Thread: Facts on Disco vs Defender

Defenders are more expensive as they are rare; also having less to go wrong, they have a very very long service life, so they hold their value better, much more so than the Disco's which having a plastic interior etc, fall apart around you. As well as the 'romance' of owning a special vehicle!

Defenders do officially use more fuel, I mean what can be expected when it has the aerodynamics of a brick dunny, low gearing and is slightly heavier.

You can get a Discovery to do what a Defender can offroad, they don't leak (unless you hose the back door seal at the top) and they have much much better ergonomics. I think a Discovery from 1994 is better to drive than a Defender from today for instance, albeit less powerful.

FWIW if I could justify the price (and had enough disposable money) I'd have a Defender.

In reality it's personal preference, you have to decide for yourself, so drive both.

And welcome to the forum.

Cheers
Will

The old adage poor man pays twice has never been more accurate when it comes to the disco v defender.

I hated the **** plastic interior of my old disco. I had constant electrical issues and spent more time trying to fix aesthetic issues than I did fixing mechanical ones.

My defender on the other hand still has aesthetic issues but they're easier to sort. The electrical issues I've had I have been able to fix myself which is saying a lot because I'm fairly electrically retarded.

If you can only afford a disco then I guess thats what you'll have to get, but If you can square away the investment on a good 300tdi or TD5 defender then you're money will go further and from the sound of it you will enjoy your investment more instead of driving around going "I wish..."

I have both but one is an ex army Isuzu 110 and the other is a 3.9v8 1997 auto disco so probably not exactly the comparison you're looking for. As mentioned above you've got to drive them to see which you prefer, the old Isuzu is a pain to drive compared to the disco but I love it!

Personally if I had 20k and had to choose a TD5 I'd go the disco, but spend the extra money on minor mods to customize the vehicle for how I intended to use it. The less extra features on the disco the better. ( my power windows broke in the down position for the third time in 3 years last week - how I wish they were just wind ups!) also the TD5 mates very well with the auto box, something That isn't available with defender.

It is very hard to compare a defender to a disco.One imho is more of a work truck while the other is more comfort related.They were each designed to do different things.I have both,the defender will definately hold its value far better than the disco,depends what you want it for.Disco is safer,defender looks cool.Welcome to the forum

Originally Posted by phibbzy

The old adage poor man pays twice has never been more accurate when it comes to the disco v defender.

I hated the **** plastic interior of my old disco. I had constant electrical issues and spent more time trying to fix aesthetic issues than I did fixing mechanical ones.

My defender on the other hand still has aesthetic issues but they're easier to sort. The electrical issues I've had I have been able to fix myself which is saying a lot because I'm fairly electrically retarded.

If you can only afford a disco then I guess thats what you'll have to get, but If you can square away the investment on a good 300tdi or TD5 defender then you're money will go further and from the sound of it you will enjoy your investment more instead of driving around going "I wish..."

So basically, what you're saying, is that everyone who owns a Discovery aspires to be like you? With water leaking on your right foot as you drive, wind noise in your ear, and a hunched right shoulder? But because we don't have them we're all poor?

FYI before I got either of my cars, I looked at a Defender, but doing 150 highway km's a day ruled it out, my previous comment about the money is because I don't have that much for a second car.

As far as engines go, I cant comment, but,,
I had a D1 V8 Auto (96), a D2 V8 Auto (2002), and for almost two years now,, a 2011 Defender (2.4L)

You really need to work out what you want to use your car for exactly, how much your willing to modify it, and of course how much cash all up you want to spend. I'm sure others here will both agree and disagree, so here goes.

The Disco's are far more comfortable than I think a Defender could ever be. Having said that, just try and wipe the smile off my dial when I'm driving the Defer
But realistically, the Disco's win hands down when your on the Hwy, or even just any road really. Seating position is excellent, which makes the drive more relaxing. So comfy, I've almost fallen asleep at the wheel more times than I care to remember. Even in the bush, I found my D1 to be awesome, I didn't really drive the D2 in the bush.
I was lucky I think, I had very few problems with my cars electrically, or mechanically.
When in the Defer, I like the way I sit, as I'm more upright, so I seem to be able to see better, especially in the bush.

So why did I choose the Defender over the D3/D4?
For us, its all about long term travelling. The Disco's can be made to go anywhere of course, just like the Defer, however, I look at the Defer as being a "tougher" long range vehicle. With the shape of the Defer, you can add bits to it, including the body work, and it still looks just right. Making it what it has always been viewed as,, and expedition vehicle.
Load it up with extra fuel tanks and water tanks, stow away provisions, and go anywhere for weeks at a time.

Our Defer is no where near as fast as our Disco's were, duh,, V8's Marcus ,,, but just looking at it tells you that . Mind you, I'm into looking at scenery now, so I have no desire to go fast anyway.
I've had more compliments on how good our car looks by drivers of other brands in two years than I ever had whilst owning the Disco's. They view it as being "ready to roll" at a moments notice,, and its all stock standard.

Take them all for a good drive, work out your end goal, then make your decision.

I absolutely love my 94 disco - if I owned defa I recon I would love it as well

Originally Posted by phibbzy

The old adage poor man pays twice has never been more accurate when it comes to the disco v defender.

I hated the **** plastic interior of my old disco. I had constant electrical issues and spent more time trying to fix aesthetic issues than I did fixing mechanical ones.

My defender on the other hand still has aesthetic issues but they're easier to sort. The electrical issues I've had I have been able to fix myself which is saying a lot because I'm fairly electrically retarded.

If you can only afford a disco then I guess thats what you'll have to get, but If you can square away the investment on a good 300tdi or TD5 defender then you're money will go further and from the sound of it you will enjoy your investment more instead of driving around going "I wish..."

Sorry but that's a flawed comparison.
It's comparing two completely different vehicles based on the same strengths and weaknesses.
Yes, the Defender is more rugged. If you're into washing out the inside of your car with a hose then fantastic, get a Defender. If you're one of the lucky ones who feel totally comfortable in a Defender than great, props to you. But not everyone can.
If you're talking Td5, both the Defender and the Disco will have the same problems with regard to electrical items for the most part, obviously there's more features on a Disco, hence more things to go wrong.
But trying to argue that anyone who buys a Discovery is wasting their money because they really want a Defender is rubbish, it's entirely subjective.
Similar to MR LR, I travel upwards of 500km a week. Both the Defender and Discovery were within my budget, I picked a Discovery and I'm perfectly content with that choice.
Cheers
Muppet