Defender 90. Why no auto?

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Originally Posted by akelly

Yeah, because thats where you spend most of your time, right? Driving up Cape York or across the Kimberleys.

If you haven't looked under the Amarok I suggest you take the time to. The chassis is actually much better for off road than the defender - you can actually clean the damn thing inside after the beach or mud. The leaf springs and drum brakes are not the greatest options, but they work.

I wouldn't hesitate to take the Amarok on that trip - it would be more economical than the defender, more comfortable and with a decent set of tyres would have no trouble on the rough stuff.

As for auto - far better off road than manual. 8 speed auto in the 'rok craps all over my 130 on the beach.

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I do actually! Not specifically those spots, but terrain and conditions the same or even worse!

I do see your points, and I agree - an auto is amazing on sand (or anywhere for that matter, I won't buy another manual 4wd unless it's a steal). The defender deserves an auto.

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Originally Posted by Keithy P38

I do actually! Not specifically those spots, but terrain and conditions the same or even worse!

I do see your points, and I agree - an auto is amazing on sand (or anywhere for that matter, I won't buy another manual 4wd unless it's a steal). The defender deserves an auto.

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Lucky bugger!

The joys of a FIFO lifestyle!

OK... How about removing the old, rose tinted spectacles for a moment and put your commercial head on.

If LandRover fitted an auto to the Defender... I'm sure they'd sell some but would they really sell any MORE? In reality, I suspect most sales would be at the expense of the manual Defender.

If they did sell any extras, would the profit cover the expense of development, tooling up, etc... and what about manufacturing? The Solihull site is at capacity and the Defender line takes up more than its fair share, any additional capacity would be at the expense of Disco 4, RaRo & RRS.

The numbers just don't add up.

You could probably commission LR Special Vehicles to produce one but then you'd then complain at the cost. :p

M

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Originally Posted by BMKal

Which big construction projects would those be ????

I know plenty of projects over here that are running Amaroks. ;)

Also know plenty that are running Rangers too ............ they're both a good ute.

Holden Colorado seems to be doing quite well as company / fleet vehicles, though I wouldn't rate them against either the Amarok or Ranger myself.

Feedback I have is that the Ranger is a better tow vehicle.

The days of the HiLux being the only thing considered by mining / construction companies and the like has come to an end. Most people now recognize that there are plenty of better options for the same or less money.

Unfortunately, the company that I work for hasn't caught on though. The people in our plant department still can't see past the turd in a fishbowl bonnet emblem. They bought a few of the last Holden Rodeo's, but have since returned to the HiLux as the preferred ute in the fleet. :(

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At least one big contractor at Wheatstone had his VW's replaced by the new Ranger. The main thing on the Amarok for me was the hard suspension on the back despite 4 blokes sitting in it and the soft on the front.

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Originally Posted by 100inch

The main thing on the Amarok for me was the hard suspension on the back despite 4 blokes sitting in it and the soft on the front.

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I have yet to ride in a ute that didn't do that.

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Originally Posted by Pickles2

Of course an auto option would have been good.
BUT, NOT with 90KW 2.2 Puma, or for that matter, ANY engine that Defender has had, & what looks like, ever will have.
A lot of owners drive their cars predominantly on the roads, where getting off the line the Defender is dreadfully slow,...with an auto it would be even slower,....90KW is simply not enough to drive an auto.,,,IMHO of course.
However, place a decent engine in there, & the equation changes, & it could've,.... years ago,......but,.......it ain't gonna happen now.
We will have to wait for the "next" "Defender", to see what will happen.
Pickles.

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The Disco 300Tdi auto goes well enough. The development has been done.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

The Disco 300Tdi auto goes well enough. The development has been done.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

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A 4sp auto that was good 20 years ago wouldn't sell well today. Not to mention the Puma putting out a lot more torque at lower revs than the ZF had to deal with.

I don't see any of the 1994 disco development carrying over. They would need to have fitted the ZF 6 speed from the D3/D4 to be competitive.

Before anyone says "but Ashcroft do it". Yes I know that, but what the aftermarket can do/charge and what car manufacturers can do/sell are not the same.
The aftermarket isn't subjected to fuel economy requirements for a start.

We love our Amarok, yes it has had a couple of issues, one being a fitting error by an aftermarket fitter, the other was due too water and mud ingress into the bell housing:twisted: which was fixed by Prestige VW Wodonga, it goes where ever we go in the Disco, carrying a full tub load of wood and does it easy, yes unloaded it is harsh, but show me a ute that isn't, there is also a choice of rear leafs, comfort springs or heavy duty, tell me if Ford or Holden, Isuzu or Toyota offer this, will any of the Dualcab utes carry a full 1 tonne pallet in the tub and still be able to tow at it's full max capacity of 3 tonne legally.

Don't knock the Rok;)

Baz.

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Originally Posted by camel_landy

OK... How about removing the old, rose tinted spectacles for a moment and put your commercial head on.

If LandRover fitted an auto to the Defender... I'm sure they'd sell some but would they really sell any MORE? In reality, I suspect most sales would be at the expense of the manual Defender.

If they did sell any extras, would the profit cover the expense of development, tooling up, etc... and what about manufacturing? The Solihull site is at capacity and the Defender line takes up more than its fair share, any additional capacity would be at the expense of Disco 4, RaRo & RRS.

The numbers just don't add up.

You could probably commission LR Special Vehicles to produce one but then you'd then complain at the cost. :p

M

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The numbers do "add up" it's just obvious LR couldn't be bothered.
In stop start traffic an auto goes far better than a manual and virtually every motoring writer recommended the D2 td5 auto over the manual.
The number of people I hear say, I would love to buy a defender but : my wife can't drive manual, my kid can't, my shoulder/leg/neck are damaged, our fleet only buys autos.etc.
The numbers would more than double sold, I wonder what's the ratio of auto to manual among ranger/BT50 and amarok?
As to cost? Umm borrow the 3.2 and the rangers auto gearbox as their made in the same plant. Also if the site is "at capacity" where are they going to put the extra 1600 workers they are putting on?
Is there an article or link? Last I read was a planned increase in production.