Thread: 2016 'Defender'

Land Rover Just need to look at the F series utes, good payload, great towing and car like interiors. The f trucks sold well in Australia back 10 or so years ago, just offer different size and specs and they will sell.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

...so...no one thinks there's a market anymore for a re-designed heavy duty working 4WD?

who's to say the new defender wont be?

Originally Posted by MrLandy

...so...no one thinks there's a market anymore for a re-designed heavy duty working 4WD?

Yes,thats why LR are designing a new defender instead of making do with a lesser ''unbreakable'' vehicle.As I've posted before LR went back to the drawing board with the new defender to fill this gap,the reason it has been pushed back to 2018. Pat

Originally Posted by Summiitt

Land Rover Just need to look at the F series utes, good payload, great towing and car like interiors. The f trucks sold well in Australia back 10 or so years ago, just offer different size and specs and they will sell.

I own two defenders because they do what I want them to do,I'd never buy an F series because it can't do what I want them to do,different market. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

Yes,thats why LR are designing a new defender instead of making do with a lesser ''unbreakable'' vehicle.As I've posted before LR went back to the drawing board with the new defender to fill this gap,the reason it has been pushed back to 2018. Pat

I hope you're right Pat. But your earlier post, why do people need super Defenders to travel the outback? may be more on the mainstream money I'm afraid. ...Most don't.

Most want the 'look' of being 'outback' ready, of being able to go 'into the nature' (see my post in introductions) but they will never really go there. We live in a boutique nation now and the 'outback' no longer exists. In a global village there is no outback anyway.

Perhaps a 20XX defender is actually a non-sequitur in a global capitalist world, but a truly durable vehicle for those of us who actually live and travel the 90% of this continent that is outside the cities is necessary and a lesser 'unbreakable' vehicle will just break. (My 98 defender outlasted all my mates Toyotas in northern WA by far!) But as a minority member I'm just not holding my breath.

Don't ask me,we had a few regular posters who always gave advice about outback travel and how standard LR's couldn't do it,one poster had never actually traveled west when I asked him directly.IMHO going off just how good LR have done with the rest of the range I have no reason to believe the new defender,remember LR was going to build it on the D3-4 T5 platform but changed their mind,why would they do that?,because they want live axles instead of indy suspension pushing it back to 2018?,is not going to be a class act. Pat

My advice is that there is nothing better than a Defender for inland / northern Australia travel in terms of durability, capability, fuel economy, and to me, comfort. The only potential issue is servicing / breakdown support if not covered by LR assist or one is self-reliant mechanically. RAC Ultimate is good back up.

In my opinion the national LACK of LR service support, particularly in central and northern Australia is the biggest factor reducing consumer confidence in Land Rover in northern Australia. This will need to be addressed in a big way if LR are indeed serious about the next Defender and it's potential to fill the massive gap that will be left by Landcruiser in the north and centre. LR's attitude towards this critical factor never ceases to amaze me. It will be the biggest factor IMHO as to the success of the next Defender if indeed it is a serious Heavy Duty vehicle.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

.....

Most want the 'look' of being 'outback' ready, of being able to go 'into the nature' (see my post in introductions) but they will never really go there. We live in a boutique nation now and the 'outback' no longer exists. In a global village there is no outback anyway.

Wait... What?

Perhaps I am misinterpreting what you're trying to say here, but it seems to me that you are implying that people should only buy a Defender if they genuinely mean to go "outback"?

I purchased my Defender because I love the damn things, I like the looks, the relative simplicity, the history and many other factors. Going hard-core four-wheel-driving was NOT one of them. The fact that I have a vehicle that can go almost anywhere is a bonus, but not the main reason I purchased.

Having said this, I am not one of the caf?-latte sipping crowd that just purchased my Defender to "show-off". My parents live on acreage and getting to them involves some dirt roads and mild (except in flood) river crossings. My Citroens were able to do it, my Defender does it quicker and easier.

In my humble opinion there is nothing wrong with buying a vehicle just because you like it. I have restored old buses in the past, but have never stopped to pick up passengers with them...

Yes, I don't have huge sized tyres, or a winch, or a roof top tent. Or rock sliders, or any of the other stuff. But I don't begrudge anyone that does. If that is what you enjoy, hell - you only live once!

Okay, rant over. The underside of my bonnet has some rainwater drops that need cleaning off...