New Defender Commercial

Test drove a new Defender 90 Commercial yesterday, l've actually got one on order but as yet haven't ever seen one in the flesh.

l currently have a 2005 110 CSW. The benefit of the new one is l can claim back 130% of the purchase against my tax.
So despite the £54,000 cost, l'll save £14,000 in tax, making it £40,000 and that's before claiming for depreciation etc

Before you say "rich bas*ard" l would have to take my 25% pension allowance and obviously sell the 110. And also borrow about £10,000 through my business

Anyhow, l did an extensive test drive and it's a supremely competent vehicle, with effortless performance, handling and general refinement.

But. I actually preferred driving my old 110, you wouldn't believe it, but it was actually more interesting to drive.

The new one is like any premium vehicle, can't fault it but you basically just steer and the vehicle does everything else.

So now, l am not sure what to do. The refinement of the new one was amazing (compared to my TD5) and appeals for longer motorway journeys. But it lacks the personality of the old one.
And l guess it won't hold its value like the old one, although they are doing well at the moment.

Has anyone on here got one of the new Defenders?

A customer has a long wheelbase, he loves it, compares it to disco3/4, he had two disco 5s, but much prefers new defender

The dealer also had a 110 Commercial and that's a much better proposition as a work vehicle, due to the much larger load area.

The 90 is quite small, the load space isn't much bigger than the missus's Jimny.

Sadly it's £59,000 for the base specification. With the necessary tow bar and a few other bits it's over £60,000 which is ridiculous money for a two seater van.

lt's a shame they don't do a 5 seat Utility version like the tdci Defender but l guess that would be even more expensive

I think @freelance has hit the nail on the head. The new one is a replacement for the utility part of the old discoveries (3/4) and the discovery’s are now purely SUV’s for taking the kids to school. I have been a passenger and drive one and have the same feeling you do. It is not a car to drive. It does it all itself like any modern vehicle and because of this is characterless and boring. If you want character and to actively drive you will always be disappointed. For me they fall into the catagory of most modern cars that are they are things to have fairly new and move on after a few years as soon as things start to go wrong.
Land Rover does not have the best reputation in terms of reliability. Even the purists amongst us would be hard pushed to argue our series or original defenders are reliable. But the ease and price of maintenance and repair means it didn’t used to matter. Now you can’t do it yourself you either need a lot of luck or very deep pockets.
I would also be very dubious about them holding their values. They are only currently retaining their prices because they have not yet caught up form the backlog and supply shortages of Covid. As soon as you can walk into a dealership And buy a new one with a six week wait time they will depreciate in the same manner as any other current Land Rover product.

Going to throw a curveball in here, Ineos Grenadier, it is simultaneously more refined than any defender ever was, while being more defender than the new one ever will be...

l have looked at the Grenadier. l think it looks good, although the front looks like a 1970's British Leyland car.

Prices aren't cheap though, it's the same price as a new Defender. And the waiting list is indeterminate, l need to register it before April 2023 when the govt 130% tax back scheme ends.

Actually looked at the Grenadier again and it's about the same price as the Defender Commercial

Production had started but there's a huge backlog of orders and there's no hope of getting one before the govt tax incentive ends in March 2023