Honey, I shrunk the Defender...

Honey, I shrunk the Defender...

Author
Discussion

Shelsleyf2

419 posts

231 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
And finally... coil springs!

Front:


The rear photo is very poor so I’ll try again tomorrow!

That’s it for now, but let me know if you want to see anything else!
Is that the chrome suspension rod, the cover leaves the strut exposed?. The gaiter should surely seal the rod from the elements?

2Btoo

3,410 posts

202 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
Ok, pricing....

21MY Defender 90 X-Dynamic HSE £58,820
Secure Tracker Pro (36 months) £745
Metallic Paint £895
Detachable Towbar £780
Black Roof Bars £330

Grand total OTR £61,570
Oooof - that's a LOT of cash, whichever way you look at it.

Either the LR products are going seriously up-market or they are assuming that everyone is going to buy on finance so they can gouge long and hard on the price.

Clifford Chambers

26,957 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
2Btoo said:
595Heaven said:
Ok, pricing....

21MY Defender 90 X-Dynamic HSE £58,820
Secure Tracker Pro (36 months) £745
Metallic Paint £895
Detachable Towbar £780
Black Roof Bars £330

Grand total OTR £61,570
Oooof - that's a LOT of cash, whichever way you look at it.

Either the LR products are going seriously up-market or they are assuming that everyone is going to buy on finance so they can gouge long and hard on the price.
Only if you spec it up, the basic rufty tufty version doesn't get the leather steering wheel.

SUVs are where its at, pickups and Kubotas saw to that.

Edited by Clifford Chambers on Wednesday 3rd March 17:42

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

5,071 posts

54 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
The lack of flat load area when the seats are folded is such an own goal.

What the hell where LR thinking with that design decision.

Clifford Chambers

26,957 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
The lack of flat load area when the seats are folded is such an own goal.

What the hell where LR thinking with that design decision.
I don't suppose it really matters, you're hardly likely to be seeing a tup and a hay bale hanging out the back.

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

5,071 posts

54 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Clifford Chambers said:
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
The lack of flat load area when the seats are folded is such an own goal.

What the hell where LR thinking with that design decision.
I don't suppose it really matters, you're hardly likely to be seeing a tup and a hay bale hanging out the back.
Why would I remotely want to do that???

It's a 60k car not a pick-up.

I might want some usable load space though and a flat base is quite important for that.


Clifford Chambers

26,957 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Clifford Chambers said:
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
The lack of flat load area when the seats are folded is such an own goal.

What the hell where LR thinking with that design decision.
I don't suppose it really matters, you're hardly likely to be seeing a tup and a hay bale hanging out the back.
Why would I remotely want to do that???

It's a 60k car not a pick-up.

I might want some usable load space though and a flat base is quite important for that.
QED

abzmike

8,241 posts

105 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
I love the look and chunkiness of these from the outside, but to me the load space is massivley compromised. I"m not carrying sheep or bales of hay, but I am going to Tesco. More than a bag and I need to put seats down.

Clifford Chambers

26,957 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
abzmike said:
I love the look and chunkiness of these from the outside, but to me the load space is massivley compromised. I"m not carrying sheep or bales of hay, but I am going to Tesco. More than a bag and I need to put seats down.
Hardcore. beer

Easternlight

3,424 posts

143 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Looks like my Yeti's big brother!

abzmike

8,241 posts

105 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Clifford Chambers said:
abzmike said:
I love the look and chunkiness of these from the outside, but to me the load space is massivley compromised. I"m not carrying sheep or bales of hay, but I am going to Tesco. More than a bag and I need to put seats down.
Hardcore. beer
Lol, as it happens I live in a location and up a sufficiently long and rough track that I could fully justify a purchase on more than fashion reasons. But I also need to eat, go to the dump and garden centre and golf club. One day I might want to put a dog in the back. They are all going to be awkward. Even if the back seats were on runners it might help. It isn’t a small vehicle, but the packaging just isn’t great.

Clifford Chambers

26,957 posts

182 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
abzmike said:
Clifford Chambers said:
abzmike said:
I love the look and chunkiness of these from the outside, but to me the load space is massivley compromised. I"m not carrying sheep or bales of hay, but I am going to Tesco. More than a bag and I need to put seats down.
Hardcore. beer
Lol, as it happens I live in a location and up a sufficiently long and rough track that I could fully justify a purchase on more than fashion reasons. But I also need to eat, go to the dump and garden centre and golf club. One day I might want to put a dog in the back. They are all going to be awkward. Even if the back seats were on runners it might help. It isn’t a small vehicle, but the packaging just isn’t great.
Good point.

