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View Full Version : What does your better half think of Defenders?



eksjay
23rd January 2009, 02:59 PM
The $64 million dollar question.... I have read some interesting threads about us mortal men convincing our keepers of the purse strings to buy Deefers. How easy a sell was it for you???

Coming from a shorter wheelbase Jeep Cherokee, my rear passengers don't fare too well, particularly those with a predisposition for car or motion sickness...:eek: I have spent a bit of money propping up the rear suspension but in the end, the rear seat passengers are sitting on an axle.

My missus sometimes sits behind me with the 'little mista' :twisted: who is in his child safety seat to keep him company, particularly when he gets unsettled and she gets shaken up a bit by the ride.

Now the Chekka 4.0L I6 engine is much quieter than any TD I would imagine so there is another thing that would go against buying a deefer. I don't want a Disco or Rangie.

Does the Deefer ride like a bus? Do your passengers suffer from Motion sickness riding much higher than an average car?

Interested to know from your experiences....

Reads90
23rd January 2009, 03:28 PM
well my wife loves them

She sold her new freelander for the 90 we have , She designed it and wanted it in Monte Carlo blue with black soft top roof (And as i had a winch challenge 90 that was a money pit i could not refuse:)). It was her car and daily driver while we lived in the uk and she wanted/ demanded we bought it to Aus .

When we got settled here we bought her a disco for going to and from work and leaving at the train station (i have a company car ). My wife never liked it and every time i showed her a newer disco she would make every excuse , not to buy it. My mum came here on holiday and sue had to take the 90 to work for a week and kept on telling me how happy she was to have a real car back and how much she had missed driving her little 90 again

Then i showed her a 110 and 2 days later we owned it . She wanted it as soon as she saw it. She loves it alot better than the disco , although she does say it is like driving the 90's older brother who has a fat ****:)

My wife prefers drivng the 110 with our 5 month old son josh as she can see him alot better than in any other car (from the front seat) . Also josh has a better veiw around while driving. Sue also says the visablity whilst driving is alot better too.

p38arover
23rd January 2009, 03:34 PM
Not much!

And she thinks my P38A is a truck.

BilboBoggles
23rd January 2009, 03:36 PM
My wife has a PUMA and I have the TD5 now. Both fitted out with three child seats each. Wife once did a panel beating course to learn how to make door skins, and has hand made and rolled two perfect skins for one of our s2a's. ;-) We have about 10 Lr's at home.

:D

kenleyfred
23rd January 2009, 03:36 PM
It's no secret that my wife wasn't keen. Had to find the extra $20 grand for the SVX.
However now she loves it. Any gripes would not be for your reasons. The kids love the visibility out the vehicle
Winges can occur on parking the beast or occasionaly on trying to climb into it. Shorter people do have to climb up into it.
It is very easy to drive and also very quiet inside. That might be all the carpet in the SVX though.

It has not been an issue for us but some height restrictions at parking lots could be an issue.

Our family would say go for it.

Cheers
Kenley

Psimpson7
23rd January 2009, 03:40 PM
Sam loves using my 90.... in fact probably more than I do!

She'd use it every day if she got the chance!

Reads90
23rd January 2009, 03:40 PM
It's no secret that my wife wasn't keen. Had to find the extra $20 grand for the SVX.
However now she loves it. Any gripes would not be for your reasons. The kids love the visibility out the vehicle
Winges can occur on parking the beast or occasionaly on trying to climb into it. Shorter people do have to climb up into it.
It is very easy to drive and also very quiet inside. That might be all the carpet in the SVX though.

It has not been an issue for us but some height restrictions at parking lots could be an issue.

Our family would say go for it.

Cheers
Kenley

Oh all the years of owning land rovers i never realised (untill now i have a family) How great the defenders are for familys and all the crap you carry with you and how much kids love them

Ali

Cameron_Def
23rd January 2009, 03:47 PM
Mine calls it the "Crapmobile" no idea.. she enjoys giving me **** about most things in life, so I think deep down she likes it ..

She lets me do what ever to it and with it, so she must love me somewhere, and to love me she must love the "Crapmobile" :)

Reads90
23rd January 2009, 03:51 PM
Mine calls it the "Crapmobile" no idea.. she enjoys giving me **** about most things in life, so I think deep down she likes it ..




But is that not a wife's job :D:D

kenleyfred
23rd January 2009, 04:00 PM
It's hard for me to do it because the kids love the back seats, but I would love to remove the 2 rear seats.
It turns what is actually a cavernous area into a small unusable area and not much better with the seats folded out the way.

Kenley

eksjay
23rd January 2009, 04:09 PM
Thats just it, the Deefer is cavernous. Maybe that is a selling point? The wife and I can both take even more things with us when we go away ... including the kitchen sink ;)

Bundalene
23rd January 2009, 04:19 PM
I love our Defender. :D:D It's our 4th one(i think) and we had Series Landies before the Defenders came out. Only issue we had was when our children were teenagers and they still wanted to come on trips with us, the rear seats didn't allow much leg room. They were a bit cramped, as they were both pretty tall. However, we survived and both our adult children now own Defenders - or at least one has a Defender and the other a County - so the crampiness obviously didn't deter their choice of a 4WD.

