DROVE my first 2007 Defender yesterday..

[justinc]

Love it!!

What a beauty, a bit of a torque monster too. Cruising at 110 in 6th, 2300rpm and sooo quiet.
nice dash layout, excellent rear seats, good A/C, close and notchy gearshift, (but only had 45km on the odo.)
The only complaints;
poor lower sill seals on front doors, I can see the road at the front bottom corners!!
still has that useless P38a rear diff,
Alloys are an option for 130:(

I will be talking to accountant next week, and hopefully a 130 will materialise not long after. (In Tonga green, with cold climate pack and alloys:D


JC

[BigJon]

I still haven't even seen one :mad:.

Boss goes for training next week.

[solmanic]

Well, back in March I was lined up for a drive in a new Defender at the Landrover Home of the Legend - and the launch date was pushed back two weeks to April.

I then lined up another look at one at Eastnor Castle later that month - the entire press fleet was sent out for detailing.

THEN I was lined up for a test drive on Wednesday - the demonstrator was off getting detailed.

Tried to make a time again today - Demonstrator was off getting its windows tinted.

I'm wondering if I'm ever going to get a go in one. Landrover seem hell bent on keeping them so clean - don't they understand that I DON'T CARE if its dirty!

[justinc]

Well, back in March I was lined up for a drive in a new Defender at the Landrover Home of the Legend - and the launch date was pushed back two weeks to April.

I then lined up another look at one at Eastnor Castle later that month - the entire press fleet was sent out for detailing.

THEN I was lined up for a test drive on Wednesday - the demonstrator was off getting detailed.

Tried to make a time again today - Demonstrator was off getting its windows tinted.

I'm wondering if I'm ever going to get a go in one. Landrover seem hell bent on keeping them so clean - don't they understand that I DON'T CARE if its dirty!


:D:D:D It was a bit like that here, I kept on at the sales dept so much that they brought it down to work for me to look at and drive etc, and the underbody stuff was still dripping off! Good service though, they rang me to say when they were coming and turned up on time!

Well worth it, an impressive vehicle.

JC

[Defender=1st]

Cant wait to test one. have emailed the Dealer and now waiting !

[solmanic]

Quick Defender=1st - post another one - your on 666 and that can't be good...

[Defender=1st]

Quick Defender=1st - post another one - your on 666 and that can't be good...

Thanks:) i didnt notice. dont want any bad luck when it comes to new Defenders

[agrojnr]

Love it!!

What a beauty, a bit of a torque monster too. Cruising at 110 in 6th, 2300rpm and sooo quiet.
nice dash layout, excellent rear seats, good A/C, close and notchy gearshift, (but only had 45km on the odo.)
The only complaints;
poor lower sill seals on front doors, I can see the road at the front bottom corners!!
still has that useless P38a rear diff,
Alloys are an option for 130:(

I will be talking to accountant next week, and hopefully a 130 will materialise not long after. (In Tonga green, with cold climate pack and alloys:D


JC

What the is the Rangie going to go:eek:

The new model still drips water on your right knee too:)

Also the father in-law rekons they are better offroad than the TD5


Adam

[Quiggers]

Now I know why y'all want the new 'fender.

$48,990 (plus onroad)

bargain!

a grand less than than the new Hippo!

Pity it doesn't come with an auto:D:D:D:D:wasntme:

GQ

[olmate]

The missus wants a new car for herself; if I could just get her interested in one of these. We have a 3 car garage and I can see it now: S2a, S1, Fender.... magic:D

[Landy110]

Love it!!

What a beauty, a bit of a torque monster too. Cruising at 110 in 6th, 2300rpm and sooo quiet.
nice dash layout, excellent rear seats, good A/C, close and notchy gearshift, (but only had 45km on the odo.)
The only complaints;
poor lower sill seals on front doors, I can see the road at the front bottom corners!!
still has that useless P38a rear diff,
Alloys are an option for 130:(

I will be talking to accountant next week, and hopefully a 130 will materialise not long after. (In Tonga green, with cold climate pack and alloys:D


JC
I thought the veiw of the road was standard, I've got it!
Isn't it to help you with parking and not running over Toyotas?
I probably won't get to drive a 2007 'fenda til 2017

[spudboy]

Lucky you! I got to look at one at the Adelaide dealer but wasn't allowed to drive it. Hopefully they will have a demonstrator in two weeks or so.

[easo]

I just wanna drive the 130

[justinc]

What the is the Rangie going to go:eek:

The new model still drips water on your right knee too:)

Also the father in-law rekons they are better offroad than the TD5


Adam

G'day mate, how's the new addition going? :cool:our best wishes to you and Sal:D.

There is NO WAY the RR is being 'retired'. In fact, it is slated for a Tanami and Kimberely trip next year.

