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

Mirror mirror tell me about 2018 Defender

D4 drive line, classic shape made safe

Originally Posted by AndyG

A question asked in ignorance, does the height options vary the axle clearance or the body clearance.

Yes. The EAS on a D3/4/RRS/RRV lifts the body and F/R diff. Unlike a live axle in a 90/110/130 the diff in a EAS LR is fixed to chassis or motor and goes up with the body when the suspension is raised.

Originally Posted by TerryO

If it's a all about having a non D3/4 off road driving experience without airbags and driving aid's other than lockers then one of these will fill the hole easily for a fraction of the price, you can buy or build a very high spec D1 that is extremely capable off road with all the bells and whistles for well less than $10k if you shop around and that allows you to still have a D3/4 without breaking the bank and a D1 by the way is still more comfortable than a Defender.

A well set up and modded D1 can and will do anything a Defender 110 with 35's, twin lockers and a big suspension lift can do. ...

This is my one, it's the only Disco I have with a actual name, it's called the Mountain Goat, for obvious reasons.

Added further comment below;

However even I digress this discussion is about newish Defenders (Puma's) v D3/4's. It's nice to get feedback from people who drive old pre Puma Defenders but unless they are talking about Puma strengths and weaknesses then sorry but anything they say about older Defenders really isn't relevant to this discussion.

If you guys want to start another comparo about how modified D1's and D2's compare to your modified 300 tdi's and td5's that's fine but let's keep this relevant please. I be happy to join into that little discussion as well and I bet there are far more D1/2 owners who would love to give opinions on what they think of your good old Defenders in a thread like that as well.

I have updated my post from yesterday with an added final two paragraphs in bold (please read) as this excellent discussion is being taken off course.

Originally Posted by AndyG

Mirror mirror tell me about 2018 Defender

D4 drive line, classic shape made safe

It'll be a D4!

Originally Posted by TerryO

It's obvious that few of our Defender owning cousins have bothered to read the originalpost to see the guidelines for this comparison.

There was no restriction on wheel size, just tyre size, being about the Defender standard size of about 32". so a Disco owner could run anything from 17" through to 20" rims if they so wish, me myself I would and do run 17" rims when I have gone off roading with Defender's previously and with the BFG Muddies I run the tyre size is, from memory, 31.7" more then enough height to keep up or lead any Defender on similar sized tyres.

Any D4 owner can buy a set of Gordons 18" trick alloys and many have which totally opens up the choice on tyres. I know of at least two D4 owner who have fitted D3/4 2.7 callipers and have run 17" alloys, I have bought a new set of 17's that I intend to fit to our D4 eventually and guess what I will get it engineered as well no problem at all. So this whole argument about restricted tyre size by Defender owners is a weak one if that is meant to prove that late model Disco's aren't as good off road as a late model Defender with both vehicles on roughly the same size Defender tyres. You guys really need to find a better reason other than rim size for this comparison.

As for prices I have done some interesting comparing, I will put those results up a bit later.

This tyre issue is the point I was making.
Give BOTH the same parameters.
Your disco 4 will increase by 10% tyre size from 29in to 32in with different wheels, brakes and an eng. Report.
Do the same to a defender, 10% tyres=35in 16x8 -25mm wheels and an eng report.
.
As to a modified d1/2 being better than any defender, 100in chassis has better ramp over than a 110/130 but not better than a 90 which again given same modification parameters would eat the d1 , same axles, better approach, departure and ramp as well as far Less weight.

Originally Posted by frantic

This tyre issue is the point I was making.
Give BOTH the same parameters.
Your disco 4 will increase by 10% tyre size from 29in to 32in with different wheels, brakes and an eng. Report.
Do the same to a defender, 10% tyres=35in 16x8 -25mm wheels and an eng report.
.
As to a modified d1/2 being better than any defender, 100in chassis has better ramp over than a 110/130 but not better than a 90 which again given same modification parameters would eat the d1 , same axles, better approach, departure and ramp as well as far Less weight.

Only catch there - in SA the Defender wouldnt pass the swerve test to gain engineering approval...

Originally Posted by TerryO

I have updated my post from yesterday with an added final two paragraphs in bold (please read) as this excellent discussion is being taken off course.

Td5/puma vs d3/d4 ?

The parameters for this discussion are oddly skewed. Simpler to ask; 'whats better offroad , a brand new defender or brand new d4?' And compare them off the showroom floor.

Otherwise we are looking at price for price mods with the inevitable conclusion - defender wins.







Sent from my Nexus 5X using AULRO mobile app

Originally Posted by Tombie

Only catch there - in SA the Defender wouldnt pass the swerve test to gain engineering approval...

What speed is the swerve test?
Numerous have passed here in nsw at 80 kph, some at 100kph depending on the eng.
The OP is from Yass so nsw eng. Applies. Not sure if another states eng approvals still carry across, if they did you could move here for a week then take it back.

Yes very skewed, thanks manic. Either same mods or zero mods, as soon as you say D4 gets $3-5,000 worth of wheels/tyres but defender not allowed zip it's a skewed.