Todays the day, no more Defenders,

Hello all,

Today is the day those with a defender will have one of a finite number of a classic car you could buy new,

There will be no 6pm shift today at Solihul, the last is due to come off at 4:12 today, (for what i can see via dealership pc link)

We/I will be pushing for a minutes silence in due course

Some muppet journalist on Breakfast news pointing at a series 1 and describing it as the original landrover defender!

Cant say the demise of production is upsetting for me. I have had little or no interest in the new vehicles for 20 years.

Had to happen one day, nothing is forever. LR has been fighting a rear-guard action against safety legislation (both occupant & pedestrian) around the Defender for years & lets face it, the company makes it's profits from the luxury range of vehicles anyway. The lack of a 'rest-of- the-world' spec (unlike Toyota/Nissan) for the Defender has also resulted in lost sales & although there will be lots of teeth gnashing in parts of the LR community, some compensation can be found in the increased value of good Defenders & Series.
The King is dead - long live the King !

As for the safety thing, I don't think being run over by a new Range Rover (or most other 4x4) is going to be a laugh.

I wonder how many people are going to get home from work and get on eBay and autotrader, looking to buy themselves a little slice of history.

Any body want to make an offer for mine, (no offers of coconut or coffee chocolate will be considered)

timmay said:

As for the safety thing, I don't think being run over by a new Range Rover (or most other 4x4) is going to be a laugh.

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Not wanting to re-open a can of worms, there must be a dozen or more freds dicussing this.
But my understanding is that the safety regulation issues that were involved in the decision to stop production were actually to do with the safety of the driver and occupants. The design doesnt allow for side impact bars, there are no crumple zones, and I doubt if the flimsy alloy bodies offer much protection in a crash or rollover.

As you say, if you are run into by something travelling at speed, it will make little difference if it a Rangie or a Smart car.

It's sick bad wrong stupid crazy out with the carburettor shape in with the plastic, electricity CRAP

BYE DEFENDER

Owned by a best freind in the Scottish isles

Xxx

......you don't need crumple zones....you use everyone elses

This picture sums it up in my mind
Farmers Friend
Workhorse
Pleasure Vehicle

Long live the defender

Turboman said:

Some muppet journalist on Breakfast news pointing at a series 1 and describing it as the original landrover defender!

Cant say the demise of production is upsetting for me. I have had little or no interest in the new vehicles for 20 years.

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You see this is a good point... I sometimes wish I had purchased a new one. But then think.... It would have broken my heart.....New Defenders are not like the old.. .

No they're totalling different, they suffer water ingress, leak oil, the doors don't fit, the electrics are quirky (understatement) central locking was a bad idea, and they generally have a mind of their own...totally different.

Hub said:

No they're totalling different, they suffer water ingress, leak oil, the doors don't fit, the electrics are quirky (understatement) central locking was a bad idea, and they generally have a mind of their own...totally different.

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The paternity would have been questioned otherwise. Those features are part of the Land Rover crest.

West Slope Rover said:

The paternity would have been questioned otherwise. Those features are part of the Land Rover crest.

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Yes, OK, apart from these features they are totally different!

Hub said:

Yes, OK, apart from these features they are totally different!

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Exactly.
I love the science of automobiles.

If you get the misfortune to drive a current one, its like theres no biting point on the clutch, its engaged or it isnt, older ones are much nicer to drive

West Slope Rover said:

Exactly.
I love the science of automobiles.

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Exactly!
I love the love of the science of the Land Rover and all its history.

Hub said:

Exactly!
I love the love of the science of the Land Rover and all its history.

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We have an expression here in Merka.
"You can fart in a balloon and paint it red and it will make some folks happy."

Jonnyb1990 said:

If you get the misfortune to drive a current one, its like theres no biting point on the clutch, its engaged or it isnt, older ones are much nicer to drive

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I'll grab the opportunity to do that if I can. I'd love to compare. Mine definitely has a biting point, it's at the front.

Last of the line tonight at work (BBC)