Discussion
Vladimir said:
Yep - crash regs.
Our fairly modern (2007) Defender with all the toys (XS) had no airbags, paper thin doors and pretty much nothing else. Ideal for very low speed shunts as it breaks everything else but a bad crash in one would be..well.. bad.
They don't go fast enough for a bad crash Our fairly modern (2007) Defender with all the toys (XS) had no airbags, paper thin doors and pretty much nothing else. Ideal for very low speed shunts as it breaks everything else but a bad crash in one would be..well.. bad.
- OP import mine, I will even drive it over, plans an epic road trip!Vilhelm said:
Good at low speed impacts, because the steel chassis acts as a battering ram.
Bad at high speed impacts, because the aluminium body with no crash structure to speak of folds up like a camping chair.
High speed are not possible in most defenders Bad at high speed impacts, because the aluminium body with no crash structure to speak of folds up like a camping chair.
I think statistically they are actually the safest vehicles on the road in Britain today.
But yes, no air-bags and poor side impact protection mean they can not be sold in North America any more.
Frenchda said:
Vladimir said:
Yep - crash regs.
Our fairly modern (2007) Defender with all the toys (XS) had no airbags, paper thin doors and pretty much nothing else. Ideal for very low speed shunts as it breaks everything else but a bad crash in one would be..well.. bad.
They don't go fast enough for a bad crash Our fairly modern (2007) Defender with all the toys (XS) had no airbags, paper thin doors and pretty much nothing else. Ideal for very low speed shunts as it breaks everything else but a bad crash in one would be..well.. bad.
- OP import mine, I will even drive it over, plans an epic road trip!
d!
Bob_Defly said:
Anyone know why the Defender was never really sold in North America? There are few used ones around but not many, they are at a premium.
Crash regs mostly. But also the Defender is a bit out matched and doesn't really have a product placement in the US market.NAS spec ones where sold on 2 occasions, but only in limited numbers. Both 90 and 110 all V8's.
But a big issue is the Defender is a utility vehicle, it's designed to tow, to haul and to have a configurable body. So a pick up, hard top, station wagon, etc.
In the US the towing and hauling is done by bigger trucks like F150's, Ram's and Silverado's. So why would you pay more money for a smaller cruder Defender as a work horse?
Simply put, you wouldn't.
So it was aimed at the sports utility & recreation market instead. But in fairness this is dominated by the Jeep Wrangler with lesser sales going to Bronco's, Bronco II's and Blazers (early 90's).
The Defender has heaps of charm, but a Wrangler is a more comfy and more capable daily driver.
So it left the NAS Defender as an expensive niche market product.
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 27th January 13:49
300bhp/ton said:
Crash regs mostly. But also the Defender is a bit out matched and doesn't really have a product placement in the US market.
NAD spec ones where sold on 2 occasions, but only in limited numbers. Both 90 and 110 all V8's.
But a big issue is the Defender is a utility vehicle, it's designed to tow, to haul and to have a configurable body. So a pick up, hard top, station wagon, etc.
In the US the towing and hauling is done by bigger trucks like F150's, Ram's and Silverado's. So why would you pay more money for a smaller cruder Defender as a work horse?
Simply put, you wouldn't.
So it was aimed at the sports utility & recreation market instead. But in fairness this is dominated by the Jeep Wrangler with lesser sales going to Bronco's, Bronco II's and Blazers (early 90's).
The Defender has heaps of charm, but a Wrangler is a more comfy and more capable daily driver.
So it left the NAS Defender as an expensive niche market product.
Absolutely agree with this assessment. I had a copy of a North American car annual (may have been road and track) from around 1992 and only the Defender and the Porsche 968 were given the verdict of avoid at all costs.NAD spec ones where sold on 2 occasions, but only in limited numbers. Both 90 and 110 all V8's.
But a big issue is the Defender is a utility vehicle, it's designed to tow, to haul and to have a configurable body. So a pick up, hard top, station wagon, etc.
In the US the towing and hauling is done by bigger trucks like F150's, Ram's and Silverado's. So why would you pay more money for a smaller cruder Defender as a work horse?
Simply put, you wouldn't.
So it was aimed at the sports utility & recreation market instead. But in fairness this is dominated by the Jeep Wrangler with lesser sales going to Bronco's, Bronco II's and Blazers (early 90's).
The Defender has heaps of charm, but a Wrangler is a more comfy and more capable daily driver.
So it left the NAS Defender as an expensive niche market product.
Fussy buggers the yanks
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