I'm sure they'll do very well. wink

abzmike

8,241 posts

105 months

Wednesday 3rd March 2021
quotequote all
Clifford Chambers said:
abzmike said:
Clifford Chambers said:
abzmike said:
I love the look and chunkiness of these from the outside, but to me the load space is massivley compromised. I"m not carrying sheep or bales of hay, but I am going to Tesco. More than a bag and I need to put seats down.
Hardcore. beer
Lol, as it happens I live in a location and up a sufficiently long and rough track that I could fully justify a purchase on more than fashion reasons. But I also need to eat, go to the dump and garden centre and golf club. One day I might want to put a dog in the back. They are all going to be awkward. Even if the back seats were on runners it might help. It isn’t a small vehicle, but the packaging just isn’t great.
Good point.

I'm sure they'll do very well. wink
Undoubtedly - they’ll sell as many as they can make at pretty much any price they want to charge.

Clifford Chambers

26,957 posts

182 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Easternlight said:
Looks like my Yeti's big brother!
I've always liked these.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
I think this looks wonderful, and I'm assured (from your thread and other, more direct, feedback) that the drive is very good both on and off-road. Love the colour and the wheels, but not sure about the gloss black external trim, although that just might be how it looks in the photos. Pricey, but not outrageously so. Just a very attractive vehicle and it will (is) sell very, very, strongly.

Mrs HH was equally impressed when I showed her your previous, and now this, thread. She has as a result decided that something like this one needs to be her next car - she was actually on the configurator last night trying to decide spec. She used to run 'rugged' 4x4s before converting to sportier and smaller cars when the kids all started to drive/get their own cars, but she now has a desire/need (we are sticks-dwellers) to get back into a 4x4 again. Nothing on the market has remotely interested her of late until this came along. So thanks, this could cost me biggrin!

I'll end with a somewhat sensitive question - are you able to comment on the build quality? As a consultant in the Auto industry of some 25+ years, I'm cognisant of the less than perfect in-market quality performance of LR products, particularly as they have become increasingly complex in recent years - have Nitra and its' supply chain been able to address some of these shortcomings do you think? Will understand of course if you don't wish to comment.

Thanks for sharing, and enjoy!

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

129 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
I really like the looks of these, but when you say upgraded lights please don’t tell me standard lowest trim models get non LED headlamps on a 50k+ car?!

Also what are the 2 smaller lights at the back they look a bit awkward

I was next to a 110 recently in traffic and it looked huge! As big as a Range Rover!

They do look cool though

2Btoo

3,410 posts

202 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Clifford Chambers said:
2Btoo said:
595Heaven said:
Ok, pricing....

21MY Defender 90 X-Dynamic HSE £58,820
Secure Tracker Pro (36 months) £745
Metallic Paint £895
Detachable Towbar £780
Black Roof Bars £330

Grand total OTR £61,570
Oooof - that's a LOT of cash, whichever way you look at it.

Either the LR products are going seriously up-market or they are assuming that everyone is going to buy on finance so they can gouge long and hard on the price.
Only if you spec it up, the basic rufty tufty version doesn't get the leather steering wheel.

SUVs are where its at, pickups and Kubotas saw to that.
A quick glance at the Land Rover website says that the new Defender is available "From £44200". I don't know what you get for that but assume it's something with a completely plastic interior and a basic, rough-as-you-like diesel engine.

£44k is a LOT to spend on a car. By comparison it seems that a starter model 5-series is £39270 (BMW website), nearly 15% less.

LR is clearly setting it's sights a long way up-market and assuming it can charge accordingly. Forgive me for not rushing down to my local dealer (Lakeland LR in Torver) to trade in my two old Defenders as I simply can't afford it, and I doubt my fellow sheep-farming neighbours will be doing so either.

2Btoo

3,410 posts

202 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Clifford Chambers said:
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
The lack of flat load area when the seats are folded is such an own goal.

What the hell where LR thinking with that design decision.
I don't suppose it really matters, you're hardly likely to be seeing a tup and a hay bale hanging out the back.
Given that a tup and a hay bale were regular loads of the traditional defender buyer then I'd like to think that you would (and should) expect the same of this one. However your comment is probably right on the mark; LR have produced something aimed at a completely different market to the original vehicle.

JonnyVTEC

3,001 posts

174 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Nickbrapp said:
I really like the looks of these, but when you say upgraded lights please don’t tell me standard lowest trim models get non LED headlamps on a 50k+ car?!
LED it seems, upgrade is the Matrix.

