Help - Hubby wants defender I want Patrol!!!

[GRA.GU]

The Defender straight off the showroom floor is probably the most capable vehicle in difficult terrain that you can buy. But ask your husband why is it then that the Patrol is so very much more popular? It's because here in Australia we require a vehicle that can cruise very long distances reliably and in comfort, rather than for its ability to climb a 45degree slope. The Patrol offers comfort way beyond the Defender- point out to him that that equates to less chance of car sickness for children, and therefore greater opportunities to indulge in 4wdriving as a family. And although a lot of people do modify their Patrols, a standard Patrol is a very competent off road vehicle in which you could confidently undertake a trip to anywhere in Australia. I've seen stock vehicles cruise happily through the Simpson and the Cape.
As previously stated, so called "grenade" issues appear to have been overcome with the common rail Patrols, although many armchair experts will still show their "knowledge" by regaling those who'll listen with past stories. You could balance this with the old line about 95% of all Land Rovers ever built are still on the road. The rest have made it home. Certainly the Land Rover brand has long suffered from its image of poor build and reliability problems, although that too may have changed in recent years.
Perhaps fuel economy of the auto Patrols may be a deterrent, but if you're thinking manual, the difference is minimal, and you'll have a vehicle that is a pleasure to drive both off and on road.
Hope this helps, Kizzie.