Wrangler vs defender
Discussion
Has anyone on here got one of the 2018 onwards jeep wrangler? Any issues? They seem to hold money well?
As a side note, would you be looking at a defender instead? appeal of the jeep is that its sensibly sized. I can't get on with a proper defender an every day car, they're bloody expensive for what they are.
Going to be a do it all car, family, towing, trips and fun.
As a side note, would you be looking at a defender instead? appeal of the jeep is that its sensibly sized. I can't get on with a proper defender an every day car, they're bloody expensive for what they are.
Going to be a do it all car, family, towing, trips and fun.
Your family won't thank you! 
Have you sat in (either) one? They're both massively compromised as a road vehicle.
The Wrangler is surprisingly cramped and the rear door/swing away wheel is a faff. And that's before you get to road manners and safety.
The Defender is bigger inside but still laughably compromised.
Have you sat in (either) one? They're both massively compromised as a road vehicle.
The Wrangler is surprisingly cramped and the rear door/swing away wheel is a faff. And that's before you get to road manners and safety.
The Defender is bigger inside but still laughably compromised.
camel_landy said:
I realise it doesn’t have the looks but a Discovery is significantly more practical, more space and a better tow tug.
If you’re also thinking about your family, check out some of the crash test results for the old Defender & Wrangler.
Is the New Defender an option?
M
I think a new defender would be about 15k more in the same spec, i'd also have worries about all the tech onboard with it being a JLR product.If you’re also thinking about your family, check out some of the crash test results for the old Defender & Wrangler.
Is the New Defender an option?
M
Recently sold my Wrangler to get a pick-up. Enjoyed the Jeep and the Overland automatic model has things you would expect of a modern car. Cruise control, sat nav, heated seats, rear view camera etc.
The rear gate was quite handy sometimes for leaving the rear window open and have large items sticking out resting on the rear door.
The rear gate was quite handy sometimes for leaving the rear window open and have large items sticking out resting on the rear door.
Edited by Avdb on Saturday 2nd January 18:29
A friend has just swapped a 15 plate 110 defender
for a Wrangler Rubicon , the ride is great seems to go and handle well his is one of the last diesels looks well screwed together , he says it’s what the new defender should have been, he had a new defender on demo
It’s very competent on the road , we went up a few green lanes , on rough terrain it is totally reliant on the traction control as it has very little axle articulation ,
And then you have sketchy reliability and dealer service,
Worth looking up TFL defender on YouTube!!
Me I would buy another Landcruiser.....
for a Wrangler Rubicon , the ride is great seems to go and handle well his is one of the last diesels looks well screwed together , he says it’s what the new defender should have been, he had a new defender on demo
It’s very competent on the road , we went up a few green lanes , on rough terrain it is totally reliant on the traction control as it has very little axle articulation ,
And then you have sketchy reliability and dealer service,
Worth looking up TFL defender on YouTube!!
Me I would buy another Landcruiser.....
Edited by powerstroke on Monday 4th January 07:34
I drove a four-door Wrangler when I was in the USA this time last year, it goes very nicely but the interior room is very very compromised.
My daily is a Defender 110 Station Wagon - vastly better use of space at the expense of cramped conditions for all occupants.
You'd struggle to get two mountain bikes and a camping gear for two in the Wrangler whereas the Defender swallows them with volume to spare.
Both are very much vehicles you buy when you have a specific task for them in mind.
My daily is a Defender 110 Station Wagon - vastly better use of space at the expense of cramped conditions for all occupants.
You'd struggle to get two mountain bikes and a camping gear for two in the Wrangler whereas the Defender swallows them with volume to spare.
Both are very much vehicles you buy when you have a specific task for them in mind.
Edited by 100SRV on Tuesday 5th January 09:37
I run a 2019 3 door 2.0 turbo Rubicon in Punk 'n' Orange
Got a few extras, soft top, 'sport' exhaust, slightly childish big wheels etc and love it. The soft top and exhaust saves so much weight on the stock exhaust and hard top. Really well appointed, lots of interior toys, great sound system etc. Huge fun.
I'm in London don't off road it though I did go up a kerb the other day!
My 3rd wrangler and well recommended as a weekday daily.
Got a few extras, soft top, 'sport' exhaust, slightly childish big wheels etc and love it. The soft top and exhaust saves so much weight on the stock exhaust and hard top. Really well appointed, lots of interior toys, great sound system etc. Huge fun.
I'm in London don't off road it though I did go up a kerb the other day!
My 3rd wrangler and well recommended as a weekday daily.
I also have a Rubicon 3 door, but the previous model with V6 petrol. As said its not at all roomy for luggage even with the rear seats removed. It was only available as an auto in the UK, strange as a six speed manual was an option in the US. Its a very capable vehicle with high and low range 4 x 4 and, with the Rubicon, locking diffs.
