Entertaining column by James May [Archive] - Australian Land Rover Owners

View Full Version : Entertaining column by James May

wally

13th March 2009, 10:45 PM

James May on saving the Land Rover Defender - BBC Top Gear (http://www.topgear.com/uk/james-may/james-may-saving-the-defender-2004-01-01)

spudboy

14th March 2009, 03:05 PM

I think he quite liked driving it, despite all the -ve things he brought up :p

Phoenix

17th March 2009, 09:43 AM

Thats a good article if I do say so myself!

eksjay

17th March 2009, 12:29 PM

Do you want to be entertained? Read Bill Mckinnon's review on the NRMA motoring website....

Land Rover Defender 1000km Road Test - NRMA Motoring & Services (http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/land_rover_defender_road_test.htm)

Make your own conclusions ... don't be biased...

Barefoot Dave

17th March 2009, 12:52 PM

I see no negatives in Bill McKinnons piece at all.
" Agricultural, hard (solid) interior, manual (light/ cheap) mirrors etc."

Yes, definately no remission for moi!
; ))

spudboy

17th March 2009, 04:24 PM

solmanic

17th March 2009, 05:18 PM

I think every review of a Defender needs to be prefaced with a declaration that the reviewer is either pro-Defender or anti-Defender. There is NO in between. Every review I read is usually coloured by the reviewer's pre-defined attitude towards them. Consequently they are either overly harsh and miss the point of the vehicle, invariably comparing it to a Prado or some-such nonsense, or laced with blind devotion that means many honest criticisms are left out even if the test car ends up cutting the reviewer's leg off.

For example...

Declaration: The reviewer is a multiple Defender owner and therefore the opinions expressed here are not necessarily related to real world:

Review: I loved the new Defender. The view from the driving seat makes me feel like a God, I can drive it through the depths of hell without any sense of fear, it is nuclear bombproof and galactically handsome, I love it and want to marry it and have little human/defender half breed kids and it is the best 4x4 bar none and Toyota and Nissan should just shut up shop and give up building soft, half-baked puddings and calling them off-road vehicles...blah blah blah...

OR

Declaration: The reviewer is anti-Defender and anti Land Rover, and quite probably anti-4WDs and the opinions expressed here are not necessarily based on the current Defender or in fact any Defender but a fictional image of the Defender that exists only in the reviewer's mind:

Review: I hated the new Defender. It ripped my trousers when I got in, my leg had to be amputated from loss of circulation and I now have tinitis from driving it more than 20 minutes. The ergonimics are from the 1940s, the steering wheel is carved from granite and feels like turning a lump of 4x2 inside a cement mixer. The air conditioning has given me legionella, I caught gout from getting in and out and any company producing this kind of archaic machinery in the 21st century should be blown up. Unlike my Prado/Pajero/Audi/BMW which...blah blah blah...

one_iota

17th March 2009, 08:03 PM

It's interesting to compare the two reviews.

One touches the heart and the other professes a scientific approach given that the article is written to advise the members.

The former is closer to the mark. The latter in its delivery of facts is flawed:

For example: The Defender does not come standard with a snorkel.

The average punter has been led astray...Bad journalism.

James at least asks you to keep an open mind because there could be something happening.

Am I going to trade mine in on a Prado because he said so....

big guy

17th March 2009, 08:47 PM

I think they are right on the money.

They are exactly that and only appeal to a minority.
People that buy them love them, wouldn't drive anything else just because of what was said.
I drove the new one only a few weeks ago, I love my Landies but that thing is serious.
It's not my sort of car but can see the appeal.

For motoring writers who drive modern cars and little appreciation for classics will never get it.

I am not even sure if I get it.

Huwmungus

17th March 2009, 09:05 PM

seano87

17th March 2009, 09:20 PM

From the Land Rover Defender 1000km Road Test - NRMA Motoring & Services (http://www.mynrma.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/mynrma/hs.xsl/land_rover_defender_road_test.htm) article,

"Rear seat space and comfort are markedly superior to the front seats. The 60/40 split bench is contoured for three individual occupants; three kids will easily fit but at only 126mm across it's a bit tight for three adults."

A bit tight?? :o:angel:

eksjay

18th March 2009, 07:51 AM

McKinnon's other reviews in various publications gives me the impression that he is a Toyota-file. At least that is what I pick up. It is always the .... not as good as the Japanese car makers mantra....yawn.

Always complains about fussy dashes, switch gear being in the wrong place, cheap plastics, dated designs and mechanicals etc etc... I am actually surprised he hasn't rubbished the Deefer in this review.

Is he a true off road enthusiast? Methinks not... The idea that exposed metal from a broken plastic lever handle is "painfully digging" into his knee gives me the impression that he is more at home admiring his parked Lexus 4WD from the comfort of an al fresco coffee shop seat while sipping his latte. Does not give me the impression he is a Malcolm Douglas type who wouldn't notice it was there anyway...However, at least such a comment would warn similar types against buying a Deefer that would in any event be totally unsuitable for parking in front of coffee shop. Not that there is anything wrong with coffee beans!

as0l0

18th March 2009, 02:46 PM

a test drive in the Land Rover will also expose its many deficiencies and compromises in the context of 21st century 4WD standards
for me this is the important line. our defenders don't fit in this world, but it's not the defender that's deficient, it's the 21st century that requires improvement ;)