You have missed out on a crucial part of the defender's appeal... the ability to quickly reconfigure it to whatever needs you may have that day.

It can be a van, a people carrier, a pickup all within a few turns of the spanner.... and it will get you there whatever the terrain.

They can also be rebuilt easily, stripped back to chassis and reconditioned so essentially you have a truck for life if you are prepare to maintain it.

Nobody reconfigures their landrover on a day to day basis though, do they! To turn a Defender pickup into a station wagon (people carrier as you call it) is a mammoth task, not just a case of a few turns of a spanner. As a pickup, on a day to day basis, they are no more re-configureable than a Hilux.

And check these different options for a Landcruiser:

"Troopy" people carrier/van

"Tray back" pickup

Doublecab pickup

Station Wagon


So what does a Defender do that a Landcruiser can't?

Maintenance on a Landcruiser or Hilux is easier too. Sometimes the bolts might be a bit seized after 10 years or so, but the only reason they aren't on a landrover is because they have been undone once a month!

Been to over 25 mine sites in outback Australia - nothing but Hilux/Landcruisers - literally nothing but and all in white.

There's a reason they're the tool of choice in a very rough part of the world and not LR's.

But you can't buy that Land Cruiser in the UK, not officially and certainly not easily. Also the LC doesn't flex as well and ultimately is less effective off road.


Not sure I'd agree with this, having in the past couple of years completely stripped and I mean engine out and body off chassis stripped a 1978 Series III 88 and a 1991 Disco 3 door, I was amazed at how few bolts where rusted and seized. In fact only one bolt presented a problem on the Disco and only 2 or 3 on the Series.

Cross-axle articulate.

No unfortunately you can't. A TD V8 Landcruiser pickup would be lovely though! I was referring to the conversation about Landrovers not appealing to the markets outside the UK, where the Landcruiser is undoubtedly king. Axle articulation is only relevant to perhaps 10% of customers looking for a new 4x4; Utility companies, some farmers (most are happy with a Hilux/Navara), a handful of enthusiasts who buy new. That's about it!


It's not just the nuts and bolts- servicing and maintenance in general I've found easier on the Toyotas. You certainly loose far less skin on your knuckles doing it. There're so many little jobs on the Defender that, although simple, could be more straightforward than they are- TD5 engine oil filters are a prime example!

And have disc brakes and coil springs judging by the LC pictures which all appear to be made out of old series motors.

That roof appears to be a non standard modification. I'm sure someone would make you the same thing for any vehicle if you really wanted to. It's a pretty niche appeal TBH.

And as for the time lapse of the Defender production line in Solihull... The fact that Joe Blogs can put something together on his driveway isn't a selling point on the global market in 2012. Most companies have factories to do that, and a warranty to say that you won't need to at least for a little while. That's what the market wants- reliability.

Defenders have become a vehicle for enthusiasts- people that relish replacing halfshafts and UJs, waxoyling chassis and replacing crossmembers, putting grease in front swivels because the seals can't keep oil in, re-attaching the door trim every 6 months because the door handle isn't properly attached to the door, having to hold the gearstick in place for 2 minutes after changing between ranges so it doesn't jump out, driving with the window down so you can move both your arms, driving in a wax jacket all day because the heater only warms up 3hrs into a days work...

It's all very quaint and characterful but it is desperately out of date for 2012. When you have to use one for work, day to day, they are a pain in the arse and the sooner they come up with something newer the better.

Good news if true. Now if we can persuade them to dump the Evoque as well :-)

you've identified a tool for the job issue

something which those who just keep wittering on ' why do people buy defenders' seem to forget

also for some uses there are only one or 2 options

e.g. proper 4*4 ambulances - you have three choices without getting silly ( Unimog or 3 axle pinzgauer)
-Land Rover 110
-Land Rover 130
-Toyota 'troop carrier' Landcruiser

I've seen and worked with 'Ambulances' based on the Nissan Patrol GR and the Navara - they are fine for getting someone off a grassy field or around the outside of a motorcross track - but for that you may as well have a 4*4 transit or sprinter with a full size box body on rather than having to post your patient through the back door and being unable to reach their legs from the crew seat as seen with the aforementioned Patrol and navara conversions ( i've seen but not worked with similar on Shogun and Landcruiser estate bases)