Help - Hubby wants defender I want Patrol!!!

[Robo]

Try a landy forum and ask the same Question and measure it up any way you like.
I agree with Mrowka from a couple of post back.
There is lots more to 4x4 than capability. Obstacles you can usually go around if you've got any sense, but breakdowns can happen anywhere, and capability will not help you then.

"Rover and Nissan (and Toyota) approach 4x4 design in different ways: Rover is largely a specialist builder of purpose-built 4x4s. If I were to design a 4x4 from the ground up, I'd hoist a lot of Rover's design ideas.
Nissan and Toyota are generalist builders which produce 4x4s designed around the lessons learned from a long history of building practical and reliable passenger cars. This is why you see so many toddling around in places like Afghanistan and Africa".

Look at any rover british car and you will see typical stick in the mud approach, min cost, min investment, min redesign, buyer beware.
Typical chin up chaps its only a clitch just fess up a few more $$$ and good as new lol.

Probably the only reason def out the box is better, "Its smaller" .
That is your answer there, You have kids and that takes space.
Problem solved.

[Mwalker74]

I know a few people who have owned disco's. Most have enjoued the car but all have complained about costs of servicing. Constant 4x4 increases the fuel costs and regular repairs. At least with nissan, cheaper parts can be found and generally are quite reliable.

[Richo460]

Patrol for sure! Try getting spares for a Land rover anywhere outside a major city, you will have to sell some organs just to pay for it. Accessories parts and service are all alot more common for the patrols. Re sale will be better too. If he so badly wants a rover, ship him off to the mother land, they love em over there!

[biggq]

For remote area touring i would seriously think about a defender. I had cracked my 04 defender alloy radiator and a/c on termite mound just off Gibb River Road .It took Land Rover Australia 8 days to get a replacement to Darwin from somewhere in Asia! 8 days is a long time to spend waiting while on a 5 week road trip.For that reason I chose to buy a patrol as the service and parts network are far greater than Land Rover could offer.

[hugestars]

Just to put my comments in perspective.
I live in Alice Springs 45 degrees in summer -4 in winter it really tests most things ,especially cars.I regularly do 3000K drives plus a bit of camping & 4x4ing with wife & 2 kids a short drive for a weekend pick-nick & swim would be 300k round trip.

Owned 2 Landys A Defender & a Range Rover 03 hse ,got rid of the Defender just because of servicing & parts costs plus on long runs 600ks & up per day they are fatiguing to drive just from noise & lack of creature comforts.
Replaced that with a 2002 Patrol , sold that to a mate on an impulse & regretted it for years.He is still towing stuff around the outback with it & at 200,000 km & has replaced 1 starter motor & some tyres in ten years.
This prompted me to buy another Patrol recently & I feel utter satisfaction with the decision.

Still trying to get rid of the Range Rover only because of the above costs.
I must say it is really comfortable to sit in which is fortunate because when stranded again & again because of breakdowns you want somewhere comfortable to sit while you save up for the repair cost.
Now my wife only drives it around town that way its not too far to come & pick her up.

Comfort ,Landy - spartan at best , noisy & not really comfortable
Patrol - win

Drivability , Landy - clunck your way through those gears for years especially in the city, & take forever getting up to speed on those long runs.
Patrol - put it in D & enjoy ,city or hi-way they are great.

Service/parts prices Landy - call the bank manager
Patrol -Look at that, I can still buy fuel after picking it up.

parts availability - Landy - if your in a city & there has been a shipment from Land Rover recently you may be in luck, if you are in the outback luck is all you have.
Patrol - no problem lots of rural dealers , supercheap , repco or wrecking yard ANYWHERE in the country City or outback you can usually get out of trouble.
Having said that if its serviced regularly it very likely you may only need to replace tyres every few years & thats all.

Re-sale Landy - people are cautious because of the costs involved in service & parts .
Patrol - you may not even bother as this car will keep you happy for many years.


off Road ability - They are both more than capable enough for enjoyable off road work but if you want to get really serious it is far cheaper & there is a much better range of parts for the patrol.

These are only my experiences , hope it helps.

[Nissoj]

I am also owner of 2 Defenders and 2 patrols. I take the rovers to extreme difficult and narrow mining roads (Andes) and the Patrols to long desert (Atacama) traversing trips. It is very difficult to change the feelings of a Defender fan... only after a 15 day trip they might admit they are not so comfy.

[Robo]

Where all waiting for, which mums bus are you go to get.
And hey the 93 patrol /maverick we have is.
the Wife's run around.
Grand kids in the back to.
And for towing heavy twin horse float.
Jack of all trades.
If you buy landy, and have kids it WILL be an expensive mistake.

[janderson]

No brainer, PATROL

[Fizzwizz]

Just to bring in a new perspective. I can well understand your husband's opinion and to be honest the Patrol and Defender are completely different vehicles with a different ethos. The first Defender I ever drove was built in 1967, and buying one for the family was as ridiculous as doing the school run in a tractor. The Defender was built for off-road use by farmers and the military. The only on-road use was moving it between fields. I used to drive this old petrol defender (in the 80s) just for fun and to turn a few heads. Travelling more than a few miles was difficult as your ribs would hurt from the road vibration, and the windscreen wipers could shift mud but not water, so you were in serious trouble if it rained. Off road however, it was pure genius. The Defender attracted cult status, and its popularity grew beyond soldiers and farmers, so a need for some refinement was presented - hence the newer and more comfortable defenders. These vehicles have all the cult magic of the original and won't blacken the wife's eyes.

Another group of vehicle owners looked on with envious eyes, but weren't prepared to sacrifice all the luxury of road driving - so vehicle like the discovery, Patrol, Shogun/Pajero, and Landcruiser were born. If you want a true 4x4 that is also capable on the road, and you want to smile everytime you look at your vehicle squatting on the drive caked in mud, then you need the Defender (which gets better looking the older and dirtier it gets.) If you want a large comfortable car that is also capable off road then get the Patrol which needs regular cleaning, and vacuuming to stay looking good. I'm a true Defender fan - but have just bought a new Patrol Y61 as we've just relocated from the UK and for now need comfort, a good parts network, and good dealer support. No doubt I'll be back in a defender eventually.

[growler2058]

Wow deep thread dig Can you jump over to the intros and say g'day something we ask all members to do cheers Edit: what you've missed old cock is 1 Patrol has a much much much stronger driveline 2 Patrol won't stain your driveway with numerous oil leaks 3 Patrol off the showroom floor will outdo a defender any day of the week 4 Patrols just better in every respect Oh and wow ya want electrical gremlins buy a depender hahahahaha

Mine looks good without having a wash