New Defender - HSE vs S vs SE? - Robustec?

[kbf1981]

Is the HSE worth going for over S and SE?

I've seen a nice HSE but price is around £70k, which feels expensive for a Defender. GFV on Finance deal is 50% / £35k

Also, what's the view on Robustec?

[Crumpet]

Personally I either like the really basic models or the top end models. The SE is still expensive and misses a lot of options that would even be standard on a mid-range Skoda. Things like adaptive cruise, blind spot monitors and rear exit monitors. I also much prefer the Windsor leather to the grained leather so for that reason I’d pay the extra.

So for me, as we only have one car, it would be top spec. If it was a second car I’d go low spec.

The discounts on Discos are much greater than on Defenders and like-for-like are much cheaper. But then resale value might be higher on the Defenders….

[oop north]

Windsor leather is lovely and also durable - looked great on my D4 when it had done over 90k miles. The XS spec may be a sweet spot in the range - limited choice of colours and extras but comes well equipped

[Crumpet]

Yeah, I thought the XS looked good. But then I ran an HSE through the configurator and it comes out £15 a month more with a better spec - better being that it has Windsor leather, adaptive cruise and a Meridian stereo. All of those I’d class as essential so that’s what I’ll be looking at.

[oop north]

Interesting - presumably the HSE has better residuals then. The Windsor leather is lovely, soft and durable - had it on a discovery 4 HSE and it still looked great after 90k miles. Also have in my ipace

[Chr1sch]

We've gone for a lowly 'S' as trying to keep the cost sub £60k was incredibly challenging.

Even still, with the upgraded larger screen, leather, and a few other choice options I am actually pleasantly surprised how well spec'd it is. We have an ID3 with lane assist etc and I bloody hate it so no love lost for that. Adaptive cruise would have been nice but as a towing vehicle first and foremost I'm not as bothered as my mileage post Covid has dropped by 25k a year... I did become pretty astounded at how easy it was to spec an £80k+ car