Thread: All discussions relating to the Defenders end of production

Pleased to say the local dealer in the South East of SA (Mac Land Rover) is a Defender enthusiast.
Angus (the dealer principal) owns one and just loves it, so no problem persuading him to sell Defenders!

Alan

I know that it's over 18 months until the last Defender will be made, so I guess there's still a fair bit of time to buy the remaining models that are still being built.
But is anybody in the least bit concerned? JLR don't seem to be worried, you hardly see a Defender in their advertisements these days, and the motoring press have hardly had anything to say about the demise of a vehicle that will have been around basically for nearly 70 years.
Anyway, with so little interest, I guess that does explain Defenders' declining sales, and why so little has been written about its impending demise?
Pickles.

yea on that note - defenders not selling. I read an article the other day about Ford's new SUV (as they put it). Ford has come up with a 'rival' for the defender to be sold in a bunch of other countries but not Oz. Seems that Oz doesn't' sell enough SUV type vehicles to warrant it.

Now i come to think of it.... I think I found a link from AULRO to the article...

Shows that the general population is not interested in serious 4x4 vehicles. They just want their high riding soccer mum cars with all the luxury of a family car.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

I know that it's over 18 months until the last Defender will be made, so I guess there's still a fair bit of time to buy the remaining models that are still being built.
But is anybody in the least bit concerned? JLR don't seem to be worried, you hardly see a Defender in their advertisements these days, and the motoring press have hardly had anything to say about the demise of a vehicle that will have been around basically for nearly 70 years.
Anyway, with so little interest, I guess that does explain Defenders' declining sales, and why so little has been written about its impending demise?
Pickles.

They still sell everyone they make, that's the limitation.

Originally Posted by debruiser

Shows that the general population is not interested in serious 4x4 vehicles. They just want their high riding soccer mum cars with all the luxury of a family car.

I agree with debruiser - it seems the majority of people who drive 4x4 (well in the city at least) are more concerned about the looks and the luxuries than the capability of the car they drive.

As for Landrover ending production of the defender - a crying shame I think. If I could afford it I would definitely be buying one before production ceases. But, seeing as I can't , my poor old 300 tdi will have to do for me.

I'll be sorry to see them finished, it's the end of an era, but bolted together cars have to finish, too expensive to make, plus no crumple zones etc. But I'll keep my eye out for a cheap Td5 defender for refurbishment, they're out there, I saw a nice blue one that needs head work in Melbourne for 7.5 k, and replacement of my old Tdi. But my Tdi has probably got 10 years left in it. If I have unit under refurbishment I can take all the good bits off the tdi. That will see me out, I only have maybe 15 years of driving to go.

Originally Posted by pannawonica

They still sell everyone they make, that's the limitation.

You've got it the wrong way round , they don't make enough to sell more.

In 1997 they made 36,000. Land Rover FAQ - History, Production, Sales - Production Data
The last few years have seen production set at around half that number, 17-20,000 units a year.

Originally Posted by frantic

You've got it the wrong way round , they don't make enough to sell more.

In 1997 they made 36,000. Land Rover FAQ - History, Production, Sales - Production Data
The last few years have seen production set at around half that number, 17-20,000 units a year.

Part of the reduction in production rates is probably that with the increasing gadgets fitted to them, the time spent on the production line is longer.

John