We'll be down the coast to Perth then also, so I'll catch you 3 then!

All the best A, we'll phone to check up on you lot again soon.

JC and all.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I had a look at one today on the way home. Very interesting. The front seats are the same as mine, but the back seats are very different. The positive is they have a lap-sash centre belt. The downside it they are further back into the load area, so there will have to be new cargo barriers designed for them. Because of this there will also need to be new child restraints made as they still haven't fitted them.

In the engine bay is interesting. It looks like there is less room than the td5 somehow. Snorkels would need to be bespoke I would think (at least internally).

As to the inside, I'm not sure I really care all that much about the dash. The AC will definitely be better, but loosing the flaps will mean you'll need it lots more.

I guess the real star of the whole equation is the engine and gearbox performance. I didn't get to drive it but it's much quieter. I rode in a transit though, and it seemed quite peppy. The interesting this was how much better it revved.. really freely. I really can't imagine it being any faster than the chipped td5 though.

In summary... if I was buying one now I'd jump at it. However the only real pos for me would be the quietness of the motor. Given we've only just got our car set up now we'll wait until 2010 and make a decision then by looking at what is here 2011.

[agrojnr]

G'day mate, how's the new addition going? :cool:our best wishes to you and Sal:D.

There is NO WAY the RR is being 'retired'. In fact, it is slated for a Tanami and Kimberely trip next year.

We'll be down the coast to Perth then also, so I'll catch you 3 then!

All the best A, we'll phone to check up on you lot again soon.

JC and all.


Mum and son doing well glad to see the rangie will still be going

So I take it you will buy the 130 for work then:cool:


Hope I will get a forby soon and drive over some time


Adam

[solmanic]

Well after seven months I finally got a decent test drive of the new Defender and all I can say is it's a good thing I left the chequebook at home. My wife was no help either - she was meant to be the steadying influence in the whole exercise but she just kept saying how much she wanted one "right now".

First gear takes some getting used to. Second is a wee bit too high to use all the time, just on downhill starts. First, however, winds out very quickly so on the whole starts happen at about the same rate as the Td5.

It is easy to forget that sixth is there since even in fifth freeway driving is relaxed. Having said that, in sixth at 2000rpm and 100km/h there is a reassuring amount of torque to overtake (not that we're speeding mind).

The BIGGEST improvement enginewise is the noticable lack of flat spots all the way through the rev range. There is really nowhere the engine bogs down. By comparison the Td5 is a constant challenge to hit optimum revs in each gear.

The gear change is easy but takes some getting used to. Nice and tight but my current 02MY is as well.

The interior changes have been well documented everywhere so I won't go into them. My summary is yes, it IS that good to drive. HOWEVER, getting back into my vehicle I would have to say, it is NOT THAT BAD either. The Td5, which is is excellent condition if I may say so, still feels comfortable to drive - just different.

In the end, if it was up to me alone, as nice as the 07 Defender is, yes, I want one but I have a hard time justifying the financial penalty of changing over. Once you factor in the domestic gestapo's opinion however, then it is a done deal! Bugger - I thought today was going to be just a bit of idle tyre-kicking.

If anyone is in the market for a well kept, low mileage (69K) 02MY Defender - PM me. I'll post the details in the marketplace and probably put it on carsales or something and see what transpires.

Bugger
bugger
bugger!!!

[Quiggers]

$55k is not cheap, given you can buy a new car for about $15k, but it's cheap money for what is probably the best new 'real' 4wd...

It'll be interesting to see a true test of the new 'fender, the equally ancient but recently refurbished V8D 70s 'yota... and a Hummer H3, all about the same $$$...

...just need an impartial tester, now there's a challenge...

GQ

[solmanic]

Well for starters, the Hummer H3 actually is not in the same price bracket, let alone size. On the road a Hummer H3 is well over $60K, I know, I'm ashamed to say I asked.

The Toyota is the only other vehicle realistically worth comparing the new Defender to - but they are BUTT-UGLY and also well over $60K on road so that rules them out too.

Yep, the Defender now looks like REAL value for money. Fully specced for low to mid $50K. And even though you CAN get a new car for $15K, 3.5 Hyundai Getz' don't equal one Defender.

DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT - I've got to stop talking myself into this INSANITY!!!

[spudboy]

Yeah - I went and had a look at a Hummer yesterday. Gotta say that I was pleasantly surprised. It is not nearly as tinny as I thought it was going to be.

The rear suspension looks funny, being leaf springs (bit flimsy looking) but I guess they have tested it all in the rough.

Pity there is no diesel option as I reckon the 3.7L will chew through the juice.

I'm supposed to be doing a test drive tomorrow but the missus has put her foot down and told me she definitely won't drive a Hummer and in fact would rather drive a Defender (my cunning plan is working.....)