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

[hairyben]

Is there a defender replacement yet?

Seen and heard nothing... part of me suspects they'll shut the factory down, and the moment it's "beyond economic recovery" SUDDENLY DISCOVER that there's still a market and do a deal with the spanish (?) or whoever builds the landrover-a-like under licence and start importing/assembling/finishing cheaper made kits to flog at vast profit... ...in theory...

[Pesty]

Chris71 said:

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.

Boots are too small.


Everybody forgetting the wrangler?

[Hooli]

Chris71 said:

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.

Subaru Brats. Great little pick ups, but they rusted even quicker than LRs.

[Jimmy Recard]

Towing limits make stuff like the Duster useless as your only car as far as many people are concerned.

The Isuzu has that base covered though.

[Slow]

Jimmy Recard said:

Towing limits make stuff like the Duster useless as your only car as far as many people are concerned.

The Isuzu has that base covered though.

No high/low/diff lock either I imagine?

Never looked into them but they look like a city car that can handle snow at best. Might be wrong however.

[Pesty]

Slow said:

No high/low/diff lock either I imagine?

Never looked into them but they look like a city car that can handle snow at best. Might be wrong however.

Dusters are quite capable off road. Plenty of vids on YouTube. Of course they may be modified.

[Jimmy Recard]

The Duster is pretty capable offroad as far as I've seen.

It wasn't designed to tow 3500kg though. No low gear but on the diesels first gear is very low as a sort of alternative. I like them a lot to be honest

[Pesty]

Same system as the x trail centre lock only but rear dif lock can be fitted.

It's lighter than an x trail I believe.

[200bhp]

Do you not get the 70 series land cruiser in the uk? That would be a much more likely defender replacement.

[TheGuru]

Fast Bug said:

Really? In which part of the world?

I sold Nissan commercial vehicles and only ever lost 1 deal to Isuzu. Not only that, I knew a really good commercial dealer that had Isuzu and they hardly sold any?

Isuzu is very big in Asia, Thailand for example have mostly Hilux's (Vigo) and D-Max's in the ute sector. Isuzu are also the worlds largest truck manufacturer by quite some margin. In Australia also I would say in the last year or so the D-Max is outselling the Nissans.

The article is pretty pointless, there would be very few people who would be choosing between a Defender and a ute/pickup.

The Isuzu would probably be the best value pickup/ute on the market. Proven reliability and toughness, the diesel engine is renowned and is good for 300,000+ miles. Whilst not as good as cars, these modern utes are remarkable refined. Not quite as nice interiors as the Toyota Hilux or Ford Ranger, they are just as capable and a lot cheaper.

The increasing popularity of the D-Max and it's wagon variant, the MU-X in Australian off-road circles is testament to it's ability. Huge range of aftermarket add-ons too.

Also one of the best manufacturer backed owner-engagement programmes that organise some serious off-roading - more than most Defenders would ever see in their lives/

https://www.iventureclub.com.au