Dear Sir, please allow me to express my outmost appreciation and gratitude to you for making this series .. watching a knowledgeable, experienced Englishman meticulously dismantling two legendary off roaders is something to admire and remember.
No one waves at me in a toyota, but when I drive my range rover classic I am the talk of the road. People speed up to get next to it running down the freeway. Thumbs up all around. Even Toyota drivers love it, wishing they had the mechanical skills to own one..lol I know it's not a defender or part of your discussion/ video series, but it is an Icon. Had Jeep not realized the coil springs were the key to great offroading, and comfort they would be half as good as they are now. Jeeps let me pass on the trail, scooting aside so the royalty vehicle can slip by. I wouldn't trade my Range rover for 2 toyota anythings.. Rover's are just the best vehicles to own. Here in California on the beach, there is nothing more satisfying than pulling out the brand new stuck 4x4's with an old rover. Sure it has it's quirks, but never left me stranded on the trail, and I never get lost because it throws out spots of oil periodically, so I can find my way home. Go Rover!
Having owned both and USED both in the offroad application in Africa , I know which one is best and which one does not break , which is very important in large open places , defenders are better suited to european conditions where help is always only a few hours away at most . Dependability is paramount offroad , not electronic trickery and yes , the last ones (puma 2.4 and 2.2 ) benefited from electronic trickery , where the Toyota has manual front and rear lockers , with central locker available in low ranger 4x4 . Take out the abs fuse in a 2007 to 2015 and you find how singularly useless the central diff lock system is when oppsing wheels are short of traction . Diff locks front and rear dont suffer that problem . Do I enjoy the old defender , yes , do I want to own one again , no not really , do I want to own a Land Cruiser 70 series , yes , most definately once my Range Rover hits depreciation write off point , a brand new , zero km Toyota LC 70 series is in my driveway . I think that in itself speaks volumes , I have never before had to depreciate a car to zero to be able to get out of it , thats how bad LR products are these days .
If you want to go to the outback take a Landrover, if you want to come back take a Landcruiser. Sorry guys but in the yearly reliability lists of the German ADAC Landrover is ALWAYS at the wrong place.
It was almost 5 years ago when I filmed this, so I realise the context is somewhat different now. Here are the caveats: When I said the Defender was the best off roader, I meant better than the Land Cruiser. The Jeep Wrangler is probably a better offroader out of the box, but it's not part of this video. There are also other utility vehicles that are better off road, but they're a lot bigger than a typical car-size vehicle When I talk about Land Rover staying true to it's roots, I meant in the 80s/90s, when the Defender was born. Things are different these days
So I am a big fan of the defender and I saw your videos when you did overland and I am planning to do over landing here in Africa and my initial plan is to have 300Tdi rebuilding from zero and auto box and that's it but I saw your video now about land cruiser and honestly I have hand on 1HZ BRAND NEW engine should I build land cruiser instead? Or do you still believe 300tdi is the best for that job? Also, my worry from the Tdi is the cooling problem which you suggest to put the sensor on top? And also the idea that 4 cylinder is the stressful engine compare to 6 cylinders?
I'd take the defender anyday, I feel they are fairly reliable based on experiences shared by Defender owners from africa and as you have mentioned it's the all wheel coilover setup and full time 4x4 system that makes us like them even more. A td5 or a 300tdi would be great pick for me.
I upgraded from 2017 VW Touareg (which was a very nice car) to 2013 Defender 110 and did not regret it for 1 sec. I loved the Land Rovers since I was 4 yrs old. Got completely smitten by the Camel Trophy in my late teens, and now bought my second Defender. Had a 90 now a 110. As you say, you buy what you want, not what you need. I respect the Land Cruiser, but my heart has always been with the Defenders.Regardless of all their quirks, no other car has given me so much enjoyment as my Defenders.
