Thread: I need advice. Defender or dico?

I was in the same boat mate! I’ve always wanted a classic defender but have 2 small kids. The wife, also a pom, didn’t want a “bulky and clunky” family car. So we got a disco 4 and it’s amazing! Great for daily driving but can still handle some serious fun off road! Was planning on using it for a trip around Oz but our plans have changed.
I’m sadly selling it next month. 2014 with just under 70k on the clock.
Go with the disco for now and save up for the defender when the kids are a bit older. You’ll have more time to go out and they’ll appreciate it more then.

To me a Defender is the "other" car you have in the shed for specific occasions. I don't see them as a viable family car, although the Defender is my main car - my kids have left home.

A new member here calls up for forum advice on a vehicle choice and you guys turn it into a Land Rover/Landcruiser ****ing competition.

Congratulations fellas , the poor guy must scratching his head wondering what the hell he's gotten himself into....

Neither! If talking about comfort and safety then land cruisers. I think Defenders are getting old and not many mechanic want to work on them to fix properly. But much more fun to drive than any other boring Japanese cars! I love them but I do not have trust for long trip. Mine was dry under the truck when I got them but after driven 2oookm it developed leaks from engine and transmission and transfer case and also diffs. I was upset but I just leant to live with it. If I was travelling alone and had unlimited time and money then I will take my defender everywhere! But for now it is only for weekend drive and tinkering purpose.

As per subject, a D5 is not going to be a fair comparison to a 200Tdi discovery. Just as a 200Tdi Defender is not going to compare to a 2.2l Puma Defender. You mention Td5, that puts it into a range which is a pretty sweet spot in LR products. My Defender is a little older a 300Tdi but myDisco is a Td5 so have experienced at least one of the ones you are after.

In short the Disco is more comfortable mainly from road noise and general dust and water ingress perspective. The Td5 Defender had a good air con as did anything after that. Short comings of the Disco is just size. Defender is cavernous compared to anything else, Disco is a bit shorter so storage space is reduced. Rear seats in a D2 are only for small people, leg room is limited, classic defender rear seats are very poor in comfort as the seat is very thin on the padding and you know there is no headrests. For everyday use the Disco is more civilised, for camping the defender has it on space. Air conditioning is not going to be your issue. If you want something other than metal and plastic then the defender is not for you. If you want to be able to hose it out the the D2 is not as good as the Td5 Defender. Your wife will want the D2 unless she is a Lara Croft sort of girl. Oh, the auto is very good off road, as is the traction control another plus for the D2.

Originally Posted by AlexL

So my dream car has always been a Land Rover Defender.
I want to kit her out for mud, climbs, beaches, touring Australia (eventually) and most importantly family camping.
My issue is I have a two year old boy, a girl due in July and a missus that wants the car to have working AC (you'd think she was the pom and I'm the Aussie)
So here lies my problem, I've heard defenders don't have child anchor points, AC is below par (although can be improved) but does tick all the other boxes. Including looming 100x better.
My question, can a disco do what I want from it plus fit my actual needs? Whilst also being cheaper to buy?
The defender means a lot of saving, whilst a Disco I could buy next week.
I'm looking at the TD5 models on both.
Or would a Freelander be a good choice?
Obviously there is a reason the British and ANSAC forces used defenders for so long.
Can I get advice please.
Alex

Hi Alex
Come check out my Defender.
You can private message me , it is for sale!
Herc

Originally Posted by AlexL

Thank you for your honest opinion.
I'm leaning towards a Disco and then maybe get my Def later in life. I've seen the price is a lot lower for a Disco. I am okay with mechanical work, but no harm in learning more.
Also think it'll be better for the kids.

Google "Land Rover Defender roll over" and have a look - typically crushed to the door sills.

In contrast the D3 and D4 are very crash-worthy: someone on Aulro rolled one in in the Vic Alps a couple of years ago and if I recall correctly the doors could all be opened.

Edit: the D1 and D2 are (probably) better in a crash than the old Defender, but nothing like the D3, D4 or D5. Again, there's a video on YouTube of a D2 that one of the UK car magazines crashed into a small Renault, and the D2 didn't do well.

Originally Posted by shack

People need to realise they weren't designed to go off the bitumen.

Is it people who aren't designed to go off the bitumen?