Thinking of trading in the Discovery 3 for a new Defender

HI Herrblick,
I've just been throught your same question, I have a RRS and I did have a D1 300tdi, Whilst at the local dealer a few weeks ago now I saw a new Defer my wife suggested taking it for a drive, which I did. Well it was like going from a tractor to a limo, everything I asked if it had the answer was repeatedly no. And yet the Defer just had something, something that sucked you in, a character, a personality all of its own.
I couldn't part with my RRS so I sold my D1 which just hasn't got what I was looking for and I bought a 2001 Defer, it has a full LR service history a few little extras, bull bar winch and a dual battery system and thats about it, plus it has got the TD5 motor which I want to try out.
I'm now in the process of getting it ready for a trip up "The Gunny", Kununurra and beyond later on in the year. I don't doubt that the RRS could make it in comfort, however when I'm relying on two bits of plastic I bought for $15 off Fleabay to protect my radiator I think I'm in the wrong place. On the Defer the doors don't shut properly, there is a biro tip stopping the rear sliding window from rattling, the axillary battery is rooted, I have an incessant diesel leak from the pressure regulator on the head which isn't going to beat me and I've got to buy some new tyres, after all that I love it, great decision on my behalf and who knows if I like it enough when the new Defer arrives if it isn't to radical a change I might buy a new one.
Buying a second hand defer will give you that insight into whether you will like one or not.

I quite like the idea of having a Defender as a second Landy for going bush. But having it as a every day driver really doesn't appeal for a number of reasons that have already been addresses in this thread.

The real problem is already having three Disco's, not sure I want to pay rego and insurance for four of them and two other vehicles.

cheers,
Terry

Hi Terry,
And my wife thinks I've got a problem............much as I liked the Disco 1 300 tdi all I ever used it for was the odd weekend jaunt into te bush, I've got a company vehicle that fills a lot of the gap. My RRS I've used recently for a few longer trips towing the TVan, however these have been on bitumen and to caravan parks and the like, nothing that will really shake the crap out of things at all.
I took my D3 to Alice via the GCR a couple of years ago, it was brilliant, I had two issues one was the crap Cooper tyres I bought a month before I left and a small peice of gravel got into the brake calliper and broke the brake pad sensor, this resulted in an annoying beep until I had finally had enough when I got to Melbourne and cut the wire with a pair of pliers. Because one of the Coopers shredded and the other one kept on going down on me ( :) ) I had to miss going to a few sightseeing spots on gravel off shoots.
I think the Defer will be a good compromise, easy to fix, parts are easier to come by, economical and awesome off road, what more could you ask for.......... maybe the comfort of the Sport.

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Originally Posted by TerryO

I quite like the idea of having a Defender as a second Landy for going bush. But having it as a every day driver really doesn't appeal for a number of reasons that have already been addresses in this thread.

The real problem is already having three Disco's, not sure I want to pay rego and insurance for four of them and two other vehicles.

cheers,
Terry

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too many disco's.. diversify.

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Originally Posted by TerryO

I quite like the idea of having a Defender as a second Landy for going bush.

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This is the situation we'll be in when our new Disco arrives in April. We've had a TD5 Defender for 5 or 6 years now, and it's main use is for 4WD'ing and camping trips. Our VW Tiguan has been the daily driver, but it's going to be too small for our growing family soon, so the Disco is on it's way.

The missus is trying to convince me we don't need 2 4WD's, but it ain't gonna happen! :D

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Originally Posted by manic

too many disco's.. diversify.

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In reality Manic, it's a nice thing to have three very different Disco's that are superior to rattly old smokey Defenders in nearly every way. ...;)

The thing is Disco's are such a nice vehicle that it seems a waste to wreck them, whereas as many of you Defender owners have repeatedly said Defenders even when new don't have a straight panel on them so whats a few more dents and scratches. ...:p

cheers,
Terry ;)

For what it is worth in this debate/discussion/arguement,

On Saturday I was out around the Lithgow areain NSW with a group D3, D4's and a Defender on a driver training day.

On one of the practice hill climbs, 3 different Discoveries (my D3 and 2 D4"s) successfully drove one particular climb that has a few step ups. One was being driven by a bloke who was very new to 4wding in his D4.

The Defender, despite having 4 -5 runs at it simply could not get the traction to climb the last step.

Now admittedly this was in a large part due to the driver being both new to Defender and reasonably new to being off road, however afterwards he did note that he had driven that same hill easily in his D4 a few years early.

My point is that in my experience, for the vast majority of 4wding most people will do the D3 and or D4 will get you as far and in some cases further than a Defender straight out of the box and do it slightly easier.

No doubt in my mind, once kitted out the Defender will get you further and deeper than a D3 but that must represent less than 1% of the 4wd most people do.

Regards,

George

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Originally Posted by TerryO

In reality Manic, it's a nice thing to have three very different Disco's that are superior to rattly old smokey Defenders in nearly every way. ...;)

The thing is Disco's are such a nice vehicle that it seems a waste to wreck them, whereas as many of you Defender owners have repeatedly said Defenders even when new don't have a straight panel on them so whats a few more dents and scratches. ...:p

cheers,
Terry ;)

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That's almost a little sad TerryO, sounds like you would like a defender to play with but you're too attached to your disco's to make any room. I admire your loyalty, clearly you are a total disco freak. I only hope one day the opportunity presents itself so your naughty defender dreams can come true, until then constantly remind us all why defender ownership would be completely irrational!

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Originally Posted by manic

That's almost a little sad TerryO, sounds like you would like a defender to play with but you're too attached to your disco's to make any room. I admire your loyalty, clearly you are a total disco freak. I only hope one day the opportunity presents itself so your naughty defender dreams can come true, until then constantly remind us all why defender ownership would be completely irrational!

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Hi Manic,

much of what I say re Defenders is very tongue in cheek just to get a rise out of you blokes.

Re the safety points I and others have raised I must admit for me that is a bit of a concern, having said that my D1 is no better than a Defender but as I drive it very occassionally to go off road I consider that as an acceptable risk.

Anyway don't take it personally as its not meant in that light.

Now to get back to it as it would be wrong for me to be nice for to long ...when are you Defender owners going to accept that the earth is round and not flat and D3/4's are far superior both on and off road to those old rusty tin fridges that you blokes drive? ...:angel:


cheers,
Terry

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Originally Posted by herrBlick

...As I said before I do love my Disco but the idea of a new Defender is tantalising.

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You'd be giving up a much more capable and comfortable vehicle if you do.

I thought I knew D3s were good offroad, but, on Saturday, I watched a D3 with MTs climb up an obstacle that a 110 Puma with MTs could not. The only other vehicle in our convoy that did was a 110 with 4" lift and F+R lockers.

The D3 did it much easier that the 110 and the driver was not even that experienced.

Obstacle in question:

http://r1---sn-5hn7su7l.c.bigcache.g...l/20957050.jpg