I love land rover defenders and land cruisers as well and I have been researching on land cruisers and land rovers for 6 years and now I basically know everything about land cruisers and land rovers
Boss how you can compare a defender 2400 cc under power machine with the land cruiser 70 series the beast with a six cylinder 4200 cc 1hz or 1HD .I'm saying this on the basis of my personal experience as I have experience of driving both of these vehicles for almost 20 years on all types of roads .I think land cruiser much much better than defender on many aspect's
They both have their advantages and drawbacks.. Or let's say quirks ;) It's just a pity that only one of them is still in production. The only peer to the LC now, is the Mercedes gwagon, which I've only ever seen in posh suburbs or driven by rappers or trophy wives. Well done for this series Will. Really useful.
I think you summed it up very well. The quality of British cars was well in decline by the 1990s. The writing on the wall for all these old dinosaurs from emission regulations by the early 2k. No 70 series in Europe now for over a decade and surprise when Toyota made the investment a couple of years ago to update it sufficiently for markets like Australia. As for quirkiness, everytime I am under my Defender I look at something and say 'why on earth did they do that', its a bit like a pre-production prototype just waiting for final sorting. When i am under the 'cruiser I see something adequately (but not over) engineered by the world largest car company.
So I am a big fan of the defender and I saw your videos when you did overland and I am planning to do over landing here in Africa and my initial plan is to have 300Tdi rebuilding from zero and auto box and that's it but I saw your video now about land cruiser and honestly I have hand on 1HZ BRAND NEW engine should I build land cruiser instead? Or do you still believe 300tdi is the best for that job? Also, my worry from the Tdi is the cooling problem which you suggest to put the sensor on top? And also the idea that 4 cylinder is the stressful engine compare to 6 cylinders?
I have a defender and love it. I hate its lack of reliability but love its off road ability without modifying it at all. I love its heritage. During the late 90s I was in charge of a fleet for country work, bought a large fleet of 70 series toyotas but also decided to try out 6x Defender 130s. Long story short we got rid of all 6 of them in 9 months. So, yes for personal level they are just fine, for fleet nope. All they are now are just luxury vehicles that are extremely unreliable.
I would like to suggest a follow-up. Brits love "top fives" so it may prove instructional if not indeed entertaining if you were to suggest the top 5 modifications you would make to a LandCruiser (say, 70 series) as a Land Rover owner and enthusiast. Likewise vice-versa: what modifications you would recommend to a Cruiserphile for a Land Rover (say, Defender 300tdi ROW). Please! Personally, I struggle to imagine anything from my S3 109" (Marshall bodied field ambulance) that I would want on my HZJ78L especially the loss of ca 10" of wheelbase.
@@lrworkshop There is a secondary logic which is that we always refer to our Landies as just one big Meccano set, ripe for chopping and changing. This is obviously less so for fleet owned Toyota's yet for Toyota uses generally as we know in Africa, the modifications are legion and often quite ingenious. Fertile ground I venture. One other point I don't think you mentioned; about wheelbase, mine is 119" approx so a much more comfortable ride than your 110 or my 109, without the stupid loss of breakover angle of a 130. I don't know the wheelbase of the 70 pickup you featured.
I spend my whole childchood, aprox 20 years of driveing in Toyota BJ42. Now i drove Land Rover Discovery 200. And being honest, enjoy it. Quality of everything are poor but it feels better in case of joy.
I have tested both cars Toyota HDJ100 and Defender 110 TD5 and the electronics from Toyota is muuuuuch better not only the ECU what is completely sealed, The Toyota alternator electronics like the voltage regulaltor is summerged on dielectric gelatin... Land Rover NO. The Toyota cable Plugs are better... Toyota transfer case is 300% better with oil pump. The Land Rover transfer case is oil splash. Toyota Axles are a lot stronger than the Defender. Toyota 1HDFTE 6 cilinder engine is the best engine in his category Loooong beetter than the TD5. You can buy One HDJ100 more cheap than one Defender.... no way.
@@lrworkshop Presumably NGOs and governments only?! I saw about fifty very well kitted out ones lined up ready to be exported somewhere last time I was there.
