Thread: More Landys unreliable myths in 4WD Action

Sad .. I think that English cars in general have that stigma of unreliability. Experience though said otherwise, drove a Woolsley for a year in 1976, what a great car. And most impressive for me was the hired mini mokes we used to use for pig shooting in the swamps outside Darwin, those things went everywhere and when you bogged you jumped out and just lifted them out !!! Once we got home, dogs, guns and humans out, hose them out and return them to the rental company. Very under rated vehicles.

Work mate in the early 70's brought the landcruiser, wow did it suck his wallet dry, and once it got real muddy it just just sunk like the titanic. Many hours spent hand winching the bugger out. Never impressed me. However, my next brother (Diesel fitter) down has always run early diesel hiluxes, he was based in Gove for many years and used to do Gove to Darwin every year. One solid vehicle.

Closer to home, I was heading out of Stockton quite a few years ago in my Pajero .. electronics were fighting against its self and I couldn't get over the big dune on the southern exit, it just kept on digging itself in, time and time again. Watched a Landy go around me and nip straight over .. damm I thought. Worked my way around the side, but file note .. Landy.

My 1st Landrover, series 2a was a gutless wonder. Had sand tyres which I swapped on for Fraser, aircraft tyres actually and with a load I couldn't get over the headland either. Went south off loaded and camped. Once she was light no problems, could get anywhere. Way too slow on the bitumen, the trip from Canberra to Fraser seemed to take forever. Every 10 km sign seemed to take forever. Sold it back to the guy I brought it off. Taken many years to look at Landrovers again.

Haven't put my Perentie to a serious test yet but have no reservations, she's an impressive truck. She belts along on the freeways with what ever load I have on-board, trailer and all, luv' that Izuzu. Apart from rattling windows which totally drives me up the wall and leaves me deaf for a couple of hours she is one very capable beast. But then again you guys are well converted and far more knowledgeable than me so just saying

Originally Posted by Robmacca

Coming from the Toyota Darkside (& I still own one + a little Zook), I guess I had my blinkers on and didn't think too much about Landrovers & I was aware of all the comments about them too... until my cousin bought a '97 Disco and took me for a drive in it..... That little drive changed my opinion and put me on the road to research them and eventually find and buy my 1st Disco. I'm still very green to the whole LR thing but so far I'm enjoying driving it and learning more about them & how they work....... I'm now on the receiving end of these comments, just today, I went out on a day run with my Zook club & when I rocked up the 1st comment was "Don't worry, Joe Bloggs has his full tool kit ready for u to call on when needed". I just smiled and kept my comments to myself..... Later on that day we stopped for lunch at a lake and this old fella rocks up in what was a "2-day" old Defender.... It was interesting to watch some of the guys look at it and ask questions, etc. It was my 1st time/chance to see a new Defender up close and I must say, I was impressed. If u were wanting a good "basic" reliable touring vehicle, than this was it.... I came away actually considering one as a future touring vehicle....but I was disappointed to hear that they are stopped being made as of next year so the fella told me Even the NEW price sounded reasonable....
I asked about electronics in them and what happens if u get stuck in a deep river crossing, etc. He told me what a lot of the forum guys do and it sounded like a easy solution....

Anyhow, I hate to say it, but I could go a defender as a remote tourer some time down the track.... if they turn out to be reliable in the long run as 2nd hand will be my only option.....

Mate,
I know its off topic but......
That font has to be one of the hardest Ive seen to read for a while...

Why I generally stopped subscribing and buying Australian 4x4 magazines about 5 years ago. I will only buy them now if I see something that really interests me.
As stated you get a nice Land Rover write up and rig and then the whole story is totally destroyed by the idiot reporter or editor making totally ignorant, unfounded and plain incorrect statements. They do seem to however overlook the major deficiencies in Toyotas and Nissans when it suits them.
Basically now it is one big Toyota, ARB, Coopers Tyres and Engel ad, instead of real magazine.
If we maybe started up a true magazine, no one would buy Toyotas with all their problems or we would end up with no readers as they just could not face the true inadequacies of their 4x4s.

I had similar today. Spent the day fishing off of Wite Hills Road and when off the beach airing up had a Brand New Ranger and a late model 200 series pull up. Got chatting with them all and they all commented on how good my Defender looked and how well set up it was. The 200 series had got bogged, not even close for the Defender.

Originally Posted by Robmacca

Coming from the Toyota Darkside (& I still own one + a little Zook), I guess I had my blinkers on and didn't think too much about Landrovers & I was aware of all the comments about them too... until my cousin bought a '97 Disco and took me for a drive in it..... That little drive changed my opinion and put me on the road to research them and eventually find and buy my 1st Disco. I'm still very green to the whole LR thing but so far I'm enjoying driving it and learning more about them & how they work....... I'm now on the receiving end of these comments, just today, I went out on a day run with my Zook club & when I rocked up the 1st comment was "Don't worry, Joe Bloggs has his full tool kit ready for u to call on when needed". I just smiled and kept my comments to myself..... Later on that day we stopped for lunch at a lake and this old fella rocks up in what was a "2-day" old Defender.... It was interesting to watch some of the guys look at it and ask questions, etc. It was my 1st time/chance to see a new Defender up close and I must say, I was impressed. If u were wanting a good "basic" reliable touring vehicle, than this was it.... I came away actually considering one as a future touring vehicle....but I was disappointed to hear that they are stopped being made as of next year so the fella told me Even the NEW price sounded reasonable....
I asked about electronics in them and what happens if u get stuck in a deep river crossing, etc. He told me what a lot of the forum guys do and it sounded like a easy solution....

Anyhow, I hate to say it, but I could go a defender as a remote tourer some time down the track.... if they turn out to be reliable in the long run as 2nd hand will be my only option.....

I put a post up on my 80 series cruiser forum when I brought my D3, mainly just for ****s and giggles to see what sort of comments I could extract out of people - I wasn't surprised by most of them (the few positive comments did surprise me however) But the main vibe was reliability and comfort (and most of the comfort posts where based on early series LR)
Anyway this thread has got me thinking, is there any particular land rover that's responsible for the unreliability myths? Considering the early exploration feats of Len Beadell and use of them by the milatary, how is it that the masses have all ended up in Toyota and nissans and not land rovers

I would say Toyota diesel 6 cylinder engine when Land Rover offering was very under powered. Also supply with Toyota available months quicker than Land Rover. They had a chance to claw this back when the 110 coil sprung was released with the Isuzu diesel whomever also needed to widen the body by 2 inches. And dress the interior a little to make it look ' modern'.

Originally Posted by shanegtr

.................................................. ..how is it that the masses have all ended up in Toyota and nissans and not land rovers

Better marketing by Nissota


Martyn

This is just my opinion. BUT
what I really dislike about the mags now is when the cover spews forth headlines of "this V's that, "Shootout" "Full test" etc. I get all excited and buy the magazine.
read the article and its not a test!!! its a high level observation that reads like the brochure and after 1 or 2 page devoted to the subject ends with.
VERDICT..
"both good, no real winner".