My one and only issue with the Defender is parking at shopping centre car parks - the Disco is easier. However, I can handle that if I choose my car space carefully.

When Erich and I go away on long trips, we take the rear double seat out and put our Trailblaza fridge in its place...easy access from the passengers seat for a cold lemonade;). The rest of the rear space has heaps of room for other camping necessities.

Yep. Love our Defender

Mrs B

clean32
23rd January 2009, 04:42 PM
We have a Ford falcon SW, Honda civic, Ford Ranger, and the county. Out of all of them its the County that the little one heads for (2 1/2 years) the civic is to low so he cant see so much, the falcon floats no sensation for him, the ranger just bounces all over that place. logic would say that on family trips either the ranger or falcon would be much better vehicles to take but we don’t, I think the ruggedness of the county is what its all about plus the places she will take you, but even the highway trips we will do in the county, nicer ride balanced of by more noise, brilliant visibility, shoulder up against the B pillar, right nee wedged into the door, left leg pushed against the hand break, means you are not knocked about as much as the ranger. the Boy just loves it, he plays on it, in it, under it, he drives it, jumps up and down on it etc, nope we are very pleased with the county and pleased we changed from the disco.
It was the wife who spotted the county ( big wheels)
It was the wife who suggested we buy it.
It’s the wife who drives it more than me. She likes the planed driving, I have her doubling the clutch, the slow gear changes. I think driving the county removes much stress from life.

sounds strange, maybe its a bit hard to fined the words.
we she really wants a 90 now

dmdigital
23rd January 2009, 04:44 PM
My wife has the Puma as a daily drive. She still misses the D2 but thinks even my Tdi is better than the Land Cruisers she has to drive at work. No problem with getting the Puma, the only thing she wanted was side steps.

Bushie
23rd January 2009, 05:16 PM
When I was thinking of changing from the Rangie, but was having trouble finding a second hand Defender, Amanda enlisted the help of one of my mates to talk me into getting a new Defender. - She like them.

Martyn

MacFamily
23rd January 2009, 05:20 PM
What does your better half think of Defenders? She loves it...

It is her daily driver, the only time I get to drive it is saturdays when we take the girls to swimming lessons.

We had a 75 series ute before the defender and when we found out we were having another child we had to sell the ute :(.But she didnt want anything that looked city eg..nissans, 100 series ect.

She also dosent like the look of the disco's (no offence to the disco drivers) even when I said we would trade the excel in for a disco to go with the defender she said that I still could not have the defender :(.

So I may have to buy another defender for me :D, if only I could afford a TD5 90 or a Isuzu county.Theres a red county around the corner from me wonder if he will see it too me :D:D:D

PAT303
23rd January 2009, 05:48 PM
My partner has come to terms with my deefer,she winges about the empty coffee cups in the passenger footwell,likewise my tools and all my shooting gear thats always in the back.We have done too many miles in it and she does like it,she won't admit it but she does,so do all my brothers and sisters kids,I can't keep them out of it and everyone that knows me knows my truck. Pat

solmanic
23rd January 2009, 05:54 PM
My wife actually persuaded me to buy the Defender!!!

Mind you, she had two previous Td5's to get used to and the Puma was just so much easier to drive so I sort of set her up. She enjoys the attention she gets from people when she's driving it.

George130
23rd January 2009, 07:23 PM
Wife loves it.
When she was driving it to work they called it the beast. One night when there was trouble and the cops offered to escort her home she just pointed at the 130 and said don't worry I will just run them over if they try:eek:.

She hates the $$$ I have poored into it though.

Blknight.aus
23rd January 2009, 07:42 PM
the wife tolerates it, shes been in series rovers enough apparently....

when she wants a car I do up a short list of cars that I will allow her to have (lots of things get considered not just "Is it a land rover?")

she goes and find example of anything in the short list and if its sound she can have it...

its led us to have a subaru WRX (main requirement "something a bit nippier and easier to park than a 109 SIII 2.25p") and a holden astra "something short enough to get into the underground carparks and light on fuel"

The ho har's
23rd January 2009, 08:02 PM
I think the ruggedness of the county is what its all about plus the places she will take you, but even the highway trips we will do in the county, nicer ride balanced of by more noise, brilliant visibility, shoulder up against the B pillar, right nee wedged into the door, left leg pushed against the hand break, means you are not knocked about as much.
It was the wife who spotted the county ( big wheels)
It was the wife who suggested we buy it.
It’s the wife who drives it more than me.

sounds strange, maybe its a bit hard to fined the words.
we she really wants a 90 now


Go girl.....maybe we can do a bulk import as I would really love one too:D


and the defender is the best truck........gotta love it:D


Mrs ho har:angel:

ellard
23rd January 2009, 08:06 PM
The $64 million dollar question.... I have read some interesting threads about us mortal men convincing our keepers of the purse strings to buy Deefers. How easy a sell was it for you???


Well its simple - I drive the defender and she drives the Landcruiser........