I ran one of the last TD5 Defenders, short wheel base, a while back. It was far more roomy for luggage but not that comfortable it also was the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. Lost faith in it and sold it when the warranty ran out. I have no experience of the long wheel base versions of either or the current models which are completely revamped, especially the Defender.
I ran one of the last TD5 Defenders, short wheel base, a while back. It was far more roomy for luggage but not that comfortable it also was the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. Lost faith in it and sold it when the warranty ran out. I have no experience of the long wheel base versions of either or the current models which are completely revamped, especially the Defender.
xyyman said:
I also have a Rubicon 3 door, but the previous model with V6 petrol. As said its not at all roomy for luggage even with the rear seats removed. It was only available as an auto in the UK, strange as a six speed manual was an option in the US. Its a very capable vehicle with high and low range 4 x 4 and, with the Rubicon, locking diffs.
I ran one of the last TD5 Defenders, short wheel base, a while back. It was far more roomy for luggage
Defender would only have been 2 seat though. The Wrangler has proper rear seats.I ran one of the last TD5 Defenders, short wheel base, a while back. It was far more roomy for luggage
jason61c said:
Has anyone on here got one of the 2018 onwards jeep wrangler? Any issues? They seem to hold money well?
As a side note, would you be looking at a defender instead? appeal of the jeep is that its sensibly sized. I can't get on with a proper defender an every day car, they're bloody expensive for what they are.
Going to be a do it all car, family, towing, trips and fun.
The Wrangler is an awesome bit of kit.As a side note, would you be looking at a defender instead? appeal of the jeep is that its sensibly sized. I can't get on with a proper defender an every day car, they're bloody expensive for what they are.
Going to be a do it all car, family, towing, trips and fun.
Nothing wrong with the road manners either. They run live axles front and rear and have off road biased suspension. But they drive, handle and ride great. Anyone claiming different is just doing so for the sake of posting on the internet. Remember Range Rovers used to have essentially the same setup and even the Queen used to ride in them on the road. So there really is nothing wrong with their road manners at all.
That said, if you want something that drives like a sports car or a large estate car. A Wrangler is not the car for you. It will feel ever bit a 4x4. But then that is really the "entire" appeal of them.
Wranglers in the UK hold their money like crazy. Not sure why. The JK model is also very good and the post 2011 facelift is not really a million miles off of the current JL. The JL is a bit more plush inside and offers better engines in the UK. But the changes are 100% evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
Due to the strong residuals, it does mean you can buy and move on with minimal loss/risk if you don't like it in the end.
I think the important thing to note about the Wrangler is ---- it is a recreational vehicle. It is hugely fun and entertaining and should be an even every time you drive it. Taking the roof off, removing the doors and even folding the windscreen down are all part of owning a vehicle like this. And if you never plan to go off road, you really would be missing out on 90% of what the vehicle is all about.
The old/traditional Defender is quite comparable to the Wrangler in ethos. Although dynamically the Wrangler is far superior in ever single respect apart from hauling or towing. The Defender was pitched more at utility, while the Wrangler is not (in the USA pickup trucks would be for utility).
So I would say considering a Wrangler or a traditional Defender are quite comparable. And both are great vehicles to own.
The new Defender..... well this is a different story. This isn't a bad car. But it is not a 4x4. It is designed for a completely different use and target audience. To me they are not very comparable at all.
The Wrangler is more akin to being the Elise/Caterham of the 4x4 market (i.e. highly specialised and capable at a very specific objective). While the new Defender is more akin to a Focus ST (much more general performance, hugely enhanced by technology rather than a native design for off roading).
Downsides of Jeep ownership in the UK:
-Odd model specs and choses in the UK. Hugely limited compared to the US market
-Jeep UK are bloody useless
-Jeep dealers seem to have no knowledge on Wranglers nor any interest in them
To sum up.
If you want an awesome 4x4 that truly do anything and be arguably one of the most vehicles you can buy in the mass market. Get the Wrangler.
If you want a road biased 4wd SUV with some off road ability. Forget the new Defender and buy a slightly used Range Rover Sport with a much better engine than those offered in the new Defender. The new Defender runs on the same platform and is about the same size as a Range Rover. So on road they actually drive very similar (so much so that without the visual clues in styling you probably wouldn't tell the difference). But the RRS has a more plush interior, can be equipped with the latest version of ACE and you get a choice of engines such as the brilliant TDV8 or the supercharged petrol V8.
The Range Rover will do everything the new Defender can off road too, only slightly worse approach/departure angles. But the rest of the off kit is the same parts across both models.
