Thread: Convincing the mrs..

I don't mind the Wranglers but I still think that the Defender wins hands down.. it's tows waaaaaay more than a Wrangler (which was important to me as I do a lot of towing) but it's also better offroad and I think it looks nicer.. and its more original.. there are so many Wranglers on the road now.. beside the Defender makes me smile every time I get in it, I don't think I would have felt that way with a Wrangler.

Everyone is forgetting something. not that there's anything wrong with that.

Be a man, buy a Defender.

I was in a similar position 6 months ago. I ended up buying a 4 door auto Wrangler. Forget the diesel Jeep. The extra dollars paying for a diesel is not worth it and this can be around an $8G difference depending on where you buy.

A mate bought a Defender 90 at the same time and he paid more again for it than the price of a diesel Jeep. He also reckons that my Wrangler has more usable space than his 90.

The Pentastar engine in the Jeep is a great performer and economical. The tiptronic auto box doesn't hunt and will allow you to hold gears if that is your penchant.

When choosing ask for the projected servicing costs too.

Good luck in your choice.

I considered 3 cars when i got the Defender 90.
Jeep wrangler
Fj cruiser
the 90

the jeep to me seemed to be 'plastic' i have mates who have them and while the perform great offroad they allways seem to need to push them really hard to do it.
(petrol though) suspension wise I think the jeep wins out, with the sway bar disconnects and all aswell. when i was looking they had just canned the old diesel and ha dent released the new one yet so only petrol was available (was buying new only) i had a sit in them and they felt 'cheap' unless you were to get the top of the line type deal, but then your talking some big dollars. . .

the FJ cruiser was comfortable huge available space drove so well on road, i even test drove it off road a little and it was brilliant, but i couldn't bring myself to buy an auto(cant get a manual FJ in Aus) and i was well and truly over independent suspension after my last 4wd. but if i had the money again. . . and the fj came in diesel manual here in Aus. . . i may jsut have got one. . a very very nice bit of kit the fj. . .

the Defender. . . to be honest this is how my purchase of the defender went. .
saw 39,990 drive away price. . walked into dealer next day and dropped 10G deposit. . . no test drive, no time wasted looking at it just walked in and purchased it.

for me it was simple, I love everything British, I also drive a 1963 Morris mini cooper and I ride a 2012 triumph street triple. as soon as my old 4wd is finished being parted out I will own all British forms of transport.

the Defender is so iconic, and it has personality. you don't just buy a defender you are making a new quirky best friend at the same time.

if you don't 'love' the defender and you have to ask the question. . . it may not be your cup of tea.. ..

test drive both, (offroad if they will let you) the jeep is more comfortable, but on long trips im thankful for the defenders upright seat and its somewhat strange at first ergonomics but it leaves you feeling fine after a long drive where my mates in jeeps are fatigued. . .

speak to jeep owners. . they have there own culture similar to land rover owners. though rarely will they speak about the issues there cars have so you want to see what there longevity is like. . . take a look at how many land rovers are still going on the road despite how 'unreliable' most people seem to think they are.

my 2c
Leroy

If you buy a heep hope it does not break down getting parts from there dealers is just painfull and never have any parts in Australia when I have needed them and they drive ****house on the road they seem to wobble along makes me sea sick

So when it ****s its self under warenty and the dealer can't get parts your going to get them from over seas and expect the dealer to fit them? Good on ya

Originally Posted by 460cixy

So when it ****s its self under warenty and the dealer can't get parts your going to get them from over seas and expect the dealer to fit them? Good on ya

if it's a warranty job you simply drop it off (or they pick it up on a flatbed) and they sort it.

I wouldn't think land rover dealers would have too much trouble getting parts.

If you have a good dealer you should get a loan car in the mean time.

remember... picking your dealer is also very important!

as for out of warranty work, It's allot cheaper to buy Land Rover parts from the UK.
I imagine it's the same for Jeep with parts from the US.
but you then have to do the work yourself.
Not many mechanics let you supply the parts for the job

but then it's a bit of a pain if the part is wrong or faulty if you get it from the other side of the world

good luck which ever way you go

The diesel auto was developed with help from MB when they owned jeep so would be better option to go for in a 4 door unlimited. The main difference besides far lower towing capacity is the load carrying ability. It's around the 550kg mark from memory. This means a fridge(50kg) a b/bar+winch 120kg, a roof rack = bars to support it, 50kg, rear tyre carrier and longer range tank 100kgs==== 320kg loaded without any gear or yourself or a load limit of 220kgs which is 3 smallish blokes or 2 of me
Hook up a trailer with a 100kg ball weight and your down to 120kg that you can put in the wrangler. So 1 person a swag and a case of beer!