The defender is geared differently, but just in the transfer case high range. The defender came with 7.50-16 or 235/85R16 tires, and so the high range is a little lower. Low is the same, so off road should be the same.

 

The extra 10 inches on the D110 will affect your breakover angle, which of course is pretty variable depending on what size tires you fit but will be worse on the 110 assuming both vehicles are stock.
Approach and departure angles are as follows:

Discovery Approach/Departure: 39/20
Defender Approach/departure: 50/35

Transfer case gearing varied between models depending on model and configuration.
1.41:1 for V8 110 and 300tdi
1.22:1 for V8 D90 and Discovery.
Other ratios are available to suit various final drive ratios and tire sizes.

Performance wise a Discovery will probably perform closest to a D90, with the exception of approach/departure angles.

 

New Zealand is a small country but lots of places to go. About 5 or 6 places within an hour of home, then I venture all over the North Island. Search Snafu4WD for several trip videos on Youtube.

I have two more trips coming up over the next 4 weeks, one down in the Napier region and the other back up in Northland, plus any local club trips I can fit in between those.

Woodhill - http://www.jeep4wdpark.co.nz/ All the Auckland Clubs have a roster where we supply 4 Trucks each weekend for recovery patrol of the park. Patrols get in for free and we can explore as much as we like plus be on call to recover anyone that gets into problems.

About 800 Kilometres on a tank. Diesel is considerably cheaper here than Petrol, but we do also pay a road tax, even including that Diesel is cheaper to run. The V8 Discos in our club seem to like seeing every gas station coming up on the horizon, On a 4WD safari trip if I can get Diesel every 2nd or 3rd day I'm ok.

 

Nissan Patrols?

 

I apologize in advance for semi-hijacking this thread.... what rack is that? do you like it? I've been looking for a disco roof rack to pop up for sale on the island but I don't think it's gonna happen so I'm looking for some options that would be easier to get shipped out...

 

I got a 97 discovery tdi with 320,000 km on the clock, in realy good nick for NZ$3500, just got to retyre it, cant beat that..

 

If money is not an issue then get a Defender. Live the dream if you can afford it. You only go around once. I love my 97 D1 and it's great off road but if money was no problem I would have a Defender. Go for the gusto and live the dream if you can afford a Defender.

 

Only place I saw offroading was just north of Dargaville, the Pirongia Forest outside Hamilton and around Ruatoria. I biked and drove out to Helensville a few times but never saw any signs for a 4WD park.(granted, if they didn't exist prior to 2000, of course I wouldn't have seen them.)

 

Atleast where I'm at a DEFENDER is OUTRAGEOUSLY priced IF you can even find one for sale. SO that being said if you took the money that it would take to even purchase a DEFENDER and put it into up-grading a Disco then you would have a Disco that could walk over a Defender. Think about it. 5k for a nice Disco........15k for a Defender........put 10k into a Disco and see what it'll do........OMG

 

The other factor to consider is your intended off-roading.
If you're wanting it to go camping in remote places then the D110 will probably suit better if you're not a really light packer.
For general all around off-roading the D1 will likely suit you better than the D110 due to the shorter wheel base.