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I think the main issue with defenders is not demand but supply. I wanted to take a new 110 wagon for a test drive the other week, there was not one new in WA. The dealer said he can sell any defenders he can get his hands on and the next shipment was not until August (only two vehicles to his dealership). He can't sell 'em if he can't get 'em.Quote:
Originally Posted by ezyrama
I agree with Ezyrama. The marketing, or lack of thereof, that they seem to do for the defenders is pretty ordinary. A few nearby Land Rover dealerships are busy advertising an upcoming special offer weekend and they include the Range Rover, Discovery and the Freelander but don't include the Defender at all. I went to have a test drive just recently and they didn't have a 110 in stock and the salesman said they would have to order one in from the U.K. I did get to drive a 90 and was impressed with that, but it is ultimately a 110 of a 130 that I'm after.
It appears that Land Rover couldn't be bothered with the Defender and have just left the market open for Nissans, Toyota's etc, which in my opinion seem to be over rated and over priced.
What shortfalls does the Defender have that they need to discontinue them? Is it the lack of airbags etc or is the general shape that makes them not comply with new safety standards? I'd imagine that there is not much difference shape and safety wise than the Land Cruiser utes and troopy's.
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dobby
No airbags, no ESP, no NCAP rating, & it doesn't comply with emission regs, in most markets.
It's still a hand made car, that's expensive and time consuming to produce.
There's a fair bit actually, but the 70 series is getting phased out, and there are no plans to replace it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dobby
It's only just got ABS in the latest model, but it'll never be 5 star rated, so Toyota are pushing the Hilux, and up speccing it.
I love the defender the way it is except it needs to be seriously soundproofed, my ear are ringing after a couple of hours on the highway.Quote:
Originally Posted by FenianEel
I think the Defender is an awesome vehicle, as a 4x4 there aren't too many places it can't go. My 94 Defender has gotten us out to some godforsaken places over the years, and always got us home again. It will be a crying shame to see them discontinued. I mean, sure, they are noisy, not the most comfortable at times, constantly need attention (well, mine does:p), but that just adds to the character.
As for the advertising, or lack of it, I don't think that necessarily a bad thing - I mean, would you really want to see every Tom, Dick and Harry driving them, just because they are "popular"? Keep your Prado's, Hilux's, Patrols and the rest - just leave me my Defender!
The problem in the future would be that even if they continue building them somewhere else like India, we will end up in the same situation as in America.
Not sure of the exact date, but Australia is very soon (in the next couple of years) going to ban the sale of new cars without electronic stability control (various names for it) as well as cars without a minimum amount of airbags. This is the main reason the LC70 series is being phased out without plan for a replacement. There is actually risk of the sale of new Defenders being banned before Land Rover stops making them...
That will also mean that it would be illegal to import a Defender as we know it now into Australia same as it is in the US. Existing cars won't (shouldn't!!! :eek:) be affected, but with townie politicians you never know and we might even get banned from city centers.
Buy them now and treasure them!
Live axles don't work well with crumple zones and it is safe to assume that our Defenders are the very last Land Rovers ever with live axles (in the front at least). I imagine the very best we can hope for is a slightly "industrialized" or "toughened up" Discovery 4 type vehicle.
Cheers,
Lou
When I brought my td5 I thought it will do for a few years , and I will look at the new Defender when it comes out ! Well the due date keeps going forward , at this rate I'll be useing a Zimmer Frame , I must say I still like the td5 :D jimr1
I've always loved Defenders since I was young and used to ride in my friends grandfathers one through the bush in the back side bench seats.
He used to go hunting rabbits with ferrets and also clear paths through the bush around his property by towing a sled.
I always new I'd buy one eventually and was going to wait till I was older. Glad I recently bought a TD5 a few months ago because in many years time it will be harder to find a great old classic defender in good condition.
I know that there are numerous threads on the new Defender. However, check out the blog at http://defender15.blogspot.nl/ which is intended to bring all thoughts together in one place and ultimately come up with what we - (prospective) users of Defender - think the new Defender should look like. The idea is to come up with a concrete design proposal, one that will definiely do away with the sour aftertaste of DC 100. I have set some ground rules for myself and have posted some rough sketches. I would appreciate all constructive criticism and thoughts. Feel free to send in your sketches too if you wish to share. You can comment on the blogsite or on this thread. Let's show JLR what we want.
Best,
Olli
Olli its very lovely but the defender is going to cease production in 2015???