But when theres work to be done, the defender is in the paddock/scrub and the cruiser with the carpet interior is parked in the shed....

All the best

Wayne

big guy
23rd January 2009, 08:08 PM
Simple

If I get one, I can move out.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Hmm-Tempting?

Reads90
23rd January 2009, 08:23 PM
Go girl.....maybe we can do a bulk import as I would really love one too:D


and the defender is the best truck........gotta love it:D


Mrs ho har:angel:

Well my wife already has a 90 , she just has to decided if to take the 90 or 110 . :D:D

taff
23rd January 2009, 08:56 PM
my missus also loves them.
initially she hated the idea of it, then first fell for the disco.
she now drives a 90 which she prefers to the disco, but has asked me numerous times if she can swop it for my county. i've said NO, so now where making a mini version of it with full external cage, uprated everything etc... and i now prefer it to the county :(

JohnR
23rd January 2009, 10:33 PM
Our Puma is my wifes daily driver with 3 little kids in the back. She loves it and was really p*ssed when the SVX was anounced. I had to talk her out of going in and buying one!

I only get to drive it on the weekends.:(

We had the kiddie seat out last weekend and I had adults in the back for the first time. They had plenty on room and said the view was great from back there.

Go for it she'll love it!:D

Cheers,

d@rk51d3
23rd January 2009, 11:06 PM
Simple

If I get one, I can move out.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Hmm-Tempting?


Yep.

That about sums up my situation too.:(


She wants a P38, but I'm reluctant to pay good money for a V8 that's at the end of its life.

Diesel Disco, I could accept. She has other plans though, and it doesn't involve a Defender.

I guess I better get the 2a up and running soon. It's as close to a defender as I'm gonna get.

Sprint
23rd January 2009, 11:37 PM
kinda simple for me..... i'm single :-(

yes, i know, i have no S/O to persuade so i can have a 2nd car, wether it be another GQ patrol (sorry, i loved the one i had, even tho it was only a short while) or a more serious toy (to join my falcon, a toy that is relegated to daily driver status till i can find another GQ ST ute)......

unfortunately, i have a rather MILFy bank manager type lady who says i dont earn enough to support another vehicle in the garage till i've paid off my falcon

spudfan
24th January 2009, 02:24 AM
My wife learned how to drive in a Defender 110 and passed her driving test in it first time out.After driving the Tdi for 12 years we now have a Puma TDCI.Wife loves it and finds it strange going back to the Tdi.My wife has never driven any car other than the 110 Tdi or the 110 Tdci Puma.So when people used to ask her whether driving a Defender 110 was a hand full she'd say no as she had never driven anything else.The heavy Tdi clutch never bothered her as it was all she ever used.She can park a 110 better than other people park smaller cars.Depends on what you are used to.You could say I have a very understanding wife!

ashman
24th January 2009, 09:18 AM
My wife is only 5" tall and she has no troubles driving the 130 dual cab TD5, she has loved it from day one, we have owned Land Cruisers, Hi Luxs but she likes the Defender best, I don't get to drive it much as I can't get it off her, it has lots of room on the back for all our camping gear as well it tows the trailer with the dirt bikes on and still has heapes of power for the hills, its also very comfortable to drive and has plenty of room inside, only problem it is a bit hard to park sometimes but you get used to that...

So go for it, you won't be disapointed...

Ashley

2_door
24th January 2009, 10:44 AM
Hi guys and gals

I saw this thread (first time in the deefer section :angel:) and it was exactly the reason why I came in here.

I have a couple of options coming up and one is the choice of a defender. The only issue will be convincing SWMBO and our 4 year old who will declare the back seat hers and no one else (full of toys/teddy bears and biscuit crumbs).

It will have to double as a DD for her and a weekend escape machine towing a camper trailer and all our rubbish for a weekend away.

This thread makes reference to Puma, sorry for the dumb question but what is it. Is it like the tomb raider thing, just a dressed up version or something else.

I am glad to hear that other halfs love their defenders, gives me some positive vibes and once we go out and start looking at them, maybe one will end up in our driveway.

cheers

slug_burner
24th January 2009, 10:57 AM
Puma is a reference to the Ford transit (based) deisel engine used in the 2007 and later defenders.

Kids love the idea of riding in the truck, wives however is a different thing. Probably comes down to a few things. If they don't mind driving a manual it is a start. Confidence in driving something bigger than a mini. Then there is the passenger footwell and the a/c at least with the 300Tdi, I don't know what the foot space is like in a Td5 or the Puma. Then again there are some wives that can see beyond all that and appreciate the space to carry all the things that you need when you go out with kids.

Chucaro
24th January 2009, 10:58 AM
Hi guys and gals

I saw this thread (first time in the deefer section :angel:) and it was exactly the reason why I came in here.

I have a couple of options coming up and one is the choice of a defender. The only issue will be convincing SWMBO and our 4 year old who will declare the back seat hers and no one else (full of toys/teddy bears and biscuit crumbs).

It will have to double as a DD for her and a weekend escape machine towing a camper trailer and all our rubbish for a weekend away.

This thread makes reference to Puma, sorry for the dumb question but what is it. Is it like the tomb raider thing, just a dressed up version or something else.

I am glad to hear that other halfs love their defenders, gives me some positive vibes and once we go out and start looking at them, maybe one will end up in our driveway.

cheers

Mark you are going to love a Defe, acres of room and heaps of character.
The most importat is that defenders have a SOUL :twisted:
I purchased one because since I sold my 109 Stage 1 I allways belive that was the vihicle that I like most.
If you cannot get a Defe shop for a County......beautyfull vehicle.

Happy hunting ;)

The ho har's
24th January 2009, 11:04 AM
Puma is a reference to the Ford transit (based) deisel engine used in the 2007 and later defenders.

Kids love the idea of riding in the truck, wives however is a different thing. Probably comes down to a few things. If they don't mind driving a manual it is a start. Confidence in driving something bigger than a mini. Then there is the passenger footwell and the a/c at least with the 300Tdi, I don't know what the foot space is like in a Td5 or the Puma. Then again there are some wives that can see beyond all that and appreciate the space to carry all the things that you need when you go out with kids.


The foot well and aircon is just the same in the Td5 as the 300tdi....I have no problems with the space.....after all you only got to put your feet in there......plenty of space elsewhere in the 130 to put gear:D Puma air con is up on the dash like a Disco:( which means no vents:o got to have vents:D


Mrs ho har:angel:

slug_burner
24th January 2009, 11:13 AM
The foot well and aircon is just the same in the Td5 as the 300tdi....I have no problems with the space.....after all you only got to put your feet in there......plenty of space elsewhere in the 130 to but gear:D Puma air con is up on the dash like a Disco:( which means no vents:o got to have vents:D


Mrs ho har:angel:

Thanks Mrs ho har,

I don't use the vents very much. For me other than a novelty and style continuity they don't serve much purpose.

The seating position in a defender is one with a greater bend in the knee than your typical sedan so the a/c doesn't interfere that much. However it does remove the option of streaching the legs into the foot well. My wife is 5'7" and has occasionaly mentioned the a/c thing.

dmdigital
24th January 2009, 11:14 AM
... Puma air con is up on the dash like a Disco:( which means no vents:o got to have vents:D...
Yes I do miss the vents in the Puma:(

But it really does have an effective heater and air-conditioning:) It's not that bad a compromise, but I'd still like vents, just don't know how you'd managed it with the new dash.

The ho har's
24th January 2009, 11:23 AM
Thanks Mrs ho har,

I don't use the vents very much. For me other than a novelty and style continuity they don't serve much purpose.


ahhh but you live in Melbourne:)


Yes I do miss the vents in the Puma:(




But it really does have an effective heater and air-conditioning:) It's not that bad a compromise, but I'd still like vents, just don't know how you'd managed it with the new dash.

we live in the north where it is continually hot so with vents open and windows down you don't need the air on:D


Mrs ho har:angel:

slug_burner
24th January 2009, 11:34 AM
The reason I don't use the vents is becuase I use the a/c.

It can't get that hot if you can get by with the vents and windows!

numpty
24th January 2009, 12:56 PM
My wife is only 5" tall and she has no troubles driving the 130 dual cab TD5, she has loved it from day one, we have owned Land Cruisers, Hi Luxs but she likes the Defender best, I don't get to drive it much as I can't get it off her, it has lots of room on the back for all our camping gear as well it tows the trailer with the dirt bikes on and still has heapes of power for the hills, its also very comfortable to drive and has plenty of room inside, only problem it is a bit hard to park sometimes but you get used to that...

So go for it, you won't be disapointed...

Ashley

Now that's short.:eek:

numpty
24th January 2009, 12:59 PM
After 20 years of owning and driving a Stage 1, there was only ever going to be a Defender to replace it. The Td5 is her daily driver and if I behave myself, I'm allowed to drive it when I come home.

Pat has never had an issue with either.

p38arover
24th January 2009, 01:07 PM
After 20 years of owning and driving a Stage 1, there was only ever going to be a Defender to replace it. The Td5 is her daily driver and if I behave myself, I'm allowed to drive it when I come home.

Pat has never had an issue with either.

I took Elisabeth to look at a SIII that was in a car yard on Parramatta Rd. She drove it 30 yards, stopped in the middle of the road and left it there. She never did drive the County.

foz.in.oz
24th January 2009, 01:19 PM
When I met the significant other I had a series III, she came along a few times and all she did was complain that it had no air con and was too noisy. Excellent excuse to buy a td5 then!

So now I have a td5. She still moans though! But that's ok, I get to play in it when ever I want and do to it what ever I want. I love it.

JDNSW
24th January 2009, 01:33 PM
My late wife was quite happy to drive either the 110 or the 2a, although the lack of power steering made her give up the 2a in the last year or so of her life.