Wow, can’t believe you don’t have more comments on such a touchy emotive subject. I’m the owner of a 2020 Toyota 76 series wagon fitted with 4.5 litre turbo diesel v8 with a 5 speed manual. It’s fitted with diff locks front and rear so out of the box, pretty capable. Oh, and still comes with three ash trays! Where I think it excels is with the v8 TD, it just makes the LR look asthmatic with its little TD engine. I also think it’s more comfortable in all areas except the LC76 still has rear leaf springs. On road the LR can’t keep up, off road they’re both capable. Unfortunately the UK doesn’t get the v8 LC76 but I know you’d love it. Andrew St Pierre White can’t be wrong. Cheers from Australia
I have ownneed Patrol gr 2.8 , Toyota 92 2.5 And Disco 300 tdi and Defender td5 . Best it is Disco 300 tdi Patrol and Toyota very expensive from start and expensive parts and are old = not reliable . And they have rust much more then Land. Defender td5 hard to work not so many info for busch mechanics and the driver position. Disco 300 tdi it is the best, cheap , many to pick from, driver position best, 300 tdi can be tunned easy for 150 hp and more .
Had many land rovers, always breaking down and needing fixed. My Toyota's just need a service and they keep on running. One is an elite athlete the other is a constantly sick hypochondriac.
There is no comparison, Toyota is a much better truck, and will get you there when you want to be there, Landrover need tow truck numbers programed into your phone
Dear Sir, please allow me to express my outmost appreciation and gratitude to you for making this series .. watching a knowledgeable, experienced Englishman meticulously dismantling two legendary off roaders is something to admire and remember.
No one waves at me in a toyota, but when I drive my range rover classic I am the talk of the road. People speed up to get next to it running down the freeway. Thumbs up all around. Even Toyota drivers love it, wishing they had the mechanical skills to own one..lol I know it's not a defender or part of your discussion/ video series, but it is an Icon. Had Jeep not realized the coil springs were the key to great offroading, and comfort they would be half as good as they are now. Jeeps let me pass on the trail, scooting aside so the royalty vehicle can slip by. I wouldn't trade my Range rover for 2 toyota anythings.. Rover's are just the best vehicles to own. Here in California on the beach, there is nothing more satisfying than pulling out the brand new stuck 4x4's with an old rover. Sure it has it's quirks, but never left me stranded on the trail, and I never get lost because it throws out spots of oil periodically, so I can find my way home. Go Rover!
If you need to have people waving at you, then your problems can’t be solved by any vehicle.
I’m a land Cruiser guy. But I respect the crap out of patrols/defenders. Keep it up.
Having owned both and USED both in the offroad application in Africa , I know which one is best and which one does not break , which is very important in large open places , defenders are better suited to european conditions where help is always only a few hours away at most . Dependability is paramount offroad , not electronic trickery and yes , the last ones (puma 2.4 and 2.2 ) benefited from electronic trickery , where the Toyota has manual front and rear lockers , with central locker available in low ranger 4x4 . Take out the abs fuse in a 2007 to 2015 and you find how singularly useless the central diff lock system is when oppsing wheels are short of traction . Diff locks front and rear dont suffer that problem . Do I enjoy the old defender , yes , do I want to own one again , no not really , do I want to own a Land Cruiser 70 series , yes , most definately once my Range Rover hits depreciation write off point , a brand new , zero km Toyota LC 70 series is in my driveway . I think that in itself speaks volumes , I have never before had to depreciate a car to zero to be able to get out of it , thats how bad LR products are these days .
If you want to go to the outback take a Landrover, if you want to come back take a Landcruiser. Sorry guys but in the yearly reliability lists of the German ADAC Landrover is ALWAYS at the wrong place.
It was almost 5 years ago when I filmed this, so I realise the context is somewhat different now. Here are the caveats:
When I said the Defender was the best off roader, I meant better than the Land Cruiser. The Jeep Wrangler is probably a better offroader out of the box, but it's not part of this video. There are also other utility vehicles that are better off road, but they're a lot bigger than a typical car-size vehicle
When I talk about Land Rover staying true to it's roots, I meant in the 80s/90s, when the Defender was born. Things are different these days
So I am a big fan of the defender and I saw your videos when you did overland and I am planning to do over landing here in Africa and my initial plan is to have 300Tdi rebuilding from zero and auto box and that's it but I saw your video now about land cruiser and honestly I have hand on 1HZ BRAND NEW engine should I build land cruiser instead? Or do you still believe 300tdi is the best for that job? Also, my worry from the Tdi is the cooling problem which you suggest to put the sensor on top? And also the idea that 4 cylinder is the stressful engine compare to 6 cylinders?
