Range Rover / Defender / Discovery

[Dawgg]

Looking at them. Any horror stories I should hear before jumping on board?

For the record, leaning towards a Defender.

What’s your maintenance budget like?

 

[tbaydog]

Looking at them. Any horror stories I should hear before jumping on board?

For the record, leaning towards a Defender.

I have the 2022 RR Sport, 83K miles. No Issues............... Knock on Wood.

 

[Chile]

Range Rover is the way. Avoid the Defender unless they've realllllllly improved the last 10 years. You could find them on the cheap used because of the problems.

Land Rover Defender has only been back in the US with the new model since 2020.
No issues with them.

 

[Chile]

Reliability is relative. If you're only driven the highway, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry is peak reliability. The defender is way more reliable than those two off-road.

You earlier stated you had a Wrangler and the defender is superior off road. But it's well behind the Bronco Sasquatch and Jeep Rubicon IMO.

I looked at the defender and really wanted one for my wife, but we want something built for off-road so she/we could take it wherever we want . The defender just didn't get there.

#1 Unibody design for the defender. If you are going off road in the mountains, you got to have body on frame. Unibody design is for cars. Body on frame is trucks. Wranglers and Broncos have solid ladder frames with bolted in bodies.

#2 Solid axles. Gots to have them on these back country roads where rock slides are real and new trails just off the side of the mountain forcing you into articulated driving.

#3 Sway bar disconnect and locking front differential. Again, when you're in a pinch, they're critical tools to help you self recover.

By all accounts the defender is very capable off-road. But you start and finish with the Bronco Sasquatch and Jeep Wrangler Rubicon in Tier 1 SUV off-roading. I'd probably look at the 4-Runner and Land Cruiser in the next tier, because they're body on frame. After those 4 your really just talking about something more focused on other things like everyday driving with off-road capabilities.

I would not go as far as say start and stop with anything Bronco or Jeep if a person is considering a good ride for travel also.
Your stats are good for merely off road, but for every day combination , the Defender has a much smoother ride and it is not even close.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

We were buying a few months ago. Had a friend who offered us a sweet deal on his Discovery with 35k miles. Our trusted mechanic red flagged it, although he put it above the new Dodge engines. Their recommendation was Toyota with Honda in close second. They said all the revamped engine designs of the higher-fuel-economy era are still having teething problems.
We went with a 4Runner. Got one of the last ones in town with their old V6 design.

We had two Hyundais and two Nissans. They all lasted and have been good vehicles.

For the years, I found that it all depends on the driver many times on a vehicle lasting. I've had a GMC, Chevrolet, Chrysler, and Ford, but my best-lasting vehicles have been Hyundai and Nissan.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

Don't buy a British car. Period.

In today's world is it really a British car. It's owned by Tata Motors which is in India. It is built in multiple countries UK being one. Kinda like Jeeps are Fiat.

 

[Jeffreauxdawg]

I would not go as far as say start and stop with anything Bronco or Jeep if a person is considering a good ride for travel also.
Your stats are good for merely off road, but for every day combination , the Defender has a much smoother ride and it is not even close.

I agree. The Sasquatch and Rubicon are the tier 1 of off roading. Probably Tier 6 of on roading. If you're looking for on road comfort and off road ability, don't get a Jeep or Bronco. If you're looking to go further down that trail or follow me up to Penis Lake, the Jeep and Bronco are the best bet.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

Few years back, Ranger Rover had a tv commercial, vehicle was laying on it's side. They had a guy with a sledge hammer
pounding away to show how tough it was. ...Looking closely, the guy with the hammer, was a Midget.

Small things matter.