Jan15Written by:Dave
1/15/2008 9:01 PM 
Why buy a Defender indeed ? Several reasons . Firstly , cos I wanted one. Secondly , when I bought the Disco , I sold my Ford Ranger bakkie. Once you have had the utility of a bakkie , you will always need it . The Defender Hard Top allows you to load a washing machine , or lawn mower or bags of compost - in other words it has the utility of a bakkie.
Remember Kingsley Holgate ? According to Kingsley I am now into the last useful pebble of my life - better use it well ( and quick !) ! The Disco is great but it is not ideal for camping in the Central Kalahari - I like the idea of being able to sleep in the back of the HT. It also has a lot of load space for all the other mpahla.
So how do I find the Offender ? Hell it is crude. Unbelievably grotty on tar . It certainly settles down once it is offroad and then is a pleasure. Believe it or not Judy actually likes travelling in it and finds it reasonably comfortable . The ride and seating are fine - just the noise gets to me .
Why do I say it is unbelievably crude ? The Hard Top has no upholstery behind the front seats - nothing but expanses of bare metal , all acting as highly effective sound boxes . Someone asked me if the Cooper tyres I have are noisy - had to admit that I hadnt heard them at all - too much other noise.
However I am in the process of sound proofing the vehicle and I have had a lot of progress - noise is down to a dull roar at present .
How does it compare to the Disco off road ? It feels good and is pleasant to drive . The smaller bonnet area is a great improvement as you come over a blind rise - the broad bonnet of the Disco pointing into the blue can be disconcerting when you dont know which way the road goes on the other side ! The approach angle is a huge advantage for the Offender . The ARB front bumper on the Disco is a major impediment as far as approach angle goes.
How does it compare to the Disco for traction ? The Disco wins hands down - cross axles are no problem in the Disco , whereas the Offender can be left with one front and one rear wheel spinning impotently .Tags: