RE: Isuzu D-Max: The car that killed the Defender?

[Hellbound]

If you're given a Isuzu D-Max to review, you're going to have to try and get as many PHers to click on the article.

The best and only way of doing that is to drag in the Defender and make some kind of nonsensical comparison. Lots of people like the Defender (for various image/cultural heritage related reasons) so I guess its inclusion has worked. 99% of drivel online has some sort of click bait low level psychology behind the title and content.

As for the Isuzu Fury, if rally wheels are an option that would kinda make it interesting.

[kbf1981]

jason61c said:

no one has bought a defender in the past 10 years thinking it'll be reliable and be able to 'out work' something like this. Even as a defender fan, they're poorly built/unreliable/very crude on the road/limited by space.

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

[lostkiwi]

kbf1981 said:

jason61c said:

no one has bought a defender in the past 10 years thinking it'll be reliable and be able to 'out work' something like this. Even as a defender fan, they're poorly built/unreliable/very crude on the road/limited by space.

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

Well said that man.
I've just sold my Defender and am missing it already. I loved the simplicity, the ride (I kid you not) and its sheer adaptability to almost any usage and ability to handle all terrain and weather conditions from motorway munching (albeit a bit noisy at north of 70) to hauling rocks in a trailer up and down a riverbed.
I hasten to add mine was not standard and had many alterations to improve comfort. The big thing about it was it would always fire up first turn of the key no matter how long it had been left. Way better than the 95 series Landcruiser I had at the same time.

[anonymous-user]

lostkiwi said:

kbf1981 said:

jason61c said:

no one has bought a defender in the past 10 years thinking it'll be reliable and be able to 'out work' something like this. Even as a defender fan, they're poorly built/unreliable/very crude on the road/limited by space.

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

Well said that man.
I've just sold my Defender and am missing it already. I loved the simplicity, the ride (I kid you not) and its sheer adaptability to almost any usage and ability to handle all terrain and weather conditions from motorway munching (albeit a bit noisy at north of 70) to hauling rocks in a trailer up and down a riverbed.
I hasten to add mine was not standard and had many alterations to improve comfort. The big thing about it was it would always fire up first turn of the key no matter how long it had been left. Way better than the 95 series Landcruiser I had at the same time.

Funny that. Yours is the exact opposite experience of my Defender experience (across 2 ex-army Series, and a pair of 10-seat 110s. Slow, not fun to drive, very cramped, basic, and (probably why you added mods) very uncomfortable. I'd take the LC any day.

However, I know which one I would choose to tow a 6 tonne trailer out of a wet muddy field. And it wouldn't be the Jap.

As far as the pickup above goes, I spend my working life (in the UK) in and out of these trucks. Without fail, they get left at work every evening and I choose to drive my own car using my own fuel. Make of that what you want.

[budgie smuggler]

That BCCC rally looks great fun.

[Gorbyrev]

My one friend who is a farmer chopped in his Defender for a D-Max. His only regret is that they only had white ones in the country so the article in 100% accurate in my tiny non-representative sample! They do seem to have rugged mechanical and perhaps even bring an extra layer of reliability which is desirable when a vehicle has to work hard for a living. The other farming machinery revolution that he is noticing is that he finds his long arm Manitou loader much more useful for everyday work than a tractor. So there might be another article in there for Pistonwellies.

[loose cannon]

The defender has died due to its age and not really up to modern type approvals etc nothing to do with Isuzu ,
Will we see a direct replacement or a tarts boudoir remains to be seen,

[NJH]

Our local dealer also does Fiat and Suzuki, used to do loads of Subarus and is part of a chain that also deals Nissan locally. Is it like that everywhere else? basically some form of multi brand dealer that has a few D-maxs around?

I do see the occasional D-max around, the Jap trucks seem to be gaining in popularity but even though the defender isn't made any more I wouldn't expect to see the numbers of them in the countryside change much, far too many specialists around like the local to me Nick Paxton, keep fixing em and they will just keep going.

[Willy Nilly]

kbf1981 said:

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

An S Class Merc is much closer to being "agricultural" than a Defender. There are more electronics on tractors than cars and they do things more useful that adjusting the cabin temperature and radio.

About the only advantage of a Defender over a pickup is that it is a 4wd van with a nice, low load height. There must be a gap in the market for 4wd vans. The body style beds aren't that utilitarian either, the after market type dropsides the Aussies and Kiwis uses are much more useful. They would still make a nice work truck, but I'd not want to take one home and pay tax on it, rather drive my own car.

[Slow]

Willy Nilly said:

kbf1981 said:

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

An S Class Merc is much closer to being "agricultural" than a Defender. There are more electronics on tractors than cars and they do things more useful that adjusting the cabin temperature and radio.

About the only advantage of a Defender over a pickup is that it is a 4wd van with a nice, low load height. There must be a gap in the market for 4wd vans. The body style beds aren't that utilitarian either, the after market type dropsides the Aussies and Kiwis uses are much more useful. They would still make a nice work truck, but I'd not want to take one home and pay tax on it, rather drive my own car.

But you hate all suv's. Its sort of pointless to argue anything 4wd related unless it is a tractor/farm equipment with you.

Ps my defender didnt fall over either

[Willy Nilly]

Slow said:

Willy Nilly said:

kbf1981 said:

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

An S Class Merc is much closer to being "agricultural" than a Defender. There are more electronics on tractors than cars and they do things more useful that adjusting the cabin temperature and radio.

About the only advantage of a Defender over a pickup is that it is a 4wd van with a nice, low load height. There must be a gap in the market for 4wd vans. The body style beds aren't that utilitarian either, the after market type dropsides the Aussies and Kiwis uses are much more useful. They would still make a nice work truck, but I'd not want to take one home and pay tax on it, rather drive my own car.

But you hate all suv's. Its sort of pointless to argue anything 4wd related unless it is a tractor/farm equipment with you.

Ps my defender didnt fall over either

These pickups are work trucks bought (in the main) to do a job of work, not for dropping the kids off at school. The issue for a while has been towing capacity with Jap pickups, now you can tow your 3.5 tonnes in a relatively comfy vehicle that works, so now there isn't much need in the market for Defenders other than they are a 4wd van. If I needed one for work it I'd take the Isuzu, but it wouldn't be a vehicle I would choose to drive outside of work, because they will still drive like a Morris Marina.

[Slow]

Willy Nilly said:

Slow said:

Willy Nilly said:

kbf1981 said:

bks.

I own a recent Defender and it's done stuff that you wouldn't be able to do in a pick up. Equally it's well built, seems very tough, I've got under it, had a look everywhere, everything is heavy duty and strong.

Owned a ton of cars in the past including a Land Cruiser 70 series.

Some people talk absolute bks when it comes to the Defender. It's easily the equal of a G Class (again, I've driven one), whilst admittedly being a bit more agricultural but on the other hand much more spacious inside, with from memory a higher payload (1015kg in a 110).

An S Class Merc is much closer to being "agricultural" than a Defender. There are more electronics on tractors than cars and they do things more useful that adjusting the cabin temperature and radio.

About the only advantage of a Defender over a pickup is that it is a 4wd van with a nice, low load height. There must be a gap in the market for 4wd vans. The body style beds aren't that utilitarian either, the after market type dropsides the Aussies and Kiwis uses are much more useful. They would still make a nice work truck, but I'd not want to take one home and pay tax on it, rather drive my own car.

But you hate all suv's. Its sort of pointless to argue anything 4wd related unless it is a tractor/farm equipment with you.

Ps my defender didnt fall over either

These pickups are work trucks bought (in the main) to do a job of work, not for dropping the kids off at school. The issue for a while has been towing capacity with Jap pickups, now you can tow your 3.5 tonnes in a relatively comfy vehicle that works, so now there isn't much need in the market for Defenders other than they are a 4wd van. If I needed one for work it I'd take the Isuzu, but it wouldn't be a vehicle I would choose to drive outside of work, because they will still drive like a Morris Marina.

And when a pickup wont do the job? To raise a defender 4" and fit big 35" tyres is no bother, you dont worry about breaking it, you jack it up from anywhere when its stuck, winch it from its axles if need be. Or convert it such as the hydro boys do and have a big toolbox/area thats larger than the bed on your pickup which cant be accessed from the sides with rolling shutters?

Defenders still have a place in the world, and its not be a comfy car.

Its just alot "tougher", sure its not as nice but its not meant to be.

[DelicaL400]

budgie smuggler said:

That BCCC rally looks great fun.

Aye it is! Some of the cars taking part make WRC cars look tame.

[RoverP6B]

I remember fondly the days when Isuzu sold the Trooper here. With a big petrol V6, that was quite a nice thing and - along with the V6 Shogun - were the wheels of choice for the parents of those now buying Evoques. It seems, however, that the desirability of the posher Japanese 4x4s has evaporated, which I think is a shame.

BTW, what is it about the Defender's awful ride quality? It's basically the same chassis (albeit of different wheelbase length) as the Range Rover Classic (which is lauded for its comfy ride), isn't it?

[hidetheelephants]

RoverP6B said:

I remember fondly the days when Isuzu sold the Trooper here. With a big petrol V6, that was quite a nice thing and - along with the V6 Shogun - were the wheels of choice for the parents of those now buying Evoques. It seems, however, that the desirability of the posher Japanese 4x4s has evaporated, which I think is a shame.

BTW, what is it about the Defender's awful ride quality? It's basically the same chassis (albeit of different wheelbase length) as the Range Rover Classic (which is lauded for its comfy ride), isn't it?

Spring rates probably; RR classics are/were set up to give a (relatively)magic carpet ride to 4 or 5 pax with luggage, defenders are set up to carry 1200kg of wet sheep/sand/whatever across a ploughed field.

[s2t]

Have you towed anything with the Isuzu? Quite frankly the series 5 L200 not only has better gear ratios, is quieter and more economic. However as a pure tow vehicle the Disco leaves everything in the shade. I was very disappointed with the Isuzu and if getting a replacement for our Disco then at the moment the L200 is top of the list

[998420]

My friend is in charge of 40 men at 3 granite mines in Norway, years of tough trials have utterly convinced him that Toyota Hilux trucks are considerably tougher than all the others put together. Friends who hunt in the Pyrenees tell me that their Hilux and Colorado (land cruiser) are often pulling out other brand 4x4s when the going gets really tough, they find traction where others do not.

[Mercury00]

I see Great Wall pickups more often than I see Isuzus (although I do see those too) in Northumberland.

[Pesty]

Interesting. I was just watching this review last night and it reminded me of this skip to 5:15


They swear by tacomas and 4 runners on the U.S. Forums I go on fo go anywhere never break 4x4

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dzeyXvCcBpw

[Chris71]

I'd say the Dacia Duster is a good candidate for a Defender replacement. Better on-road, capable off-road... Just remains to be seen how well they hold together.

You see a lot of those crew cab pick ups driven by suburban builders, but here in Devon you'd struggle to thread one between the banked earth hedges! A few years back a lot of farmers switched to the small Subaru pick ups, but they're not sold in this country any more. You do still see things like the Suzuki Jumbuck. Road registered ATVs seem to be taking over, though.