Disco vs. Defender?

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Originally Posted by gusthedog

Or could it be that to own a leaky, rattly, unsafe four wheel drive you have to be oblivious to alternatives? :wasntme:

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Are you oblivious to the alternatives? I walk the streets with a crash helmet and a neck brace in case I'm hit by a car. I wear a batman bullet proof, burn proof, bubble wrap onesy at all times! Have you got a super expensive baby stroller with side impact airbags and automatic brakes on roll away detection? I've invented and patented one - yours for $10,999 AUD. Safety for your children at all costs!;)


Being so super safety conscious you may wonder how I can occasionally get in and drive a defender :o

I have given the defender some safety star ratings of my own:

Firstly its noisy and scary as hell at high speed so you are constantly encouraged to drive below the high speed limit.

On town streets with short roads and lower speed limits you wont accelerate quick enough to ever threaten the speed limit or startle a mouse. Certainly not worth trying to speed up between speed bumps!

There are so many noises in the cabin that you just cannot switch off. Unlike these so called modern safety wonder cars you will not drive along having your butt caressed by heated massage seats whilst the stereo whispers classical music to you in high fidelity as the radar controlled cruise control says 'I got this, take a nap!'

In a defender you cannot hear your kids in the back or even your wife along side!

A kid crossing the road between two cars may not notice your high powered low noise car before it suddenly appears. First you hear a defender, then you see a defender, a few minutes later you watch it pass.

If a builders scaffold pole comes flying through a defenders driver window it wont hit the driver because they sit behind the B pillar. ahHa didnt think of that one in their tests did they!:p

I could possibly go on... :confused:

New car safety features promote a false sense of security. If you speed about in your 10 star safety rated wonder car and crash, even with your crumple zones and air bags you are still just as likely to be killed through the windows, trapped in a fire, wiped out by a road train, etc, etc, etc.

Crash avoidance aids are the high value safety features. I think ABS/Stability braking systems are fantastic additions to the roads. The new defender has ABS but all defenders are a marvel of safety psychology, they encourage and in some way's enforce safe driving through design.

Whatever you drive, BE SAFE AND DRIVE CAREFULLY!
- Captin Safely

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Originally Posted by isuzurover

Agree completely. My wife also thinks they look hideous and I have to agree...

Then D1 looks good IMHO, the D2 not too bad. From then on they got far and fugly. (conversely I think the current RRS is probably the nicest looking rangie ever made).

Aside from the looks, I still can't believe they are a tonne heavier than my 110!




I think you completely missed Rick's point...




Good points.

As for the bolded bits - it is not just "not worry" but it is so much harder to actually dint a defender offroad.

e.g. - I drove out of this without any damage
http://i935.photobucket.com/albums/a...tLevuka052.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...013/02/727.jpg

Gordon (gghaggis) is the only person I know who does tracks of similar levels of difficulty in a D3/RRS and from his own accounts on here (and seeing his current and former vehicles driving around the burbs) regular panel beating and tail light replacements are needed.

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What track is that,were is it and when are you inviting me on the next trip. Pat

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Originally Posted by gusthedog

So an ANCAP rating is all marketing is it? Thanks for the tip.

And are you for real about that statement on the Limo? What a load of bull dung.

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It is marketing hype yes,the only difference between a five star rating and one lower is crash avoidance,stability control and pedestrian safety,human friendly bumpers,neither will do squat in a crash. Pat

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Originally Posted by PAT303

What track is that,were is it and when are you inviting me on the next trip. Pat

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That was at Levuka - 2011 GCLRO trip. WA has a distinct lack of rainforest (and steep hills :( )

I also don't have pics of the creek/waterfall track. My (near stock) 110 fitted through without a scratch. A Disco/RRS would have been wedged in the middle...

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Originally Posted by gusthedog

So an ANCAP rating is all marketing is it? Thanks for the tip.

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I never said that at all, but you should do bit of research what it really translates to.

Incidentally I have just purchased my first ever new vehicle (I am fortunate) it has the highest ANCAP rating available currently, it isnt a Land Rover nor a 4wd. despite this there are many circumstances where it wont help me any more than a lesser rated vehicle.

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And are you for real about that statement on the Limo? What a load of bull dung.

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If you are serious about the question your missus aked you and you intend to apply that to your choice of vehicle based on that response , then yes. How many Presidents have died in car crash?:wasntme:

I guess it's a question guaranteed to get a response or two, but fact is they're two VERY different horses designed for two VERY different courses. One is a small truck which can carry a load offroad, one is a family car which can travel offroad. If you know what course you need to operate on... and if you have the money chosing the right horse can't be that hard, right?

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Originally Posted by strangy

I never said that at all, but you should do bit of research what it really translates to.

Incidentally I have just purchased my first ever new vehicle (I am fortunate) it has the highest ANCAP rating available currently, it isnt a Land Rover nor a 4wd. despite this there are many circumstances where it wont help me any more than a lesser rated vehicle.



If you are serious about the question your missus aked you and you intend to apply that to your choice of vehicle based on that response , then yes. How many Presidents have died in car crash?:wasntme:

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Actually you're being quite insulting. My wife's point was that we need to buy the safest car within reason for our family. You saying that we should buy a limo and have security guards is over the top and aggravating.

Ive actually done a lot of research into car safety and I'm sick of people thinking they understand your situation on a bloody forum. I bought my wife a new car. And guess what? Its got a 5 star ANCAP rating.

and on that note why dont we just all take a deep breath hey ;)

For me its about realistically managing the risks you can manage. If its a choice between two great cars but one of them is crash tested, has a recognized safety standard and has child anchors factory fitted then thats my decision made. I don't think I'd have the opportunity to regularly over stretch a D3/4 off-road anyway.

And managing risk is how I ride my bike. I don't ride in towns or traffic, I don't go fast, I always wear full safety gear and think all drivers are trying to kill me. If you are happy to drive like that in a defender too thats fine. I used to own a fantastic 110. But times have changed and for me lowering the risk to those that matter to me matters more than outright off road ability. My choice given the two would be the D3.

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Originally Posted by gusthedog

Actually you're being quite insulting. My wife's point was that we need to buy the safest car within reason for our family. You saying that we should buy a limo and have security guards is over the top and aggravating.

Ive actually done a lot of research into car safety and I'm sick of people thinking they understand your situation on a bloody forum. I bought my wife a new car. And guess what? Its got a 5 star ANCAP rating.

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Ha, insulting? aggravating? over a forum comment like that..........pfft
hasnt stopped you posting on a forum about others decisions ideas or situations.