Just reading on the Defender section...

Man am I glad I'm happy with my Disco. Defenders are just too rich for my blood.

 

its essentially the same suspension

 

Seems like a simple case of supply and demand. Defenders are inexpensive compared to the other Rover range in the UK, but given their limited availability here in the states (due in part to emissions stuff), they command a premium price. I saw a really nice 1997 Defender 110 for sale (private party) in San Francisco a couple months ago. It was very clean and low miles; $56k.

A 2011 Defender in the UK starts at around $33K.

Perhaps the rumored return of the Defender to the US in a few years will drive prices for used models down to a reasonable level.