Jeep vs. Disco 1

Rover3

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
96
0
38
AZ/DE
Well, I have done a lot of work underneath jeeps, mainly modifying suspension and axles. In stock form, the YJ,XJ,and ZJ are as capable as a stock DI as far as suspension and clearance are concerned. The one thing that the Jeep does well, especially the wrangler, is front end articulation when the sways are disconnected. The main reason is the hinged arms as opposed to a radius pinned setup that rovers have. The green wrangler in the picture is running 4" Teraflex lift w/ stock arms. :)
 

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KevinNY

Well-known member
Dec 28, 2004
2,789
1
55
Waxhaw,NC
Well said Max.

I agree most jeep guys who wheel a lot can change a u-joint in 20 minutes, BECAUSE THEY DO IT ALL THE TIME. I also think the cheap and easy replacement of broken parts and 200 dollar lockers is what makes a lot (not all)of them drive like they just robbed a bank vs. picking a good line.
 
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bshinn

Guest
I had an 87 YJ (back in 87 actually) :eek: , fawker made my DII look like it was designed & built by Toyota. :D
 

CADisco

Well-known member
Oct 28, 2005
355
0
bshinn said:
I had an 87 YJ (back in 87 actually) :eek: , fawker made my DII look like it was designed & built by Toyota. :D

I owned an 88 YJ and I have to agree that they had way more than their share of problems. I think it may have had something to do with the transition from American Motors to Chrysler, but whatever the problem was with engineering or manufacturing, they seem to have gotten the bugs worked out by the time they developed the TJ. I've owned three other Jeeps ( a CJ7, a XJ and a TJ) and never once took any of them into the shop for a defect repair - I wish I could say the same thing about my Rover.
 

landrvrnut21

Well-known member
Jul 31, 2005
191
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42
Akron, OH
www.geocities.com
Now you really want to start a debate. There are places me Series can go that you will have trouble. By far Series are superior vehicles.

1) never have to go to the dealer, and get ripped off
2) 20mpg, and regular 87octane
3) diesel std option
4) manual transmission, there is a reason they dont have automatics
5) 32" tires stock
6) hardtop, softop, truck cab, one vehicle
7) great heat in the summer, awesome air conditioning in the winter
8) dents add character
9) self oiling frame
10) PTO accessories, lets see you attach a saw mill to your rear bumper
11) pretty yellow, red, and green knobs
12) you can hose the interior out without ruining the carpet
13) no abs light
14) no check engine light
15) leaf springs
16) 1/2 ton load capacity
17) steel bumpers
18) Series drivers always wave to each other, even if they dont know them
19) Dual Climate control
20) Conveint storage compartment under the seat.
21) Security system, I leave the keys in mine, and never worry about it driving off
22) Mud allows you to preview new paint schemes
23) Steering wheels on the proper, right side
24) No one makes fun of you for driving a music genre that died back when.
25) No one in history has ever gotten a speedign ticket in a Series truck

See 25 reasons why Series trucks are better. Look at Max's examples. There are hundreds more reasons, but I dont have that much time. CHEERS! :p
 
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bshinn

Guest
It will be a cold day in hell before I purchase another Crysler prod. :mad:
Had that YJ, ex-wife ;) insisted on a Cherokee LTD as a replacement (that should explain the "ex" part). Her mother after witnessing all the greif we went through, buys a Grand Cherokee, & I, older, fatter, greyer & wiser :D buy a 3/4 ton HD Ram 4X4.

Every one of them was a hunk of shit! My DII is far more reliable that any one of them, & that's saying something.
 

LR Max

Well-known member
May 1, 2004
1,190
7
Hotlanta, GA
If I had an 88, I KNOW it would out do all of those TJs that I hang around with, fin. But since I am a lot longer I have more trouble. But a 88 with some skids, 235/85/16 MTs, and a rear locker will drive slickrock and school bus like it was nothing. The big thing that I have seen with my rover is that it is narrower. So I can put one side of tires in the jeep ruts and the other will ride on top of all the crap. Also I can fit between rocks while the wide jeeps have to traverse them. I consider the narrowness of the series to be its main advantage.
 
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KEJ

Guest
antichrist said:
I don't have a radar detector in my Series, I have a motion detector. :p

No kidding, Tom??? How often does that thing go off?

KJ ;)
 
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expeditionswest

Guest
I think the problem you are running into is not which vehicle is better, but which one has more modifications....

I find it absolutely silly when people argue about which vehicle is better on the trail. One guy has 35" tires and air lockers, and all of a sudden, his Jeep is the king of the trail? No, his modifications are.

