Honey, I shrunk the Defender...
Discussion
Having had my Defender 110 for just over a year, took it on one final journey up a misty M40 to Solihull to swap it over early this morning. Very sad to see it go.
Was back out of the plant before 9am in the new one. I’ve now got a 21MY Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE. We’ve just announced the 22MY programme which brings in the V8, but will be building and delivering 21MYs for some time to come, and customer deliveries of the 90 have only just begun (most people holding off for a 21 plate). The D250 is the new Ingenium straight six diesel unit.
I’ve got another Pangea Green one, but without the satin wrap this time, and coil springs rather than air. The X-Dynamic also gets gloss black lower body panels instead of the self coloured black trim on my other one. Also gets darker bumper / grille insert, 20” wheels (without off road tyres on mine) and the fixed rear towing eyes which look great, and as Top Gear Magazine proved, are capable of hanging three Defenders off!
I’ll try and take some more pictures tomorrow, so a very quick snap taken on the drive when I got home will have to do for now.
If anyone has any questions, or wants pictures of anything specific, please shout!
Was back out of the plant before 9am in the new one. I’ve now got a 21MY Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE. We’ve just announced the 22MY programme which brings in the V8, but will be building and delivering 21MYs for some time to come, and customer deliveries of the 90 have only just begun (most people holding off for a 21 plate). The D250 is the new Ingenium straight six diesel unit.
I’ve got another Pangea Green one, but without the satin wrap this time, and coil springs rather than air. The X-Dynamic also gets gloss black lower body panels instead of the self coloured black trim on my other one. Also gets darker bumper / grille insert, 20” wheels (without off road tyres on mine) and the fixed rear towing eyes which look great, and as Top Gear Magazine proved, are capable of hanging three Defenders off!
I’ll try and take some more pictures tomorrow, so a very quick snap taken on the drive when I got home will have to do for now.
If anyone has any questions, or wants pictures of anything specific, please shout!
Dedders said:
That looks really smart. Do you get a choice of spec and colour or is it just what you are given?
Does it drive very differently from the 110 (accepting the engines are different).
Not much of a choice for these early cars, but you can decline the opportunity if you want!Does it drive very differently from the 110 (accepting the engines are different).
It only had 29 miles on when I picked it up, and I’ve only done about 40 miles more, virtually all on motorway, so it’s a bit early to tell too much. Different wheelbase, suspension and tyres, so lots of change! Engine sounds significantly different - smoother and more refined, but not really ‘driven’ it yet.
Crazy4557 said:
I’ve got the 90 Hard top on order, not been able to test drive one yet and wondered what the ride quality is like on springs, any experience or just the air sprung versions? I’m thinking it may be quite choppy being a swb.
Good choice! I’ve not driven one either, but have had a good look round a couple. What options did you add? Hope you kept the steelies though 
Again, not really driven on anything other than motorways. The air suspension is going to be better I’m sure, but I’m interested to see how the coil spring version compares. Need to remember this one doesn’t have access mode to lower the car - it’s a long way down!
595Heaven said:
Good choice! I’ve not driven one either, but have had a good look round a couple. What options did you add? Hope you kept the steelies though
Again, not really driven on anything other than motorways. The air suspension is going to be better I’m sure, but I’m interested to see how the coil spring version compares. Need to remember this one doesn’t have access mode to lower the car - it’s a long way down!
I've gone for the same wheels as yours but they are sooo expensive but look the nuts to me. Mine's a 22MY in Santorini black with black pack and mainly comfort spec like heated seats/leather wheel etc. Not interested in locking diffs as I can't see me going off road too much, it's a van to me so will work on the roads.Again, not really driven on anything other than motorways. The air suspension is going to be better I’m sure, but I’m interested to see how the coil spring version compares. Need to remember this one doesn’t have access mode to lower the car - it’s a long way down!
Interested about the long way down comment, maybe I need the steps added so I'll look at that.
Crazy4557 said:
I've gone for the same wheels as yours but they are sooo expensive but look the nuts to me. Mine's a 22MY in Santorini black with black pack and mainly comfort spec like heated seats/leather wheel etc. Not interested in locking diffs as I can't see me going off road too much, it's a van to me so will work on the roads.
Interested about the long way down comment, maybe I need the steps added so I'll look at that.
Yes, the wheels look great, but would look even better with the off road tyres like my last one had.Interested about the long way down comment, maybe I need the steps added so I'll look at that.
I wouldn’t worry about steps; certainly not until you’ve lived with it for a while. I’m just used to the access mode. And I can no longer annoy my wife by picking her up with the car at off-road height
This one is an X-Dynamic, which is new at 21MY. Gets gloss black body lowers (instead of self coloured plastic), darker grey badges, grille bar and bumper parts. My car is actually the first one I’ve seen in the flesh and it loo,s much better than in the pictures I’ve seen.
X-Dynamic also adds the fixed recovery eyes at the back which I think look great and very Defender...
X-Dynamic also adds the fixed recovery eyes at the back which I think look great and very Defender...
Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 2nd March 20:01
Interior...
Front is identical to the 110, but very different to my last car which was base spec so has cloth seats and the walk through centre console. The tread plates are illuminated, and still have their protective plastic covering on which I must remove
Rear has loads of space - basically the same as the 110, and access seems pretty good through the big front doors. Seats tip forwards manually, and then can be motored back and forth.
Also has a big opening pano roof so the rear is a light and airy place to be.
Damn these rotated pictures!!!
Front is identical to the 110, but very different to my last car which was base spec so has cloth seats and the walk through centre console. The tread plates are illuminated, and still have their protective plastic covering on which I must remove
Rear has loads of space - basically the same as the 110, and access seems pretty good through the big front doors. Seats tip forwards manually, and then can be motored back and forth.
Also has a big opening pano roof so the rear is a light and airy place to be.
Damn these rotated pictures!!!
So... to the load space. Bear in mind the car is a lot shorter, but keeps the second row seat legroom unchanged. Clearly, something has to give, and the boot is where the cuts are...
The seat back is 40:20:40 split, so possible to load longer loads and maintain rear passenger seats.
The seat base does not flip forwards like on the 110 5 seat, so when you tip the seat backs forward, you don’t get a flat floor. The bag holds the detachable tow bar - there is no space under the boot floor. I’d have chosen a deployable one if I could have.
The seat back is 40:20:40 split, so possible to load longer loads and maintain rear passenger seats.
The seat base does not flip forwards like on the 110 5 seat, so when you tip the seat backs forward, you don’t get a flat floor. The bag holds the detachable tow bar - there is no space under the boot floor. I’d have chosen a deployable one if I could have.
Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 2nd March 20:02
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I haven’t bought it! There are cheaper cars out there, and there are more expensive cars. Whether it represents good value for you is ultimately your decision. I’ll price this up tomorrow.Off road? Pretty damned good! Not done anything remotely off road in this one, but the 110 was amazing.
Edited by 595Heaven on Tuesday 2nd March 22:11
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