Driven: New Defender - On & Off Road. Is it a Pretender?

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Great write-up. The new Defender is also a big miss for me. Nothing remotely appealing it at all, and I've been a LR fan for 50 years. I also find it one of the strangest looking vehicles on the road. The 90 isn't too bad, but the 110 is hideous. Very sad to see what's become of Landrover.

I was reading a LR mag I bought when I was in the UK in December. There was an interview with a guy who'd worked for the company for 40 something years. When he retired he went back as a consultant for a while, but he left for good when the new owners told him they weren't at all interested in the brand's history, that they simply didn't care.
 
Have you actually driven one, to come to this conclusion?

l agree that the 90 looks better than the 110, although most buyers round here seem to go for the larger version.

Bizarrely the 130 seems to work better than the 110
 
lightning said:
Have you actually driven one, to come to this conclusion?

l agree that the 90 looks better than the 110, although most buyers round here seem to go for the larger version.

Bizarrely the 130 seems to work better than the 110
Click to expand...
I have not. I don't need to drive one to judge its looks. I'm sure they're really nice to drive, though.
 
l like the looks of mine from every angle except the front. l thought a larger grille like the old Defender would have looked better. But that's exactly what's been done on the new Octa and l don't like it at all.

Let's face it, nothing is going to match the look of the old Defender, not the new Defender, the Grenadier, the Land Cruiser they're all superb vehicles but Land Rover got it so right with the old model Defender that nothing else really comes close.

The other thing l like about the old model Defender is, everything is there for purpose. There will never be another like it that's for sure.
 
The important thing is that we're each happy with what we drive. There are people that do things to pick-up trucks in North America that I will never understand, but if they like it that's all that matters. There will be lots of people who wouldn't want anything to do with my Defender (but I'd never stoop so low as to talk to any of them).:)
 
The best "new Defender" is the new Suzuki Jimny.
Or it would be, if it was 20% larger. The only thing missing is a centre differential so it's only part time 4wd.

lt was made the size it is, so it was within the vehicle size limits in Japan. They get it without the plastic wheel arches and other trim, so it's even narrower. And while we get a 1500cc engine they have a 660cc turbo version.

IMG_5648.jpeg
 
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The Multipla was hideous but drove well for what it was. The MK2 version looked much better as they deleted the wierd scuttle styling.
Fortunately l owned the MK2.

The Chrysler l've never driven so would
not give an opinion ! Styling is a personal thing, those that bought the PT Cruiser must have liked the look of it.
 
Phill said:
What's your opinion on the Fiat Multipla or Chrysler PT?
You don't have to drive them to know what you think fo them.
Click to expand...
A great example, as most Brits are completely oblivious to how great the PT Cruiser is and instead act like utter ****s rubbishing it. The PT Cruiser is a fascinating vehicle, designed to get long loads in with the front passenger seat folding flat and a load bearing parcel shelf that has something like 4 different positions. Great styling inside and out and while we didn't get it in the UK, there was a turbo charged performance model in the USA, with pace and handling to rival a period Focus ST. All this in a vehicle that actually has an external footprint closer to a Corsa than it does a Focus too.

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A company I used to work for had one as a fleet vehicle. I would drive it occasionally - I don't remember anything about it (this would have been 2000 or 2001) other than that it did attract a fair amount of attention.
 
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