Stock to stock, a standard Jeep Wrangler and Discovery are totally different applications. There is no comparison, as there is nothing to compare... Then, if you start adding lift kits, larger tires and locking differentials you are no longer comparing vehicles, but credit card balances... :eek:

A Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is one of the greatest trail machines ever produced. It will run 4 rated trails in stock condition. Nothing from Toyota or Ford can do that. I own a Jeep Wrangler for trail use, as it is just the best tool for the job.

But the Discovery is not a one trick pony. It does many things well, including driving down the highway at 80mph, or taking a client to lunch, or the wife to a 4 star venue. It also does very well on the trail, just as designed.

Land Rovers also have an engineering advantage: 3.3:1 low range, off-set axles, tall seating position, long throttle travel for fine control, big/thick steering wheel, long travel suspension, 1,600 lb payload, etc. Jeep has none of those things.

So just remind him when on the trail next time, how many parts on his Jeep are still factory?
 

discovery12

Well-known member
Jan 5, 2006
270
0
land rovers absolutely have a engineering advantage. A much much larger and stronger frame where it counts yes D1 axles are good not the strongest but who keeps stock axles in hardcore wheeling anyway toyota's don't do that and supposedly toyota axles are tough. lets say the Rubicon didn't even exist just a plain wrangler. It is in the same category as a stock rover but where that land rover will get the upper hand is in strength. The frame the gearbox and the drivetrain of the Disco is much bigger and stronger. many of the key parts of the Disco is overbuilt. That why a lots of jeeps are extremely built up because stock parts can cope and thats'why jeep built a wrangler with non jeep parts called the rubicon. Take a outta of the dealer fresh D1 bulit up and it will go where the jeep will also jeeps roll alot easier than Discos why? the small frame. I've never heard the terms "jeeps are built like tanks" unless it's really old. all the time I see or hear. "rovers are built like tanks" it's just plain simple..............Shit.
 
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Howiemeister

Guest
seeing that old thread cracked me up. whatever happened to carter anyway? he disappeared in the couple or so years i was absent. i'd love to re-read that exchange between him and john concerning posers vs. poseurs. the classics are always the best.
 

CADisco

Well-known member
Oct 28, 2005
355
0
Chris Browne said:
I enjoy wheeling with other brands because they work differently over obstacles than LRs.

Me too, I wheels with XJ's, YJ's, Taco's, LJ's, Suzi's, one old Bronco and a couple of Land Rovers. We all have a hell of a time, help one another while poking some good natured fun at one another. But at the end of the day we all usually get home with our junk in one piece and look forward to getting out again.

As far as which vehicle is better, they all have at least one advantage if you examine it hard enough. But at the end of the day the guy with the most experience and a little luck on their side has the advantage. Anyone's junk can break on any given day...
 

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,651
869
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
JBailey said:
Yea when it is Freezing/smoking hot out and he is cold/sweaty just roll up your windows and turn up the heat/ac. You have actual space in your Disco to carry people and gear. Got Cruise control??? Your Land Rover is accepted with a smile at 5 star hotels and restaraunts, not smirks :D .
Where's Mike Villanueva these days? He's been big into valet parking credits.

JBailey said:
Oh Yea I have owned 4 jeeps( 2 yj, 1 tj, 1 cj) I have owned 4 Rovers. 2 currently a D1 and a RRover. The Rovers turn heads way more than any of the jeeps.
Chicks Dig the Green Oval!!

You've owned wrong jeeps, man. OTOH... in our neck of the woods, a clean jeep (not a YJ or TJ) would turn more heads than any Rover.
And it isn't even Orange County.
 
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syoung

Guest
88 Grand Wagoneer- I miss mine and it actually is more plush than any Disco if you're into creature comforts. More HP too.
 
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Dan Ratcliffe

Guest
I mean, what isn't there to love. While there are some places this can't go, I love DRIVING, not trailering to the trails, doing most everything I see everyone else doing, and driving home. It's only 46 years old, 97% stock. The only change to the drive train has been to make it easier ON ROAD, and it is the daily driver.

I do have a problem with parts durabilty though. I had a 46 year old differential lock up on me this weekend at Uwharrie. I'm going to be writing a letter to someone by GOD!

Today, it is sitting in the parking lot at the office with out front shafts and a differential, but it will take me, in my suit and tie, to a very important lunch meeting at Lucky 32's. It will, I venture to say, be the coolest vehicle in the parking lot.

Dan
 

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