CUSTOM: DEFENDER V FJ V JK WRANGLER

HEADING TO ONE OF MELBOURNE’S TOUGHEST TRACKS TO SEE WHICH SHORTY STANDS TALLEST.

WHEN you can’t settle a debate between mates over who has the best ride, then you organise a serious off-road test across punishing terrain to sort out a result. This is what happened recently when a bit of online banter among mates eventually led to a no-holds barred challenge up some of Melbourne’s toughest tracks. Two of the short-wheelbased 4x4s in question – a Defender and an FJ – have been tirelessly tinkered and perfected for the last few years to serve as daily drivers slash weekend warriors. The third vehicle – a Wrangler with the Double Black Offroad (DBOR) catalogue thrown at it – is purely a weekend-getaway machine.

“The idea started with a Facebook post. I said ‘it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you’re on – FJ v JK – it’s all about getting out and having fun’,” Sav Giannoukas, the proud owner of the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser, told us. “But then Damian Lucev (owner of the 2013 Land Rover Defender 90) started with his comments about the Defender being better. Then Bill Barbas got involved and it all broke out of control.”

When the banter began, Bill Barbas, the owner of DBOR, had only just finished putting the final touches on the 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for a client. And Bill, with a wealth of Jeep knowledge, knew there was only one way to settle the score: a short-wheelbased showdown. And, of course, we tagged along to see who’d leave with bragging rights.