All discussions relating to the Defenders end of production

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Originally Posted by tact

Ahhhh my introduction to the "idle jack" feature was bit of a fright too! Was trying to creep forward very minutely in low first... when the clutch pedal position was high enough, the computer jacked up engine idle speed a few hundred rpm....scared me!

Now i understand the feature and logic...like it

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Yeah like anything you get used to it, but in certain circumstances it should be able to be turned off. Land Rovers stated aim is to build a 4WD system that requires no driver input! ...that even senses the difference between wet and dry sand! To me the whole point of driving a Defender is driver input. I'm not interested in a vehicle that drives itself, but that's clearly where things are headed.

Reliability is a separate issue and it may be that electronics are more reliable in the long run, but when vehicles go into limp mode so often for silly reasons it's clear that the limitations of computer control or programming is actually often the cause of the vehicle being unable to proceed. ...I've just bought a Nanocom, in case I need it out bush somewhere. No idea how to use it yet, but hopefully it will help, not hinder in this new age of bush technicians.

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

. [...]I've just bought a Nanocom, in case I need it out bush somewhere. No idea how to use it yet, but hopefully it will help, not hinder in this new age of bush technicians.

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How is that working for you? I bought a nanocom Evo to use with my 2013 TDCI a year ago and til today have not been able to get it to work. Some issue with ECUs in newer Pumas not talking to the nanocom. BBS are working on it - no idea when maybe the device will be useful to me

As I say, haven't used it yet, but will post when I do...sorry to hear not working for you! Prob a bit off 'end of production' topic here anyway.

Looking forward to hearing when someone picks up their limited edition Defender! Who will be first?

Probably been mentioned before somewhere, haven't heard anything from Landrover Aus, only from LandRover U.K.
Anyway, here it is again, so ya don't miss it.
FINAL ORDER DATE: 26th JUNE 2015. (OFFICIAL LANDROVER U.K.).
So, if ya want ya're own "built to order" Defender, ya better get in NOW.
Pickles.

More Defender end of production info


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0HXSuXBDco#t=78[/ame]

I wonder what this will fetch at the auction then...

Well over ? 100k... [bigwhistle]

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

Yeah like anything you get used to it, but in certain circumstances it should be able to be turned off. Land Rovers stated aim is to build a 4WD system that requires no driver input! ...that even senses the difference between wet and dry sand! To me the whole point of driving a Defender is driver input. I'm not interested in a vehicle that drives itself, but that's clearly where things are headed.

Reliability is a separate issue and it may be that electronics are more reliable in the long run, but when vehicles go into limp mode so often for silly reasons it's clear that the limitations of computer control or programming is actually often the cause of the vehicle being unable to proceed. ...I've just bought a Nanocom, in case I need it out bush somewhere. No idea how to use it yet, but hopefully it will help, not hinder in this new age of bush technicians.

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As much as I dont want my cars to drive themselves I do understand why this sort of technology is being pushed and actually why it has to happen. I have been in my rural brigade for years, but I only recently joined the Urban brigade. I am currently being shown all the gear used for getting people out of road crashes, scary stuff. I am also being pre-warned about the horrors of untangling dead peoples limbs from destroyed cars and the much worse trying to untangle horribly injured living people and children for car wrecks. Some of the stories are really chilling and what is worse is every fire fighter in the brigade has attended multiple horrible road crashes. Sadly the only way it will stop is cars that are built to help prevent it.
Chris

Interesting comment Chris. I once saw a psychologist talking once about people's perception of safe driving and he was saying that with anti lock braking, brake bias, traction control, auto gearboxes, power steering, better tyres, etc, etc people tend to think they can drive faster and better when in fact they do drive faster, more recklesslly but not better. He suggested that if every steering wheel had a big, sharp spike sticking out of it pointing at the driver's chest, people would drive much more carefully.

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Originally Posted by Didge

Interesting comment Chris. I once saw a psychologist talking once about people's perception of safe driving and he was saying that with anti lock braking, brake bias, traction control, auto gearboxes, power steering, better tyres, etc, etc people tend to think they can drive faster and better when in fact they do drive faster, more recklesslly but not better. He suggested that if every steering wheel had a big, sharp spike sticking out of it pointing at the driver's chest, people would drive much more carefully.

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Hmm some valid points, but the reality is cars are getting safer and it is saving lives. Speeding is not the only cause of crashes, actually most are at walking pace. The town boys attended a crash recently where an older 4x4 overturned swerving to avoid a Roo. The driver drove up a bank and it landed on the roof, the car was not travelling fast at the time and there were some bad injuries. A more modern car and the occupants would have had a much better chance than they did in the old 4x4 they were in.
I love my new Defender and I did not want a new air bag 4x4, but I do believe this and other safety measures on new cars do save lives.
Chris

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Originally Posted by cafe latte

........., but I do believe this and other safety measures on new cars do save lives.
Chris

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They certainly do, but insurance and other statistics show that accident and injury rates have very little to do with the safety equipment fitted to the car. The colour of the car seems to be more relevant. In fact, the very highest accident and injury/death rates are seen in cars that have the highest safety ratings. Mind you, they are also the cars that have very high performance and attract car thieves!

All this points to the driver being the highest influence on accident, death and injury rates, with part of the driver effect being the driver's choice of car. And over the top of this is the simple fact that drivers with alcohol or other drug impairment are over-represented in all accidents by factors as high as twenty times more likely.

Consequently, I conclude that while modern design will prevent injury and death once you have an accident, the probability of having it in the first place is hardly affected directly by vehicle design, primary safety improvements being largely counterbalanced by the higher speeds and acceleration possible.

Accident rates have been going down virtually ever since records started, and although vehicle design may have had a small influence on this, I believe it has been mainly due to improved roads, seat belts (not airbags) and much better compliance by drivers, including, but not restricted to drink driving.

John