New family, new defender!?

New family, new car?

Hello, new to this forum so hello all!

Just wanted to get some thoughts , I feel like I need some encouragement with the decision making!

I want a defender, I know I do. I used to have a 90 XS and then a 110 Double Cab after that (preferred the 90 but rolled that a couple of times in a towing trailer accident abroad so that was the end of that)

Used to love a bit of greenlaning at the time (few yrs ago).

Just had our first baby, currently have an FL2 which just isn't big enough. I mountain bike, we've got a dog that loves getting covered in as much mud as possible, we also travel to the alps for about a month to 6 weeks every yr. lucky enough to work from home so no commute.

Car would be used for, driving to the alps, driving to walks with the dog, driving to mountain bike locations, going to the shops?

Few concerns: the turning circle is terrible - how can I convince the other half this is a minor issue?

Safety: I know they're solid as a rock, but surely they can't compete with a car (like fl2) that's full of airbags?

My head says disco 3 2nd hand, we had a sit in one of these though and felt nothing - I don't think it's for us.

Just wanted to pick some brains... Any thoughts on my predicament?

ive traveld to france a few times in a d3 and its as comfortable as anything, its also safe and as its still a fairly rugged car inside so compared to merc and bmw 4x4s itll cope with a bashing. i dont know what your budget is and what age defender your going for but they are not that comfortable on the road also unless you go for a 110 the seating arrangement may be impractical. but if you dont mind so much about that id say get one. but it does sound like a discovery 2 or 3 would would be slightly easier to live with.

110 is awesome as a family car but we use ours as a 2nd car for when we have all of us and luggage in it as it is easier to use the wife's golf for nipping to the shops and stuff. Probably a D2 or 3 would be more sensible for mega road mileage

turning circle isnt that bad, its as good as the sedona i did have, although thats not saying much.
my 110 csw is our family car, and i love it, tows the caravan well, reasonable mpg.

I love the fact i dont worry about muck etc getting in it with my 3, much more laid back...

Yeah we're looking at one of the new ones (XS) so I was hoping it would be a little bit more 'liveable' - does anyone know if the new ones are anymore comfortable? Gonna have a test drive this week but any feedback helps...

the seats in the newer ones look bettere than the old, but tbh, not found them that bad, and mine are getting tired.