RE: Land Rover Defender | Frankfurt 2019
Discussion
I love this thing.
It just ticks the boxes for me, both exterior styling and interior styling.
It will make a fine addition in a few years when I’m in a position to get one to go beside my Disco 3 and 80”.
In this silver with the explorer pack in 110 model is pretty much ideal for me.
It’s modern, up to date but still has the recognised Defender and series nods.
The old one was designed in the 80s and bar a few van engines and a couple of dash changes. They did pretty much f
k all with updating it.This new one has to pass Euro6 emissions tests, pedestrian and crash tests. Something the old model never did.
It also has to sell worldwide. Again something the old didn’t. Bar a limited run, it never sold in the USA.
It also has to be far better on road as the old was shocking for longer journeys.
The military don’t use land rovers anymore for front line stuff. IED devices pretty much stopped that as they gave f
k all protection to the soldiers inside.Farmers will have it if they want. And with the hose out flooring, they can throw in the PH favourite animal in the back.
A 90cm wading depth, 40cm better than the old.
3,72 ton towing ability and upto date safety features is a winner for me.
The D5 launch didn’t excite me, 3 years on, I’ve still not warmed to it.
This has my attention. Which speaks volumes to me.
muchacho said:
Ok, I am a farmer and have a new Jimny. I do like the look of the Defender's interior though and will be having a look as soon as one is out and about. 
I see you have bought one of the new JCB's and not one of the proper utilitarian originals. To me the modern ones are just a pastiche of the originals and find more of a life on the school run rather than on the farm. Sadly.Have you ever had 3 sheep in the bucket? Go on, have you, have you? Don't give me that old "I'm an arable farmer" excuse either.
Just because you buy it with the yellow paint option doesn't make it a JCB.
PS Love the Jimny !
Brooking10 said:
Jurdy said:
Starts at £45k.... C'mon. These cars were aimed at those who's willies aren't for show in the past. Surely this is technically a chunky looking Disco Sport, alternative Discovery or a paired down Sport? All of which cross over at a number of price points. I'm sure it will grow on me but the top of the line £75k hoon spec car is pretty much up against an F Pace SVR or RR Sport SVR and that's in the same JLR stable.... because let's face it. Most of these aren't going off road.. It just makes the JLR offering even more confusing when you add in a Velar, F pace, E pace..
Great write up by the way. And I think in the right colour (in isolation to the rest of the line up) it will look like a good car.
It really isn’t up against those two cars you mention.Great write up by the way. And I think in the right colour (in isolation to the rest of the line up) it will look like a good car.
Edited by Jurdy on Tuesday 10th September 10:50
In fact it’s nowhere near being up against them
The Vambo said:
loudlashadjuster said:
KPB1973 said:
Interesting car. I hope they sell them by the bucketload.
But to my eyes, it renders the current Disco pretty superfluous, which is a strange bit of product planning.
That's JLR all over though. Massive, massive overlap in and across the Jaguar and LR ranges.But to my eyes, it renders the current Disco pretty superfluous, which is a strange bit of product planning.
How many variations of the 4x4 type vehicle do you think a company can really make without overlap?(It’s not as if they’re the only ones...)
NomduJour said:
SydneyBridge said:
Love it.
in terms of pricing, it leaves a lot of room for the Ineos Grenadier, which will be between £30 and 45k
Believe it when I see it.in terms of pricing, it leaves a lot of room for the Ineos Grenadier, which will be between £30 and 45k
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ineos-...
Considering the market for SUV's in any guise (soft roaders being a growth market and then some) and from a marque with a long history in the 4x4 game, I think this a great looking product.
It's also not too luxurious to step on the toes of its RR brethren but iconic enough to appeal to the style focused with the go anywhere, do anything the defender name implies.
Price point, The truth is most people will be just interested in the monthlies so Meh?
As pointed out the target demographic was never the Jap twin cab <30K market, it was always going to be a life style product with a price to match.
They will sell loads, will be interesting to see how this does in the North American market.
It's also not too luxurious to step on the toes of its RR brethren but iconic enough to appeal to the style focused with the go anywhere, do anything the defender name implies.
Price point, The truth is most people will be just interested in the monthlies so Meh?
As pointed out the target demographic was never the Jap twin cab <30K market, it was always going to be a life style product with a price to match.
