Are "New" Defenders Really New?

**solmanic** · 2nd October 2006, 08:50 PM

What is with the Defender specifications we get over here? I was just browsing through some older threads and saw some photos of Numpty's new vehicle he took delivery of in June. No high-mount rear brake light, white roof and no clear perspex front indicators.

Looking at the British and European Land Rover websites they all have clear perspex front indicators and inside the centre dash fascia is grey, not black with the door trims black, not grey. The Euro-spec has been like this since I bought my first unit last May but ours hasn't changed.

Is Land Rover Australia just feeding Defenders from some sort of local backlog? If this is the case, are we likely to see the 2007 model before 2009? I hope not as I'll be looking to trade up late next year.

**dobbo** · 2nd October 2006, 08:56 PM

The simplist way to find out would be to get a member with a new Defender and check the manufacture date as opposed to the delivery/rego date.

**stusgonesailing** · 3rd October 2006, 09:21 AM

Picked up my new Defender last Thursday. New build.

Apparently they did have some stock in Aust that they were using up but just before i oredered mine some Italian Power Company bought 900 and used up all the stock.

there was a three month wait for mine

**gruntfuttock** · 3rd October 2006, 01:59 PM

You can get heated windscreens and heated front seats for the Defender in Switzerland, not here though, but then who would want to heat their seat here?

**dmdigital** · 3rd October 2006, 05:29 PM

Just check the 2 letters before the numbers in the VIN, can't remember off the top of my head what post 2000 convention was but for example WA is 98, XA is 99 in a Defender.

I wish they'd bring heated windscreens into Australia, that would be an improvement on many vehicles

**gruntfuttock** · 3rd October 2006, 08:18 PM

You get used to them, but at first it is a bit strange. Because they are full of wires.
They take a **** load of current though

**rick130** · 4th October 2006, 06:15 AM

maybe the difference between an SA and UK build Defender.....

**sniegy** · 4th October 2006, 08:44 PM

If your VIN has an "A" before the last 6 digits it was built in the UK.
If it has a "V"(Defenders only) before the last 6 it is what called a CKD(knock down kit)(i dont do the acronyms either)built in South Africa.
As dm TD5 has said..VIN are as follows if ever needed.
If u need any other info on the VIN let me know. the 17 digits all mean something..
KA-93MY
LA-94MY
MA-95MY
TA-96MY
VA-97MY
WA-98MY
XA-99MY
YA-00MY
1A-01MY
2A-02MY Etc Etc

**BigJon** · 4th October 2006, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by sniegy

called a CKD(knock down kit)(i dont do the acronyms either)

I thought it was Completely Knocked Down.

**UncleHo** · 4th October 2006, 10:03 PM

You are right Big John

and rarily used is PKD (Part Knock Down)

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