John

rick130
24th January 2009, 02:47 PM
Oh dear, we have the Patrol vs Defender wars in our household :twisted:

I reckon the Defender is in front as our fine arbiter of taste, style and character, our Golden Lab Dana always goes to the Defender first, as does her friend Poe who we often dog sit. Riding in the tray of a GU ute is tolerable, (they evn get a cushy mattress for this) but riding in the back seat of a Defender Crew Cab is the epitome of style in the doggy world, and who am I to argue. :D

As for ventilation, well, there is acquiescence from SWMBO that the Defender kills the Patrol on that front. We tend to drive around ATM with the vents wide open. The Nissan is a shocker on ventilation only. The air flow is minuscule and it superheats coming through the plenum so it's always hot :mad:
The Patrol air con needs using even in the mildest of weather.

Ms 5'4,3/4" loves taking the mickey out of the Defender (or is it really the driver ;)) especially when Land Rover drivers are waving to each other. She reckons it's a special code to acknowledge there is help available (mental as well as physical) for when we break down.

George130
24th January 2009, 05:39 PM
Well my wife already has a 90 , she just has to decided if to take the 90 or 110 . :D:D

Your wifes 90 in purple would be my wifes perfect car:)

rick130
24th January 2009, 06:34 PM
O
<snip>

Aircon in footwell is crap. Actually the aircon is crap fullstop. No way is it good enough for Australian conditions. And the whole shebang being in the footwell makes it difficult for me, as a passenger to cross my legs. If you sit perfectly still its fine, but if you want to move your legs...forget it :mad: ...and I'm only a shortarse :D

I've often wondered if it's viable to retro fit the UK air conditioning.

dullbird
24th January 2009, 07:06 PM
I've often wondered if it's viable to retro fit the UK air conditioning.

UK and air conditioning in the same sentence thats funny :lol2:

Nera Donna
25th January 2009, 09:31 AM
After taking a new Fender for run in Feb 08, she was happy with it. Put the dollars down on the SVX. Picked up the new beast late Oct 08. The better half didn't drive it because she had a knee op the same month and couldnt drive. I went back to work mid Oct. She finaly took it for a spin in Jan, got an E-mail saying "Sell it!". She's only driven it the one time, love the seats etc, just cant seem to handle it? Strange after a series III and two patrols you'd reckon it'd be a brease. On my way home now after my stint. I ant selling and she ant happy. Well see?????:nazilock:

djam1
25th January 2009, 09:41 AM
My wife happily drove the old G60 Patrols happily drove the Rangie.
BUT complains every time we travel in the Series the daughter almost refused to travel in it after the recent trip to Broome.
However when scaling large cliffs and sandy beaches they both proclaim that its the best car ?? go figure

87County
25th January 2009, 09:43 AM
as everyone knows, the county has a limo-like ride and is appreciated by swmbo (at least I assume it is:)), at least I've never heard any complaints..... it does have a 4BD1 though...

rick130
25th January 2009, 03:36 PM
UK and air conditioning in the same sentence thats funny :lol2:

So is the Oz spec version actually better ?? :eek:
geez, the UK version must be bad....

pawl
25th January 2009, 04:34 PM
Simple

If I get one, I can move out.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Hmm-Tempting?

Yep, same for me too......only she elaborated a bit more on the I can move out bit:eek::eek::eek:.

vnx205
25th January 2009, 04:45 PM
My wife thinks the Defender is the epitome of luxury.

That is possibly because it has air conditioning and in a traytop cab it is quite capable of lowering the temperature way below what is comfortable.

It might be because being a traytop, it carries our Trayon camper so she no longer has to sleep on the ground with all the snakes, crocodiles and other nasties.

Perhaps it is because the handle Land Rover thoughtfully put on the dash just inside the passenger door enables her to get in and out quite easily in spite of being 62 years old and 5' 1/2" or 153cm tall.

Or it might be because of the 23 years and couple of hundred thousand kilometres she spent as a passenger in our Series III.

In all that time our Series III always took us wherever we wanted to go and always got there. So she just assumes the Defender will do the same.

The question of her driving it doesn't arise. She simply refuses even to attempt to drive any car except our sedan. She drives our manual 1988 Camry without any worries, but says she couldn't possibly drive our son's manual 1990 Corolla "because it is different".

I'm sure she knows there are quieter, more comfortable vehicles out there, but she isn't interested in them. She accepts that when it comes to getting to some of the beautiful parts of Australia we have seen over the years, the Land Rover makes more sense because it was made to do just that sort of thing.

The ho har's
25th January 2009, 05:02 PM
My wife thinks the Defender is the epitome of luxury.

That is possibly because it has air conditioning and in a traytop cab it is quite capable of lowering the temperature way below what is comfortable.

It might be because being a traytop, it carries our Trayon camper so she no longer has to sleep on the ground with all the snakes, crocodiles and other nasties.

Perhaps it is because the handle Land Rover thoughtfully put on the dash just inside the passenger door enables her to get in and out quite easily in spite of being 62 years old and 5' 1/2" or 153cm tall.

Or it might be because of the 23 years and couple of hundred thousand kilometres she spent as a passenger in our Series III.

In all that time our Series III always took us wherever we wanted to go and always got there. So she just assumes the Defender will do the same.

