The new defender
Discussion
My local dealer had the launch all day yesterday.
I popped in after work and had a good look around one.
I rather like it. The one they had wasn't fully spec'ed and so was a little tonka toy ish for some things, esp without the ignition on. However, push the starter button and it comes alive and looks rather cool.
It's a big beast.
Won't be swapping our Disco 5 for one, but these will sell. Lots of local farmers and Horsey people doing a lot of nodding while looking over it. Also, lots of deposites taken too.
Looking forward to a test drive in March time.
I popped in after work and had a good look around one.
I rather like it. The one they had wasn't fully spec'ed and so was a little tonka toy ish for some things, esp without the ignition on. However, push the starter button and it comes alive and looks rather cool.
It's a big beast.
Won't be swapping our Disco 5 for one, but these will sell. Lots of local farmers and Horsey people doing a lot of nodding while looking over it. Also, lots of deposites taken too.
Looking forward to a test drive in March time.
It looks absolutely dreadful!
Regardless of looks though, it’s completely lost the fundamental basics that made the outgoing defender so brilliant. The ability to fix it anywhere, take it anywhere and not worry about getting a bill the size of the car when you ding a panel or smash a light bulb.
Yet more over priced, mass produced sh*te coming out of the JLR factories!
Regardless of looks though, it’s completely lost the fundamental basics that made the outgoing defender so brilliant. The ability to fix it anywhere, take it anywhere and not worry about getting a bill the size of the car when you ding a panel or smash a light bulb.
Yet more over priced, mass produced sh*te coming out of the JLR factories!
A real life do anything go anywhere tonka toy for adults, looks fantastic!
They routinely sold 20k units a year of the old one, which lets not forget was utter tosh in every imaginable attribute, whereas they can do those volumes in just a few months on the rest of their product line up. Clearly there was the need for change, this is a step in the right direction in my view.
As for farm applications. It will be very well suited, but given farmers tend to like pickup trucks and no frills motoring I don't see too many using it for daily duty's. As farmers make up a very minor percentage of the population, I don't think JLR should be too worried.
They routinely sold 20k units a year of the old one, which lets not forget was utter tosh in every imaginable attribute, whereas they can do those volumes in just a few months on the rest of their product line up. Clearly there was the need for change, this is a step in the right direction in my view.
As for farm applications. It will be very well suited, but given farmers tend to like pickup trucks and no frills motoring I don't see too many using it for daily duty's. As farmers make up a very minor percentage of the population, I don't think JLR should be too worried.
I’ve a PH friend whose got an HSE Disco 5 who says he’s now got his name down for a 110 - given he does so many motorway miles I think he’s slightly bonkers considering a 110 versus what he’s got (especially given the current reliability of newly launched LR products). I’ll be interested if he changes his mind 
This came to my local dealership today.
Had a proper look all over it, asked questions and got some decent answers for it.
It’s not as big inside as my D3, but I knew it wouldn’t be.
It’s as comfy though and has that nice blend of luxury and practicality.
Electrics are IP67 rated. Can dunk the full system in 1 metre of water for an hour without ingres.
Wading depth is 90cm.
They have some in Kazakhstan for shooting and adverts etc.
When I was there, 2 people bought ones.
Both 110s.
Local dealer has had a lot of interest in it and has taken a lot of deposits on it.
nomad_ said:
It looks absolutely dreadful!
Regardless of looks though, it’s completely lost the fundamental basics that made the outgoing defender so brilliant. The ability to fix it anywhere, take it anywhere and not worry about getting a bill the size of the car when you ding a panel or smash a light bulb.
Yet more over priced, mass produced sh*te coming out of the JLR factories!
Regardless of looks though, it’s completely lost the fundamental basics that made the outgoing defender so brilliant. The ability to fix it anywhere, take it anywhere and not worry about getting a bill the size of the car when you ding a panel or smash a light bulb.
Yet more over priced, mass produced sh*te coming out of the JLR factories!
Brads67 said:
I cannot see any farmer I know buying that instead of an L200.
Maybe as their posh Sunday car to replace the disco but to fill with dead sheep and cattle feed lol no chance.
Oh good greif, change the flipping record... Maybe as their posh Sunday car to replace the disco but to fill with dead sheep and cattle feed lol no chance.
1) No farmer buys anything even remotely new, let alone a JLR product. Old Japanese pick ups for the farmer, modified defender for his son.... whilst he finishes college. I live next door to one!
2) Name me one new car, that can be "fixed anywhere". With modern fuel economy, safety, crash legislation/ regulations nothing falls into that category by a country mile! Anywhere "off the beaten" track where reliability was critical...... You'd buy a Toyota.
Africa /Australia/South America..... The Defender is/was a luxury toy, same as they are today. We spent years living with one in South Africa, don't kid yourself. Great car club, die hard enthusiast, but you'd never argue durability with a land cruiser owner.
Edited by Andeh1 on Monday 18th November 19:31
Andeh1 said:
Oh good greif, change the flipping record...
1) No farmer buys anything even remotely new, let alone a JLR product. Old Japanese pick ups for the farmer, modified defender for his son.... whilst he finishes college. I live next door to one!
2) Name me one new car, that can be "fixed anywhere". With modern fuel economy, safety, crash legislation/ regulations nothing falls into that category by a country mile! Anywhere "off the beaten" track where reliability was critical...... You'd buy a Toyota.
Africa /Australia/South America..... The Defender is/was a luxury toy, same as they are today. We spent years living with one in South Africa, don't kid yourself. Great car club, die hard enthusiast, but you'd never argue durability with a land cruiser owner.
So you don't know any farmers then ?1) No farmer buys anything even remotely new, let alone a JLR product. Old Japanese pick ups for the farmer, modified defender for his son.... whilst he finishes college. I live next door to one!
2) Name me one new car, that can be "fixed anywhere". With modern fuel economy, safety, crash legislation/ regulations nothing falls into that category by a country mile! Anywhere "off the beaten" track where reliability was critical...... You'd buy a Toyota.
Africa /Australia/South America..... The Defender is/was a luxury toy, same as they are today. We spent years living with one in South Africa, don't kid yourself. Great car club, die hard enthusiast, but you'd never argue durability with a land cruiser owner.
Edited by Andeh1 on Monday 18th November 19:31
I've yet to meet one that buys secondhand pickups, or Range Rovers.
A.J.M said:
All the local farmers to me bar one, drive jap pick ups as they are cheaper, more reliable and just as capable.
The only exception is one who uses a D3.
Farming is pretty big and varied though. Plenty round here drive Land Rover's, in fact a close friend is very annoyed as his TDci 90 pick up was stolen recently. And LR don't offer anything similar he will literally be forced to buy something else.The only exception is one who uses a D3.
Go to any farming events, big ones like Lamma or smaller local ploughing matches and you'll see loads of Land Rover's at both. New and old.
The pickups (not all are Jap
) are ok, but do have limitations. Bigger, worse turning circle, generally less good off road, often ride and handle worse (leaf springs!!!!) and many are still 2wd with selectable 4wd. One of the major plus points of a Defender is you can simply drive an and out of fields without the need to do anything.Gassing Station | Land Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff