Anyone have a New Defender?

I have been thinking about buying one... but after speccing one up and getting a quote I don´t think I will get far beyond the ´thinking´ part.

Anyway, has anyone bought one and what are your thoughts? Mainly in terms of reliability, but I guess the model is too new for any long term issues to have arisen (such as engines failing). I should probably have kept hold of my Discovery 4, which I sold earlier this year as I wasn´t using it much cos of lockdown.

mikerajjers said:

I have been thinking about buying one... but after speccing one up and getting a quote I don´t think I will get far beyond the ´thinking´ part.

Anyway, has anyone bought one and what are your thoughts? Mainly in terms of reliability, but I guess the model is too new for any long term issues to have arisen (such as engines failing). I should probably have kept hold of my Discovery 4, which I sold earlier this year as I wasn´t using it much cos of lockdown.

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The neighbours on the farm have one and don’t like it as they say they have no faith in it after it totally immobilised itself in Wales a few months ago. It locked up and they had a struggle to get the dogs out of the cage in the back as they couldn’t open the boot. It was away for about four weeks after that.

mikerajjers said:

I have been thinking about buying one... but after speccing one up and getting a quote I don´t think I will get far beyond the ´thinking´ part.

Anyway, has anyone bought one and what are your thoughts? Mainly in terms of reliability, but I guess the model is too new for any long term issues to have arisen (such as engines failing). I should probably have kept hold of my Discovery 4, which I sold earlier this year as I wasn´t using it much cos of lockdown.

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Way out of my budget
The farmer on one of the farms I shoot greys on told me he's got one on order. If I remember (age thing) I'll let you know how he gets on with it.

I like them but just can't get past the fact a lot of the people that will get them will be the orange suntan, new money brigade.
The people that need workhorses will drive posh pick ups and vans, cheaper and probably more reliable in the long run

l think they look best in base spec with steel wheels and no extra bling

I asusme the op has seen that youtube video of the one in america where they had several issues, and that is being polite!

lynall said:

I asusme the op has seen that youtube video of the one in america where they had several issues, and that is being polite!

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They've also had several of 'em

lightning said:

l think they look best in base spec with steel wheels and no extra bling

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Yes, tones the blinginess down a bit, much better

lightning said:

l think they look best in base spec with steel wheels and no extra bling

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That actually looks quite nice. Apart from that daft panel on the rear windows, they surely will delete this from future variants?

Chris Harris had some fun in a Pretender on the Top Gear the other night, His main complaint the drivers window would not go all the way down making the traditional elbow out the window uncomfortable.

tottot said:

Chris Harris had some fun in a Pretender on the Top Gear the other night, His main complaint the drivers window would not go all the way down making the traditional elbow out the window uncomfortable.

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Yup seen that, also said it has over 80 ecus. Thats enough to put me off buying one.

I've seen the videos on YouTube... TLM was the channel, or something like that. I have use of a company Amarok which is very good, hopefully I'll have a chance to buy it outright after it is 4 years old.

There is a good deal on Toyota Land Cruisers over here at the moment but there is no possibility to test drive it (lockdown) and there is no way I am buying it when I haven't driven it. When we were buying the aforementioned Amarok there was a huge difference between a Nissan Navara 2.2dci and the 3l v6 VW.

Anyway, I wrote to Ineos today asking about ballpark prices for their Grenadier... and to my amazement they replied! 40k GBP for fleet and around 45k GBP retail.

lightning said:

l think they look best in base spec with steel wheels and no extra bling

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When you say no extra bling...

For that money, i'd be looking at a high spec Landcruiser commercial for the price of a base spec defender. The biggest mistake was applying the Defender badge to something that is more chelsea tractor than utilitarian.

The lneos Grenadier looks like a great effort but it's taking an age to get into production and there's still no interior pictures.

Also it's approaching £50,000 which puts it out of reach at least for me.

The new Jimny was a bargain at under £20,000 compared to these vehicles. Sadly they've stopped importing those now, although there is supposed to be a commercial version this year.

Foers Ibex, for tough no bling if you want. Or as much bling you want

Too many lights

tottot said:

Chris Harris had some fun in a Pretender on the Top Gear the other night, His main complaint the drivers window would not go all the way down making the traditional elbow out the window uncomfortable.

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Designed by Scania!

mikerajjers said:

I have been thinking about buying one... but after speccing one up and getting a quote I don´t think I will get far beyond the ´thinking´ part.

Anyway, has anyone bought one and what are your thoughts? Mainly in terms of reliability, but I guess the model is too new for any long term issues to have arisen (such as engines failing). I should probably have kept hold of my Discovery 4, which I sold earlier this year as I wasn´t using it much cos of lockdown.

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I bought one - it’s a great vehicle. Only 3,000 miles so far but it’s not given me any grief. Exceptional on the road as you would expect, and it’s towing ability is top drawer. I’ve not had a chance to do much off road with it yet due to the lockdown but from what I have done (mainly forest tracks and snow) I think it will do 95% of what the old one did and with a lot more ease. I still have my old 90 for the other 5% or for those days where I miss the ‘manual driving experience’ that we all know and love.