They are aimed at another market,not the family touring market.As pat & many others continue to say,LR does not have a medium priced family touring wagon in it's range,which the D1/D2 was.
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Wait, then wait some more. Glue or tape your fourby together. Iveco massif should be released this year in RHD and that will solve most of your problems.
In 2012 the new defender may be coming out. Its also the year in which the mayan calendar ends, bringing doom and destruction. Coincidence? I dont think so.
Tombie is right, we like the geegaws and qualities but the more we engineer them in the more we engineer out the character of the basic rattle around 4wd
I did a 4wd tour in coffs harbour some time back and the tour company used an OKA, i was impressed, i thought it was great. If I was going to pack up and go around the country or do alot of outback travelling I would buy one in a flash. But I think to warrant having one you need to be able to use it as often as you can, as you need another vehicle because they arent practical as a daily driver.
Yep Pat I feel the dismay. The options are few, and none involving new.
It seems so bleedin obvious to listen to customers and improve on what you have, and make an excellent product.
Instead design engineers, marketing gurus, and ceo's all seem to know best. I don't believe customers get what they want because they asked for it, more so this is our latest crack at market share...do you like it?
I bought my Defender for it's simplicity, which is still not simple being a PUMA. If it stops I'm basically stuffed in more ways then the CEO will ever realise. But all I can do is forward all receipts to LRA for my families inconvenience and see how we go.
I do appreciate however that LR have somehow managed to dodge the ever tightening noose to comply with design rules to make it safer so people can be stupider.
But somewhere in all the concern of will it get me home again, or around Aus I find a bit of comfort in past technology. I image in the past with all newly released models people have been concerned about new gadgets that could hinder the vehicles reliability. For example old style points to electronic ignition. Fuel injection over carburettors.
It's seems to me there is a process of ironing out the short falls of the manufacturer within the warranty period, there after things should be mostly OK. It's modern manufacturing/business so it seems no matter how stupid it is.
Yes 19 inch rims are a real downer. It's because the brakes are so big isn't it? More power means bigger brakes to pull it up. Mike
I don't remember where I heard this, so I don't have any link to a source. In the 50s GM or Ford came up with a metal alloy used for chassis that didn’t last as long as previous ones. Shortening the life span of veichels and forcing the consumer to buy new ones. They got a price for their clever marketing tactic and were praised in the press.
No matter if what I wrote there was true or not I don't think it is too far from the truth. It can be applied on all things we buy in modern society. For example how many cell phones last longer than 2-3 years? You always should have the newest and most shiny gadget never mind if you have a real use for it or not *cough* iPad *cough*.
The consumer society based on the "needs" of American soccer mums will never last in the long run. It is an insane way to use the world's natural resources. The oil is not the only thing that wont last forever at the rate we are raping our planet.
I'm gonna get myself a farm in the outback ( In Sweden that is ) be at least partially self sustainable when it comes to food, get myself an old Defender and make sure my little family not will be as hard hit as the bulk of the population when the **** hits the fan.
my opinion?
Overpriced, overrated, too complex and not something i'd own even if i could afford to