I'd take the defender anyday, I feel they are fairly reliable based on experiences shared by Defender owners from africa and as you have mentioned it's the all wheel coilover setup and full time 4x4 system that makes us like them even more. A td5 or a 300tdi would be great pick for me.
I upgraded from 2017 VW Touareg (which was a very nice car) to 2013 Defender 110 and did not regret it for 1 sec. I loved the Land Rovers since I was 4 yrs old. Got completely smitten by the Camel Trophy in my late teens, and now bought my second Defender. Had a 90 now a 110. As you say, you buy what you want, not what you need. I respect the Land Cruiser, but my heart has always been with the Defenders.Regardless of all their quirks, no other car has given me so much enjoyment as my Defenders.
Good to hear Raymond
I love land rover defenders and land cruisers as well and I have been researching on land cruisers and land rovers for 6 years and now I basically know everything about land cruisers and land rovers
Boss how you can compare a defender 2400 cc under power machine with the land cruiser 70 series the beast with a six cylinder 4200 cc 1hz or 1HD .I'm saying this on the basis of my personal experience as I have experience of driving both of these vehicles for almost 20 years on all types of roads .I think land cruiser much much better than defender on many aspect's
They both have their advantages and drawbacks.. Or let's say quirks ;)
It's just a pity that only one of them is still in production.
The only peer to the LC now, is the Mercedes gwagon, which I've only ever seen in posh suburbs or driven by rappers or trophy wives.
Well done for this series Will. Really useful.
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it. Grenadier perhaps?
I've had one or more Land Rovers for the last 35+ years.... I ain't gonna change now 😉
Go on, I dare you
Brilliant series of videos, Will. Thank you.
Thanks Jonathan
Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series 🇯🇵💪👍👆 i❤️car!!!
Defender owners club is much much more fun 🤣
I think you summed it up very well. The quality of British cars was well in decline by the 1990s. The writing on the wall for all these old dinosaurs from emission regulations by the early 2k. No 70 series in Europe now for over a decade and surprise when Toyota made the investment a couple of years ago to update it sufficiently for markets like Australia. As for quirkiness, everytime I am under my Defender I look at something and say 'why on earth did they do that', its a bit like a pre-production prototype just waiting for final sorting. When i am under the 'cruiser I see something adequately (but not over) engineered by the world largest car company.
Yes I've had similar experiences. I look under a 70 series and think "I want that on my Defender!"
So I am a big fan of the defender and I saw your videos when you did overland and I am planning to do over landing here in Africa and my initial plan is to have 300Tdi rebuilding from zero and auto box and that's it but I saw your video now about land cruiser and honestly I have hand on 1HZ BRAND NEW engine should I build land cruiser instead? Or do you still believe 300tdi is the best for that job? Also, my worry from the Tdi is the cooling problem which you suggest to put the sensor on top? And also the idea that 4 cylinder is the stressful engine compare to 6 cylinders?
Land cruiser owners love telling Defender owners what we already know like we don’t know!
Get over it we prefer the Defender😄
I have a defender and love it. I hate its lack of reliability but love its off road ability without modifying it at all. I love its heritage.
During the late 90s I was in charge of a fleet for country work, bought a large fleet of 70 series toyotas but also decided to try out 6x Defender 130s.
Long story short we got rid of all 6 of them in 9 months. So, yes for personal level they are just fine, for fleet nope.
All they are now are just luxury vehicles that are extremely unreliable.
Interesting story. What went wrong with them?
Mechanical issues, we couldn’t depend on them
I love my Nancy,she’s a 96 Defender 90 x
I would like to suggest a follow-up. Brits love "top fives" so it may prove instructional if not indeed entertaining if you were to suggest the top 5 modifications you would make to a LandCruiser (say, 70 series) as a Land Rover owner and enthusiast. Likewise vice-versa: what modifications you would recommend to a Cruiserphile for a Land Rover (say, Defender 300tdi ROW). Please!
Personally, I struggle to imagine anything from my S3 109" (Marshall bodied field ambulance) that I would want on my HZJ78L especially the loss of ca 10" of wheelbase.
