changing gears.

The dash looks interesting …

• The sexy looking dashboard is closer to the front occupants than before and, although hardly claustrophobic, the front interior is much more snug. There's no longer the space to put things and the integrated air conditioning is so underwhelming that I'm almost thinking the previous version was better.

… but the old one's more usable.

• The back seats of the 90 are not particularly comfortable and would be unpleasant for tall people. When folded, they eat up far too much cargo space. They'd simply have to go.

• The Td5 engine has proved itself to be good, easily repaired and with well developed non-dealer (ie less expensive) parts support. Update: Check the comments from readers with alternative points of view.

As an aside, Land Rover claimed cabin noise levels are significantly lower in the current model. They are lower, but not by that much. There then followed lots of silly press articles saying occupants could finally hear the radio, but you could hear it perfectly well in the Td5 and even in its predecessor, the 300Tdi.

This item was prompted by the appearance on Trademe of a 2006 90 with about 100,000km, some extras, and a $35,000 asking price. A new 90 lists at about $65,000. I suspect this example may be the first of a bunch of 2006s coming on the market this year; there's been a real shortage of decent used Defenders, especially the 90. And no, I don't even know who the seller is, but good luck to him!