<snip>

I'm sure she knows there are quieter, more comfortable vehicles out there, but she isn't interested in them. She accepts that when it comes to getting to some of the beautiful parts of Australia we have seen over the years, the Land Rover makes more sense because it was made to do just that sort of thing.


AMEN


Mrs ho har:angel:

though I am not in the 60's yet:D

vnx205
25th January 2009, 05:38 PM
AMEN


Mrs ho har:angel:

though I am not in the 60's yet:D

Keep working on it. You'll get there - eventually. :p

dmdigital
25th January 2009, 05:48 PM
How did you get by without the demand for side steps:confused: My wife is 3/4" taller than yours and that was the one demand when we bought the Puma: It must have side steps or we are not getting it!

I have so far managed to resist on the Tdi :)

vnx205
25th January 2009, 06:21 PM
How did you get by without the demand for side steps:confused: My wife is 3/4" taller than yours and that was the one demand when we bought the Puma: It must have side steps or we are not getting it!

I have so far managed to resist on the Tdi :)


I'm not sure.

It might have been the 23 years of practising getting in and out of the Series III.

I think I might have hinted on the one occasion when they were tentatively suggested, that they are prone to damage in rocky terrain.

I am also fairly sure she is proud of the fact that she is still able to get in and out without the steps that some old :p people need.

rovers4
25th January 2009, 09:08 PM
Yes, problems. But more benefits where it counts.
Easy to reverse park, good tower, plenty of storage, capable, easy access, (but has steps), good seating as standard, economic, good front seat visibility, good mirrors.

Noisy, dusty, too high up for the dog to jump in (not a jumper), little foot room, upright in back seat, limited rear seat visibility. No good for multistorey parking -antennas/rack.

Rovers 4 AND Co.

p38arover
25th January 2009, 11:56 PM
How did you get by without the demand for side steps:confused: My wife is 3/4" taller than yours and that was the one demand when we bought the Puma: It must have side steps or we are not getting it!

That's why I still have the air suspension working on the Rangie.

kenleyfred
26th January 2009, 07:03 AM
Very cranky. Today is the lat day of school holidays . Happy Australia Day to everyone by the way. My wife has been using my ute for work over the last several weeks and I have had exclusive use of the Defender, but tomorrow I am back to work and will be in the ute. She is delighted to be getting the truck (as she calls it) back for her daily drive.
Kenley

Darwin Dan
26th January 2009, 08:14 AM
If it was not for my wife i would have sold my 130 4 weeks after i bought it, i bought it with a open mind to the problems (You only hear about problems from people that know no better) with in 3months of owning it i had spent about 7kfixing it due to its previous life. But all that said My wife kept me motivated , she wanted to keep it as its a Tough truck and it takes her where she wants to go ( Pro Photographer). She sold the Grand vitara to keep the defender..... She loves the 130 and so do i

Darwin Dan

Bushie
26th January 2009, 08:30 AM
I took Elisabeth to look at a SIII that was in a car yard on Parramatta Rd. She drove it 30 yards, stopped in the middle of the road and left it there. She never did drive the County.


Ron, you need to teach her how to change gears. :D:D


Martyn

one_iota
29th January 2009, 03:39 PM
The fact that mine waves to other Defenders when she is driving it probably says a lot despite her giving me a hard time about being slightly obsessive about Land Rovers.

abaddonxi
29th January 2009, 03:41 PM
The fact that mine waves to other Defenders when she is driving it probably says a lot despite her giving me a hard time about being slightly obsessive about Land Rovers.

x2

And that she grew up in Land Rovers, so been driving around in them for longer than I have.

p38arover
8th February 2009, 07:46 AM
Ron, you need to teach her how to change gears. :D:D


Martyn

It was an SIII - all synchro. No she thought it was a tank. She thinks the same about the P38A.

LoveMyV8County
16th February 2009, 12:13 AM
Am I the only one on this forum whose wife does NOT like the Landy? "The clutch is too heavy", "it is too noisy and slow", and the aircon in the footwell is not only intrusive on leg room but prevents the passenger window from being wound up and down.

She is not interested in going on any 4WD track unless the destination is worth the ordeal.

Kids love it to pieces though, as do their friends.

LRO
16th February 2009, 10:36 PM
My wife does not have her licence(37 years old). Her father did not get his licence until he was 40+ years, now close to 60. her two sisters do not have thier lience. so does not have much of a say in what car we get, (love the county)

Tombie
16th February 2009, 11:05 PM
I've had 2 defender based conversations with my wife...

Years ago the first one went like this...

"Honey, I've just purchased a Tomb Raider Defender. I'm going to sell the Disco."

Response..."Cool - I love Defenders, I hate the Discovery"




Then last year....

"Honey, I just sold Lara and bought the Disco 2 from the old man"

Response... "You did WHAT? You <expletive> <expletive> <expletive>"



So yes, they do like defenders... :cool:

rick130
17th February 2009, 08:39 AM
I've had 2 defender based conversations with my wife...

Years ago the first one went like this...

"Honey, I've just purchased a Tomb Raider Defender. I'm going to sell the Disco."

