It's been with us for almost two months now, and we've covered 3500 rugged, manly miles in it, but the PH fleet Land Rover is only now about to serve its primary purpose - as a tractor unit for that other bastion of Britishness in the PH fleet, my Caterham Academy racer.
The little Seven will no longer have to get me and it to Academy events under its own steam, courtesy of a light and compact Mini SuperSport trailer from Cheshire-based firm PRG trailers. On top of the basic twin-axle MiniSport, the SuperSport gets a spare wheel, a hitch lock and a manual winch - something we hopefully won't have to use...
So far the only journey the little Mini SuperSport has made has been an unloaded run from PRG's Cheshire HQ to PH Towers in Teddington. During the 180-mile journey, aside from the occasional clonk as the light trailer rattled over a bump, the only way to know there was a trailer hitched to the Defender's chunky tow bar was to look in the rear-view mirror.
Of course, it may not be the same when pressed into full Caterham-towing service, but I have a feeling that the Defender will barely notice its payload.
Other than the arrival of the trailer, the PH Defender is settling into a regular routine of short urban commutes interspersed with longer-haul journeys; in short the sort of leg work a 'normal' car is expected to deal with.
It's hardly natural fare for the Defender - the low-geared steering, frankly terrible turning circle, bouncy suspension, and what might be politely described as a rugged gearchange make the Landie an unusual urban companion. But that doesn't mean everyday running around isn't an enjoyable experience - the sense of occasion remains undimmed and you forgive it its flaws because, well, because it's a Land Rover.
It's also a great car for chucking, well, anything into - as practical urban transport you can't go wrong with the Defender. Who needs a Toyota IQ or a Fiesta?