Thread: Which is better Off Road a D3/4 or a late model Defender? ... Puma 110

D4 or 110. Great question - loved my 110 and had that for 7 years. Put it places it really shouldn't have gone and felt comfortable doing it. Now I have gotten old and enjoy lattes the D4 still goes the same places - now I will qualify that I haven't and won't put it some places but that's due to the "niceness" of the car. It's handled tracks easier than the 110 did and by tracks I mean things similar to Mick_Marsh's photo.
For comfort and ease of driving - D4
For the hard throw at type and ruggedness - then go a fender...

But I would take either over many others.
The Disco do with class what the fender does to a level when the fender steps out on its own with sheer ruggedness.

Originally Posted by Tote

I guess there's another angle that needs to be considered as well. I was assuming a new Puma with traction control as thats what I've ordered. there would be a considerable difference in the ease of offloading (not necessarily the capability) between a my2015 Defender with traction control and a 200TDI with none.

Regards,
Tote

Slightly off topic...

This is interesting,a wheel sensor was playing up on the Defender a while back and therefore the Traction Control/ABS was disabled at times.

My son had it on Fraser island.He found the capability of the vehicle dropped off considerably,when TC was not operational.

Whether this was because of his driving style, as the vehicle was not how he was used to it,is debatable.

Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Yep I have taken my D3 on tracks like that and more regularly. And I can attest as a witness that Terry and some of the other crazies on here take their Discos on some tracks MUCH worse than that I was too chicken to try.

Terry - crazy, well join the club!
Gave mine a pounding last year.
Keeps on ticking just like a Timex.

Apart from the character vs luxury debate, the big difference between Defenders and Disco's is long term ruggedness and chassis strength.

If you go bush occasionally buy a Disco. If you go bush all the time get a Defender.

Or, if you have 90K to spend, buy two Defenders. A low km newish one for $55K for the future and an older one for bush work now for $25K. You will have $10K left over for accesories, rego, insurance, servicing. Both will hold their value much better than a new Disco and you will have more fun IMO.

Defender for $90K? It's a limited edition and too expensive.

Originally Posted by scarry

Slightly off topic...

This is interesting,a wheel sensor was playing up on the Defender a while back and therefore the Traction Control/ABS was disabled at times.

My son had it on Fraser island.He found the capability of the vehicle dropped off considerably,when TC was not operational.

Whether this was because of his driving style, as the vehicle was not how he was used to it,is debatable.

My Defender traction control barely even activates on sand. It wouldn't matter if it was working or not.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

the big difference between Defenders and Disco's is long term ruggedness and chassis strength.

Do you have any evidence to support this statement?

Is the D4 monocoque?

No.