Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Austin, Nope, the suspension is virtually identical. I have a 1997 NAS spec D90 and 1996 NAS Discovery sitting in my garage. Slide under both and see for yourself. The majority of suspension bits are interchangeable. Both vehicles use the same 4.0 litre V8 engine, the same differentials, the same transmission and trasnfer case. Some NAS Discoverys use a rubber driveshaft coupling at the rear diff instead of a ujoint, but LRNA will change that for any customers who ask. My 1997 UK spec Discovery Tdi, that we used on London Bombay Cebu this year, uses the same 300 Tdi that you'll find in any Defender 110 (well, up to 1999 or so, when the Td5 came out). Same trans, same xfer case, same suspension, etc. Even the frame is substantially the same, except for the length. In fact, when we left India, I gave a bunch of suspension parts to our guide as a gift, who used them on his 1985 (pre Defender) 110. Only difference here is that the gearing is slightly higher in order to improve road cruising. Of course, the driveshaft lengths are different, depending on your wheelbase (D90 92.5", D110 110", Disco 100"). In the Sahara, we were sharing parts between 110s, Discoverys, and even older Range Rovers! Part of the beauty of the design is that there is so much parts interchageablility. Before you pass judgement, take a current model Land Rover on a REAL overland trek, then come back and tell us what you think. Truth is, that all expeditions involve a fair amount of either tarmac driving during transits, or dirt road driving. Drive a 110 tdi through the Sahara for a week, then try a Discovery tdi. Both are great vehicles and up to the challenge, but the din inside the 110 will beat the living hell out of you. The Discovery design reduces driver fatigue, thereby allowing you to go farther in a stretch. A typical scenario on expedition is to use 110s as load carriers, and Discoverys and Range Rovers for passengers. A friend of mine is a desert guide, and has led dozens of trips in the Sahara. His vehicle of choice? A Range Rover with the 3.5 litre V8. :-p Oh, and one more thing...Land Rovers can take you to all sorts of cool places, so DON'T FORGET YOUR LEICAS! ;-) - --Jim - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Austin Franklin" <darkroom@ix.netcom.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 11:24 AM Subject: RE: [Leica] System Compatibility and Equipment Reliability > > Hmmm. Guess I shouldn't have touched off this one again... All I am going > > to say is that, in my experience (and I do have alot of experience in this > > area), the current model Land Rovers are the only suitable expedition > > vehicle left on the market. > > WHICH ONES? The Discovery? NO! The Defender 90? Yes! The 108? YES YES! > The Range Rover...well, the 4.6, though a nice yuppie vehicle, does not get > good traction in the snow becuase of its quite wide tires...so if it's a > 4.0...yes, a 4.6...may be. > > > The Discovery > > is just a different body on the exact same platform as the Defender. > > I don't believe that's true...so you have documentation on this? I have > driven RRs and LRs for 20 years, and belong to many a RR group...and no one > has ever mentioned that. > > > In > > fact, you can interchange engine, drivetrain, and suspension parts between > > them! > > Some parts, yes...but engine and some of the drive train isn't indicative of > the vehicle. I think suspension is entirely different. > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html