Defender 90 design

[juddo]

I took the following off the front page of AULRO:


greylandy writes "Land Rover Belgium has introduced a limited run of 75 Bel Air Edition Defenders. The convertible D90 Bel Air is equipped with a folding black cover with side panes, black vinyl seats and matching door trim. Stereo CD with two loudspeakers, power windows and central locking with alarm are also included.

Defender Bel Air is priced at 29,500 Euros.

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When will Land Rover get with the times and produce this as a standard model! If this model was for sale in Australia, they would not be talking about discontinuing the D90, but would be ramping up sales. This is a product that would truely compete atainst the popular Jeep Wrangler.</span></span>

[George130]

Very nice!
That would definatly compete with the jeep.

[hiline]

the jeep wouldn't stand a chance againts that defender style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[rangieman]

its good but it will never happen in oz cause rover are still stuck in the 50's style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Ace]

Couldnt agree with you more. There is so much that Land Rover could do with the defender 90 to sell more, but they choose to say "Oh, just put them on special order". I would buy one of them if i had the cash. Matt

[Grizzly_Adams]

Land Rover Australia makes me sick

Not only do they have poor distribution channels, poor service, & poor marketing, they also have a poor grasp of what the customer wants.

It's a crying shame to have such a bad "official" support group for such a wonderful set of vehicles

/rant off

[rmp]

When are you guys going to realise LRA doesn't see profit in us, the Defender (of any description) or anything like it?

They exist to make profit and that means focusing on the Discovery 3, Range Rover (Sport) and Freelander. They aren't going for volume (Territory etc) either, because Ford cover that. They're a premium brand.

I'd be willing to bet Jeep don't make huge profits out of the Wrangler either, relying on the Grand Cheek etc for profit. Like the Defender, the Wrangler acts as a halo effect for the rest of the vehicles, a reminder of the marque's heritage and toughness.

And don't forget the Wrangler is significantly cheaper than the D90, and goes much quicker. If that D90 pictured had airbags, auto tranny and was price-competitive with the Jeep it may be worth it, but as it is nobody wants a SWB for $40,000.

Of course ab lot of LRA's advertising doesn't appeal to us, but that's hardly suprising, it's not aimed at us because we're not the target market.

[LRHybrid100]

wouldn't get a Soft Top D90 for $29,990 on the road - as per Jeep.

If you could, I'd be buying 2 - one to drive now and one to put away for a LONG time

LRH

[LRHybrid100]

Totally agree with RMP - most of us here are not the intended market for the new LR products. After all in 1987 my Rangie was about $60k - could not afford that now, never mind 18 years ago.

And good on PAG for making these changes to make LR a premium and quality product.

I do not want everyone driving LR's - let them all drive Tojo's / Nissan's

LRH

[rick130]

RMP has hit the nail squarely on the head.
PAG see Land Rover as a competitor with Lexus, this is the reason the dealers were cut. Roughly look where Lexus has stealerships. They aren't spread all over the countryside, they are strategically placed for their intended market !
The Defender in any way, shape or form doesn't fit that profile (as didn't military) and so they really don't want to know about it.

Ford US bought L/R as it fitted nicely into their marketing plans. Defender wasn't part of it. I think it has surprised them that the bloody thing is profitable, considering how labour intensive its antiquated construction is. I believe this is the only reason it is still being built, they are making good money from it !
In the US, L/R is perceived as a luxo/up market brand. On a couple of US based (non-4WD) boards I post on, when the US posters find out I drive a Landy, they immediately think I'm rolling in it, and I get comments like "..I'd love to have a Land Rover, If only I could afford one.." at which point I'm generally on the floor LMAO. The bloke who made that comment had a '57 'vette and the latest F250 with the huge Powerstroke TD engine !

Also remember that most of the nobs running PAG in Oz aren't Land Rover people, they are Ford people. Back in the JRA days they were passionate Land Rover people, and there were quite a few left when BMW were running it, but now, they are mostly/all gone. The blokes there now are business people, not car people, and Defender doesn't fit their business plan.
Of course, if people keep ordering them, they will be forced to keep selling them, as it is $$ on their balance sheet, and that is what motivates them. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by Grizzly_Adams
Land Rover Australia makes me sick

Not only do they have poor distribution channels, poor service, & poor marketing, they also have a poor grasp of what the customer wants.

It's a crying shame to have such a bad "official" support group for such a wonderful set of vehicles

/rant off

Amen :!: Couldn't agree more.


But RMP is depressingly, sickeningly, and "I don't want to think about it thanks very much" right. :cry: