The Defender and the DI are basically the same truck.
Same running gear, different skin.

 

I DISAGREE with you also,,,

 

The largest difference between the Defender and the Disco is the approach/departure angles in my opinion. Honestly, the SD trim Discos were almost as basic as a Defender. Would I like to have a Defender? HELL YEAH! Would I want to drive one everyday as I currently do my Disco? HELL NO! Personally, I defend calling my Disco a "truck" all the time. People around here are like "it doesn't have a bed, it ain't a truck". My response is that the full frame under my Disco will put the frame under your truck to shame, so yeah, it's a truck. Never had to defend the "realness" of being a Land Rover though. What a ******.

 

I think some defender owners have an elitist attitude because they paid $20K for their used defender..big deal..I bet a $1,500 D1 is just as capable.

 

Personally I think Discoveries are pretty ugly. I'd never have bought one if my then wife hadn't refused to let the kids ride in my Series Rovers.
But they are quite capable, almost as much so as a Defender. And yes, the Discovery is basically a different body on a D90 chassis, with another 8" added to make high centering easier.

As for purists, the general opinion is that SIII's aren't "real" land rovers because you can't open a beer bottle on the dash.

 

LOL. Ask people who've owned both. A defender starts life as capable as the "extreme" modded Disco's. You need a very serious trail Disco to hang with the guys who are offroading their D90's (NOT the same crowd as the poser D90's with the factory aluminum brush bar). Also I don't know if you've ever taken a Disco body off vs. a D90 body, but they are pretty different beasts. No Defender owner would say the two are basically the same truck. BTW I paid the same amount for my first Disco as my Defender, so it's not an elite thing.

I think you'll get a pretty different answer to that quote at D-90.com. BTW most D90 owners I know wouldn't think the Disco isn't a real Land Rover.

 

Pretty much so, that and 1000 #'s lighter with a shorter frame.

 

Lets talk about wheelbase. Short wheelbase 4x4s (under 100") are good for mild to moderated off-roading but dangerous when attempting very steep rocky inclines. I've seen plenty of short wheelbase 4x4s roll over or come very close to rolling over.

 

You don't offroad much do you?

 

The entire drive train and suspension, except for the propshafts due to length, are pretty much interchangeable between a D90 and a D1.