300bhp/ton said:
The old/traditional Defender is quite comparable to the Wrangler in ethos. Although dynamically the Wrangler is far superior in ever single respect apart from hauling or towing. The Defender was pitched more at utility, while the Wrangler is not (in the USA pickup trucks would be for utility).
So I would say considering a Wrangler or a traditional Defender are quite comparable. And both are great vehicles to own.
The new Defender..... well this is a different story. This isn't a bad car. But it is not a 4x4. It is designed for a completely different use and target audience. To me they are not very comparable at all.
...STUFF...
If you want a road biased 4wd SUV with some off road ability. Forget the new Defender and buy a slightly used Range Rover Sport with a much better engine than those offered in the new Defender. The new Defender runs on the same platform and is about the same size as a Range Rover. So on road they actually drive very similar (so much so that without the visual clues in styling you probably wouldn't tell the difference). But the RRS has a more plush interior, can be equipped with the latest version of ACE and you get a choice of engines such as the brilliant TDV8 or the supercharged petrol V8.
The Range Rover will do everything the new Defender can off road too, only slightly worse approach/departure angles. But the rest of the off kit is the same parts across both models.
I thought this post was really good, though I wanted to pitch-in about the new Defender.So I would say considering a Wrangler or a traditional Defender are quite comparable. And both are great vehicles to own.
The new Defender..... well this is a different story. This isn't a bad car. But it is not a 4x4. It is designed for a completely different use and target audience. To me they are not very comparable at all.
...STUFF...
If you want a road biased 4wd SUV with some off road ability. Forget the new Defender and buy a slightly used Range Rover Sport with a much better engine than those offered in the new Defender. The new Defender runs on the same platform and is about the same size as a Range Rover. So on road they actually drive very similar (so much so that without the visual clues in styling you probably wouldn't tell the difference). But the RRS has a more plush interior, can be equipped with the latest version of ACE and you get a choice of engines such as the brilliant TDV8 or the supercharged petrol V8.
The Range Rover will do everything the new Defender can off road too, only slightly worse approach/departure angles. But the rest of the off kit is the same parts across both models.
We've recently gone through the check-out-and-test routine and have ordered a new Defender.
The point above that the new Defender is a completely different car than the old one is true. For me, wanting a tough family car for 2 very tall children (teenage son is on his way to 2m) we all felt that it could fit the 'one-car' brief. It needs to do the mountain runaround but also the 10 hour motorway trips to clients or the family. I love the old Defender, and have done a fair number of km in them but they are (for me) a specialised thing. I used to run a supercharged Elise and on one of my local mountain passes at sunrise I can't think of a better thing, but sitting on the motorway in a summer downpour was no fun at all. In this way the new Defender is more like a Porsche Carrera compared to the Lotus - decent at doing the sporty thing but you could (and many do) use it as a daily driver.
We live at 1750m in a Swiss ski resort. We have snow on the roads for half of the year and I've seen -26 this year. The ski kit and a snow shovel lives in the car 5 months a year and in the summer cars are a muddy-bike transport, kayak carrier or somewhere to throw in wet wetsuits. We go camping many weekends a year and I prefer places which are off the beaten path.
In the end for me it came down to a choice between a demonstrator Range Rover or the Defender, both with the same PHEV engine. The Defender will cost, in the specification we have ordered it, pretty much the same as a new Range Rover Sport with the same engine. In fact I didn't really see the point of the RRS against the FFRR apart from price. The Defender and the RR are about the same size. As mentioned above the driving experience is very close. If you go a bit silly with the options you can get all the stuff that I've become spoilt with like matrix headlights, adaptive cruise etc. If this isn't important to you you don't have to. There is little difference between the current RRS, RR and Defender engine options apart from the supercharged V8 (which I believe is coming to the Defender)
The deciding factor was the Defender didn't have the plushness of almost all other large SUVs. I saw this as a positive. I was a bit wary of subjecting a RR to the abuse I know the car will get. It certainly can do the utility thing, driving off-road mountain paths, but it just felt a bit wrong subjecting it to it and I'd feel a bit worried brushing it against branches. There's just a bit more plastic cladding on outside of the Defender, the hard plastic floors were a huge plus compared to plush carpets which I'd just want to cover with rubber protective mats.
The rather geeky comparison that I can think is between getting a suit made in a heavy, worsted English wool fabric or something more lightweight, 'finer', possibly with some cashmere in. Both cost the about same and make a nice suit but the heavier cloth will take more of a beating.
Of course you don't have to have such a high spec with the Defender and I think even in base spec with a small engine and the steel wheels you'd have a good family car. I'd imagine it would be less of a compromise than the Jeep for the daily activity but I can understand if off-roading was your passion you might be tempted by a Jeep.
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