New Defender: How can it be better than a Pajero?

You'd think so... but the truth is that with the lack of ground clearance and approach/departure angle, you got to spend a few thousand on a Rubicon out the box to keep up with a Puma 90. This is not just my opinion, but actual testing by European motoring magazines, especially Dutch,French, German and Spanish.

Defenders always receives a bashing for "trim level" and on-road comfort, but nothing compares off road in stock form.

Thanks for your insight Diana. It's great to have someone quoting a primary source rather than heresay and opinion.

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Originally Posted by flagg

Thanks for your insight Diana. It's great to have someone quoting a primary source rather than heresay and opinion.

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I agree

Yeah Jeeps have trailing arms that are too short, so they lack the cearance and articulation in stock form, a lot of people think they are the best, but as Loubrey has said they don't cut the mustard when compared in stock form. Its better to have wheels on the ground and traction control then a rigid, locked up drivetrain and be parked on your roof.

Anyway lets talk about Landies not Jeeps (sorry i've started it, mums dad is a jeep nut, but dads whle family are landrover crazy, including me lol)

Cheers
Will

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Originally Posted by flagg

Thanks for your insight Diana. It's great to have someone quoting a primary source rather than heresay and opinion.

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Hopefully it will be of benefit to both JLR and us users. He seemed glad to be able to meet some real users and not the usual marketing hacks from local LR head offices or chosen celebrity users. We were a bunch of enthusiasts, with a variety of interests and heaps of brand loyalty.

Personally he has been really useful to me, finding out about the build and conversion details of my Reynolds-Boughton/Land Rover Special Vehicles 6X6 Defender. Although the information on lack of spares for the middle axle is a concern. :(

I have already fed back comments on the lack of navigation options for my new D4 with information and links to Hema Navigator and OziExplorer which has now been forwarded onto the team dealing with the audio and entertainment systems. Hopefully we may see future models with off-road navigation and the ability to upload maps.

As someone who has been with Land Rover for several decades John, expressed that under Tata there is a new spirit coming into the marque that wants to build vehicles that customers want rather than what the owners say we can have.

All I can say, is that like most of us, it's now a case of watch this space and see if the bean counters can cruel the Defender development (again).

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Our discussions revolved around the capability of the vehicle, the need for vehicles large enough for touring, to be able to be modified as campers etc and he even mentioned that they are even considering going for markets where LC are king like the mining industries.

On drivetrain comments were made about LRs desire to rationalise the powerplants and other drivetrain, so common engines between D4~ are likely but also that the entry level or load carrying cab chassis L660s may not have air bag suspension. Everything is in the mix at present.

What he did say was that under the new owners Tata, there is a new philosophy of expanding the brand and volume into new markets and restoring it to markets lost decades ago. LR is also aware that access to service and spares is an issue, particularly in places like Australia.

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Cool ! Seems like someone with a bit of common sense for a change !

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

The 1990s name "Defender" may disappear.

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Aaarrgghh !!! No ! What instead ?

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Originally Posted by VladTepes

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

The 1990s name "Defender" may disappear.

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Aaarrgghh !!! No ! What instead ?

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In fact the question was couched, "what would you think if the next model wasn't called Defender?"

So it seems they are looking for a name that gets away from the notion of building vehicles for armies and building vehicles for people that they can use with all the capabilities we expect and a bit more comfort than soldiers are provided.

It'll be called the Series 8 or S VIII:D or maybe a bit of marketing license and they'll call it the series 10 or S-X ;) I just want the official LR badge.

I realize that this is kind of an old thread and about this potential new LR but how any one could compare a landie with a pos Mitsubishi is beyond me