why would you buy a Defender when you could.....

have a Disco 3 for less?

there must be reasons for having a Def. over a Disco? - but what are they.

A few things quickly off the top of my head:

Defenders are built in a way that allows them to be stripped down, rebuilt, added to and modified some may say they are built properly (well once we get in amongst them and sort them out) even the new one, everything can be taken apart and rebuilt, new chassis new bulkheads. Try doing that with a Disco3 shell, once its rotten through its done with, or spend a LOT of time and money welding.

You have axles on Defenders, this makes running gear repairs so much easier, it has an advantage offroad no matter how good independent units are.

If you run into a tree in a defender you take the bumper off and hit it with a big hammer, or you get another one for £50.

Defenders can have more done to them, think of all the mods that you have ever seen to a Defender then imagine trying to make these fit a D3 and keep it looking the part. Take winches, you have to butcher bits on a D3 not a Def.

The majority of Defender drivers in here have them for the above reasons and many many more, and that is why they would rather have a defender, it has been the leader when it comes to offroading all its life - and before in its series generation. They are brute force and ignorance and they get the job done.

You are asking this question to people who want to do things themselves, they want to be able to undo lots of bolts and it comes off, not all in one welded body shells. These things may seem trivial now but the type of vehicle a Defender is, people will buy one and probably run it for years, so they are thinking to the future when work will need done.

I reckon that just about covered it. I like discos but I'll only have one for the short term whereas my defender is for keeping long term. Having said that I'm talking about old ones not new stuff but the principle's the same.

Interesting...not really thought of it like that.

I'd been thinking along the lines of the Defender due to its amazing load capacity, only to find out the Disco matches it and gives a more comfortable ride.

The other thing that appeals to me about the Def. is its a bit more of a statement, a bit more individual, holds its value better.

Its just that the Disco has a mighty big boot and with the price of second hand cars looking hugely good value compared to the price of similar age Defs it got me thinking especially when its going to spend virtually all its time on the road, albeit pulling a heavy trailer or load.

I think if I was in the market for a new or newish motor I'd definitely be interested in a disco3. Don't think I'd buy a late defender though due to the electronics, just prefer simple easy to fix stuff. I know the disco's laden to the gunnels with electonic **** but if I could afford a new one I could afford to get it dealer serviced. For some reason I much prefer to do the work on "proper" land rovers myself.

Cause they are better.

If i had the money for either a new disco3 or depender, i'd still have the one i got and pay off a whack of mortgage, or go on a mighty **** up, or a hols or summat! The thing that appeals to me most about it is that it's a very serviceable yet slightly shabby knackered old banger!!! Done the new car thing and the depreciation is depressing, you do it coz you think yer wants one but then the realisation of havin one is that actually it was only wanting one that was fun, and when you actually have one it makes people have prejudices about you coz you get judged on it!

caterham said:

have a Disco 3 for less?

there must be reasons for having a Def. over a Disco? - but what are they.

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^^^^^Wot all they say.

Plus Disco looks sh1te, is a big car, and is driven by nobs.

Defender is a light commercial, easy to mend and modify.

As for laning or off road use, the Disco 3 may have loads of electrickery systems, but it weighs the same as a small planet - which is a bit of an issue.

id gladly swap my crapender for a d3 , if anyone wants to that is.
no, seriousley , i would.

try getting a family of 6 plus luggage in a discovery thats with 2 babys

saying that the seat layout of the new 110csw is ****.

oh FFS dont tell me they've put the seats on the roof AGAIN!

TheVengefulElephant said:

oh FFS dont tell me they've put the seats on the roof AGAIN!

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specifically to put Heffs on when map reading.

i have a disco myself as the main car, but i must say that there are a few 200tdi 110 defenders in my watching list at the moment, purly for robustness, load capacity and loads more space for livery on the side, yer can jet wash the cab out and within half an hour the cab is dry cause its all ****ed out the footwells!!!

oi, am good at map reading me

yup - he can tell yu exactly where he is stuck:rolleyes!

The Mad Hat Man said:

yup - he can tell yu exactly where he is stuck:rolleyes!

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snigger

If you took a shiny disco off road and dented it you would be mighty ****ed off. If you did it to a defender it wouldn't seem as bad. Don't ask me why but it's true.

Dependers look good with a few battle scars.

I did know kersackly where we was stuck dint I.

There was a sign 20 yds away at the top of the lane though