stevie d wrote:

Can't take a D3 off road without a Sump Plate as lower front bumper get wrecked at first incline/decline. Mud guards also get ripped off in ruts..

So in standard form................??

Steve

Sorry thats wrong been with plenty of standard D3's and they get on fine

noworries4x4 wrote:

[quote="Unimog isn't what I'd called yer typical transportation device unless you have your own Army/quarry. I do see one in our local Tesco car park on occasion though as well as an old Lambo tractor. The joys of Cornwall

noworries4x4 wrote:

ohh err i am going to have to find his busness card now then ! He did some work on my bosses boat in Fowey a couple of years ago and his 101 has been in Lro mag a couple of years ago sorry no more info than that in my small brain.
I am down in New Polzeath tomorrow

BigMike wrote:

Ah but you haven't defined "best" willy

For sheer capability I'd have to say defender. Discos have bags of technology and are clever etc but they just can't go where defenders can go for reasons of ground clearance, width and sheer usability.

and to be honest, I think the new landcruiser kicks the arse of a disco offroad never mind what the specs of both say, it's a far simpler machine, much less to go wrong and on a long remote trip I would FAR rather be in the landcruiser if there was the choice of both. yes the disco is more comfortable, but when I drove it I found it to be very numb offroad, you have zero feeling through the wheel and the suspension.

Ive had both and let me give my 10 cents worth....Mike your point re ground clearance is incorrect the Defender is much worse on ground clearance when the D3 is in off road height,this is due to the diff arrangement on the Defenders being of the old design, hence the need for diff guards etc.
I took my lifted Puma around hogmoor arena off road site and was constantly bottoming out and getting grounded in tank ruts, the D3s never had an issue.

Early ones were prone to a few electrical gremilins but my 05 model was very good and i never had any issues and im currently prepping up a 57 plate to compliment my D4 tarmac warrior.

Re reliability and the Defenders....my TD5 was fantastic, minimal drive train slop,bomb proof diffs, ok noisy compared to the Puma, but if you are REALLY using it properly, rather than road driving...i dont think they are as reliable plus the components have been de engineered in recent years using sub standard materials.

Dont get me wrong, i love Defenders, but as an everyday vehicle, offroader, van, luxury express..i recon the D3/D4/Landcrusier/FJ Cruiser/ and New jeeps are making the Defender show its age and are superior.

However if i had to chose just 1 and i was going to use it as a true multi function vehicle it would be a new V8 TD 76 series Lancruiser....Just wish we had them over here  You cannot teach stupid people to do clever things