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

The Defender doesn't need much spent on it to go almost anywhere. The D4 already has lots of trickery on it to achieve similar results to the Defender. But, the D4 costs about $30k more to achieve similar results. Much of that $30k is spent on cosmetic things the typical Defender owner doesn't want anyway.
I bought our Defender because I wanted a capable workhorse with a roomy body. All it needs is HD front springs for the weight of the bullbar and winch, airbags in the rear for towing and a new set of tyres - the originals have done 70,000ks. In contrast, our son's Hilux has had a heap spent on the suspension and tyres and I'm not convinced it's necessary.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

The Defender doesn't need much spent on it to go almost anywhere. The D4 already has lots of trickery on it to achieve similar results to the Defender. But, the D4 costs about $30k more to achieve similar results. Much of that $30k is spent on cosmetic things the typical Defender owner doesn't want anyway.

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Yeah, things like airbags :angel:

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Originally Posted by AnD3rew

Yeah, things like airbags :angel:

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True, airbags would be good. Still, I was thinking thinking of the complex systems on the D4.
I think the D4 is superb - easily the best in its class. Its versatility is amazing. It leaves vehicles like Landcruisers, Patrols, Jeeps, Prados and the like looking very second rate.
In my case, I wanted something more work like, simpler etc. I like that the hard plastic trim can be banged by a load of building materials (we are renovating) and just needs wiping down or I can get mud all over the floor and just wipe it out. I like that any half-decent mechanic can service or fix it with the right parts. I like that Defender owners wave to each other. Its just horses for courses.

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Buy whichever one fries your burger. Take it as far off-road as YOUR limits allow and it's still unlikely to be as far as either vehicle is actually able to take you.

Comparing D4s to Defenders is like comparing Spitfires to F18s. Kind of pointless.

And I'd rather fly the Spitfire ;)

the real issue is that if you drive a disco no one would wave to you :D

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Originally Posted by nate_110

the real issue is that if you drive a disco no one would wave to you :D

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If you drive a Vogue, you're more likely to get the bird.

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Originally Posted by rar110

If you drive a Vogue, you're more likely to get the bird.

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I have only noticed one lower class nobody give me the bird whilst I have been on the Queen's Highways in my Vogue. Although One does not tend to look at the lower class when One's horseless carriage is as good as a Vogue.

Ive watched the complete series of Low range with Roothy, Gleno and Keno.

During a few episodes Gleno was driving the d4.....great car, amazing off the shelf capability but at a compromise.

You see Roothy drives Milo, a 40 series landcruiser thats 30 plus years old. Tuned to make around 69 horse power (that is not a typo) it goes everywhere, places where the D4 struggles and Roothy idles up. It comes down to some simple things:
-live axles and vehicle clearance under full flex
- tyre pressures. Pretty irrelevant on 19 inch rims on the disco
-wheel/tyre size
-good old fashioned "drive it" and not sit back relax and let the vehicle try to work out whats best. Its a 4wd not a A380 fight on auto pilot.

In my opinion a standard defender modified with:
-rear locker
-maxi rear axles and hd flanges front and back
- 255/85/16 tyres on 16 inch 0 offset rims

Will get you everywhere reliabily. You will compromise some comfort and luxury but its bush bashing.....shouldnt cost more than $8k for all those mods.

THIS IS MY OPINION, 2 cents

Everything I have read is that poor old Milo breaks down and breaks bits just about ever time they take it out.

Does anyone really expect a show that is built around a old bloke and his really old Toyota to say; Hey guess what? this brand new sparkling Pommy Land Rover is much better than the obsolete unreliable old Jap thing we drive and the show is built around?

I remember a few years back the old school on here were preaching that live axles and coil springs were just new fangled rubbish and not a reliable or proper suspension system and any proper decent four wheel drive had leaf springs and was called a Series and anything that was called Defender was just a play thing and not a serious 4x4, though they kind of begrudgingly accepted Counties as being half decent if they were Isuzu powered.

I bet there are still blokes around who still think the same, so if you have taken notice then this argument about, what by some is considered as new technology, has been argued all before and needless to say in fifteen years time when Disco's all by then come out with some form of nuclear powered electronic reverse gravity hover suspension then the D3/4/5/6 owners will argue about how the new stuff is useless and if it doesn't have air suspension then it's not a serious 4x4 ... if by then some 100+ year old Series owner is still able to type by then they will still be arguing ... nope! your all wrong it's all about leaf springs.

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Originally Posted by TerryO

.... when Disco's all by then come out with some form of nuclear powered electronic reverse gravity hover suspension ....

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If it's anything like a current hover board it will just catch fire and burn the house down.