Thread: The defender value in the future"????.

I tend to think that irrespective of how much we love our Defenders in their current form, they will decline in value substantially when replaced with the new model.

This is only my opinion, but given the total sales of Defenders here in Australia to average people and industry, and the number of "Defender enthusiasts" as such, we don't quite make the numbers to hold values high because the level of demand from us as a group is pretty insignificant.

The fuel crisis will also add to their demise, as more modern hybrid or even pure electric engines will eventually win I think. Especially so if we venture into nuclear power that doesn't require fossil fuels to be incinerated to make electricity. Fuel cells and hydrogen engines will eventually be popular too once the technology is available at reasonable cost.

I hate to say it - but big trucks like ours are on their way out for good before too long.

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

I think if they introduce a new one the price will probably go up which always helps the re-sale of the older ones. The current fender is quite cheap, so I really can't see them dropping in price.

Can't believe you think that Defenders are cheap! There is a lot of engineering in them, but they are very basic in the comforts area. I think it's hard to hand over the $$ for a new Defender when for a bit more you can get a Discovery with proper seats, sound system, finish, etc etc.

Imagine how many they'd sell if they were either:
- $35,000 on road
- Much more comfortable/civilised

Originally Posted by spudboy

Can't believe you think that Defenders are cheap! There is a lot of engineering in them, but they are very basic in the comforts area. I think it's hard to hand over the $$ for a new Defender when for a bit more you can get a Discovery with proper seats, sound system, finish, etc etc.

Imagine how many they'd sell if they were either:
- $35,000 on road
- Much more comfortable/civilised

The real stupid thing in the uk is . You cn buy a 1997 Disco tdi with all the bits for about $9000 and a 90 tdi same year is $22,000. mmm don't figure. But that is the way it is in the UK. Hence there are alot of disco and rangies being off roading in the uk.
Get alot more truck for your money with a disco than with a 90

Originally Posted by spudboy

Can't believe you think that Defenders are cheap! There is a lot of engineering in them, but they are very basic in the comforts area. I think it's hard to hand over the $$ for a new Defender when for a bit more you can get a Discovery with proper seats, sound system, finish, etc etc.

Imagine how many they'd sell if they were either:
- $35,000 on road
- Much more comfortable/civilised

I totally agree... They are very overpriced for what they are..
the rear seats are especially cheap and nasty.. the fronts not much better.. the amount of raw materials that go into it would be at least half that of a D3.. until 03 did not have elctric windows and still only on the front..
THEY ARE A RIP OFF... and dont get me started on the 90..

George 130 can i make reservation for myself and my 130 heres the $2700

As for purely resale values today, I bought my 130 with 89 000kms, two and bit years ago for $32 990. I was at a LR specialist reseller earlier in the week looking at a 94 LSE RR for my wife (ok, really me!) and asked what the trade-in value is on the 130 (just because I was interested, don't want to get rid of it) Anyway he makes the call, 157 000kms, 2000 Td5 130 CC etc.., $24 000 to $25 000! I nearly died. I used to think I could get maybe $25 000 or $26 000 privately. The guy at the wholesales end of the converstion giving the price, said "They were $50 000 plus new, they're not importing them any longer and everybody still wants them"

I though after putting 70 000kms on it the trade in would be worth 19 maybe 20? as a trade

Ben

Originally Posted by spudboy

Can't believe you think that Defenders are cheap! There is a lot of engineering in them, but they are very basic in the comforts area. I think it's hard to hand over the $$ for a new Defender when for a bit more you can get a Discovery with proper seats, sound system, finish, etc etc.

Imagine how many they'd sell if they were either:
- $35,000 on road
- Much more comfortable/civilised

Well... it's like this... the fender is 48 RRP, and it's nearest equivalent is the troopcarrier RV and it's 60. And it only has two doors... leaf springs at the back... etc etc...

We got a deal and only paid 47 otr for ours. What other full size 4wd (real) wagon could we have got for our money? All the toyota lancruiser variants are 60k+, and the only one close is the patrol which is 52+ (although sometimes the base one does get to 50).

Our defender we drove straight through the middle of the simpson (not on the tracks) when it was 1 month old and completely stock. All the alternatives we would have had to modify suspension etc...

I grant you it doesn't have as refined interior as many of the other options, but it does things they don't. The key here is that the defender is HAND BUILT in the UK which is why it isn't as cheap as it would be if it was asian.

I drove a brand new ford courier crew cab the other day... the only thing it did better was it was quiet... but the body flexed... it pitched and wobbled over the smallest suburban bumps... I was really glad to get back into the fender... at least it rides and handles really well

Originally Posted by Captain_Rightfoot

The key here is that the defender is HAND BUILT in the UK which is why it isn't as cheap as it would be if it was asian.

The Defenders we get here are made in South Africa.. so they should be cheaper..
They have been since 03 IIRC.. that does not make the build quality any worse (impossible) as South African motor industry is actually quite well known for good quality cars.. just look at the E series Mercedes - all made in S.A.