Santana Anibal (PS-10) vs Land Rover Defender 110 vs Iveco Massif

[apexcamper]

Is the Santana Anibal (PS-10) a decent "Defender Clone" or a cheap knock off. I have seen mid-2000's Santana Anibals and PS-10 4 doors for sale and they were way more affordable (compared to the LR Defender 110 of the same year).

I am also wondering about the Iveco Massif (although I think it is the same truck as the Santana just on a different badge, same factory). The overland guys out of Italy did an all Iveco expedition and used the Massif...looked fairly capable.

Just trying to gain as much info on Land Rover knock-offs as possible before my wife and wallet talk me into getting one.

Any and all thoughts will be helpful.

 

[Steve UK]

Hello,

Quick reply as I am about to go home from work, but in short don't buy a Santana. From what I have heard they are no longer made and the parts are a complete nightmare to get hold of and expensive.

I will try and find some more info. but it was only recently I read this info.

Steve

 

[Nonimouse]

The Santana is a top truck. Hits the spot were Land Rover missed. The Iveco Massif is now it's successor, albeit they were built on parrallel production lines for a while

Parts for both are vailable all over the world and are cheap as chips; the Iveco 2.8 is the most common sub 3ltr light truck engine in the world! The Massif uses the 3.0ltr version. The mil spec Massif version is sold to countries with Spanish connections world wide; the Santana filled the same role

A few year back we did a comparison of the late TD5 110 and a PS10 in 2.8TD form. Niether had traction control or LSD but were shod with BFG MT's (not KM2's). This was as an intended mag article for an LR mag. The PS10 was better, I'll not go into detail but it just outclassed the TD5 and as such was not what we wanted for the article so we dumped it. I've hankered after one ever since....

 

[rugbier]

main difference is the mid 2000 were built in the chaos of Santana ( St Ana - Spain ) , the new ones with Fiat HD truck influence ( Iveco ) are a different thing.

Also Leaf not Coil sprung

 

[ATEurope]

Great off-road despite having leaf springs. Loads more comfort and interior space for front seat occupants than a Defender and the 2.8 will pull 5th gear from any speed with ease all day long. Santana addressed many of the shortcomings of the Defender in the body design. Wider rear door aperture etc and little things like the chassis is dipped in paint unlike a new LR that gets a mere wafting over with a spray gun.

Downsides. I too had the experience of UK press cars on several occasions and every single time some piece of trim broke or fell off. The lazy build quality was clearly evident. Every car we had was dogged by one electrical gremlin or another. This I should point out was the Spanish built Santana but Iveco's deserved reputation for trim quality and finish means these are things that are unlikely to have changed! Anything with a few miles on it will look tired bordering on the completely worn out!

Not seen or driven the Iveco version as Iveco didn't bother to bring it to the UK. Secondhand values of the few Santana's that were sold in the UK are low but you'll probably get more for your money than the equivalent age LR110. The LR110 will still be worth stupid money when you come to sell whereas the Anibal most certainly won't! Ya pays your money...

 

[Nonimouse]

Nice response

 

[Steve UK]

here is some more info. http://forum.landrovernet.com/showthread.php/209816-Nasty-defender-copy...?highlight=santana

sounds like it has some + points but expensive parts that are hard to find would be a killer for me!!!!

 

[pattro]

Santana's are great trucks. Throughout the life of Santana they made recommendations and small changes that were improvements which Land Rover, Generally speaking, wrote off. Granted I don't know about sourcing parts for them.

 

[DividingCreek]

Didn't I read that Iveco already ditched this product line ?

 

[JeffRRC]

I don't think they've ditched it. In fact, you might find this interesting

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f58/iveco-massif-join-jeep-101251/

 

[DividingCreek]

So its not been ditched as a product line its just not being produced since January of 2011. I hope Iveco does find a way to continue production.