They will sell loads, will be interesting to see how this does in the North American market.
The Vambo said:
loudlashadjuster said:
KPB1973 said:
Interesting car. I hope they sell them by the bucketload.
But to my eyes, it renders the current Disco pretty superfluous, which is a strange bit of product planning.
That's JLR all over though. Massive, massive overlap in and across the Jaguar and LR ranges.But to my eyes, it renders the current Disco pretty superfluous, which is a strange bit of product planning.
How many variations of the 4x4 type vehicle do you think a company can really make without overlap?Seven models, nine if you include the Jag SUVs, across, and I’m being generous here, three distinct size segments.
Even the Germans are rarely that ‘enthusiastic’ about chasing niches.
Yes yes it looks right and I'm sure it's brilliant off road and I definitely would have bought one* however it doesn't have easily replaceable plastic thrumble flanges or manually adjustable blibble boards like the series II briefly did in 1974, therefore I fail to see how I am supposed to take it seriously. Something about farmers, something about the school run, something about China. I think that's everything covered.
- eighth hand in seventeen years time
Defender is supposed to be a utilitarian 4x4 for the masses, pricing is pretty steep and whilst the update isn't a bad looking off roader it's more Chelsea school run than roughing it down rutted farm tracks to check on your livestock. Be interesting to see how the tarty interior stands up over time.
A Defender with decent road manners , whilst retaining the go anywhere abilities and comfy drivers seat and addition of standard mod cons is definitely progress that was required.
Will wait a few years and bag a HSe on the used market if their any good,
A Defender with decent road manners , whilst retaining the go anywhere abilities and comfy drivers seat and addition of standard mod cons is definitely progress that was required.
Will wait a few years and bag a HSe on the used market if their any good,
ian2144 said:
I’m sure it will roll out the showrooms along with all the other Chelsea tractors. But as a genuine replacement for the old workhorse the original one was, that’s a big NO.
Farmers have moved on, the double cab pickups have well and truly taken over.
Land Rover did commercial versions of both the Discovery & the Freelander in the past, how often have seen one of them........
Probably much more often that you realised.Farmers have moved on, the double cab pickups have well and truly taken over.
Land Rover did commercial versions of both the Discovery & the Freelander in the past, how often have seen one of them........
Commercial:
Private:
Brooking10 said:
300bhp/ton said:
As a die-hard Land Rover fan. No, not even remotely.
In fact it probably is the least cool. As it is purely designed and built for posers and pretenders.
Maybe they should have called it the Land Rover Pretender
Here's an idea.In fact it probably is the least cool. As it is purely designed and built for posers and pretenders.
Maybe they should have called it the Land Rover Pretender
Don't buy one.
Have you ever bought a new LR product ?
300bhp/ton is angry that the above is not the pivotal case study JLR uses to define all vehicle design.
The new Defender, much to 300bhp/ton's annoyance, will be more capable then 99% of the vehicles sold on the market and will probably exceed the original defender off-road capability in standard form in nigh on every way. For example - the new Defender can wade nearly twice times the depth of water then the old one. How about that.
Edited by Andeh1 on Tuesday 10th September 13:40
Jurdy said:
What is it up against then? Farmers favourites ..Hilux/Shogun Both half the price or now not available new? £75K is £75k and they won't go anywhere near the weeds so in my mind they are up against every other luxury 4x4 that is at the same price point.
Well, yes - they are. But at least vs. that price point they'll have something genuinely different: it'll ace them all offroad. It doesn't matter for the buyer, of course it doesn't, but that's not the point: only point is whether the buyer...buys!
In that respect, and considering the price range and trim options - i think they have something genuinely without competition, *if* pub or golf-club/gym bragging rights about offroad ability is a thing for the target market. Which it probably is...
If anyone is angry about probably the world's best off-roader being bought by people who don't do serious offroading, wait until you find out that most McLaren and Ferrari owners have never lapped the 'ring in sub 7:30...!!
RacerMike said:
And is £40k for the base 90 really that ambitious these days? Something like a 3 series is £35k these days!
I think that is deliberately missing the point. The 3 Series WAS the entry level basic BMW. Today it is not and there entire ranges of vehicles below it. Thus the name still exists, but it is placed on a car in an entirely different market segment.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff