Image is a simple demonstration of Physics - both same rating - just no chance for the lighter unit..Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty90
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Image is a simple demonstration of Physics - both same rating - just no chance for the lighter unit..Quote:
Originally Posted by Marty90
I think the lack of safety equipment such as air bags lost me the sale of the 110. Nice couple, very enthusiastic to get out and about but with one youngster and another on the way, a Defender wasn't going to fit their needs.
I personally couldn't give a **** about most of these so called "driving aids" especially the one about rear crossing traffic!!!! WTF is that about? Who gives a flying fig about who's crossing behind you?
When I need all the garbage which is supposed to be about road safety, I'll give up driving. As far as I'm concerned all they do is take the drivers mind off what they should be doing.... looking out of the windscreen in front of them and constantly checking the mirrors to know what's happening around them.
AlanH.
Oh, I forgot to mention to the OP... The rattle and hum of a defender puts the little ones right to sleep.
Distraction these days is everywhere. All these new car ads saying they've got google apps or siri or whatever all that stuff is, that cannot be helping. I see them at night, massive bright TV screen in the dash, I would hate that. There is a lot to be said for the simple things
(typed on smart phone whilst on the dunny, sigh)
I have installed a roll cage and was shocked by how the truck was put together. The firewall has no diagonal bracing but two bolts on the our riggers, which are also the anchor points for my roll cage. The skin is made of thin aluminum. The chassis is narrow and we as the driver and passenger are laterally seating outside and our juicy meat bag protecting the defender (that's some true love.
The pillars are soft and some of us even cut the roof and replace it with a pop up roof tent.
we all love our defenders but I think we have been talking about two different things.
First topics is how safe is the defender as a vehicle. And the answer is very unsafe and dangerous in a car crash.the only way to do it is to raise the truck so that the defender can encroach the other vehicle's cabin. thats to get on top
The second one is can you drive the defender safely and yes of course you can. The fact that not many of us ever be in a high speed car crash may suggest we are the best and safest driver in the world?
whether you put your kids in the defender is none of my business. I couldn't care less. It is your job to make a concoius decision, balancing the perceived danger and the joy you get
As my disco was the first vehicle I've owned with DCS I've taken it out and delibratly tested how it works with some agressive evassive manouvers. Im actually quite impressed with how agressivly it kicks in and with what I've done I havent found it want to spear me off the road - it merely straighens the car up, which you could take for spearing off the road if thats the direction that straigtening up a slide would take you. But the benifet is as its so agressive in its brake application I found it does actually wash of a reasonable amount of speed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tombie
I know the US IIHS does a roof strength test, fairly sure both Euro NCAP and ANCAP dont. My biggest issue with ANCAP is the star rating system itself. A 5 star rated car from 10 years ago is not the same as a 5 star rated car today -they should have been adding additional stars above the current 5 to allow for newer tecnology. Plus cars can also earn points just for doing a test - side impact pole test for example, 2 points just for completing the test regardless of outcome. Your also correct Tombie that theres also big differences between differnt mass vehicles. I've found the most usefull part of the ratings to be the driver and passenger injury scores from the frontal offset crash - its what makes up the bulk of the points score anway.
I think it's very clear that Defenders are not good vehicles to crash in. That's why they couldn't be made to meet the latest crash rules and LR has had to start from scratch on a new model.
Personally, I agree with the person who suggested a cargo barrier, as it could save our lives in a rollover. I will be installing one soon.
As for airbags, I remember the day my wife and I had the following conversation:
Wife: "So, how many airbags does this have?"
Me: "None"
Wife: "None. Oh..."
A long silence followed.
I can't believe we need to elaborate this
Check out the bolt that holds the seat belt on thn the B pillar. Have you noticed the height and location of it? (Also the height of belt is Not adjustable
I reckon in a car crash that bolt head will do quite a bit of damage.
Now it should be a common sense that the headrest and seat should be adjusted so that passenger's head is unlikely to hit the B pillar. But it is physically impossible to do so in a defender
Not to mention,with the after market seat rails fitted, the bolt is possible aiming right at your pterion. That's the area right behind temple and weakest point of our human skull. There is an artery right behind it
I don't know why there is no cushion on that bolt head.
I see the way land rover get away from it is to classify the defender as a light commercial vhicel instead of passenger vehicle. I think that is deceiving because not many of use are aware of this and often believe we drive a passenger vehicle just like that discovery 4
I am obviously ignorant about this but do we have a lower safety standard for comericla trucks?
Anyway before I bought the defender I have done my research. I am fully aware of the danger and willing to pay to price
Btw Land Rover stop the production of defender ,I think, is mainly due to crash safety concerns, rather than emmision rules.
Cheers
Just throwing it out there, have you considered a Discovery 2?? Will do what you've described re weekends and touring, but in style and comfort[emoji106]Quote:
Originally Posted by MJA
Thanks everyone. Appreciate all points of view. I guess was asking more about comfort rather than safety. Heat and noise etc. Obviously the defender won’t be the safest vehicle in the world. Similar to the old cruisers I’ve owned. But I do drive more carefully in older trucks. More so than the hilux, which handles more like a car.
The d2 wouldn’t suit my needs. I’m after the space that the 110 has. As I’ll be using it for work as well (carpenter).
Can I ask how you improved the air con?Quote:
Originally Posted by synthium
Hi guys, long time lurker first time poster - this particular topic is pretty relevant to why Im here in the first place so I felt compelled to chip in with my 2cents. Its a bit disappointing to see the thread get derailed the way it did; I dont think anyone is under any illusions that ANY of the LR Series/County/Defender models are at the cutting edge of safety. Hopefully for everyone on here, with or without children, you never have the misfortune of having to find out how safe or unsafe the old bus is in an accident.
Back on topic, and if the original poster doesnt mind the slight diversion - i find myself in a similar situation. My first born is due at the end of the month and my wife has expressed the desire that once the thinning of the fleet is complete, we acquire an older 4WD to use for family trips to the beach, fishing etc with my parents, baby and the dog. The Series III/County fit the bill and are on that short list. My question relates to anchorage points for the upright baby seats - has anyone got any photos of theirs installed, particularly in the pre-Defender models? Just want to get my head around whats involved in actually setting up the seat correctly. Also, for the 2 door LWB Series III [109?] is there a foward facing rear seat config available? These seem to be a lot more common and fit the bill size wise [enough seating plus space for the rapidly growing dog] but I havent seen one with a normal rear seat installed.
Cheers
Nick