Defenders more uncomfortable than Discovery's/Range Rovers?

[oryxexpeditions]

I've owned two Discovery 1's and a Range Rover Classic and have always found them very comfortable vehicles even for long hours behind the wheel. I have been considering buying a Defender 110 to add to the stable, but from what I've read from members here and elsewhere, the Defender has a reputation of being a lot more uncomfortable on long trips. Besides less creature comforts, does this have to do with seating position, ergonomics, ride, etc. For those of you who own 110's and have used them for long distance extended trips, what are your experiences in comparison with other Rovers?

Thanks,

David

[The Rover Shop]

I have owned many of the different models, my favorite of all time vehicle for the best of both worlds has been my 1993 range rover classic LWB. I converted it to manual and put a 4.6 in it and the manual locking transfer box..nice cold air conditioning and you can drive at 90 mph and still hear the stereo, plenty of leg and head room and then very capable off road.....she was a bit heavy on gas but that was the price you pay... Having said that I was about to use that vehicle for my round the world trip but for some reason I decided to go with a defender 110... Nowhere near as fast or comfortable ( I am 6'2" so it's a little short on leg room) no air con etc etc etc but I think there is something that screams adventure when you look at a defender.. And it's a little more user friendly once you start loading all the expeditionary crap on it.... I think if I was to convert the range over to diesel ( better for longer distances and remote places) I would have lost a few of the items I was so enamored with in order to gain others...

[czenkov]

Besides less creature comforts, does this have to do with seating position, ergonomics, ride, etc. For those of you who own 110's and have used them for long distance extended trips, what are your experiences in comparison with other Rovers?

Thanks,

David

I have driven my 90 to Canada and practically all the way to Mexico from SLC and I find it comfortable. I am 6' & 175lbs and ergo's are perfect for me. I can have my foot on the gas all day without fatigue. The one complaint I have is no tilt wheel as the wheel is a bit high for long trips. You have to reach for it a bit but on the plus side this makes keeping two hands on it more comfortable than one and that is prob better for safe driving anyway. I find the seat supportive and comfortable. That being said after 10 hours driving there is fatigue, but these days I find I get tired at that drive time in anything. I love my Defender and am bummed when we don't take it places but sometimes fuel savings are more important.

[D110]

A Defender is our daily driver and we love it - that said, we sometimes will rent a car if we need to drive places more than a couple hours away on the freeway (I can't believe you can rent cars for $16.00 a day!) as after a few hours on the freeway the Defender can become a bit tiring and noisy. In most cases the gas savings will pay for the rental car.

[maxingout]

I find that the Defender is the most comfortable car I have driven with respect to my how my back feels when driving off-road. The curve of the front seats is an exact fit to my back, and for long off-road drives, it feels awesome. The bench seats in the back are very uncomfortable, and I would not want to travel a long distance sitting on them.

If you are talking about comfort for expeditionary travel off the pavement, the front seats in a Defender are the best for me.

If you are talking about sound levels and creature comforts in a vehicle, then Defender would be down the list for many people.

For me, the Defender driving experience is not about creature comforts. When I sit in my Defender, my mind is transported to the plains of the Serengeti and the sand dunes of Arabia. I can't get in my Defender without feeling better about my life and about my future adventures. Weird. Perhaps. But it is the real world of driving in a Defender. I like the way my back feels when I am driving my Defenders. But I love the way my mind feels when I am behind the wheel of my 110.

[I Leak Oil]

Comfort is a relative thing...and a state of mind...

[tacr2man]

I agree with maxingout , the front seats in my 110CSW are about the best for long distances of any, the longest was 33hrs driving in 43 . The ride depends on the loading as it tends to be a bit harsh if you are set up for expedition weight, and are running about unladen. The diesels are a bit on the noisy side , although county spec is a bit quieter, but not rangerover level, but the V8 is a lot quieter than the diesels , but you pay in fuel consumption. I did fit Tracker highbacks in my wagon as the standard seats are short distance only , but a better choice is fit another pair of fronts in the second row. JMHO

[czenkov]

I can't get in my Defender without feeling better about my life and about my future adventures. Weird. Perhaps. But it is the real world of driving in a Defender. I like the way my back feels when I am driving my Defenders. But I love the way my mind feels when I am behind the wheel of my 110.

I agree. My guys used to ask me what I drove to work (the Defender is now my DD) because when I drove the Defender I was in a better state of mind than when I drove the Toyota.

[dieselandmud]

I drove my 97' Disco from Mt Rushmore, SD to Cookeville, TN pulling a small camper trailer, nonstop. Took me just under 24hr at around 1400 mile. When I got home I cut the grass. Just saying.......

[Fivespddisco]

I don't ever remember asking myself if my foot was on fire when I drove the disco.