Defender's future

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Originally Posted by Celtoid

I knew you were going to jump on the TC....that's why I wrote advanced.....LOL...

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Ah, but most of the "advanced" features of a D4/RR are down to extra software and electronics, rather than extra hardware. However you are right - a better comparison would be the G-wagen professional to the D4/RRS. Only 50 to 300 kg difference. Both have a similar (steel) body and a Euro 4/5 3L diesel, however the Disco has a lot of extra gadgets for the weight.

Anyway, back on topic... I think it would be a relatively simple and cheap exercise for LR to whack a new body and different wheels on a diesel D4(5) chassis/running gear platform and call it the new defender. Which I suspect will be what happens, unless Tata has their eyes on future military contracts.

Come to think of it, isn't that what happened with the RRC to create the D1 ;)

So if they sell approx 18000 deefers a year worldwide today,& need 50000 to 60000 a year to make money out of a new model,it will have to appeal to a much wider market than the vehicle of today.(read those figures on a link from this forum)

so maybe it will be a great off road family wagon ,lower spec than D4,:)but then the original deefer type vehicle will be gone? :(

Also utes,tray backs, etc have to fit in the lineup as well

As others have said,we will just have to wait & see..............

What we really need is a new defender possibly based loosely on the D2 chasis and fire wall, have a variety of wheelbases, 95, 110 and 127, possibly a 6WD factory option to apeal to the big farms and mines, use the 3.0 SDV6 and maybe have 2 spec levels 600NM and 450NM or so to keep the farmers happy, auto and manual, solid axles all round, coil springs and air helpers in the back so it has the load carrying ability of a leaf sprung piece of toyota crap, factory difflocks in all 3 (or 4 in 6WD), traction control, a variety of trim levels, maybe one speced like the D2 for families and touring and a workhorse with hose out interior, ute bodies and dual cab, basically the same configurations we have now, except it needs to have a better focus on ergonomics and efficiency so use the disco windscreen. MOST IMPORTANT it must be able to be fixed in the middle of nowhere.

oh i forgot

IT MUST NOT have the 2.7L TDV6 because it has an elastic band driving the injector pump or something at the back of the engine, which REQUIRES (there is no other way to do it) the body being pulled off this is probably the main reason why the 3.0l is much better (has chains driving the important bits

but no dip stick on the 3.0L! A Defender must be serviceable by unqualified bodgers!

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Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

oh i forgot

IT MUST NOT have the 2.7L TDV6 because it has an elastic band driving the injector pump or something at the back of the engine, which REQUIRES (there is no other way to do it) the body being pulled off this is probably the main reason why the 3.0l is much better (has chains driving the important bits

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You can do it without the body being removed,it's easier than changing plugs in many types of Japanese Fwd vehicles. Pat

Quite true Mark we changed the oil on the D4 yesterday at 19,000 LR say 23,000 (3.0 SDV6) for the second time, to check the oil level you have to start it, turn it off and leave it parked on a flat surface for 10 mins and then start it again and it will tell you the level after finding it in the menu, such a stuf around i like the simplicity of our TD5 D2, but the sheer torque of the 3.0L is just awesome, Pat it may be that they changed that dad said they did injector pump and belt on one of the first ones at a dealership he worked in it took 3 days, 1 day to pull the body off and 1 to do the job and on to put it back together, luckily for the owners it was a warranty claim i would of hated to see the bill, according to dad this was how LR said to do it in the training course (thats what the mechanic told dad) but this may have changed on later cars, however i didnt personally experience it, so tis is just my opinion (obviously not how youve experienced). Whatever they do to defender they are going to have to have a car speced like a 76 series cruiser base model for the farmers and one speced like a Disco 2 for the families who want to replace their aging disco but can't find anything that cuts the mustard.

Happy Wheelin
:)

If you remove the bonnet you can get to the belt easier.The D4D is not a good vehicle,everything on it from changing the oil filter to repairing anything is right PITA.The dumbarse who put the alternator inline with the front wheel needs needs his head read. Pat

I don't know if we are talking about the same belt the one that drive the injector pump is in under the firewall almost into the transmission tunnel, i have always been under the impression you needed to pull the engine out and remove the bellhousing etc. to get at it, unless i am missing something or mistaken just my $0.02

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Originally Posted by MR LR jnr.

Whatever they do to defender they are going to have to have a car speced like a 76 series cruiser base model for the farmers and one speced like a Disco 2 for the families who want to replace their aging disco but can't find anything that cuts the mustard.

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I like your thinking.

Alan