Limited edition Defender - what would you want?

[Larry]

A friend asked me yesterday - If you could build a limited edition Defender,(from the factory) what would it include? No major re-engineeering, just what accessories would you add?:angel:
I had a few ideas, but I would be interested in thoughts from others.;)

[sclarke]

I'd like no input from idiot engineers like ford
I'd like a car that was not in the workshop unless it was for service
I'd like them to go back to alloy panels.
I'd like an AC that works

Hell I'd get Toyota to design it. Lol

[one_iota]

That's a tough question because it depends on the market and the use of.

It seems (and forgive me SVX owners) that Land Rovers idea of special vehicle is targeted at the London Sloan Street Crowd.:wasntme:

Also tough because you've excluded engineering...Salisbury type Diff and cross axle difflocks.

For Australian conditions I guess that I would start with:

Bull Bar
Winch
Driving Lights
Snorkel
Dual Battery and additional power outlets
Increased fuel capacity say from 75 to 120l
Roll Cage
Mud Terrain Tyres.....

Hey this is sounding like my add on wish list :eek:

maybe just Angelina Jolie ...

'cause they don't sell her at ARB

[Allan]

A d3 :wasntme:
Allan

[Blknight.aus]

no aircon, front vents, on chassis water, 200l fuel, dual battery, engine driven compressor, inverter, hydraulic winch, tow pack, LED low wattage lights, dual spares, pioneering tool mounts, front,rear and side recovery points, inbuilt solar panels in the roof, bull bar with vice mount, internal tool box storage.

Theres a start.

[Drew90]

no aircon, front vents, on chassis water, 200l fuel, dual battery, engine driven compressor, inverter, hydraulic winch, tow pack, LED low wattage lights, dual spares, pioneering tool mounts, front,rear and side recovery points, inbuilt solar panels in the roof, bull bar with vice mount, internal tool box storage.

Theres a start.

I'd buy that!

How bout a SWB ute? Now i'd buy that!

[Naks]

300 TDi engine
5 or 6-speed auto box
Full EMS (with custom alarm settings) on LCD screen
LED headlamps & lights
Cruise control
Overhead console
Front & Rear selectable Diff locks
CTIS with on-board high capacity compressor (ala Unimog)
Pop-up roof

[spudboy]

A seat that goes back further for people taller than a 1950's British coal miner.

Cost to implement on the production line - probably about $2.50.

[VladTepes]

no aircon, front vents, on chassis water, 200l fuel, dual battery, engine driven compressor, inverter, hydraulic winch, tow pack, LED low wattage lights, dual spares, pioneering tool mounts, front,rear and side recovery points, inbuilt solar panels in the roof, bull bar with vice mount, internal tool box storage.


and lockers !


Need the air con mate gotta keep the wife on side so we are allowed to buy it !

[abaddonxi]

Onboard electronic diagnostics that tell you what the problem is and allow you to reset, fiddle, change without having to buy a separate computer widget to carry around and plug in.

[frantic]

Similar to one iota but adding,
Ashcroft front + rear axles/cv's and 4.1 centres with ARB air lockers.
255/85 r16 muddies with the ability to fit 35's with a 2in lift + factory offset wheels.
rock/tree sliders.
Double rear barn doors.
Move all fuses/ecu's under midd cubby box and make cubby box a bit narrower.
coolant level and exhaust gas temp + blockable egr for newer engines with no computer glitches, like td5.
2.7 tdv6 from the disco d3 ,OOP'S thats a major:D

[newhue]

to compliment what others have said.