Response..."Cool - I love Defenders, I hate the Discovery"




Then last year....

"Honey, I just sold Lara and bought the Disco 2 from the old man"

Response... "You did WHAT? You <expletive> <expletive> <expletive>"



So yes, they do like defenders... :cool:

ROTFLMAO :lol2:

clean32
17th February 2009, 05:57 PM
I just took (read hidden) the keys, she was getting to like driving the county a bit much (read aggressive) In im bigger than you get out of my way sort of thing.

45tr0
17th February 2009, 06:41 PM
My fiancee is begging me to buy a defender 90... :D

She's had one driving lesson in the Series III and has decided that "we need a smaller one, that will be easier to learn in. You know, those short ones in your LRO magazines.... Get me one of them"...

Who am i to argue??

beforethevision
17th February 2009, 08:30 PM
My gf wont drive the freelander as it needs encouragement to get to speed and "handles poorly". Yet loves the idea of a defender?!?

Even more so, she encourages the idea i have of building a 1uz powered ute! And wants to help!

Cheers!

Trout
17th February 2009, 08:46 PM
My other half loves our tdi 110 and drives it every day. Most surprising is that my in laws just bought the new puma defender and she had a decent drive in it. The verdict was ....yes its quiet and has no rattles ....but she does not like it as it does not have the proper defender vents, visability is not as good cause of the new dash so she feels claustrophobic in it and the seats arn't as comfortable as the old one. She is happy to stay with our Tdi :eek:

I did overhear her trying to convince her mother that she has to wave to other defenders otherwise they will be talking about her on the AULRO :D

CraigE
17th February 2009, 09:23 PM
My wife actually picked ours. We were looking at the Fender and 2 D2s at the time. She loves the real 4x4 look of the Fender and has no dramas driving it, but would love one in an auto. It of course was a compromise for the room. The D2 auto would have been a far more sane choice with its comfort level. But hey we have got it and will have it for some time. The kids love it as well.
The seating position in the rear is great for kids, not so good for adults. The seating position has actually eliminated my boys motion sickness as he can see easily. He would get motion sick in the RR Classic and the Commodore. Having said that he does not often get motion sick in the Statesman, which has a bit to do with all the extra room I think.

juddy
18th February 2009, 09:14 AM
She loves it, but would have prefered a 110SW...

Searover
18th February 2009, 10:34 AM
Am I the only one on this forum whose wife does NOT like the Landy? "The clutch is too heavy", "it is too noisy and slow", and the aircon in the footwell is not only intrusive on leg room but prevents the passenger window from being wound up and down.

She is not interested in going on any 4WD track unless the destination is worth the ordeal.

Kids love it to pieces though, as do their friends.


No your not an orphan, my wifey dislikes the fender as well, will not drive it, prefered the toymota troopy:mad:. But thats fine with me, now only have to chuck the swag in the back when camping and theres always plenty of room in the engel for food and beer:D

Mudnut
20th February 2009, 10:48 AM
She will ride in it reluctantly, (might be all the rubbish inside, and unwashed outside) but does not like driving it. In the three years I have owned it, she has driven it twice. Once to just park across the road. On this occasion, she complained she couldn't get it into 2nd gear. She claimed it was broken, and left it in gear to show me how it wouldn't go into 2nd. When I got in, and started it up, I found the car was in 5th, and wouldn't go into Reverse from there. :o Only a Diesel would start from a stop in 5th, and do a U turn in the street. She just likes to put the car in D, and go. My son, and his mates love the Defender, and complain when I pick them up from school, in the BMW X5. Where is the cool car??

Cheers,
Ken

vnx205
20th February 2009, 05:28 PM
She will ride in it reluctantly, (might be all the rubbish inside, and unwashed outside) but does not like driving it. In the three years I have owned it, she has driven it twice. Once to just park across the road. On this occasion, she complained she couldn't get it into 2nd gear. She claimed it was broken, and left it in gear to show me how it wouldn't go into 2nd. When I got in, and started it up, I found the car was in 5th, and wouldn't go into Reverse from there. :o Only a Diesel would start from a stop in 5th, and do a U turn in the street. She just likes to put the car in D, and go. My son, and his mates love the Defender, and complain when I pick them up from school, in the BMW X5. Where is the cool car??

Cheers,
Ken
I'm not so sure. It might be a generic Land Rover feature. :)

I was once given a lift by an old farmer in a 4 cyl petrol Series II.

His technique for changing down to second was to wait until the engine was almost stalling in third and then slowly move the gear lever back, across and back into second.

That seemed to work OK for him.

Then on one occasion as the engine was close to idle speed in third, he moved the gear lever back into neutral and back again without going across the gate.

I swear I could count the number of times the pistons went up and down while he gradually picked up speed in fourth, then changed into third, picked up a bit more speed and changed up into fourth.

There was never any indication from the Land Rover that it considered there was anything inappropriate about his technique.

Still, I have to admit that was only fourth gear. Your better half managed it in fifth. :p

lil-landy
21st February 2009, 02:19 AM
Well, my parents hate it. My sister hates it. My sisters friends hate it.

