2013 Defender

[mike_beecham]

Hi All,
l am looking to buy a new 110 Defender early next year. So l have been looking thorugh Car Sales as you do.

I am finding a few Defenders with the "Premium Pack"

13MY PREMIUM FRONT SEATS & 7 SEAT** Also optioned with Leather Pack, Glass Tilt Sunhatch, New Style Side Protection Steps, Alpine Audio System with Subwoofer, USB Connectivity and Bluetooth Telephone Hands-free, Goodyear MTR Tyres and Front Mudflaps

Not so worried about leather, sunhatch (l am almost 100% certain this will leak). But the Bluetooth/USB stereo is good.

I have seen the updated stereo on a few Defenders. Is this becoming standard? Are there other inclusions for MY13 Defenders l should know about?

Do l still need to insist the dealer check TCase/Diff/Trans oil levels? Anything else?

It will be my 3rd Defender. Even the wife is keen......

Thanks,
Mike

[KarlB]

The sunhatch in my 2010 Defender has not leaked one drop. Better after-market bluetooth radios would be less than half the price.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[mike_beecham]

Thanks for the feedback. Most keen on the better seats - they are apparently better than the standard ones. Offer more support.

Mike

[KarlB]

Some other comments:

The standard Puma seats are very good but that is not to say they are as good as the premium front seats. I have put Melvill and Moon canvas seat covers on my standard seats. These are breathable, as tough as old nails, fit like a glove and look better than the original. They suit my use of the vehicle. It would not matter if I had leather trim or not. Don't be taken by the image. You need to talk to SVX owners who have the premium seats and see what they think. I have heard that they make getting in and out of the vehicle a little difficult. Think about what you need rather than want. Do you really need to be able to carry seven people? Having 7 seats essentially means you can carry very little other than passengers. I don't know anyone who takes their 3rd row seats in and out. It is straight forward enough but bothersome. With regard to the side protection steps, reflect on the damage that you have done to the sills on your earlier Defenders. Do you need them? They are costing you money that you may prefer to spend on something else. Front mud flaps are good. I put them on my 2010 D90 but they fell off after only 60,000 km and Land Rover Australia says that is reasonable wear and tear and would not replace them under warranty. Re the Goodyear MTR tyres; they are good tyres but are not imported into Australia by Goodyear so to replace them when worn out or damaged you would need to buy them from Land Rover Australia at their usually inflated price. I waited until my standard tyres needed replacing and then put on the Goodyear MTR Kevlar tyres (sourced from Goodyear Australia) which are a better tyre than the older MTRs that Land Rover is offering. A damaged one could be replaced within in a few days any where in Australia. If Land Rover don't have them in stock the wait could be much longer.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[mike_beecham]

Thanks Karl.
Yes it is all about needs vs. wants.

I do not need the third row of seats in 24/7. But l would like them from factory so it is registered as a 7 seater. There are times in my job that l really need 7 seats. Had hassles of engineers with my TD5 when l needed to put 3rd row in aftermarket and had to have the seats signed off on. Cost me dollars!

I will go an sit in the '2013 seats' and see what l reckon l guess. Just trying to accommodate my wife who would appreciate the best possible seating.

Not real worried about mudflaps - my prev Defenders all lost one or both rear flaps under warranty also - LRA just shrugged their shoulders. haha.

Side steps - you make a good point.

Tyres - l am fairly sure you can get Goodyear MTR in Aus? But l will stand corrected. I usually have a second set of muds anyway. So l'll save the cash and get the road based from new then?

Thanks for your advice - this means l can look at MY12 Defenders. They are a lot cheaper (<$50k) than the MY13 build.

Mike

[DiscoMick]

Jax is advertising Goodyear MTRs, but I haven't compared prices.
Goodyear Wrangler MT/R Kevlar Tyres (http://www.jaxquickfit.com.au/tyres/brands/goodyear/wrangler-mtr-kevlar)

Our 17-year-old Disco has twin sunroofs which don't leak, so don't rule them automatically.

[mike_beecham]

Thanks DiscoMick - but LRA still can't produce a Defender that doesn't leak through the windscreen seals and thus filling the drivers side foot well with 2cm of water!!!

So forgive me for being a tad skeptical!

Mike

[Rusnut]

they have

[nugge t]

Thanks DiscoMick - but LRA still can't produce a Defender that doesn't leak through the windscreen seals and thus filling the drivers side foot well with 2cm of water!!!

So forgive me for being a tad skeptical!

Mike

Mine must be the exception.....it is 2.5 years old (2010 model) and done alot of dirt road/corrugated track work with a roof rack and it doesn't leak. Only time water has dripped inside is from the high pressure hose at Car Lovers. Has seen everything from Brisbane thunderstorms to hail in the Gibson dBesert.

Recently did 3 consecutive 1,000km days and was fresh as leaving the standard seats at the end of each day.:D

[mike_beecham]

Well l stand corrected boys.
LR have only taken 55 years to get the seal right!

[DiscoMick]

My replacement windscreen leaked, but it wasn't LR's fault, and its now fixed.

[sniegy]

The new stereo is an Alpine deck & some have an optional Subwoofer too.
Nice system, sounds quite good.
Sorry missed the OP actually telling me that it has Alpine....(I'm an idiot)

The premium seats are NOT the Recaro's as they are another Option on some models. The Leather seats are very comfy tho'
As is the Leather steering wheel.

Cheers

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