Hand brake moved an inch or two towards the centre
Seats moved and inch of two towards the centre
better rear seat leg room and angle
better heat insulation
better stereo
make the ECU and other critical electrics water and dust proof, I'll keep the puma.
better turning circle

[wrinklearthur]

Besides all the good things a defender already has, it could have;

A wider, longer and higher, rubber mounted ROPS cab, like a tractor has!!
Comfortable suspension seating, like a tractor has!!
Inboard, oil cooled, wet brakes, like a tractor has!!
TDV6 motor, a low range with slower gearing and with decent, strong, half shafts and CV's fitted into locking salisbury diffs.
Fresh air vents, for the feet as well as the face.
Lights, that you dont have to strike a match to see if they are on!
Galvanised metal for door frames, body trim, etc, like the series ones had, and galvanised chassis.
Engine driven PTO with a clutch.
Less electronics, I like driving my vehicles.
A turning circle!!! :cool:

Sorry dreaming again.
Cheers Arthur

[cal415]

I would want to be able to get the special editions in a 130 not just 110s.... a 130 SVX with body colored front light surrounds and no side decals would be perfect for me.

[isuzutoo-eh]

Galvanised chassis, body cappings, even firewall
low range 1st of ~60:1 or slower
big heavy clutch, long gear stick, Series-sized steering wheel
hydraulic pump on PTO with winch and air compressor to suit
ARB style steel bullbar to suit Aus conditions
mechanical self bleeding fuel pump
firewall air vents (roll back to TD5 & earlier firewalls)
effective A/C with front and rear selectable vents
vacuum/low pressure/electronic solenoid selectable rear diff lock
on a disc braked Salisbury rear diff assembly
HD flanges and axles
AEU2522 CVs
double cardan drive shafts
raised shock mounts front/rear with longer travel shocks and dual rate springs to suit
Boge load leveller to keep the bum level all the time
tropical roof
swing away spare wheel carrier
LED lights, including worklights and rear interior lights
Overhead console with any necessary electrical stuff in it.
150L fuel capacity
~50L water tank
33" mud tyres on 16" rims
colour coded flairs
sill sliders/bumperettes
Built on a wednesday when the factory workers have sobered up but before they are too tired to do a proper job. Or else made in India.

but the most important
cup holders :p

[VladTepes]

Besides all the good things a defender already has, it could have;
Fresh air vents, for the feet as well as the face.


Are you kidding Arthur? You ever driven a FJ40 series Land Cruiser through water? If you thought Defenders had waterproofing problems.......

[cowboycammo]

- 130 dual cab
- TDV8 - owner/operator serviceable.
- portal diffs with lower ratios
- tougher axles/cvs
- beefed up driveline, including 6 speed manual, 3 ranges instead of 2, and a useful PTO
- dual shock mounts all round
- on board air - with decent reservoir
- central tyre inflation/deflation system
- in cab adjustable air bags in rear suspension
- 120-150L fuel
- 60-80L water
- triple batteries
- dash vents
- air con
- blacked out window tint
- recaro seats all round (don't knock it until you try it. svx owners know the feeling)
- decent sound system
- manually lockable differentials
- improved dash interface
- doors that seal
- improved sound deadening

and i'll have mine in stornoway grey. thankyouverymuch



failing all that:
130 dual cab
dash vents
air con
comfortable seating
decent sound/heat insulation
decent sound system
improved dash interface
more power
more fuel capacity
bullbar/winch/spotlights
towbar
35" tyres.

[one_iota]

For the aspiring wagoneers don't forget to tick box next to the rear window washer and wiper option. (serious)

[alittlebitconcerned]

A dry interior. It could be marketed as a one off never before seen feature.

[Coffee]

Black Bell & Ross analogue meters/gauges
Carbon fibre bonnet and roof
Aluminium Doors, with old school handles
Brembo brakes
Aluminium or C/F light surrounds and grill, same design as standard
Split windscreen
Black Sawtooth wheels
Recaro seats front and rear
Titanum Bumpers front and rear
Front vent panels again
Minimalist switch panels and interior, all waterproof and washable
Matt paintwork option
Light army green optional colour in gloss
Pale flat grey optional colour with large bold helvetica 'LR' graphics on front doors

[wrinklearthur]

Are you kidding Arthur? You ever driven a FJ40 series Land Cruiser through water? If you thought Defenders had waterproofing problems.......

