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The Cone of Silence
3rd September 2013, 07:49 AM
I recently returned from a trip to Europe which included a visit to the stunning Italian island of Sardinia which was the destination for one of the most pleasurable moments of my life.

The trip to the Island wasn't so memorable due to the incredible scenery, the magnificent local food and wine, the laid back hospitality of the locals or the accommodating cheer with which everybody seemed to have in abundance.....or even the beautiful weather.

No, it was far more impressive than all of those things combined. What really made the trip for me was the moment that I realised that my girlfriend is even better at spotting Defenders than I am. We're talking hundreds of metres away, down side streets, in the tiniest portion of her peripheral vision. She smashed me at playing the Defender spotting game.....which you can play out there because, for some reason unknown to me, Italians LOVE Defenders. They seem to be everywhere. The GF was saying that throughout her trip around Italy (mainland) she couldn't believe how many she'd seen....and got a little bit excited everytime one came into view.

If I can convince her to come to the Expo in a couple of weeks' time, she might need a sit down.

Anyone know why the Italians love Defenders so much? The French don't seem to be overly keen on them although I did spot a couple of dark green army-looking 110s in Paris.

Bobby.

goingbush
3rd September 2013, 08:15 AM
Dont know why Italians love Defenders but therin lies the answer to the mystery as to why the Nanocom is an Italian invention, and thanks for giving me an idea for a European holiday destination .

uninformed
3rd September 2013, 08:58 AM
Maybe its becasue they dont rust quite as bad as a 1980s fiat....

Tomo
3rd September 2013, 09:17 AM
Maybe its becasue they dont rust quite as bad as a 1980s fiat....

and because they are only slightly more reliable than a 1980's Fiat....:wasntme:

Loubrey
3rd September 2013, 01:50 PM
The same goes for the Swiss! I was lucky enough to spend 7 days on a road trip in the Alps (first time in summer) and rural Switzerland is absolutely littered with working Defenders.

Not many pickups as in the UK, but loads and loads of Hard Tops and base spec station wagons. Pretty much every model from 200Tdi to Tdci, although I would have reservations about the turning circle of Pumas on some of those mountain passes!:eek:

Cheers,

Lou

Disco Muppet
3rd September 2013, 02:48 PM
Because the Defender is the true workhorse of the world, Toyotas are merely an Australian impostor ;)

uninformed
3rd September 2013, 06:05 PM
The same goes for the Swiss! I was lucky enough to spend 7 days on a road trip in the Alps (first time in summer) and rural Switzerland is absolutely littered with working Defenders.

Not many pickups as in the UK, but loads and loads of Hard Tops and base spec station wagons. Pretty much every model from 200Tdi to Tdci, although I would have reservations about the turning circle of Pumas on some of those mountain passes!:eek:

Cheers,

Lou

The Swiss were the only ones to ever get a factory 100inch Defender. Unfortunately they were only prototypes for their military.

goingbush
3rd September 2013, 06:35 PM
The Swiss were the only ones to ever get a factory 100inch Defender. Unfortunately they were only prototypes for their military.

I never knew that, way cool for 1978 too

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/09/1607.jpg

uninformed
3rd September 2013, 07:02 PM
yep 100 inch coil sprung....:)

Tikka7mm08
4th September 2013, 12:33 PM
I am super stoked that in my Puma with any combination of 2 of our 3 kids sitting sideways in the back they can spot a Defender before me and call it. Plan is to add the extra 2 seats in the back of the 90 so all three can come along and the wife can be upfront...as soon as she calls a Land Rover Series or Defender without prompting I am taking that as approval to complete my hattrick.

mools
4th September 2013, 02:54 PM
Because the Defender is the true workhorse of the world, Toyotas are merely an Australian impostor ;)

What's Australian about a Toyota?

Disco Muppet
4th September 2013, 04:54 PM
What's Australian about a Toyota?

You tell me, apparently that's what real Aussies drive, nothing else survives here.
After all, the Land Cruiser built this country :angel:

Loubrey
4th September 2013, 09:07 PM
You tell me, apparently that's what real Aussies drive, nothing else survives here.
After all, the Land Cruiser built this country :angel:

This is where you give the uneducated, opinionated troglodyte a copy of a Len Beadell book so he could read which car actually "built" Australia...

Wait... problem in that statement... it would require said troglodyte to be able to read...:D

PS: For those overly educated ones on here... I wasn't referring to a small Wren like bird...:D:D

Cheers,

Lou