Jeep vs Land Rover. Which do you favour?...
Discussion
ZOLLAR said:
Land Rover 
Pain in the arse sometimes but I love it and they really get under your skin.
In my third and will always have one!
This sounds like a healthy point of view, I reckon. If the character and the "kinship" of a particular car outweigh any issues (ie: "pain in the arse sometimes"), then follow your heart.Pain in the arse sometimes but I love it and they really get under your skin.
In my third and will always have one!
And this is an entirely personal decision. So I respect that.
I'd like them both, Jeep and Land Rover. But my wallet would support only the former. So I'll say Jeep. And it would be either the Grand Cherokee or the Wrangler Unlimited. Love the configurable tops on the Wrangler: on, half on, off. And the half-height doors that you can get.
Also... just to be impish...
...See this article entitled, " Why Land Rover Doesn't Care about JD Power Ratings"The short answer: Owners adore LR so much, they don't care if breakdowns occur.
Quote: A LR dealership in the US is constructing a larger facility complete with flat-screen TVs, a new off-road course, and "a dedicated parking area for up to six flatbed tow trucks."
unpc said:
Put it this way, the Defender would have killed me on the Shafer trail due to the lousy turning circle.
Bit O/T, but in defence of the LR.Why is that- perhaps it's down to the "I can do anything ,it's a LR " attitude from some drivers. LR are designed to offer safe driving off road (on inclines ?anyone), but some drivers think forget that with a high centre of gravity , turning on an incline brings risks. So to reduce the overturn risk, LR were fitted with steering reduction stops to prevent /reduce this risk. [quote=Who me ?]
Bit O/T, but in defence of the LR.Why is that- perhaps it's down to the "I can do anything ,it's a LR " attitude from some drivers. LR are designed to offer safe driving off road (on inclines ?anyone), but some drivers think forget that with a high centre of gravity , turning on an incline brings risks. So to reduce the overturn risk, LR were fitted with steering reduction stops to prevent /reduce this risk.
[/quote]
Bloody nanny state driving aids.
Bit O/T, but in defence of the LR.Why is that- perhaps it's down to the "I can do anything ,it's a LR " attitude from some drivers. LR are designed to offer safe driving off road (on inclines ?anyone), but some drivers think forget that with a high centre of gravity , turning on an incline brings risks. So to reduce the overturn risk, LR were fitted with steering reduction stops to prevent /reduce this risk.
[/quote]
Bloody nanny state driving aids.
[quote=Who me ?]
not sure it is as simple as steering stops. if it were the stops could be altered. A Defender that could turn like a Wrangler would be awesome. unpc said:
Put it this way, the Defender would have killed me on the Shafer trail due to the lousy turning circle.
Bit O/T, but in defence of the LR.Why is that- perhaps it's down to the "I can do anything ,it's a LR " attitude from some drivers. LR are designed to offer safe driving off road (on inclines ?anyone), but some drivers think forget that with a high centre of gravity , turning on an incline brings risks. So to reduce the overturn risk, LR were fitted with steering reduction stops to prevent /reduce this risk. Ayahuasca said:
[quote=Who me ?]
not sure it is as simple as steering stops. if it were the stops could be altered. A Defender that could turn like a Wrangler would be awesome. unpc said:
Put it this way, the Defender would have killed me on the Shafer trail due to the lousy turning circle.
Bit O/T, but in defence of the LR.Why is that- perhaps it's down to the "I can do anything ,it's a LR " attitude from some drivers. LR are designed to offer safe driving off road (on inclines ?anyone), but some drivers think forget that with a high centre of gravity , turning on an incline brings risks. So to reduce the overturn risk, LR were fitted with steering reduction stops to prevent /reduce this risk. 
Having driven both I can say both are great fun but in terms of ownership if you were looking at older ones, I'd say Jeep. The 4.0 petrol XJ was bulletproof, just kept going! In terms of new models, I;m sure each has their reliability issues but the looks of the Jeep line up do it for me. The new Grand Cherokee is one beautiful vehicle!
The Landrover brand just has the same watered down shape in each model, just shrunk a bit.
The Landrover brand just has the same watered down shape in each model, just shrunk a bit.
Depends on what you're using it for.
I live in a remote location miles from the nearest town or main road.
Like most people who live and work in the 'real' countryside, we drive cheap and economic 2 wheel drive cars everyday but I usually keep an old banger 4x4 for emergencies. Most of these emergency vehicles have been Landrover (series, Defender, and mk1 Discoveries) because they are simple enough to sit for months at a time, best cope with the most extreme situations, are easy to repair when broken, and don't depreciate much.
When I have to use a 4x4 everyday, it has to be Japanese for reliability.
A Jeep sounds like a bit of a compromise between the two, I don't know as I've never had one and don't really foresee needing one, but never say never, it may become necessary as the supply of old proper Landies starts to dry up and they become more expensive to obtain.
I live in a remote location miles from the nearest town or main road.
Like most people who live and work in the 'real' countryside, we drive cheap and economic 2 wheel drive cars everyday but I usually keep an old banger 4x4 for emergencies. Most of these emergency vehicles have been Landrover (series, Defender, and mk1 Discoveries) because they are simple enough to sit for months at a time, best cope with the most extreme situations, are easy to repair when broken, and don't depreciate much.
When I have to use a 4x4 everyday, it has to be Japanese for reliability.
A Jeep sounds like a bit of a compromise between the two, I don't know as I've never had one and don't really foresee needing one, but never say never, it may become necessary as the supply of old proper Landies starts to dry up and they become more expensive to obtain.
I'm going through this very dilemma. Having asked a long time ago on here about Wranglers, I've been through a few other choice cars, and find myself back with a modern poxy single garage with not a massive amount of room, looking for a weekend vehicle to tinker with and/or pootle about in, be it on or off road. Defender 90 or Wrangler TJ. I'm only interested in V8 90s or the 4.0 petrol TJ. Choices choices, both would satisfy my needs, I think the 90 looks nicer, don't see many Wranglers though. I've no experience of either, this would be a new type of vehicle for me, and yet despite having read many articles and magazines, I still can't decide either way.
For those that have poo-pooed one over the other, is that from experience of both, or hearsay/second hand info from someone?
For those that have poo-pooed one over the other, is that from experience of both, or hearsay/second hand info from someone?
I've had both, one 90 V8, ('94) one Defender TD5 (2001) and two XJs one 2.5tdi and my current 4.0 straight 6 (both 2001).
The 90 was hateful, cold, draughty, uncomfortable and handled like a boat.
The Defender was more modern (2001) and was better but still handled badly, was just as cramped as the 90, nowhere to rest your elbow (hence why you see most Defenders with the window open and occupant resting their arm on the sill!), very little seat and steering wheel adjustment if any... The list goes on.
The Defender heaters were pitiful, taking miles to get up to temp and then were little more than an asthmatic wheeze, the vertical rear window meant at night every time car headlights came towards you it looked like a car was rushing up behind you in the rear view mirror.
Don't get me wrong I love the looks of and idea of a Defender but after having two I swore I'd never have another when the Jeeps are so much more comfy and user friendly, with the 4.0 the heaters are warm in about 60 seconds and the car gets toasty warm.
Yes they don't have as much room inside but have heated seats, electric seats/mirrors and handle much much better on the road and are nearly as capable off it. Mind has a rear LSD as standard which no defenders have as standard.
Die hard Landy fans will of course dispute all of this and I'm no Jeep fanboy but there really is no comparison (between the similarly aged vehicles which I have owned). Maybe the more modern defenders are a little better but they're no more roomy in the cab.
The 90 was hateful, cold, draughty, uncomfortable and handled like a boat.
The Defender was more modern (2001) and was better but still handled badly, was just as cramped as the 90, nowhere to rest your elbow (hence why you see most Defenders with the window open and occupant resting their arm on the sill!), very little seat and steering wheel adjustment if any... The list goes on.
The Defender heaters were pitiful, taking miles to get up to temp and then were little more than an asthmatic wheeze, the vertical rear window meant at night every time car headlights came towards you it looked like a car was rushing up behind you in the rear view mirror.
Don't get me wrong I love the looks of and idea of a Defender but after having two I swore I'd never have another when the Jeeps are so much more comfy and user friendly, with the 4.0 the heaters are warm in about 60 seconds and the car gets toasty warm.
Yes they don't have as much room inside but have heated seats, electric seats/mirrors and handle much much better on the road and are nearly as capable off it. Mind has a rear LSD as standard which no defenders have as standard.
Die hard Landy fans will of course dispute all of this and I'm no Jeep fanboy but there really is no comparison (between the similarly aged vehicles which I have owned). Maybe the more modern defenders are a little better but they're no more roomy in the cab.
Timbuktu said:
Die hard Landy fans will of course dispute all of this and I'm no Jeep fanboy but there really is no comparison (between the similarly aged vehicles which I have owned). Maybe the more modern defenders are a little better but they're no more roomy in the cab.
It's true there really is no comparison between a Defender and an XJ. Because they are very different vehicles. Perhaps a Discovery would be a better comparison. white_goodman said:
Land Rovers ... Aren't they also quite popular in Africa?
They were in Colonial Africa. The turning circle was reduced by bump stop removal, and locals got to know how far to push them.I've driven a variety of Jap crap in African bush( WET AND DRY SEASON), and the one I'd use/CHOSE is LR. But then , the question is knowing , (as my old African bush mentor advised me) , where you can and CANNOT go in a Landie.
Land Rovers ... Aren't they also quite popular in Africa?
They were in Colonial Africa. The turning circle was reduced by bump stop removal, and locals got to know how far to push them.I've driven a variety of Jap crap in African bush( WET AND DRY SEASON), and the one I'd use/CHOSE is LR. But then , the question is knowing , (as my old African bush mentor advised me) , where you can and CANNOT go in a Landie.
I have always liked the idea of having an original WW2 Willys Jeep, Don't need one, or have much use for one, but still always like the idea of having one. I have no illusions about how crude or uncomfortable they might be, I still just like them.
On the subject of modern 4x4s, Many years ago watched a program about a group of drivers in (I think Ford Terranos) driving from London via Siberia and the frozen arctic sea to New York. They kept banging on about how tough and arduous the conditions were in icy snow swept Siberia, but in front of them were a security guard of 4 hefty Russian policemen, in normal uniforms, living off Vodka, sausage, and cigarettes, who appeared to have no trouble getting through the same conditions that were baulking the teams 4x4`s, in a Lada (Fiat 124)2 wheel drive police car
On the subject of modern 4x4s, Many years ago watched a program about a group of drivers in (I think Ford Terranos) driving from London via Siberia and the frozen arctic sea to New York. They kept banging on about how tough and arduous the conditions were in icy snow swept Siberia, but in front of them were a security guard of 4 hefty Russian policemen, in normal uniforms, living off Vodka, sausage, and cigarettes, who appeared to have no trouble getting through the same conditions that were baulking the teams 4x4`s, in a Lada (Fiat 124)2 wheel drive police car
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