Thread: Talk me into a Deefer vs a JK Unlimited

We have owned a 2008 JK unlimited manual diesel from new. Its my wifes DD and she loves it, most of her driving is around town and over all it gets around 10/11 per 100.
However I am selling my V8 TJ jeep to get a 110 or a 130 to set up for touring.
Here are some reasons why the JK may or may not be what you are looking for.
First off they are small in the back very small, and since it has an internal roll cage it makes it even smaller in side then it looks from the outside, next roof racks are a big problem, since the roof is fiberglass its not very strong, so there are limited options for roof racks that carry much at all. so you have to go to a external roof rack that bolts onto the body or bumper bar and windscreen =$$$.
With the diesel engine there is no room to put a second battery in the engine bay, you can with a petrol but not diesel. so you have to store the battery in the cab taking up more of what little usable space you have to start with. on batteries it can only take yellow top optomers, that is. the factory battery tray is even made to only take the opotmer we have done 2 batterys in 5 years = $$$. the engine has proven to be ok so far for us, however they are well known for blowing turbo hoses and when towing a bugger to get moving until the turbo spools up so you have to ride the clutch.

They also have a very low towing ability 2300kg for the 4 door with a ball weight of 170kg and a unbraked trailer of 750kg.

However they are good off road, 33" tires go straight on with out binding as they come standard with 32". They leak, rattle but like a Landy you love them or hate them. I want some thing to tour in and we wont be doing it in my wifes JK, we will be doing it in Landy

Sorry for the long reply and its true what has been said b4 about the jeep forum, get on it and have a look around and ask the same question, I am a member of both forums and found everyone to be helpful. PM me if you want more information.

Steve

Sorry mate but if you have to be talked into a Defender , then you are not ready for a Defender.
A Defender is more than a 4wd, it is a life style, you will either lover it or hate it and it is better to find this out before you buy one.
Test drive as many as you can, take the misses and kids out on the test drives.
If you love them, then you can put up with all ther foibles, and there is plenty of them.If you hate it, then it will be the worst veichle in the world.
But love it or hate it , you get what you see, it is a great veichle that will go for years, it brings a smile to your face every time you drive it, you will wave to other Defender drivers, because we know how much hey love theirs.
I love my Henry, sure there may be more comfortable cars, with more gadgets, but they re not a Defender.
Think of a Defender as a blank canvas, you can add or change it to suit you needs so simply, sure you can add things to other cars, but they are added on , they never become the car like it does on a Defender.

Either choice will have you putting up with quirks and foibles, I guess you'll just have to choose your favourite foibles.

I've been a Defender owner pretty much since I started driving, I've had at least one of every other Land Rover model up to and including the freelander (Series I,II and III, IIA an IIB FC, 101, 110, 90, Discovery I, RRC And P38) and whilst try all have their positives the current 110 Station Wagon is the one most well loved, although I do miss the 101.

Yes, the Disco is a more accomplished all round car, and the Rangies were more comfortable, but the defender is the one that has endured longest.
It's a bit of a mongrel and runs a 3.5 Mazda Tdi with an auto box (makes it a lovely car to drive) but is pretty much my ideal vehicle.
Fuel wise the Mazda will do 10l/100km although I have previously owned a 300 Tdi hard top that would average 8.5l/100km (pump turned up, disco transfer gears and Michelin XZY truck tyres) which was impressive by any measure.

Defenders just do it better.

I have a MY13 90 with only 6000km on it, I have kept a check of mileage since new and it averages 10.7lts/100km. This include daily drive and highway and first gear bush driving. Considering all the difference in driving conditions, I'm very happy with it.
They are quirky but it has continually surprised me as to how comfortable it is.
I stepped up from a Suzuki Swift Sport and find the 90 is more comfortable overall

Originally Posted by frantic

One suggestion, weigh what you put in on a big camp trip, plus bar, winch, sliders and the weight of the dog yourself and your partner. In the jeep 4 door you would be dangerously close to if not over GVM so if you had a prang the insurance company could use it as an excuse not to pay. From memory the diesel jeep auto 4 door can carry under 500 kg compared to the 1050 in a 110 defender.
Go a defender, Tom woods prop, Gwyn Lewis suspension kit , and Ashcroft locker and axles/cv's along with either 255/85. R16 or bigger 35 in rubber.

This is something that I hadn't actually considered, but has probably been an issue in the past, as I'm pretty sure I've overloaded my XJ Cherokee with camping gear, in and on top.

The 110 Defender scores seriously there with it's payload.

On the offroad matter - what sort of manually activated lockers are available for the 110?

From what I've read there are the following:

• Ashcroft Air Lockers - are these the same type as ARB, with the (sometimes) dodgy actuator that involves pumping air into the housing?
• TJM Pro Locker - would be my preference, but I'm not sure if they make one specific to the 110 Defender
• ARB Air Lockers - everyone I know who has had these has had trouble. Relatively minor trouble, but trouble still.

Any other options?

Originally Posted by Mettalique

I have a MY13 90 with only 6000km on it, I have kept a check of mileage since new and it averages 10.7lts/100km.

Our MY13 90 with just over 7000km on it is around the same, 10.5l/100, with a similar driving pattern. Have noticed the last 1500km or so it is really hitting its stride and running smoother, must be getting "run in". We will never see 700km out of a tank though.

It's our first Defender and very very happy with it, the comfort level exceeds expectations. Cabin noise is probably the most noticible area with room for improvement, but even then I wouldn't say it is bad, but we came from a Ford Escape which has a well known noisey cabin.

I probably should add something useful to this conversation...

Have a good think about the community you will be buying into. If you buy a Land Rover then look at all the wonderful, helpful and genuine mates you have by association. If you buy a Jeep, then... well, I hope you like hairdressers and soccer mums .