[tock172]

So my friend just picked up a 1998 Land Rover Discovery. With it's leather interior, fulltime 4x4, front and rear locking diffs and even it's heated seats, it seems pretty nice.

Now seeing my friend drive this thing, and taking a ride in it myself, I just can't help but ask the question and get the JF consensus.

Which one do you think will fare better?

Personally I think the Jeep Cherokee would be the choice for a couple reasons:
1. Stock with a 190 HP bulletproof Straight Six
2. Easy to fix, cheap to fix, and overall a bulletproof vehicle
3. Lots of mods for great prices
4. More durable out on the trail
5. American Made, need I say more?

Now I am not trying to bash land rovers or anything like that, but what do you guys think?

Something funny I would like to add: My friend's first thought was, "Dude, it has a V8!" I look it up and realize that it is a 3.9L V8 generating only 180HP. hehe

[GregB_00XJ]

Originally Posted by tock172

Something funny I would like to add: My friend's first thought was, "Dude, it has a V8!" I look it up and realize that it is a 3.9L V8 generating only 180HP. hehe

Yes, and running PREMIUM unleaded... like 94 Octane High Test stuff (92 minimum if I remember).

Cherokee will almost run on tar sands.

[tock172]

Originally Posted by Gman_VIMB

Yes, and running PREMIUM unleaded... like 94 Octane High Test stuff (92 minimum if I remember).

Cherokee will almost run on tar sands.

Something about how you put that makes me want to go hug my XJ haha

[WinstonWolf]

My XJ: 260K, all original, purrs like a kitten.

My SILs Disco: Three engines and a tranny before 100k
My Sisters LR3: two trannies and a total electrical failure before 60K
Watching them trying to put their magnetic business decals on the aluminum doors: priceless.

Any seat time in a Range will make XJ acceleration feel like a carrier launch.

[Goldenknob]

Range rovers feel very top heavy too. they lean a lot when you make sharp turns.. my XJ just sticks to the ground and takes it. But that could be due to some good new tires, new rear leafs and shocks.

[RedZeppelinXJ]

Originally Posted by tock172

So my friend just picked up a 1998 Land Rover Discovery. With it's leather interior, fulltime 4x4, front and rear locking diffs and even it's heated seats, it seems pretty nice.

locking front and rear diffs dont do u any good when the top heavy SOB rolls over, or when ur engine and tranny blow out before you even get to the trail!

[durfXJ]

there is a reason why are known through the world as dependable 4x4's because they were british and sent to the remnent of th ebritish empire, although the sent the "premium" models to the US. and just like the Grand Cherokee's the more stuf fon them the easier it is to have a failure, the best comparison is a defender to a wrangler. A Jeep is a very relible basic Offroad vehicle, the base model rovers are as rugged and relible as the jeeps.

So take 2 equally modified vehicles or 2 stock and see what happens. if the stock LR has lockers it would probably fair as well or better than the XJ.

[theducksguts]

With the Landrover Discovery it has the aluminum body on a steel frame and axles. So in my experience hasn't been overly top heavy. However, they are expensive to get fixed and don't really compare to the XJ. They are in two different categories. LR to WJ/WK would be a better comparison. The US bound Landrovers are mostly for Luxury purposes and not offroad prowess.

[Zjeeplover]

KBB:

1999 Land Rover Discovery II w/ 90K = $3640, Private Party Sales
1999 Jeep Cherokee w/ 90K = $3420, Private Party Sales

Factor in initial price and depreciation.
Then factor in cheaper oil changes, cheaper gas, altogether cheaper cost of operation.
Then factor in reliability and aftermarket parts.
The Jeep is just a smarter buy, in my opinion.

[LandRover]

I could write a book on this thread, but I'm not going to.

Mine is a 99 Disco series 1...with the coil springs rather than the air shocks that they put on the series 2... The rover is awesome, the Jeep is awesome...There are pros and cons to both.

Totally stock, the Rover wins. Hate to say it, but four wheel disks, coil springs all around, center locking diff standard, AWD with low range available without engaging the diff lock... It's a HECK of a starting point if you want to build a monster.

That said, when you start building, the Jeep takes it. At least here in the states, building the land rover gets pretty pricy. You can do a 2" lift for $500 or $600, but after that things are just more costly and less available than Jeep stuff.

The Disco is pretty heavy, which is an advantage and a disadvantage. I could go on and on about the pros and cons of each...

The guys in England are having the same debate, but talking about how expensive Jeep parts are... it's all relative.

I will say that I can put my mountain bike in the back of the disco and all I have to remove is the front tire...that high roof is awesome.

Edit: I run 87 octane in the disco, have for 7 years. No issues whatsoever.

[LeftOfCenterXJ]

^ i was wondering when LR was going to chime in on the subject

[kadetklapp]

Interesting subject. I'd say it's close to a toss-up if you put two of them on the trails with stock set-ups and good tires.

[LandRover]

^^ after having both of them in stock form, I'd have to give it to the Rover. The 4x4 system is simply superior. The open diffs in the Jeep would be no mach for the traction control of the Disco with the center lock engaged. Closer match if the XJ had the limited slip in the rear, but even so, The Disco basically has that on both ends stock.

[snakeeyes237]

My buddies disco had on the fly anti-sway system that allowed him to whip it through corners on the street...with 32" tires. Goin out on the trails with him really showed me that his discovery was built for off-road use as well as luxury. Granted, taking a $50,000 truck off-road would make me way too cautious to have fun but he beat on it like everyone else. The only thing he and I questioned was with the airbag suspension. It worked great, until the sensor bar that keeps tabs on the flexing, and automatically adjusts the airbags to allow more or less articulation, was made of plastic and when he broke one that wheel's airbag automatically deflated. Fairly easy trail fix with a saw, piece of rebar, and some duct tape...but I can't figure out why cheap out on something like that for a car with that sticker price. Here in Europe though, the Discoveries, Defenders, Patrols, and Mitsubishis are the choice rides. Our clubs photographer even wheels a Mercedes G wagon with a sticker price of $140,000 USD. Overall, I give it up to the Cherokee for being relatively cheap, easy to work on and fun. No, it's not as luxurious or capable in stock form, but I don't have 50k to spend on a car, especially one I can't work on.

[LandRover]

^^ the ACE system (active corner enhancement) and the airbag suspension was notorious for having some issues the first couple of years (99-02 or so in the series 2 discos)...that's part of the reason I purposely sought out a series 1 with coil springs. I couldn't afford one new enough to be confident that they had all the bugs worked out