Borrowed a defender 90 today to do strata Florida and a few lanes around there, well what an experience that was, they are super shit, they are so cramped it's a joke, who thought it would be ok to put a handbrake there ? Slow, noisy, and so hot inside, I think it was the heat of the engine coming through, they should be called saunas not defenders. But I did like the torque and power of the engine off road though.
So if you think your jimny is noisy, bumpy and cramped go take a defender for a test drive, your jimny will feel like a Bentley when you get back in it.
A Jimny is more comfortable than a Defender. A Defender is more capable in standard form than a Jimny in standard form.
However, a good condition Jimny modified to be as capable as a standard Defender is still cheaper than a good condition Defender. This becomes more so as time goes on. A modified Jimny does not gain value though. So the money spent modifying it is largely lost on resale.
Both can suffer from weak transmission components.
I would argue a Jimny is generally more reliable and easier to repair due to the size and weight of components. They are more complex but only slightly.
I'm not a diesel fan but some are and will see that as a strength of the Defender.
So to my mind it's a choice thing. It's down to preference.
I'm happy with my choice but think that there's something to be said about keeping a motor standard. You have less issues caused by modifying, such as compromising it on road. We know that by modifying a car to go better off road it's not as good on road. Did Land Rover get the balance just right? Possibly!
Kirkynut
The underdog often starts the fight, and occasionally the upper dog deserves to win - Edgar Watson Howe.
