Todays the day, no more Defenders,

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.

Click to expand...

It wouldnt be any of that would worry me. What worries me is the amount of chassis rust that vehicles only a few years old develop. Development seems to have consisted of developing steels that rust even faster than the old ones, and coatings that give no protection from the elements!

West Slope Rover said:

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

Click to expand...

Izzat why they are thinking of electing someone called Trump!

Turboman said:

What worries me is the amount of chassis rust that vehicles only a few years old develop. Development seems to have consisted of developing steels that rust even faster than the old ones, and coatings that give no protection from the elements!

Click to expand...

I think the main problem is that there seems to be no attempt at rust proofing at all, the coating on a new defenders chassis is just transport black, the stuff used to protect steel before its painted properly. Considering how much they cost and how much extra it would be to galvanise them from new, there can only be one reason, JLR want them to be scrap after 10 years. Good for repeat sales, not good for end users and I don't suppose the utility companies care.

waldershelf said:

I think the main problem is that there seems to be no attempt at rust proofing at all, the coating on a new defenders chassis is just transport black, the stuff used to protect steel before its painted properly. Considering how much they cost and how much extra it would be to galvanise them from new, there can only be one reason, JLR want them to be scrap after 10 years. Good for repeat sales, not good for end users and I don't suppose the utility companies care.

Click to expand...

Yes, seen just two and three year old vehicles, surface rust all over the crossmember and rear chassis legs already.

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

Click to expand...

Every Ford I have driven with a manual box has been like that.

And I have killed a few due to that, stupid gearboxes.

OK deliberately, previous job pool cars, prefered the Maestro or Astra we had instead.

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

Click to expand...

That is the wimps bitched about the clutch being to difficult to push, So they went to hydraulic assist clutches. If you knew how to drive them they are really nice especially in city stop and go driving

markbigears said:

Last of the line tonight at work (BBC)

View attachment 95945

Click to expand...

What an ugly son-of-a-bitch, never liked the high one-piece screen & as for that grill
Show me the same angle view of a Stage One station wagon & I drool

Turboman said:

It wouldnt be any of that would worry me. What worries me is the amount of chassis rust that vehicles only a few years old develop. Development seems to have consisted of developing steels that rust even faster than the old ones, and coatings that give no protection from the elements!

Click to expand...

Makes me mad when LR boasts that 70 percent of Land Rovers are still on the road, that's ONLY because owners have spent a countless hours/years & money struggling to keep the tin-worm at bay

norseman said:

Makes me mad when LR boasts that 70 percent of Land Rovers are still on the road, that's ONLY because owners have spent a countless hours/years & money struggling to keep the tin-worm at bay

Click to expand...

I think that number includes the Land Rovers left on the side of the road and walked away from after breaking down.

Anyone have any info on the new defender? Had a look around and this is what I know of it: It will probably be built in Slovakia, it's going to look different to the DC100 concept and it's going to launch in 2018 with a price tag of around £30,000.

Also seen people are speculating that another new concept showing the next Defender could possibly make a public appearance before the end of the year.

Anyone know anything for definite about this?

But they did instal that elusive....
Little something in them
That makes us all spend
Hours and money on them?
So they get credit for that

norseman said:

Makes me mad when LR boasts that 70 percent of Land Rovers are still on the road, that's ONLY because owners have spent a countless hours/years & money struggling to keep the tin-worm at bay

Click to expand...

RachelM said:

Anyone have any info on the new defender? Had a look around and this is what I know of it: It will probably be built in Slovakia, it's going to look different to the DC100 concept and it's going to launch in 2018 with a price tag of around £30,000.

Also seen people are speculating that another new concept showing the next Defender could possibly make a public appearance before the end of the year.

Anyone know anything for definite about this?

Click to expand...

Yes! It will be known as the Freelander 3!

I saw an article in a Land Rover magazine a couple of years ago about an Australian guy who made a "Ute", otherwise known as a utility truck or pick up truck out of a Mk 1 Discovery. He chopped the back half off the Disco and built a pick up body on the back, he made a great job of it and it just looked right, it had more room, better draughtproofing, better security and more comfort than a Defender and the whole vehicle just looked right. It was all built on a disco chassis so it was approx 10 inches longer than a Defender and if it was extended it could be made as a crew cab pick up. I think JLR have lost the plot by trying to make all their vehicles too upmarket, the new Defender should go back to basics but be comfortable, rugged and not too complicated and not too expensive just like the Disco "Ute", otherwise they'll hand more sales to to Toyota, Nissan, etc.

IIRC, Land Rover actually made this as a test bed vehicle, but decided to not carry it through.

Discokids said:

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.

Click to expand...

friend of mine ordered/purchase 3 of them sold 2 for a profit & kept this one

What a thrifty character! 110 looks very nice.