Bronco vs Wrangler vs Defender: We Drive Them Off-Road Up A Mountain, But Only Two Make It Back!
- Thread starter buster
- Start date
I'd still go with the Jeep I think.
Land Rover performed as expected - it broke.
I assumed such. Land Rover has been just a nameplate for what seems like generations.
I don't know if Id say it broke, but those wheels are sub-optimal for off road. The Defender is available w/ steel wheels in certain trims, but they aren't retrofittable to other trims due to brake size. You get better brakes at the expense of some off road capability.
Having driven all three, and almost buying the Defender, it is the best all around and certainly the best on road where, realistically, most will spend their time.
Why didn't I buy the Defender? I loved my Range Rovers and will buy again, but I'm not brave enough to try a first year, completely new model from JLR.
I am seeing a lot of them, relatively here though.
Having driven all three, and almost buying the Defender, it is the best all around and certainly the best on road where, realistically, most will spend their time.
Why didn't I buy the Defender? I loved my Range Rovers and will buy again, but I'm not brave enough to try a first year, completely new model from JLR.
I am seeing a lot of them, relatively here though.
I'll stick with Jeep.
How so? Which have you had?
Some models certainly aren't suitable for any serious off road work (Velar), but most, even the Evogue, are actually not as bad as you would expect and the full Range Rover and Disco/LR3&4's are very good for what they are. Can't think of too many other vehicles that have the luxury, ride, utility and soft road capabilities of my diesel RR, a '17 HSE. It was by far my favorite DD until the diesel and emissions gremlins crept up...but, sadly, those aren't limited to JLR. I also did Land Rover off road school VT, which was fun and showed their capabilities, with the best part being taking someone elses $100K suv through the woods.
Yes they are quirky and not the most reliable appliance out there, but they are not as bad as rumored (typically by those who never owned one) and are capable.
That said, I am now driving a 'Benz..
I don't really need one and won't own them due to experience other family members of had (cooling system, poorly functioning interior bits, rust). They stopped buying them years ago and have moved on to Benz and Audi. I put them in the same category as the other luxury SUV's sans the prev-gen G-wagon* (Don't know about current gen G-Wagon). They're luxury SUV's. Nothing wrong with that however I expected the new Defender to be more purpose built and was disappointed when I looked at one. I'm sure it'll have no problem traveling through 3 inches of snow.
I was expecting something closer to the classic LR 110 or 90. Basically a LR version of the Wranglers.
*Prev gen G-Wagon. Take a look under that thing and you can see how it's built for off road. The wheel hubs alone. wow.
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Slightly O/T, but I looked at a G Wagen (for no other reason than to get to properly say 'Gelandewagen'
), but, and this is silly, I was at home, channel flipping and I saw the Kardashians all getting out of a grotesquely done up one and that just killed it for me....also why I watch very limited TV but I digress. Silly reason for disqualifying a very capable vehicle, but I just can't...
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they have no flex of any kind and need sawzalling to fit anything bigger than a 33. the closed knuckle hubs are like lots of old 4x4s, not all that big either.
once you get past the triple locked gimmick you have a severely compromised rig. even the new bronco will eat it for breakfast
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Well said, on this board you can insert just about every European make into that sentence.
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I hate to say it, but I would have a hard time buying any of these things for $50k and beating them offroad. i have a hard enough time offroading my 2011 Lexus GX that I bought for $20k.
Thats why I bought a 1995 4Runner that already had rusted out rear fenders I hit trees and pinstripe it and don't even flinch.
Thats why I bought a 1995 4Runner that already had rusted out rear fenders
I hit trees and pinstripe it and don't even flinch.
Airing down to 25 PSI....LOL
I run non-beadlock radials at 10-12. <- The rig on my left runs 3 PSI.
I've always liked the D90. The one in the video - meh.
Not sure what I would get if I did buy new - Jeep or Ford. I have both, so tough decision. It would be pretty cool to pahk a new Bronco next to my Bronco.
I run non-beadlock radials at 10-12. <- The rig on my left runs 3 PSI.
I've always liked the D90. The one in the video - meh.
Not sure what I would get if I did buy new - Jeep or Ford. I have both, so tough decision. It would be pretty cool to pahk a new Bronco next to my Bronco.
Ha. I was gunna make that comment. I run 20 psi on the way to the trails. Then drop down to 15 in the summer and 10-11 in the winter snow wheeling. Any lower than 12 for me and my wheels will spin inside the tire with enough traction lol.
That bronco does has a serious amount of articulation in the front for being IFS. My GX has KDSS, so basically swaybar disconnects, and doesn't flex anything like that.
But I don't think it was better than the rubicon. Not that it matters. If you have lockers than having infinity flex becomes less important and more about show. It helps, but at some point I think it can be too much and hurt the truck in offcamber and climbing situations.
But I don't think it was better than the rubicon. Not that it matters. If you have lockers than having infinity flex becomes less important and more about show. It helps, but at some point I think it can be too much and hurt the truck in offcamber and climbing situations.