Hmm interesting. I'll have a think!
@@lrworkshop There is a secondary logic which is that we always refer to our Landies as just one big Meccano set, ripe for chopping and changing. This is obviously less so for fleet owned Toyota's yet for Toyota uses generally as we know in Africa, the modifications are legion and often quite ingenious. Fertile ground I venture. One other point I don't think you mentioned; about wheelbase, mine is 119" approx so a much more comfortable ride than your 110 or my 109, without the stupid loss of breakover angle of a 130. I don't know the wheelbase of the 70 pickup you featured.
Hi, 3 years on, have you done your thinking yet? Top 5 mods. Kettle's on in Chinguetti if you're passing....
@@lrworkshop
I spend my whole childchood, aprox 20 years of driveing in Toyota BJ42. Now i drove Land Rover Discovery 200. And being honest, enjoy it. Quality of everything are poor but it feels better in case of joy.
You've come to the dark side 😎
@@lrworkshop true. But damn... travel 700km per day in BJ42 and Discovery 1... :P
Toyota Land Cruiser ❤ , the beast !
I have tested both cars Toyota HDJ100 and Defender 110 TD5 and the electronics from Toyota is muuuuuch better not only the ECU what is completely sealed, The Toyota alternator electronics like the voltage regulaltor is summerged on dielectric gelatin... Land Rover NO.
The Toyota cable Plugs are better...
Toyota transfer case is 300% better with oil pump. The Land Rover transfer case is oil splash.
Toyota Axles are a lot stronger than the Defender.
Toyota 1HDFTE 6 cilinder engine is the best engine in his category Loooong beetter than the TD5.
You can buy One HDJ100 more cheap than one Defender.... no way.
Very valid points. 👍
Thanks!
the answer is on your cap :)
Hah yes 👏. Do Toyota hats exist?!?
You based in zambia?
Good series
Thanks Anthony!
Just quick question, At the time what was the comparable price difference?
70 series right now are priced at 32-36k USD, ex VAT for a 1HZ from Gibraltar
@@lrworkshop Presumably NGOs and governments only?! I saw about fifty very well kitted out ones lined up ready to be exported somewhere last time I was there.
@@jonny_wright mostly yes
Wow, can’t believe you don’t have more comments on such a touchy emotive subject. I’m the owner of a 2020 Toyota 76 series wagon fitted with 4.5 litre turbo diesel v8 with a 5 speed manual. It’s fitted with diff locks front and rear so out of the box, pretty capable. Oh, and still comes with three ash trays! Where I think it excels is with the v8 TD, it just makes the LR look asthmatic with its little TD engine. I also think it’s more comfortable in all areas except the LC76 still has rear leaf springs. On road the LR can’t keep up, off road they’re both capable. Unfortunately the UK doesn’t get the v8 LC76 but I know you’d love it. Andrew St Pierre White can’t be wrong. Cheers from Australia
I must have been liberally lubricated on Shiraz that night, I can’t recall writing that at all. 😂
No only Grenadier !!! De Ineos 😂😂👍👍
A Ford explorer is better than a range rover.
lol
Land rover himself removed the real tools defender for SUV's so... only Toyota keep going producing heavy duty cars
I have ownneed Patrol gr 2.8 , Toyota 92 2.5 And Disco 300 tdi and Defender td5 . Best it is Disco 300 tdi Patrol and Toyota very expensive from start and expensive parts and are old = not reliable . And they have rust much more then Land. Defender td5 hard to work not so many info for busch mechanics and the driver position. Disco 300 tdi it is the best, cheap , many to pick from, driver position best, 300 tdi can be tunned easy for 150 hp and more .
TOYOTA LANDCRUISER ❤️
😁
Nothing feels like driving a "classic" Defender
Agreed. The 70 series is very car like
Had many land rovers, always breaking down and needing fixed. My Toyota's just need a service and they keep on running. One is an elite athlete the other is a constantly sick hypochondriac.
I tell you one thing. That new defender is a true piece of garbage!
There is no comparison, Toyota is a much better truck, and will get you there when you want to be there, Landrover need tow truck numbers programed into your phone