Heart vs. Head? (Defender or Rubicon?)

Hmm, interesting thread....

Well, neither are the current model, but I have a Landy and Jeep, because I get different enjoyment out of each. Both were heart buys.

The D2 takes me to work and back comfortably and economically, does touring trips and will go most places I ask of it offroad (SLABS-willing!). I have spent a lot on it (with more to come) and I love it.

The Wrangler gives me top-down motoring on nice days without having to buy some dinky little soft top and gives me a seat of the pants trail-drive vehicle as well. I agree with an earlier post and I will be spending money it - but probably no more or less than the D2. I love it.

Sleepy, haven't checked this but I think the JK Rubi rides on taller rubber than the regular ones and may have swaybar disco's as well????
Cheers
Mike

I think one thing that has to be said about new lease vehicles is that in 3 years what is the market going to be like.In Kal there is a lot of late model cruisers for sale as many people bought the new 200 series and car yards both here and in perth are full of them.Reading the local papers they are now knee deep in PR trying to get buyers but people are more and more switched on as far as running costs go.They may not like it but small turbo engined vehicles are the future and what can be sold after the lease runs out has to be considered. Pat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slunnie

I look at Jeeps and I think that they have all of the good stuff.

Lower low range
Diff locks
5 link front and rear suspension

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Are you sure:eek: The new defender's first low is 64:1

re the salesman

The bloke I did the deal on the Defender with was great and continues to keep me updated as to progress.

Went out of his way.:)

If he had been a turkey I would probably have gone to another Land Rover dealer not a Jeep dealer...but I'm a LR tragic.

You have given the biggest hint as to what your final decision should be in the thread title - Heart vs Head.

In the end a logic based decision will merely satisfy you, but will never have the ability to make you truly happy. Which vehicle would you regret more not buying? Are you more likely to be driving down the road in your new Rubicon and every Defender you see gives you pangs of regret?

We looked at the Rubicon before the new Defender came along and I just couldn't do it - no matter how much "sense" it made. In the end (and I'm a little embarrassed to admit it) it came down to - what are people going to think of me? Answer - in a Jeep Wrangler or Rubicon, they are more likely to think W@NKER!

Defenders stand for something more than Jeeps do. Jeeps (Wranglers and Rubicons that is) generally stand for leisure, Defenders stand for purpose. No amount of dollars or factory diff-locks can change this.

We had a Rubicon at the 4WD Show, Queanbeyan, in Feb this year. Had to be very careful of the driving lines on some of the off road track we had built as it was very easy to scrape the belly. Certainly needs a suspension lift. It was nice to drive, but really just a stretched Wrangler, with padded bars etc inside, really very basic. In fact may have been more basic than the new Defender, which was certainly more of an off road vehicle in standard form, before you bolted anything to it. my 2c spent!

OT for the OP, but tempestv8, thats why an auto can be a very good match to a turbo diesel. if the manufacturer has done their homework(which LR have in the disco2's) the auto ensures u ARE in the narrow powerband for alot more of the time. especially take-off and slow speed low range.

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Originally Posted by solmanic

Answer - in a Jeep Wrangler or Rubicon, they are more likely to think W@NKER!

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Crikey Sol!
You been looking through my windows?? :eek::D
Mike

Sorry 2 Rocks - just telling my impression of what I think people think. The Wrangler's credibility is also not helped by the number of times they appear in TV & movies as the choice of upwardly mobile gay guys.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by numpty

Are you sure:eek: The new defender's first low is 64:1

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The Rubicon is 73.144:1

Gear Ratios
1st.... 4.46
2nd.... 2.61
3rd.... 1.72
4th.... 1.25
5th.... 1.00
6th.... 0.84
Reverse.... 4.06
Axle Ratio.... 4.10
High Range Ratio.... 1.0:1
Low Range Ratio.... 4.0:1

Pretty impressive hey.