Thread: Defenders on "Car Sales."

Originally Posted by Andrew86

Keeping in mind that fewer than 60 cars were sold nation-wide in the final rush in January, I'm not sure how many of these mythical bearded hipsters could have possibly bought them, let alone be in a rush to sell.

300 or so Defenders have been sold since then, including two months where the 'final rush in January' was more than doubled. There was undoubtedly a shift in buyer type, it's become quite obvious on this forum. Eccentric, prickly, practical, DIY tightwad adventurers bought TDIs, TD5s and Puma 2.4s. Puma 2.2s have been bought by some of the same people but also plenty of misty eyed romantics, zealots and people chasing 'the cool'.

I recently gave a couple my thoughts on which 4wds to consider buying. They went out and test drove all of them, including the Defender. Their thoughts on the Defender "oh my god, it was the worst car we've ever driven, it was terrible. Had a certain appeal but we couldn't live with it..." and that is why some of the romantics and most of the cool buyers will sell in the next year or two.

For 99.9 per cent of the population a Defender isn't a vehicle they can live with.

Nothing surprising here, considering this is now Land Rover's only target market: romantic, urbane types with escapist fantasies rarely enacted. The marketing, the fancy dealerships, the nostalgic dew-eyed view of JLR designers, the yuppy image. Just wait and see how many hipsters line up for new Defender-Lite and Defender-Lite Sport in 2020!

Originally Posted by Babs

This is no exaggeration on the amount of Defenders around this trendy hipster inner city suburb, I am always surprised to see so many Defenders around there.

And to top it off when I was in mine I never got a wave from any of them.

They could tell you were a Disco driver in disguise

I don't see what's surprising about seeing Defenders in city suburbs anyway. 90% of Australia's 23 million people live in urban areas. Seeing a Defender out for coffee on the weekend doesn't say much to me, but I understand that people are classified based on a lot less these days. It's the reason Britain voted to leave the EU and Trump does so well in the States.

Originally Posted by steane

300 or so Defenders have been sold since then, including two months where the 'final rush in January' was more than doubled. There was undoubtedly a shift in buyer type, it's become quite obvious on this forum. Eccentric, prickly, practical, DIY tightwad adventurers bought TDIs, TD5s and Puma 2.4s. Puma 2.2s have been bought by some of the same people but also plenty of misty eyed romantics, zealots and people chasing 'the cool'.

Really? I've found the Defender community universally friendly and I wouldn't call anyone I've met both online and in person a zealot (including new 2.2 owners). We're all enthusiastic about our little trucks, but I don't see how that's a bad thing. I'm sorry to hear you haven't had a similar experience. If you're referring to me, I'd gladly buy you a beer and see if I can't change your mind about that.

I'd be interested to see a source for the 300 vehicles sold if you're willing to share. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm genuinely interested in this sort of thing.

Originally Posted by steane

For 99.9 per cent of the population a Defender isn't a vehicle they can live with.

Of course not, by modern standards they're well below par. That's why they're dead and buried. I think they're the sort of vehicle you either love or you don't - if you don't, absolutely look elsewhere. I enjoy mine regardless, as do a lot of Puma owners young and old.

Well said Andrew.
I don't know where we fit in.....Wifey & I just "like" Gracie, our 90. We've had various cars, and driving in Gracie is very different to all of the other ones!
One of the things I do like, is the "History" of the Landover. I've bought a considerable number of Landrover books & DVDs, including the BEST Landrover DVD I've seen,.. "Stop Gap", and driving a vehicle with the sort of history this vehicle's had, just adds to the "feeling" about our Defender.
Can't put it into words,..we just "like" her.
Pickles.

Andrew, it's not that I'm surprised seeing a Defender in and around Alexandria it's the amount of Defenders in and around

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Originally Posted by Babs

Andrew, it's not that I'm surprised seeing a Defender in and around Alexandria it's the amount of Defenders in and around

Maybe because it's a nice place to visit? Are Defender drivers not allowed nice things too? I'll be sure to pack a bag of mud to throw over myself when I'm next out for a coffee, just in case someone thinks I'm not rugged enough for my car

In all seriousness though, and to bring things back on topic, the high prices we're seeing in Australia and around the world aren't because of the sellers (ie. supply). They're demand driven. Blame the people paying these prices, not the ones asking them. It has very little to do with who does and doesn't have a beard.

I made a new friend recently. We've hung out a few times. He's from Europe. The other day he saw my Defender for the first time and told me how much he liked it. I said thanks and I sang Mr Landy's praises as you do, and explained that I'd be paying him off for a long time to come! He said "well that's ok because you'll keep him forever won't you?" I said yes exactly. Then he said, "and he'll never go out of style".

This sums it up I reckon. This is why I, along with many others who are seen as a bit wierd, wouldn't drive anything else. Those of us with a particular kind of discerning eye that like living with and utilising such an iconic design, that will last forever if you care for it. Something that is a rarity in our increasingly disposable world. Something so classless and rare that cuts across all the hyperbole. All joking aside about the future direction of Land Rover, anyone who drives a Defender, no matter whom, where or why, is doing so because they appreciate this rare quality. This incredibly rare combination of design simplicity, beauty and utilitarianism. It is very unlikely to ever be repeated. Whatever comes next is highly unlikely to be so timeless.

Originally Posted by Andrew86

Maybe because it's a nice place to visit? Are Defender drivers not allowed nice things too? I'll be sure to pack a bag of mud to throw over myself when I'm next out for a coffee, just in case someone thinks I'm not rugged enough for my car .

Indeed. Hey Andrew I'll meet you there. And I'll make sure i grow a beard for the occasion, then make sure I shave it off as well, all in one day, so I don't get called either a beardy wierdy bushy or a hipster!