Waldetshelf You should send that exact post to land rover. My dad brought a 2011 defender xs it's great was expensive he's had it wax oiled although when he picked it up from the dealer we found surface rust underneath! On a brand new 30 thousand pound car. He uses it for holidays with the dog and a few green lanes and really pampers it. they are great to be in drive and look at althought tbf a hilux is a more practical car there quite handle well and work hard. The defender is a great famous sort after machine that really puts a smile on your face even if your ears hurt and your backs in a crap shape. But I suppose that's why we all buy them I brought a thirty year old land rover it constantly cost me money but never failed to please me even when it let me down. I think there a bit of a drug and I will never look back a fad regret it.
 
No I haven't bought one but I was in the dealer in Sheffield (Guy Salmon) picking up some parts for a S3 disco.
I went into the showroom and had a look at a new 2.2L 90" Defender, electric windows, leather seats, air con, central locking etc etc. In fact all the toys you find on a "modern" car. BUT................

Sat in the drivers seat I could see daylight through the lower front corner of the passenger door just like on my old 'un.
Along with all the other ill fitting, poorly designed,"features" we all love about our 'fenders.

And sure enough when I looked underneath, absolutely no protective coating on the chassis at all, just chassis black which was starting to show rust on a 0 miles vehicle.

And this costs over £30 grand.

There is really no surprise that Land Rover can't sell them in profitable numbers any more.

Much as I love my old banger I have to say no one in their right mind would by a new one.

Come on Land Rover it's time for a new Defender, and not the plastic fantastic "concepts" we have seen so far.

So what do you think? what does the new defender need to be?:-

I'll start.

Ladder chassis, so utility companies and the forces can have all sorts of cranes, cherry pickers, fire engines etc etc. and we can have the robustness for off roading.

Coil sprung, mechanical dampers, straight forward simple engineering for utility, strength and axle articulation, not road holding and finesse.

Similar look to the existing model but manufactured using modern techniques and materials. So it's properly built like a modern car not a throwback to the 1950's

And lets have some cabin ergonomics, with seats and a driving position that fit normal size people, a bit more right arm room, forward and backward seat movement and a handbrake lever that doesn't stick in the drivers leg would be nice.

A full range of body styles and options built on a modular concept to maximise the flexibility/options available to satisfy as many specialist customers as possible.

Lastly for me, price, make it competitive with other vehicles in its sector.

I must be mad! I just bought one :)

This is my second 90 and I love it. I wanted a new one to keep. If you look back at iconic cars, it's the original everyone wants.....

I'm sure the new one wil be better in so many ways, but nothing will beat the classic shape and hand built (quality?) for me.
 
lets face it... landrover build quality is poor over the whole range.. not just the defender. as for chassis covered in rust well thats never going to change , i worked on a 57 plate tdv8 range rover the other week , and the chassis looked 15 year old. plastic trims were falling off it. it wasnt nice. the defender days have sadly gone , why do landrover want to sell a icon , that you can still rebuild on ya drive , rather than go and buy a new model. its all about profit after all , the days of building a icon have long gone...
 
I must be mad! I just bought one :)

This is my second 90 and I love it. I wanted a new one to keep. If you look back at iconic cars, it's the original everyone wants.....

I'm sure the new one wil be better in so many ways, but nothing will beat the classic shape and hand built (quality?) for me.

Good for you! We are delighted with ours. Really love it! Have you posted a pic? Would love to see it.

Esm xx
 
If they actually rectified faults through the years!!

Galvanized chassis and bulkhead. Full ally doors, better seals, drain holes to filter water away and prevent drippage behind bonnet into foot well. Rear bulkhead removal. Swingaway wheel carrier as standard.
 
It's down to this crap country changing laws and ruining a car that helped shape this country! We have to meet emissions yet land rovers are built in the uk so don't have to be shipped round the world to be sold here and half there parts come from around here. Hopefully when they stop building the defender it's replacement won't be a beefed up freelander. I wish jcb brought them instead of tata
 
20 miles?? Damn your first big repair bill will be right around the corner!

:D

day 3 of ownership....and engine warning light on......quick check under the bonnet and the AFM in particular --hey its gone out

nothing like a hands on expericance
 
day 3 of ownership....and engine warning light on......quick check under the bonnet and the AFM in particular --hey its gone out

nothing like a hands on expericance

I think your experience is called a 'lifestyle choice' in Landrover marketing language :)

I hope it's nothing serious, don't be put off by a few niggles, they are a lot of fun.
 
No I haven't bought one but I was in the dealer in Sheffield (Guy Salmon) picking up some parts for a S3 disco.
I went into the showroom and had a look at a new 2.2L 90" Defender, electric windows, leather seats, air con, central locking etc etc. In fact all the toys you find on a "modern" car. BUT................

Sat in the drivers seat I could see daylight through the lower front corner of the passenger door just like on my old 'un.
Along with all the other ill fitting, poorly designed,"features" we all love about our 'fenders.

And sure enough when I looked underneath, absolutely no protective coating on the chassis at all, just chassis black which was starting to show rust on a 0 miles vehicle.

And this costs over £30 grand.

There is really no surprise that Land Rover can't sell them in profitable numbers any more.

Much as I love my old banger I have to say no one in their right mind would by a new one.

Come on Land Rover it's time for a new Defender, and not the plastic fantastic "concepts" we have seen so far.

So what do you think? what does the new defender need to be?:-

I'll start.

Ladder chassis, so utility companies and the forces can have all sorts of cranes, cherry pickers, fire engines etc etc. and we can have the robustness for off roading.

Coil sprung, mechanical dampers, straight forward simple engineering for utility, strength and axle articulation, not road holding and finesse.

Similar look to the existing model but manufactured using modern techniques and materials. So it's properly built like a modern car not a throwback to the 1950's

And lets have some cabin ergonomics, with seats and a driving position that fit normal size people, a bit more right arm room, forward and backward seat movement and a handbrake lever that doesn't stick in the drivers leg would be nice.

A full range of body styles and options built on a modular concept to maximise the flexibility/options available to satisfy as many specialist customers as possible.

Lastly for me, price, make it competitive with other vehicles in its sector.

Give me the money, the space, the time and the skills and I'll get right on on it!!! In all seriousness, I'm on board!!! :D
 

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