Defender price - is this for real?

Defender price - is this for real?

Author
Discussion

W12GT

Original Poster:

3,502 posts

220 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
quotequote all
Seriously? I love defenders but 70large??? They are a novelty but let's be honest they are horrible to drive on the motorway, uncomfortable, terribly unsafe in an accident. Oh and there's a huge chance someone will steal half the panels of your car in about 5mins.



Who in their right mind would spend this kind of money??? I'm not talking hypothetically - I mean if you currently have a budget of £70k for a car would you???

I for one would not!!!

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
quotequote all
They are not "terribly unsafe", OK?

W12GT

Original Poster:

3,502 posts

220 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
quotequote all
Crossflow Kid said:
They are not "terribly unsafe", OK?
I disagree - the one thing I have always felt is vulnerable at any speed over 45. The doors are wafer thin. There are no crumple zones so the occupants take the full impact. I've seen more than a couple of rolled ones. Oh and all the glass is super flat and reflects like a mirror so you can't get a good view outside when the lighting is poor. Headlights are like candles in a jar.

Oh and one more thing - ever looked at where the top seatbelt mount is positioned in relation to most average height drivers/passengers? Yep a nice exposed bolt at temple height. I've lost count of the number of times
I've bumped my head when out on the farm.

Quirky yes. Fun yes. Safe no.

Edited by W12GT on Thursday 19th May 22:57

Turkish91

1,084 posts

201 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
quotequote all
I'd hardly say they're unsafe and "wafer thin".

We've got an 11 plate one at work as a rally car, been rolled on two seperate occasions and we've not had to reshell too much of it. Yes it has a cage, but she's a surprisingly solid old girl!

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
quotequote all
W12GT said:
Crossflow Kid said:
They are not "terribly unsafe", OK?
I disagree - the one thing I have always felt is vulnerable at any speed over 45. The doors are wafer thin. There are no crumple zones so the occupants take the full impact. I've seen more than a couple of rolled ones. Oh and all the glass is super flat and reflects like a mirror so you can't get a good view outside when the lighting is poor. Headlights are like candles in a jar.

Oh and one more thing - ever looked at where the top seatbelt mount is positioned in relation to most average height drivers/passengers? Yep a nice exposed bolt at temple height. I've lost count of the number of times
I've bumped my head when out on the farm.

Quirky yes. Fun yes. Safe no.

Edited by W12GT on Thursday 19th May 22:57
They don't have crumple zones so the occupants take the full impact? How's that work then? Does the other object in the collision be it a brick wall or another car not take any of the impact then?
You'll also have to explain how flat glass causes reduced vision in poor lighting.
I think you're confusing/comparing a Defender with a more conventional car which never works.
That said, I do agree that £70k for any Defender is a bit bloody silly.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 19th May 23:13

Griffithy

929 posts

275 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
OP,
You are only jealous.
It seems you have missed the train.
wavey

W12GT

Original Poster:

3,502 posts

220 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
Griffithy said:
OP,
You are only jealous.
It seems you have missed the train.
wavey
Wrong. Purchase of a 6 month old 90XS cost me £23k 3 years ago.

Don't get me wrong I love them but they are everywhere- even the townies have them now to show off in. They are no longer the cool car they used to be and certainly not worth anywhere near £30k let alone £70k.

Too many people hanging onto yesteryear I'm afraid of when we built great things in Britain. Also the fear of not knowing what is coming next. Apparently the new one may not be as different as we all expect - I wonder what that will do to values when the majority opt to transport their kin in more comfort with high levels of safety?

Griffithy

929 posts

275 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
W12GT said:
Wrong. Purchase of a 6 month old 90XS cost me £23k 3 years ago.
Well done!
clap

W12GT

Original Poster:

3,502 posts

220 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
Griffithy said:
OP,
You are only jealous.
It seems you have missed the train.
wavey
Wrong. Purchase of a 6 month old 90XS cost me £23k 3 years ago.

Don't get me wrong I love them but they are everywhere- even the townies have them now to show off in. They are no longer the cool car they used to be and certainly not worth anywhere near £30k let alone £70k.

Too many people hanging onto yesteryear I'm afraid of when we built great things in Britain. Also the fear of not knowing what is coming next. Apparently the new one may not be as different as we all expect - I wonder what that will do to values when the majority opt to transport their kin in more comfort with high levels of safety?

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
If they're so unsafe why did you buy one?

dieselmonkey

3 posts

94 months

Thursday 26th May 2016
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The lack of crumple zones makes them terribly unsafe for the other vehicle, mainly. I was in a rear end shunt a while back, a bloke who drove his brand new AMG Merc into the back of mine.

Damage to my car: Broken number plate and a bent exhaust, some scratched paint.
Damage to the merc: towbar embedded in engine block, after going straight through the rad, entire front end destroyed by the rear crossmember.

The height of it means that most car impacts hit the chassis.

Trevor450

1,740 posts

147 months

Friday 27th May 2016
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They aren't that bad on the motorway. I've done five hours solid in my 300tdi this afternoon and I'm am still alive, I'm not deaf and I don't ache.

I wouldn't spend 70k on one but mine owes me about £15k.

Edited by Trevor450 on Friday 27th May 20:08

mjh64

77 posts

144 months

Friday 27th May 2016
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We did just shy of 6000 miles in 4 weeks a few years ago in two Defenders, no safety problems, I'm 6'4" and managed to survive the journey with no problems.

anonymous-user

53 months

Saturday 28th May 2016
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If a £70k Defender doesn't suit, how about a £96k Range Rover?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Range-Rover-Classic-2-Do...