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,387 posts

77 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Sorry I've not repsonded to any of the messages before now - busy time!

cerb4.5lee said:
It is nice to see one of these in detail, thanks for the photos. thumbup
No worries - glad you like them, and let me know if you want to see any other deatils

Shelsleyf2 said:
Is that the chrome suspension rod, the cover leaves the strut exposed?. The gaiter should surely seal the rod from the elements?
Hmmm... Not sure. I'll try and take some more photos soon


take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
The lack of flat load area when the seats are folded is such an own goal.

What the hell where LR thinking with that design decision.
Remember, this is a small, well short, car - a Qashqai is longer than a 90. The front structure and row 1 are basicaly the same as a 110, and the row 2 legroom is the same (i.e. very spacious), so the length has to be lost somehow, and it is the loadspace that takes the hit.

The seat can't fold flat, as the row 2 seat base doesn't flip forwards, so the seat backs sit on top of them.

Bear in mind that for many buyers, a Defender is not the main car, and I suspect for the 90, that %age is even higher. For those that need more loadspace, the 110 in 5- or 6-seat form has a totally flat load area, and then there is the Hard Top in both 90 and 110 bodystyles. There is no lack of choice for a Defender buyer!


Easternlight said:
Looks like my Yeti's big brother!
Hmmm..... biggrin Great car the Yeti, but I don't really see the likeness


had ham said:
I think this looks wonderful, and I'm assured (from your thread and other, more direct, feedback) that the drive is very good both on and off-road. Love the colour and the wheels, but not sure about the gloss black external trim, although that just might be how it looks in the photos. Pricey, but not outrageously so. Just a very attractive vehicle and it will (is) sell very, very, strongly.

Mrs HH was equally impressed when I showed her your previous, and now this, thread. She has as a result decided that something like this one needs to be her next car - she was actually on the configurator last night trying to decide spec. She used to run 'rugged' 4x4s before converting to sportier and smaller cars when the kids all started to drive/get their own cars, but she now has a desire/need (we are sticks-dwellers) to get back into a 4x4 again. Nothing on the market has remotely interested her of late until this came along. So thanks, this could cost me biggrin!

I'll end with a somewhat sensitive question - are you able to comment on the build quality? As a consultant in the Auto industry of some 25+ years, I'm cognisant of the less than perfect in-market quality performance of LR products, particularly as they have become increasingly complex in recent years - have Nitra and its' supply chain been able to address some of these shortcomings do you think? Will understand of course if you don't wish to comment.

Thanks for sharing, and enjoy!
My car was the first X-Dynamic I'd actually seen (still WFH), and the gloss black lowers and darker grey bumper inserts coupled with gloss paint (my 110 was satin) make it look very different in the flesh.

Mrs HH has excellent taste smile

Build quality? My 110 was one of the very first cars, and I have to say it was very impressive. No squeaks, and one rattle for the first 100 miles or so in the door that disappeared of its own accord. The A-Pillar capping made some noise, but this was a two-minute job to fix on the drive, and was updated for later cars. And that was it. Had masses of SOTA (Software Over The Air) updates, mainly to test the SOTA backend infrastructure, but this all happened seamlessly. I've probably had 15-20 JLR products and just one has ever needed Roadside Assistance.

As for the 90, I've barely had a chance to drive it, but it was immaculate when I picked it up.


Nickbrapp said:
I really like the looks of these, but when you say upgraded lights please don’t tell me standard lowest trim models get non LED headlamps on a 50k+ car?!

Also what are the 2 smaller lights at the back they look a bit awkward

I was next to a 110 recently in traffic and it looked huge! As big as a Range Rover!

They do look cool though
The base lights are 'Premium LED' - they miss out on the 'signature DRL' which is effectively a lit half circle section of the light, but worked well. Mine are the mid-range lights - there is a matrix LED version above them as an option.

Rear lights are all-LED as well. The two smaller ones have a red outer ring which forms part of the tail light graphic, and the inners are the indicators. Main lamps also have outer rings that are the tail lights, and circular elements within for the brakes. Reverse light sits between the two, and fog / reflector in the bumper.


2Btoo said:
A quick glance at the Land Rover website says that the new Defender is available "From £44200". I don't know what you get for that but assume it's something with a completely plastic interior and a basic, rough-as-you-like diesel engine.
For £44,200, you get a 90 Hard Top. Same interior as the passenger car at that trim level. The diesel is a 200PS straight-6 unit. Again, the same unit as in the passenger car. You also get a fixed bulkhead and a beautifully trimed loadspace. You are certainly not slumming it - I'd love one!

The passenger car range starts at £44,825 for the 300PS petrol 90.


Keep the questions coming. I'm sure you'll understand there may be some which I'll decline to answer, but if you want pictures or to understand specs, let me know!