RE: New Defender V8 Islay Edition takes the biscuit

[swisstoni]

If you were to buy a donor vehicle and get professionals to turn it in to one of these, to the same standard I doubt you’d end up spending much less than the price of this.

[DonkeyApple]

swisstoni said:

If you were to buy a donor vehicle and get professionals to turn it in to one of these, to the same standard I doubt you’d end up spending much less than the price of this.

Obviously. It's what I did but I didn't pay myself for designing it, nor pay myself for project managing it, nor did I then need to sell it for a profit etc. It still cost me around £100k to do just one. The previous LSE Overfinch I paid £35k for had cost £130k to do back in 2000 and my car wouldn't get its money back if I'd sold it.

But then it would be worth much less because it didn't have the 'provenance' or the 'collectability'. I did it because I wanted something very specific that I'd use all the time and had the marque expertise to project manage it all myself, plus the time as I wasn't really working in my 40s.

It does all add up very quickly. The doner car is now very expensive, a top paint job can be £10k, a top trim can also be. The engine and drivetrain can be £20-£30k and then there is the work to fit it. Starting with a Defender that doesn't need restoring, sending it to someone like Lloyds or JE for the engine and gearbox installation, updating the stuff from the gearbox to the tyres via Ashcroft, then repainting and retrimming would probably see you having spent north of £100k all too quickly. As soon as you start adding all the salaries of the staff involved, all the taxes, and adding a profit then it does become clear why these things cost what they cost.

[Jon_S_Rally]

DonkeyApple said:

Obviously. It's what I did but I didn't pay myself for designing it, nor pay myself for project managing it, nor did I then need to sell it for a profit etc. It still cost me around £100k to do just one. The previous LSE Overfinch I paid £35k for had cost £130k to do back in 2000 and my car wouldn't get its money back if I'd sold it.

But then it would be worth much less because it didn't have the 'provenance' or the 'collectability'. I did it because I wanted something very specific that I'd use all the time and had the marque expertise to project manage it all myself, plus the time as I wasn't really working in my 40s.

It does all add up very quickly. The doner car is now very expensive, a top paint job can be £10k, a top trim can also be. The engine and drivetrain can be £20-£30k and then there is the work to fit it. Starting with a Defender that doesn't need restoring, sending it to someone like Lloyds or JE for the engine and gearbox installation, updating the stuff from the gearbox to the tyres via Ashcroft, then repainting and retrimming would probably see you having spent north of £100k all too quickly. As soon as you start adding all the salaries of the staff involved, all the taxes, and adding a profit then it does become clear why these things cost what they cost.

Exactly this. I don't doubt that a bloke in a shed could build a Defender with a V8 and some trimmed interior bits for a fairly reasonable price, but this couldn't be any further removed from that. I don't think a lot of people realise just how expensive it is for major manufacturers do things. It's not just a case of nailing a V8 into a Defender, it's all the supporting crap that goes along with it - marketing, compliance etc etc. All those costs have to be spread across 30 vehicles.

For those saying that PH led with the price; of course they did - they knew it would generate clicks from the rage brigade. It's the one thing that consistently generates traffic on this site nowadays.

[CSK1]

Jon_S_Rally said:

For those saying that PH led with the price; of course they did - they knew it would generate clicks from the rage brigade. It's the one thing that consistently generates traffic on this site nowadays.

Sad but true. I can’t understand the constant negativity on what is supposed to be a car enthusiast’s site.

[swisstoni]

I don’t blame people for being incredulous of the asking price.
It’s only when you consider everything that’s involved that the price starts to make some sense.

[Gwilliamlloyd]

Used in mud , in anger ? Bu\\$hit . Maybe a few in the hot sand ..

[DonkeyApple]

Gwilliamlloyd said:

Used in mud , in anger ? Bu\\$hit . Maybe a few in the hot sand ..

Maybe JLR will do you a limited Klan edition, trimmed in the finest, slave picked, Christian white cotton, with wood trim carved by genetically pure Aryan craftsmen from delicately charred crosses and only sold to the 'right sort of person' like a Bristol?

Please just go away with the racism by proxy that's become prevalent on PH among so many who feel aggrieved at not being allowed to behave badly in public, it's the only thing more ghastly than all the endless whinging about price tags.

It's just a car. It's not an excuse to be derogatory towards groups of society believed to somehow be inferior.

[Jon_S_Rally]

Gwilliamlloyd said:

Used in mud , in anger ? Bu\\$hit . Maybe a few in the hot sand ..

I live in the "hot sand" and don't remember the last time I saw a Defender. People that want a retro 4x4 here tend to buy a Patrol Super Safari. Still, I'm sure they'd appreciate your needless stereotyping.

[Lester H]

romac said:

I'm not averse to JLR making some money. After all, that's what they are in business for. And I get that good workmanship should be paid for. But this sideline of official, highly expensive, unimaginative reimaginations is getting a bit boring!

I saw a few Grenadiers at Grimsby yesterday - I'd estimate about 100. Much rather have one of those! Yep, I know, this is something very different.

Indeed. A third of the price and far better quality.(..and I’ll put a bit of nice oak in for £50.)