Talk me into a Deefer vs a JK Unlimited

I really liked the Jeep and was 99.9% going to buy one but at the end of the day, I Held Back :) and went for the new 110.

Having owned a highly cherished modified sports car previously and then a couple of standard Jap cars before that, for me I know how quickly a car looses it's appeal and you can get bored with it. This is the main reason I think I went for the Defender over the Jeep. I don't like my driving to be boring, I like to be engaged with the car and outside of what the Wranglers potential is offroad I knew I would get bored with it in every day driving because that is where most cars spend most of their time, commuting from A-B until you can get off the tarmac. This is just not the case with the Defender for me, I can't wait to jump into it every morning on or offroad.

I bought the car with the understanding of the reliability issues and took a punt on a new 110, after a couple of issues already sorted after a couple of weeks ownership I wonder what is the next problem that will arise. I had a bit more confidence about the Wrangler from a reliability point of veiw. Having to think along these lines is not a good position to be argueing the Defenders strengths over any other car, but that is where emotion gets in the way again.

The Defender was an emotional purchase for me and I have the personality to deal with known problems if I am unlucky enough to get any and I don't really know enough about off road cars to argue which one is better, I just knew which one I wanted.

Jimnys aren't perfect either, wheels too small, gearing (especially low range) too tall and then there's those CVs, same size as in an LJ50. They ARE reliable though.

Im 1500kms or so into my puma 90 and so far no mechanical issues.... touch wood.

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Originally Posted by MGBman

So that forced me to look at another alternative ( Do not laugh at me) that's the Suzuki Jimny. Though small is capable. The lack of space has is the only problems. Perhaps put something on top ( may changer the cg though) This wins in reliability history, dheap too. The Jimny may not have too much chrisma but I think the real 4x4 enthuriast may NOT rank them too low!

Forgive me if I offend anyone.

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The Jimny is a great little package out of the box. I've actually still got my Jimny, but I simply can't fit all of my camping gear, and two adults plus one dog. Also, and as has been mentioned, if you want to fit anything larger than 28 inch tyres you need to re-gear, which is quite expensive.

That said, I took my Jimny to Landcruiser Park a few years ago with a bunch of mates all running larger rigs with at least 33 inch tyres, and kept up with them through almost all of the tracks. And I reckon if I had lockers I wouldn't have stopped.

Great little 4x4s, but seriously lacking in space...

Agrees, they're capable little cars, and pretty reliable. The only 'recurring' issue I've found with a couple is an appetite for swivel bearings, and some of the switches for the electic selecting 4WD are a little vulnerable.

There are a couple of guys in the local 4x4 club running small lifts and knobbly tyres on their vehicles, and they'll go places you can't steer a 90, the main advantages being low weight and small size, they don't take much recovering when you get em stuck either.

The lack of space in the things is the downfall though, I'm 6ft 3 and can't get comfortable in them -you think defenders lack elbow room?- to the point I wouldn't want to do more than 20 miles or so in one.

I'll stick with my 110 thanks.

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Originally Posted by Frank_Grimes

The Jimny is a great little package out of the box. I've actually still got my Jimny, but I simply can't fit all of my camping gear, and two adults plus one dog. Also, and as has been mentioned, if you want to fit anything larger than 28 inch tyres you need to re-gear, which is quite expensive.

That said, I took my Jimny to Landcruiser Park a few years ago with a bunch of mates all running larger rigs with at least 33 inch tyres, and kept up with them through almost all of the tracks. And I reckon if I had lockers I wouldn't have stopped.

Great little 4x4s, but seriously lacking in space...

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Thanks for the information.

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Originally Posted by DasLandRoverMan

Agrees, they're capable little cars, and pretty reliable. The only 'recurring' issue I've found with a couple is an appetite for swivel bearings, and some of the switches for the electic selecting 4WD are a little vulnerable.

There are a couple of guys in the local 4x4 club running small lifts and knobbly tyres on their vehicles, and they'll go places you can't steer a 90, the main advantages being low weight and small size, they don't take much recovering when you get em stuck either.

The lack of space in the things is the downfall though, I'm 6ft 3 and can't get comfortable in them -you think defenders lack elbow room?- to the point I wouldn't want to do more than 20 miles or so in one.

I'll stick with my 110 thanks.

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Thanks for the tip!

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Originally Posted by voltron

I really liked the Jeep and was 99.9% going to buy one but at the end of the day, I Held Back :) and went for the new 110.

Having owned a highly cherished modified sports car previously and then a couple of standard Jap cars before that, for me I know how quickly a car looses it's appeal and you can get bored with it. This is the main reason I think I went for the Defender over the Jeep. I don't like my driving to be boring, I like to be engaged with the car and outside of what the Wranglers potential is offroad I knew I would get bored with it in every day driving because that is where most cars spend most of their time, commuting from A-B until you can get off the tarmac. This is just not the case with the Defender for me, I can't wait to jump into it every morning on or offroad.

I bought the car with the understanding of the reliability issues and took a punt on a new 110, after a couple of issues already sorted after a couple of weeks ownership I wonder what is the next problem that will arise. I had a bit more confidence about the Wrangler from a reliability point of veiw. Having to think along these lines is not a good position to be argueing the Defenders strengths over any other car, but that is where emotion gets in the way again.

The Defender was an emotional purchase for me and I have the personality to deal with known problems if I am unlucky enough to get any and I don't really know enough about off road cars to argue which one is better, I just knew which one I wanted.

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Totally agree with your part about how boring most cars are and even if they seem "not " in the beginning.
I envy your guts and decision to take a choice.
Cheers!
" Don't drive any boring cars anymore ALL!"

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Originally Posted by ezyrama

The first thing they did was set up camp and proceed to change all the suspension set ups and wheels/tyres before driving. Dont fart arse around, listening to idiot car dealers and mentally challenged Jeep drivers:angel:, just do it!
BTW, the ride in a wrangler really is crap and they leak worse than a mini moke.
A good mate of mine had one and got his money back 14 months later after a nightmare run of 2 gearboxes, 3 ecu's, 2 rear diffs and the brakes caught on fire.

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I have a JK 4door and I run soft top all thru the summer including rains.... Only time it leaked if was not adjusted properly...... Changing suspension set up..... Drop tyre pressure to 16 psi and disconnecting the sway bar (2 grenade pins both either side approx 2 minutes) is all I have seen people do in the last 10 years of driving a Jeep.

Mentally challenged Jeep Drivers... Thats a bit insulting to be honest. I have a Jeep and am looking at buying a 110 Defender not because the Jeep is giving me any troubles but because I respect it as much as I respect the Jeep because of the heritage and cpapbility streight off the showroom floor...... And I wish to drive both in my life....

I have been with SJC for almost 5 years now and havent come across such a case..... Only one Jeep I saw burnt down because the owner didnt read the signals and didnt turn off the traction control in sand..... Brakes kept trying to stop the wheelspin and he kept giving it the berries.... This eventually overheated the tranny and the fluid boiled over onto the exhaust pipe and caught fire......

U quoting same kind of stuff the Toyota crowd say about the Land Rovers.. One of their favourite ones is "90% of all the Landrovers ever produced are still on the road. The other 10% made it home".

So insulting other brands does not make your car better......

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Originally Posted by JamesB71

Im 1500kms or so into my puma 90 and so far no mechanical issues.... touch wood.

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I've done nearly 13000kms in my new 90 and the biggest problem for me has been filling the tank up! I love driving it. Getting it a present soon, got a snorkel on order!