Defender vs Discovery

Given the low number of kms you will do in the vehicle, I think you'll find that the Disco will just age and depreciate. I agree with Phoenix that the Defender will hold it's value a lot better - having just bought a low km Defender myself (won't be low km for long though).

Walker makes a good point about considering a Rangie. I get lynched every time I say it - but a Disco is just a plastic Range Rover. I'm sure glad I've got a 1988 Range Rover and not a 1994 Discovery - though you may have to get an older Rangie, it's certainly worth considering (unless you're definitely getting a diesel).

The Defender also brings more character into the equation, and it's nice to have a "tractor" as a 2nd car. As far as comfort goes - I don't understand what people don't like about the Defender, 10 hours a day, 14 days straight of driving highway / corrugations / desert dunes and not a hint of a sore back. It may not be as plush when you sit in, but the Defenders seating supports you well.

I agree with Walker as you could get an early model Rangie and rebuild the entire thing with Td5 conversion and everything you need for about the same money as a modded second hand disco but everything is new so no surprises.

My plastic sill panel just saved me a **** load of dosh as I whacked it on a big rock in Gembrook the other day and has cost me $40 to repair.

Do that on anything else with a steel sill panel.

The 2 pootrols I was with both killed alloy side steps on the same rock and the only car that made it with out hitting the rock was an XJ jeep with front and rear lockers and 3" lift on 33" muddies and rock sliders.

I thought that was a pretty cheap repair.

Diesel is definatly the way to go in either rangie or disco.

Not much bad to say about the rangie except they have worse resale than a Deawoo and they dont come with a Diesel and are too small to put a gas tank in the back and the back hangs too low if you put a decent size one under the back.

A couple of electrical gremlins here and there on a few models and stay well clear of the air suspention if your going to play off road a bit.

My disco has been great even though I don't sit in it for 10 to 14 hrs like the other blokes with their Defenders (numb bums probably why they think it's so comfy) but I love it.

Defenders are for tradies and farmers but can be used for touring if you find them comfy, it's just I don't.

Get a defender mine is very comfortable and you get more style in a defender !! (sorry disco drivers i still love em')

As I said I love them they are great work horses but thats about it for me I prefer the Disco as I like the small luxuries you get like spacious seating and lecky windows aircon that keeps you cool and that wonderful auto.

Also the price.

Mine cost $20,000 4 years ago with most of the extras you need for 4wding(TJM winch bar, snorkle, dual batts, 6 stack CD player, UHF, Hella lights and brand new BFG atr's) and 189,000kms on the clock.

I added a winch and just about to lift it up and fit bigger tyres for a bit of diff clearence.

Now done 279,000kms and not too many stuffups to cost me my hard earned.

You can pick up similar now around here for about the $10,000 to $15,000 in 300Tdi or $5000 to $9000 for V8.

A mate picked up a manual 300tdi for $5000 a few weeks ago but the engine is noisy and needs a rebuild but he's got a rover workshop so he's no concerned.

I love my Disco Td5 and I also was very happy with my previous 300Tdi Disco (which I rolled). Last October I bought a 300Tdi Defender as a second car and also as a bush vehicle.

On a long trip a Disco is great, comfortable, quite etc and of course its reasonably good off road too.

But the Defender comes alive off-road and if you intend to do a lot of bush track driving, slow, uneven ground, mud, sand, etc... then thats the one to go for.

I wouldn't get rid of either Landy, but now the Disco is more the town car and for when we want some comfort on a trip.

For trips go the fender, but then I'm biased. loads of room for gear and cant stop them. But I'd love a new disco for long family trips, nothing too extreme for the comfort only. great driving position and still very capable.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Defender=1st

Get a defender mine is very comfortable and you get more style in a defender !! (sorry disco drivers i still love em')

---

STYLE??? WTF? Spent nearly 20 years driving around Defender equivalents in the Army - have the permanent bruise on my left calf from the @&%$# Handbrake to prove it (if you are over 6ft tall - guaranteed) . If you want a truck that Tom Kruse would feel at home in, buy a Defender. If you want a 4WD car that acknowledges (at least) the 20th Century after 1970, buy a DII.

You cant deny that a defender has that hard core look to it. It must be a popular design its lasted what 60 odd years now. ive got the permanent bruise on my right leg from the hard plastic door pocket on the disco so much so that when i was coming back from Toowoomba the other week i stopped and pulled the door pocket off and threw it into the scrub. Bloody things been giving me the ****s for ages. A disco makes a great 4wd if you spend a lot of money on it. I would swap mine for a fender any day of the week. People get out of your way in a fender. Mind you I think the ultimate daily driver would be a series 2A station wagon with high range TC.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MT

STYLE??? WTF? Spent nearly 20 years driving around Defender equivalents in the Army - have the permanent bruise on my left calf from the @&%$# Handbrake to prove it (if you are over 6ft tall - guaranteed) . If you want a truck that Tom Kruse would feel at home in, buy a Defender. If you want a 4WD car that acknowledges (at least) the 20th Century after 1970, buy a DII.

---

With modern technology you can move the handbrake BTW :)