Thread: I drive a ...........

Here is a little story. Yesterday a guy came into the office and overheard a conversation between myself and one of the girls, she always gigs me about my landy calling it a "cruiser". He asked what we were talking about, I said I have a Land Rover blah blah. This guy then proceeds to say that Landys are a heap of.... and that is why they were not used on the Snowy Mountain Scheme, because the Land Rovers couldn't handle it! I must admit that I had no information with which to argue against this as I do know that it was predominantly Toyota Cruisers. but then he made the comment that that is why the Army got rid of them! To this I said, the Army has only been using Land Rovers since 1950s or 1960s, not long at all.
Well when did we first use them? I know I have let the side down fellas, and I'm sorry. But hay it is only the opinion of a fool!

If the research is right it was 1958?

I'm sure others will fill in the blanks for you here shortly, but there is plenty of info on AULRO about Land Rovers used on the Snowy Scheme. Land Cruisers only started being used 10 years AFTER the Land Rovers started and AFTER all the roads were effectively in place. Depending which figures you use, the Cruisers were outnumbered by Rovers by over 50:1. See if you can get hold of Issue 17 (April to June 2016) of the B.M.C. Experience magazine at your local newsagent for a great article of both vehicles usage on the Snowy. Your friends eyes will pop out and he will eat his words. The Land Cruiser barely gets a mention in the article and only to dispel the "Land Cruisers built the Scheme" myth. Toyota really has done well with its dis-information campaign.....

Edit: It might be worth buying the magazine online!

Guys I usually get a very perplexed look, but for the opposite reason. Most seem to think Land Rover is only a fancy premium expensive brand and assume I mean a Range Rover or Discovery. That so totally doesn't fit who I am in the world, hence the perplexed look. When they see my Defender they also say, 'oh is that your troop carrier?' Ha ha it doesn't get any easier. Most want to go for a drive though 😎

Originally Posted by Dop

Here is a little story. Yesterday a guy came into the office and overheard a conversation between myself and one of the girls, she always gigs me about my landy calling it a "cruiser". He asked what we were talking about, I said I have a Land Rover blah blah. This guy then proceeds to say that Landys are a heap of.... and that is why they were not used on the Snowy Mountain Scheme, because the Land Rovers couldn't handle it! I must admit that I had no information with which to argue against this as I do know that it was predominantly Toyota Cruisers. but then he made the comment that that is why the Army got rid of them! To this I said, the Army has only been using Land Rovers since 1950s or 1960s, not long at all.
Well when did we first use them? I know I have let the side down fellas, and I'm sorry. But hay it is only the opinion of a fool!

Have a look in the Land Rover History section on this site. That bloke is totally wrong. There were Landys on the Snowy scheme for a long time before any Toyotas appeared and the first Toyota didn't even have low range. Add together the Snowy scheme Landys with those used in the same region by forestry, NPWS etc and the Toyotas didn't rate in the first decade when the pioneering was done. Lots of info in the history area here. Your mate has just swallowed the Toyota marketing propaganda without checking the facts, which are very clear.

I just say, 'That's my big white box' and point and they go, 'Oh, OK', usually followed by a comment about George being a 'real' 4WD.

Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

Cheers Mick, another member pm me a lot of info and told where to get some of the history. Only wish I knew it at the time, I must confess, I too thought it was predominantly toyota vehicles on the snowy. Well I'm here and I'm learning. Oh, and he is no friend of mine, thick with the owner of the business. I have given notice, finish up end of next week, can't wait! Thanks again Mick.

Snowy Mountains Scheme

Nah .... you guys are describing them wrong .... I say "I drive a ****ty old land rover".... To say range rover makes people think "expensive and fancy"................. It's way easier than describing what a ****ty old Citroen is

my assumption is if they know what a land rover is they imagine this



seeya,
shane L.