Member Since: 12 Nov 2013
Location: Cambs
Posts: 9
Defender to disco ??
Hi all,I've had my utility for nearly two years now (27000 miles) its great and does everything I need it to do, I work as a floorlayer and it copes fine with that and I deerstalk and pick up with four dogs throughout the shooting season and you couldn't wish for a better vehicle for that, but here's my thing I'm now thinking that a comercial disco would do all the same but in more comfort !! I've had a defender for the last 15 years and love them, not sure what to do as they are stopping manufacturing them will I regret it , any thoughts please would be good.
Cheers
26th Feb 2014 10:51 pm
will247
Member Since: 05 Jan 2013
Location: York
Posts: 709
Where I used to work I got 'issued' with a defender 110 after 18months of a transit. I did 1000miles a week every week, after a week of the 110 I handed in my notice as I could barely drive it.... I am 6'3'' which I don't think helped, now work for myself out of my disco and would never ever go back.
Did 9 hours in the disco last summer and felt like less than 20mins in the defender!!26 and on the 4th LR..
Series 2a 1963 88'' 2.25 Derv as original with Galv chassis
Disco 1 1996 V8 on LPG (sold now)
Disco 3 2005 TDV6 S (sold now)
Disco 4 MY15 XS Commercial
26th Feb 2014 10:55 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2881
Change, change, change
Drove defenders for many years and body is struggling now - left knee and lower back both bu ered. D3 will go anywhere that my 110 would, and in so much more comfort. Yes they do have their glitches, and are not as easy to work on as the defender, but a huge step forward Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
26th Feb 2014 11:10 pm
Doberman
Member Since: 12 Nov 2013
Location: Cambs
Posts: 9
Going to drive the disco today, kind of made my mind up yesterday as I unfolded myself out of my defender after an hour and a half of driving I felt like I'd had a kicking, I think its time to change as I'm not getting any younger !
28th Feb 2014 8:31 am
justin trevett
Member Since: 23 Jun 2013
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 79
I was considering going the other way until a mate let me drive his defender.
Disco all the way 1997 BMW R1100GS
2007 Disco 3
LML Star 125 2t
28th Feb 2014 8:38 am
Discoed
Member Since: 16 Jun 2010
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 1020
Yes I moved from a Td5 110 to a D3 and I think I'd struggle to go back. Still love defenders but as I need to do quite a lot of M way miles and a fair bit of towing there is no way I'd go back as a main vehicle.
28th Feb 2014 9:05 am
Albert McFly
Member Since: 26 May 2013
Location: Hill Valley
Posts: 206
Do it and you will love it they are night and day in comparison, but beware the defender devil lives in most of us and has a habit of making you buy even more when you sell one.
You have been warned Disco 3 HSE
28th Feb 2014 2:55 pm
steve smith
Member Since: 11 Mar 2008
Location: up north towards the hills.
Posts: 2427
I'm after a swap from my D3 to a defender ., mine is fully kitted out for your deer stalking! Steve
28th Feb 2014 4:19 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Steve your too old for that game fella!2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
28th Feb 2014 5:34 pm
discocity
Member Since: 22 Sep 2013
Location: oxford
Posts: 59
Just so thirsty compared to a defender any sort of decent mileage add at least 2k extra in fuel running costs
28th Feb 2014 10:57 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2881
Disagree- I do about 30k a year and annual D3 fuel costs are about £3k less than they were on the TD5 - in absolute terms which, given ever rising fuel prives, is
Edit: Just checked accounts and receipts from spreadsheet - saved £2,260 in last 12 month business accounting period, in which I had the D3 for 10 months, so equivalent to just over £2,700 per year saving.Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
28th Feb 2014 11:01 pm
kev stephenson
Member Since: 11 Feb 2014
Location: huddersfield
Posts: 44
I've just 10 days ago gone from an alive tuned defender TD5 to a TDV6 disco.
For
Fuel economy is 5mpg better in the disco over the last 1000 miles
I can sit on the motorway at more than 70mph and do more than 20mpg and I don't need to turn the stereo up to overcome the road noise
Comfort
Much safer for the kids.
Against
I sold the defender for the same price as I bought it for nearly 3 years and 35,000 miles ago. I am damned sure I won't be able to do that with a disco.
I will have to drive a bit more careful around the shoots and farms I shoot on, the disco has paint on the bumpers.
I need to be more careful when putting the fruits of my shooting in the boot, can't hose this one out.
I am certainly happy with the swap and the wife and kids prefer the ride of the disco. Only time will tell if my wallet is as happy.
1st Mar 2014 12:05 pm
A.J.M
Member Since: 31 Oct 2009
Location: Carluke
Posts: 2821
You can get load covers for the boot, that can protect the carpet, the plastic trim at the sides, the rear seat backs and the lower tailgate covers.
I got one 2nd hand for £20 off this site when i bought a full size load protector/dog guard.
Best investment ever, keeps the dog hair under control, i can stick what i like in the boot and as it's thick material, it doesn't leak through.
I went from a mk1 freeby to a D3, would never go back and tbh, i wouldn't go to a normal car either.
It's ability to cover every need i have is amazing.
Only downside is going from 37mpg average, to 23mpg average. Coupled with a major increase in driving with work...
1st Mar 2014 12:53 pm
steve smith
Member Since: 11 Mar 2008
Location: up north towards the hills.
Posts: 2427
Rob, you have a pm, reading all these threads makes me have second thoughts lol hurry up before I change my mind .Steve
5th Mar 2014 11:22 am
discocity
Member Since: 22 Sep 2013
Location: oxford
Posts: 59
My business mileage costs tell a different story back to back in comparison to a defender .
I think it depends on type of driving if its motorway miles disco would be cheaper .
But a lot of A and B roads I think the defender would win hands down.
In now way is the Disco 3 a cheap way to move yourself with brimming the tank at £102 it still shows a range of max 400 and bit miles .
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ered. D3 will go anywhere that my 110 would, and in so much more comfort. Yes they do have their glitches, and are not as easy to work on as the defender, but a huge step forward 
., mine is fully kitted out for your deer stalking! 
.