I love it. My friends love it. And the girly girls in the back never seem to mind either :firedevil:

Now, if theres any other vehicle that stops you having to give your family rides around, but encourages your friends to spend time with you, I'll....still keep my deepender

ATH
23rd February 2009, 12:55 PM
My dearly beloved (the cook) loves our Defender but won't drive it as she says I'm an (read un-printable) passenger!:o
Now it's for sale she hates me for that as well.
Can't win them all I suppose but come to think about it I can't remember when I did win one.:(
Alan.

Rudolf
27th May 2009, 04:11 AM
Thats why I drive a D2 TD5.
The new Defender could be in the running though.:twisted:

Scallops
27th May 2009, 08:04 AM
Kat loves our Defender - and now that she feels confident driving it, I can't get the keys out of her grasp. :mad:

I also think she likes all the admiring glances she gets from blokes driving tricked up Jap rigs. :D

Reads90
27th May 2009, 08:47 AM
Kat loves our Defender - and now that she feels confident driving it, I can't get the keys out of her grasp. :mad:

I also think she likes all the admiring glances she gets from blokes driving tricked up Jap rigs. :D

Must admit that, that is the same with my misses and she laughs at the doube takes they do when they see her driving.

Also my 9 month old son loves the 110 and 90 and is Quite and loves looking out of the windows but hates the Falcon and makes noise as soon as you put him in the car

Shonky
27th May 2009, 10:13 AM
Now that's short.:eek:


Adriana is only 5'1"! :o


She doesn't mind what I spend my own money on (including Landies) but I haven't really had need to pitch the idea of us getting a Defender.

We have a Falcon for around town which serves us amicably. ;)

I am slowly working on her for when the time comes - I have her convinced about Discos, and Muddymech and I gave her a good sales pitch while she checked out his Puma! :lol2:

If I can convince her to like the (newer, posher) Puma, I might be able to work my way back to a 300Tdi, or a 110 Isuzu! :D

scott oz
27th May 2009, 12:45 PM
Mine just hates any vehicle that I purchased.:(

Took her to buy a Ford Ghia she hated if for four years. Then got a Holden and she sung the praises of the Ford. Yes and hated the Holden. I got a Disco 200TDI she hated it. Then we went to two cars. Now she just hates all cars.

Being a Manly supporter and she a Canterbury supporter. The 110 was having some work done on it and she started to say something and my response "Who Cares:D" (something like that)

wovenrovings
27th May 2009, 01:25 PM
For you information Eksjay, the rear seat geometry is different is counties, defenders and the latest puma version of the defender. I have found personally that the county was ok, the seat back was a bit up right, not to bad leg room. The defender had less legroom and you sit a little bit higher. The current defender looks like a refined version of the county. So may be the best of them all for the rear seats.

Reads90
27th May 2009, 02:02 PM
My wife is only 5.2 and she drives the 110 everywhere. Here is pic of her with HER car as she will tell you and my son in the back of the 110 with my brother


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/173.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/05/174.jpg

Mind you Just as well she has the 110 as she is expecting our second child in Nov so will need the extra space :)

stig0000
27th May 2009, 03:52 PM
mine wants a drive, :(:( cos she loves it,, when i told her i was thinking of selling it she was going to kill me, ,, but my defender is my other other half:D an i will never let anyone drive it, :D:wasntme:, I LOVE MY DEFENDER

rar110
27th May 2009, 07:42 PM
she doesn't quite hate it. she just hates to drive it, and would not ride in it if given a choice due to noise mainly but also because she gets soaked when ever it rains. But will tolerate it in order to go on a holiday. She thinks its a money pit and a great waste of money.

The kids love it, and even ask me to drive it into the backyard so they can play in it. Given a choice they will take the landy over mum's car any day.

The father in law can't understand why I don't sell it for a Prado.

Life wasn't meant to be easy. At least the kids understand.

pbroz
27th May 2009, 08:53 PM
This is a very good post idea...

My wife at first thought it was a tank and wasn't so keen. She still thinks it is a tank, but after looking at one of mates Prado's she appreciates simplicity that makes 110 appealing... did I mention that she still thinks it's a tank...:)

abaddonxi
27th May 2009, 09:15 PM
Same as everyone else. When they're working they're great, when they're not
:twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted:

juddy
28th May 2009, 07:14 AM
She loves him, and so much so shes getting a 110 Crewcab in exchange for the x-trail.

Allan
28th May 2009, 12:18 PM
My wife loves the thing. I was going to buy a D3 until she noticed the SVX being available in Australia. Now we share. Two days a week she drives the LR and i drive her Jaguar. Not a bad deal but i still rather the LR.

carjunkieanon
10th June 2009, 12:01 PM
My wife would love me to have one, because she knows how much I want one & she wants me to be happy.

That said, she's short, has never driven a manual and sees cars as s/t to get from A to B with as little hassle as possible.
I don't want to presume on her goodwill & inflict s/t difficult to drive on her...just means I'll have to get a PUMA one day :)

We're hoping to have a big family, so a Deefer as I keep reminding her is the only option to fit us all in.