Thread: Land Rover, which one is best?- Your Opinion?

My 2a LRPV copped a flogging by SASR and still is a bloody good vehicle although doesn't win in the comfort stakes.

I dont think "best 4WD" means most capable 4WD at all. There are so many other factors that makes a 4WD.

All of the Defenders, Rangies and Discovery's are capable offroad, so in that respect, they are all excellent machines. The Defenders especially the Extreme TD5 with Rover diffs is unreal, but maybe a Disco TD5, or a Rangie are just as good or not much in it. I'm not so much a luddite to say that electronics or intercoolers are just another thing to go wrong, as they are a modern reality that also make them better in so many ways.

But what else seperates them? The next major - which does not necessarily mean only - feature is the cabin, comfort and ergonomics. That to me makes the Defender extinct and leaves it to the Disco's and the Rangies. Personally I like the Disco, Personally I cant afford a Rangie either. I also think most people would appreciate split climate control, sound insulation, comfort, ergonomics, automatic transmission, cruise controls, wipers that work, decent stereo, great seats, reasonable dust sealing etc I remember that every time I drive my Series ute.

Oh. My answer is the Rangie Sport.

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

1. Define BEST
2. Define OFFROAD

1. Define best :
A vehicle that will keep going ! over the worst terrain you can throw at it and do it well.
Rough, tough and will get you out of the S**t more than leaving you in it.
Fuel consumption, emissions, comfort all go out of the window when you have a big muddy hill climb.

2. Define offroad
Lots of sand/mud/water/bush; hills, valleys, gulleys.
Stuff you wouldn’t want to walk up or down.

If it’s been graded it’s not off road!


So looks like my 2 door rangie might be in the running?

Originally Posted by Slunnie

reasonable dust sealing

If I had a wish list that would be on it

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I dont think "best 4WD" means most capable 4WD at all. There are so many other factors that makes a 4WD.

All of the Defenders, Rangies and Discovery's are capable offroad, so in that respect, they are all excellent machines. The Defenders especially the Extreme TD5 with Rover diffs is unreal, but maybe a Disco TD5, or a Rangie are just as good or not much in it. I'm not so much a luddite to say that electronics or intercoolers are just another thing to go wrong, as they are a modern reality that also make them better in so many ways.

But what else seperates them? The next major - which does not necessarily mean only - feature is the cabin, comfort and ergonomics. That to me makes the Defender extinct and leaves it to the Disco's and the Rangies. Personally I like the Disco, Personally I cant afford a Rangie either. I also think most people would appreciate split climate control, sound insulation, comfort, ergonomics, automatic transmission, cruise controls, wipers that work, decent stereo, great seats, reasonable dust sealing etc I remember that every time I drive my Series ute.

As I pointed out from the start - define what you mean by best! You won't get agreement on that, so you won't get agreement on the final answer.

And from my point of view, while I can appreciate the points you mention, the major separation point is not these, but the need of a dealer to diagnose any problems - which can be a major problem if the nearest dealer, thanks to LRA's policy of closing down dealers, is thousands of kilometres away; and is a bit of a problem even if the nearest dealer is only 50km away, if there is no phone coverage and no traffic or houses where your engine light came on - better be good at walking. Hence I would automatically disqualify anything post 300Tdi engine.

But I don't expect everyone to agree with me.
John

Originally Posted by noddy

For me it would be a 50th Anniversary V8 auto 90....awesome offroad and more comfy and easier to live with than your 'normal' Defender.

LR UK could not produce a large capacity diesel, so that did not stop the locals, they just went and a got a Jap motor and produced one of the best 4wd on the planet.

I don't think " could not produce a large capacity diesel " has much to do with anything. The reason Landrovers diesel was 2.5 Litres was for tax purposes so they could sell in Europe.

The Australian market for LR is so small they were never going to produce something larger just for us.

BTW. I have to agree with the missus, Defender because WE own one.

I will always go for the Defender because it's where my heart lies - no other reason to be honest. The series where tough vehicles, as where the county's. There is nothing wrong with the Rangies or Discovery's, they are just not my cup of tea so to speak.

I have always considered that being able to fix pretty much anything regardless of where you are as a major factor. Wherever I am I can pretty much fix any problem that comes up - other than major failures (my transfer case as an example). Although even then I managed to get it to the next town.

Electronics are good - I'm not going to deny that. But as stated here already, where outside of major cities can you get someone that knows how to fix them - or even understand them. That is and will always be my major concerns with Rangie's and Discovery's. And that's the only reason too!

I like the newer Defenders (300 and TD5) but I do prefer my old 200tDi. It's been honest and pretty damn reliable. And I have got over 500k on the clock, so I've got a fair idea of what goes wrong and right with them now. It's not perfect, but it's not bad. And who owns a Defender and worries about scrathing it, or getting dents in it etc. As a rule most people that own Defenders go out and really get into it - and if they are unlucky enough to cause damage it's usually very easy to fix.

As for the Isuzu engine - it's reliable. No-one is going to deny that. But it chews fuel like a Toyota, is slow as a wet sheep getting out of a paperbag, and it was the Army that chose that engine. I drive them daily, and it nearly makes me cry when I go up any slight incline - I do love getting into my Tdi afterwards. It really makes me appreciate it that's for sure.

I know the purests are going to near kill me for my above description - but it is true. They are reliable - but that's it.

Cheers (and hiding now)
Chris

Originally Posted by cewilson

I will always go for the Defender because it's where my heart lies - no other reason to be honest. The series where tough vehicles, as where the county's. There is nothing wrong with the Rangies or Discovery's, they are just not my cup of tea so to speak.

I have always considered that being able to fix pretty much anything regardless of where you are as a major factor. Wherever I am I can pretty much fix any problem that comes up - other than major failures (my transfer case as an example). Although even then I managed to get it to the next town.

Electronics are good - I'm not going to deny that. But as stated here already, where outside of major cities can you get someone that knows how to fix them - or even understand them. That is and will always be my major concerns with Rangie's and Discovery's. And that's the only reason too!

I like the newer Defenders (300 and TD5) but I do prefer my old 200tDi. It's been honest and pretty damn reliable. And I have got over 500k on the clock, so I've got a fair idea of what goes wrong and right with them now. It's not perfect, but it's not bad. And who owns a Defender and worries about scrathing it, or getting dents in it etc. As a rule most people that own Defenders go out and really get into it - and if they are unlucky enough to cause damage it's usually very easy to fix.

As for the Isuzu engine - it's reliable. No-one is going to deny that. But it chews fuel like a Toyota, is slow as a wet sheep getting out of a paperbag, and it was the Army that chose that engine. I drive them daily, and it nearly makes me cry when I go up any slight incline - I do love getting into my Tdi afterwards. It really makes me appreciate it that's for sure.

I know the purests are going to near kill me for my above description - but it is true. They are reliable - but that's it.

Cheers (and hiding now)
Chris

Had never really come across the Isuzu in Defenders untill i came here. Don't really have them in the UK.
Sorry but is it just me, that thinks that they are really noisey and seem much more like a tractor engine