Thread: TATA to build LR and Jaguar in China?????

A huge draw for me purchasing my new English made, and currently not working Defender; was LR had brought it into the 21st century.. just.
That most modern of things like air conditioning that works was as much a draw for me as a good engine and gear box combination. I wanted that old school capability with the most basic electrics. Currently that mix has not worked for me. Currently it the only vehicle to choose from in a twin cab.
I am glad it was made in England, but it probably would not mattered if it was China either, if all things are meant to be equal.
I think the way the would has gone to one country with the biggest population on the planet, who can make what the world consumes, while the rest of the world closes it's own facilities down, is just not a good thing. It's a modern profits focused thing.
It seems to me, people with passion and dreams bring good to others with what they do, not profits.
Profits seem to give the consumer what the seller tells them what they want, and hopefully it works.

I guess it was those profits that saw no relays and under sized wiring in the past.

Originally Posted by newhue

<snip>
I think the way the would has gone to one country with the biggest population on the planet, who can make what the world consumes, while the rest of the world closes it's own facilities down, is just not a good thing. It's a modern profits focused thing.
It seems to me, people with passion and dreams bring good to others with what they do, not profits.
Profits seem to give the consumer what the seller tells them what they want, and hopefully it works.

I guess it was those profits that saw no relays and under sized wiring in the past.

John Maynard Keynes once said, a country prospers when everyone is working.

I blame Paul Keating for a lot of the problems we have today, he floated our dollar, China did not float theirs - now our farmers and manufacturers can not sell their products. He sold our Commonwealth Bank, now it the is the first bank to push up it's rates, he removed tariffs while our competitors did not and now most of our manufacturing has gone off-shore.

My fat wiring 1980 Range Rover had two lights under the bonnet, when I traded it in on the small wiring 1985 model there was only one light under the bonnet even though the hole and connector were there. How much would a light like that cost $2? 10,000 X $2 = $20,000 - you can't tell me that wasn't profit driven.

My 2008 hilux had it's wiring wrapped in tape and instead of saddle clamps the loom was cabled tired to the chassis and when I picked it up from the dealer the rear lights didn't work.Lucas isn't dead,he moved to Thailand. Pat

Originally Posted by isuzurover

As much as I am a luddite when it comes to my landies, I have to agree with Serg on this one.

The standard wiring on a county:
- no relays for headlights
- critical fuse behind the dash etc...<The County/110 was in production when the Phase II Range Rover (classic shape without 1/4 windows in the front doors MY85) came into production. This was the first one to have relays and lots of fuses, but unfortunately thin wires and legacy turn/headlight switch. This was the obvious next change to the County and yes it happened in the Defender - This is the type of change I agree with!>

is ****e and is probably just as likely to leave you stranded as oil in the loom or a computer fault. <more likely delayed while jury-rigging, than stranded, if the computer fails you have no way or running the engine>

Although I love my 3.9Tdi 110 (from my cold dead hands etc.) - there are not enough to go around, and lots of people would prefer to buy a new vehicle rather than rebuild an old. <in the Defender line - why could they not just have continued it, then people could buy a new improved County instead of a Defender Puma?>

Buying a nanocom and fitting a salisbury rear is easier than a complete rebuild on a mid 80's county. <see above>

Most people these days are happier applying patches and sorting electronic issues than rebuilding an injector pump.

The fact is, EFI is needed to conform to emissions, so unless you are happy to rebuild an old landie, you better buy a nanocom and learn to troubleshoot modern systems. <Most Isuzu owners love their 4BD1's - the same can be said of Isuzu truck owners - when the L322 has a Pugeot/Ford engine why could Land Rover not continue with a new generation Isuzu Tdi?>

Comments in dark red

I was thinking today driving to work, when LR are made in China perhaps the closer we get to having whole cars written off under warranty. Scollops defender sure would have been a contender. Mine, the dash has been out twice, looking for a mystery electrical fault. Replaced just about all major electrical components that I am aware of. 4 weeks and still no light. That's on top of the transfer case coming out to replace a seal. Air conditioning has been fixed due to another seal. All fluids pressure tested, and IU've only done 1500klm. I can tell you I am ****ting bricks about the next 150 000klm

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Comments in dark red


<in the Defender line - why could they not just have continued it, then people could buy a new improved County instead of a Defender Puma?>

The county went from $22k in 1984 to $44k in 1988. Sales (especially of diesels) plummeted to nothing, and there was a 1-2 year gap where you couldn't buy a new 110.

I think we are lucky in AU that the 110 (and other models) was reintroduced at all!!!
I am sure the accountants would have had ample justification to kill off the isuzu version.

I agree with you largely - if the current 110 had an isuzu 4HE1T (or similar) and an isuzu 6-speed I would probably go out and buy one. But the rest of the world probably wouldn't. The latest generation of common rail isuzu engines have just as much electronics as a puma.

LR are struggling whether to replace the defender at all - given its very low sales volume. I doubt an AU-only 110 would be economically viable these days?

Maybe OKA should start building a small 4x4?

Originally Posted by isuzurover

The county went from $22k in 1984 to $44k in 1988....

I have wondered about the cost back then and how it equates to current day values.

Using Cost of Living Australia

$22,000 in 1984 is equivalent to $52,000 in 2008...about the cost of the current Defender

$44,000 in 1988 is equivalent to $77,000 in 2008 ....not many people would be prepared to pay this for a Defender.

Originally Posted by one_iota

I have wondered about the cost back then and how it equates to current day values.

Using Cost of Living Australia

$22,000 in 1984 is equivalent to $52,000 in 2008...about the cost of the current Defender

$44,000 in 1988 is equivalent to $77,000 in 2008 ....not many people would be prepared to pay this for a Defender.

Interesting.

The RRC also went from $33k in 1984 to $66k in 1988. 2nd hand 1984 rangies were selling for ~$45k in 1988, but 110s had depreciated slightly. Interesting how times have changed - 3.9 diesel 110s are $5-$15k, whereas mid 80's RRCs aren't worth much more than the petrol in the tank