Yes !!! VladTepes, I have had water shoot up the leg of my shorts. :eek:

I did own a FJ40 for a while, I was nearly broke from feeding petrol into it,(12 mpg on a good day), Things improved dramatically fuel consumption wise, after I installed a 4cyl 'B' motor and four speed gearbox. it had done 350,000 miles when I got rid of it. :twisted:
Water used to pour down my neck going around corners from the gaps where the rust used to flake away, out of the roof gutter under the fibreglass top. :mad:
Drive a '96 Defender flat tray now and if I think I am about to get wet, I shut the vents before I hit the water. :p
I still like it when my feet are cool, driving along the blacktop when the mirages are dancing on the horizon. :D

Cheers Arthur ( but, this thread is about improving the defender )

[gng1]

In order:
A smaller turning circle;
A rear door that stays open when you open it;
Recovery points front and rear (so you can recover Toyotas);
A larger fuel capacity;
Electrics up high and dry and a snorkel (called that and not an raised air intake).

[PBob]

TDV6 and nothing that gets in the way of other L/R bits that I wish to fit. (Like SVX lights and bullbars).:cool:

[BilboBoggles]

Me.. Well I'd just like a PUMA,

a) with panels that fit together and don't leak.
b) A tube of sikaflex applied a the factory would be good.
c) Rear Air conditioner outlets.
d) A galvanised or zinc plated bulkhead and chassis.
e) ability for the owner to modify the throttle response to allow it to be made smoother on road, and reduce lag off road.
f) A fuel filter with a built in hand primer and secondary fuel filtration with a water trap warning light


Apart from that and despite the awful QC on the PUMA - it's pretty much the ideal Defender for me.

And that's it. Everything else I'm happy to do as a owner modification.

[JamesH]

Not much. Auxiliary fuel tank and water tank (sills). Cargo barrier. Dual battery, 12v outlets everywhere. Child seat points. Seat covers. Blue tooth phone, ipodable stereo, bull bar.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[eksjay]

Not a thing..... except:

500,000km/25 year factory warranty. Whichever comes first.:tease:

[big guy]

Actually had a look at one and drove around the block.

I think it could get better doors so arms actually fit, have front and rear diff locks, much better fit and finish of plastics, upholstery, definately change the ancient lights, have a bigger fuel tank or do a sub tank from factory like Toyota and reduce the turning circle. By god its huge.

Love the rivetted look and they look great in white(new black).

Also, get the green oval RD team to read this forum and see what issues have been encountered and fix them for **** sake.

A new car should not have those issues in this day and age especially they have been making them since the ice age.

Thats about all.

Just a reliable car with theextras everybody needs/wants.

That simple really.

[eksjay]

Front and side curtain airbags.

[PAT303]

I think one thing you all forget is you can buy a Puma,give it to Mulgo or similar and fit almost everything you have asked for and it will still be cheaper than a cruiser,the cruiser won't even have A/C. Pat

[p38arover]

and:

Automatic transmission
Electric mirrors that don't vibrate.
Soundproofing

Actually, there's a lot more but I might as well buy a Disco 1 and get it all with less expense and more comfort.

[Didge]

Geez guys, if you had all this you'd have a car that has all the character/ personality of Bernie Fraser (former head of the Reserve Bank) or Al Greenspan (USA Federal Reserve chief - same job really); both really, really boring buggers or a Landcruiser! You accept the noise as soon as you drive it, but then it rains. Seriously, why after 60 years are they still making a car that leaks? And why are we accepting it? There's no way on earth I'd part with $50,000 odd for a car that leaks like a sieve and then have to start making my own repairs to it. I love my 95 Def but it only cost me $13K and I can sort of accept the problems and pretend it's some soret of twisted/ demented "character" trait. What other brand gets away with leaks in a $50K car?