Help - Wife wants a Patrol, I am heart struck on Defender

**uninformed** · 13th March 2012, 09:51 AM

do yours leak Pat?

**tonyci** · 13th March 2012, 11:33 AM

Kizzie

On my second Defender (well actually first one was a county many moons ago).

I have taken mine to some rough remote spots with no drama.
My Defender does not leak, and my arm does not get cold in winter.
The seats look rubbish but as others have said are actually good on long trips.
Re spare parts never had an issue, but have had to wait several days for Toyota parts to arrive over the years.
The Defender certainly has character, if you buy one you also will become addicted to its quirks (in a positive way).
Tough choice, but I would go the defender.
Cheers.
Tony

**GlennWA** · 13th March 2012, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by PAT303

Kizzie,I've been driving defenders all over Oz for 14 years and have never had problems getting parts,never had problems getting servicing and have never had a bad back.Not being able to get parts for Land Rovers is a myth past around by non Land Rover owners. Pat

Well that is a relief thanks Pat! A myth thats been busted from firsthand experience.

**GlennWA** · 13th March 2012, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by tonyci

Kizzie

On my second Defender (well actually first one was a county many moons ago).

I have taken mine to some rough remote spots with no drama.
My Defender does not leak, and my arm does not get cold in winter.
The seats look rubbish but as others have said are actually good on long trips.
Re spare parts never had an issue, but have had to wait several days for Toyota parts to arrive over the years.
The Defender certainly has character, if you buy one you also will become addicted to its quirks (in a positive way).
Tough choice, but I would go the defender.
Cheers.
Tony

"quirks" lol - like how you put that - I think we have to take it for a longer test drive lol!!!

**p38arover** · 13th March 2012, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by GlennWA

Glenn Loves the defender and previously in the past we have gotten every car he wanted...

Some years ago, Kizzie, I made the mistake of telling my wife she couldn't have a car she had set her heart on (Toyota Celica). I rejected it 'cos it only had a driver's side airbag. I wanted an airbag for our daughter.

Once we got past the car we bought instead (Holden (Commodore) VT Berlina) she has selected her cars:

Ford Probe (quite nice to drive and plenty of room for a 2-door coupe)
2005 Subaru Forester
2009 Subaru Forester
2010 Subaru Turbo Forester (she wanted more power).

Did did recently tell me to buy a Defender 90 and that she would drive it, too.

**p38arover** · 13th March 2012, 01:19 PM

This Patrol could be worth looking at: Overlander 4WD :: View topic - 2009 Nissan Patrol GU Wagon - $45000.

**GlennWA** · 13th March 2012, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

Some years ago, Kizzie, I made the mistake of telling my wife she couldn't have a car she had set her heart on.

Every NEW car her see's he has his heart set on... I would love to enjoy a little more comfort. and Aircon - like more air con than just the two little round vents what about rear passengers dont they get hot?

Also what about airbags I heard that the DEF doesnt come with ANY? Is that true?

That patrol looks lovely but for 5k more we get a new one pretty much same accessories bar a few extra's

The patrol we are looking at

2011 NEW
7 seats leather all leather (not partial)
sunroof
roof mounted DVD player
roof rails
snorkel
towpack
side runners
the dust disperser thingamabob on the rear window
black steel bullbar
heavy duty 4WD mats and a set of carpet ones
6yr/150,000k warranty

and I'm having mind blanks lol

plus... need to mention that the next two years the vehicle is mainly going to be me as the driver unless going on holidays in which case we share. But its going to be used as a daily driver.

Oh I also want to mention I have alot of trouble trying to get up into the defender as I'm too short LOL now how am I going to get a baby car seat in and out easily once heading to the shops on a local grocery run too??

Kiz

**Ivan** · 13th March 2012, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by GlennWA

Oh I also want to mention I have alot of trouble trying to get up into the defender as I'm too short LOL now how am I going to get a baby car seat in and out easily once heading to the shops on a local grocery run too??

Definitely need a D4 or D3, drop it into access height and you will have no problems getting into it.

Ivan

2stroke · 13th March 2012, 02:44 PM

Well Kizzie you'll need to get yourself into a Defender and drive it for at least an hour or so, only you'll know if the seat is comfortable. There are questions about the reliability of both vehicles depending on whom you ask. Rover will be more economical but silly that they still have such a small tank.
My wife is only 5 ft and she drives mine okay.

**Mike_S** · 13th March 2012, 03:01 PM

I'd be heading to Melbourne Land Rover, having a chat & a coffee with the resident forumite (sniegy) and seeing about having the 110 they have on the forecourt for a few hours, see how you fare with it over a longer period of time. Just bear in mind it has MTR's on it which could add to the noise.

Having travelled in a Patrol as a passenger here and driven Defenders in the UK (but not here), I'd be putting my money into the Defender. And that's not just because I like Land Rovers, to be honest I'm only a recent convert. I'll agree with the comments here about the relative comfort of each, no way on this earth would opening the door of a Defender give you an impression of comfort, whereas the Patrol does and in both cases, each gave me the opposite experience. I can drive the Deefer for hours (used them at work on construction sites) and not be uncomfortable, whereas the Patrol had my bad back grumbling after only an hour, the seats just don't offer any support once you've been in them a while.

The Defender doesn't have all the creature comforts, I'll give you that, but on the whole it's not a bad package and from what I read, it'll be worth more in a few years than the equivalent Patrol (based on purchase prices). You might even find the recent Land Rover deals still on the table, just be serious that you're comparing the Defender to the Patrol and you're ready to put your money down. It's then up to the salesdude whether he's interested or not.

Thread: Help - Wife wants a Patrol, I am heart struck on Defender

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