Defender or Range Rover?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.

Radiant

Member
Posts
53
Location
Austria
Hey forum,

Now before you just comment "This is a Land Rover forum, of course the Defender!", hear me out, because i really need the best decision.

Coming from a family that has mostly owned land rovers (2x defender 110, one being heavily off road modified and now in south africa on safaris, 1x freelander 2, 1x discovery 4 [2014] + 2x 2008 range rover sport) or course - i will be getting one as a first car.

Having driven land - and range rovers from the age of 9 up until now, i know how to drive both pretty well.
I also have loads of experience working on cars, so doing an oil change or swapping the waterpump is no problem for me.

I will now be giving the info that will be able to help you decide what would be best for me - because i really am not sure.

Price:
upkeep kosts (fuel (no matter how much) and taxes + insurance) are not my problem, job and parents pay that.
I have around 15k (€) and the financial capitol to keep both of these running for a number of years. Money is NO problem for me but i would like to stay under 15 grand (buying price).

A fully equipped 2008 Range Rover with 180k KMs (highway) on the clock is around 13500 €, probably around 12800 as the prices are negotiable with most.I would be most interested in the ones with around 200 HP, as i think more is pretty useless (although the disco 4 has 252 and thats real fun) of course, tax, insurance and fuel (preferred a diesel model) would be more than a defender 110.

A decent condition 1999 td5 Defender 110 (no good condition 90s for sale in my whole country atm, but a 110 is great aswell) with little rust and around 250k Kms (also highway) is around 15000€. Of course, you dont get the "luxery" of a range rover but you do get better fuel economy and lower taxes/insurance. Although i have to say, i feel like the defender would lack a bit of power when pulling a trailer (just from my experience driving them). Service costs would be lower aswell because i can change 80% of the car myself if needed, but i do find in colder weather like the -5 to -20 in the winter here could bring some problems.

no matter what i would be buying, i would make sure either one has had the correct sercive intervals and has been taken car of well (eg new parts, regular fluid changes - you get what i mean)

I would mostly be doing europe wide trips with my boattrailer (only 750kg no more) - so mostly highway. From cold Russia in november all the way to 40°c hot greece in summer, which makes me think the defender is not the best in cold weather - although i always let the car run warm for 5-10 minutes in the winter, no matter defender or rangy.
Also because of this i would think a range rover being better, as it is more comfortable for long rides (although itll probably use more fuel) and better in the cold in my experience.

it doesnt matter if i would have a crash in the rangy or a defender - they would both be insured that the insurance company doesnt help me out (saves me money though).

which is safer, defender or a rangy?


if you need anymore infos, just reply with what you need.

cheers and have a good day.
 
For me a Range Rover is the way to go if you are doing lots of miles. Not knowing the D4 very well although they are getting nearer the RR now with the comfort etc etc.(I understand)
As for a defender I wouldn’t want to do the mileage in ours,as I would do in the RR without even thinking about it.
As for fuel economy I think you could well be surprised. I recently did a 4500km round trip 1 way empty and then back towing a large trailer and all up managed 9.3 l/100 km for the whole trip. 5days.( according to the onboard computer).
As far as the cold/hot temps the RR allows you to wear the same clothes (in the car) all year.
The defender means you have to dress for the weather in the car too.

I would also suggest you look a bit further afield for what you want,living where you do means you have a lot of Europe easily reachable.

At the end of the day it’s your choice ( we got both I know it’s greedy:rolleyes:) long drive RR, up the hill or to the beach Def90. They both have their good bits for what they do.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

J
 
For me a Range Rover is the way to go if you are doing lots of miles. Not knowing the D4 very well although they are getting nearer the RR now with the comfort etc etc.(I understand)
As for a defender I wouldn’t want to do the mileage in ours,as I would do in the RR without even thinking about it.
As for fuel economy I think you could well be surprised. I recently did a 4500km round trip 1 way empty and then back towing a large trailer and all up managed 9.3 l/100 km for the whole trip. 5days.( according to the onboard computer).
As far as the cold/hot temps the RR allows you to wear the same clothes (in the car) all year.
The defender means you have to dress for the weather in the car too.

I would also suggest you look a bit further afield for what you want,living where you do means you have a lot of Europe easily reachable.

At the end of the day it’s your choice ( we got both I know it’s greedy:rolleyes:) long drive RR, up the hill or to the beach Def90. They both have their good bits for what they do.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

J
may i ask what range rover you did it with? im looking at alot of the 2006/07/08 Sport HSE models (the 2.7 190hp diesel ones).
 
@Radiant Sorry may have been a bit above what you were looking for. We have, L322 2011 4.4 tdv8.
It is the only diesel I have allowed in the garage, so far maintenance has been minimal and mostly dealer.
But you would need to research the 2.7sport.
But purely for the long distance all year drive ability I would not go with a defender although some do it and may argue.

J
 
@Radiant Sorry may have been a bit above what you were looking for. We have, L322 2011 4.4 tdv8.
It is the only diesel I have allowed in the garage, so far maintenance has been minimal and mostly dealer.
But you would need to research the 2.7sport.
But purely for the long distance all year drive ability I would not go with a defender although some do it and may argue.

J
well if you really did get 9.3l/100 then i might think about a 3.0 or larger. my mother has the disco 4 hse with 252 and the best we ever got was 12.2/100.
 
@Radiant

Hi

May i ask what is the driving age in Austria plse because ur profile says ur only 15 , if it’s the usual 17 , it might be better to wait until you’ve passed ur test first

When u do come to decide what landy and begin to travel , don’t forget ease of repair and parts

Also believe in certain countries u have to be a min age to get visas and licences
 
Back
Top