Thread: New Defenders Everywhere

Originally Posted by Reads90

One that always sticks in my mind was when we were going along the new (as it was then ) P38 production line. We got to the end and this old boy was showing us (with pride) the new 8 million pound test unit that tested the Land rover range of cars for leaks.
As which point my dad asked
"you don't put defenders though that do you"
To which the old boy replied
"Christ no , we know they leak , we don't need a 8 million bit of kit to tell us that. If you buy a new defender you should find a complete set of Sowesters under the seats for days when it rains "

The story we were told was that during the BMW days, when BMW tested a car for leaks they would put a cat inside and if the cat was dead from suffocation in 15 minutes it was OK. When they tested the Defender, if the cat was still inside the vehicle in 15 minutes it was OK.

Originally Posted by EchiDna

you all know it never happened without pics right????

Yes, I realise you are all going to have to take my word for it. Even our mobile phones were kept at reception for us to avoid any more phone snaps like those of the new Defender last year leaking out.

Another interesting observation I made regarding the new Defender was that the rear wheel arches are now a different shape to accommodate the side facing seat mounts. They are no longer just square boxes over the wheels but slightly curved with a depression along the top edge. There is also quite a bit of re-enforcing welded underneath inside the wheel arch. This may mean people wishing to transfer cargo drawers etc. to a new vehicle could have difficulties. I didn't put a tape measure on it but I guess the actual gap between the wheel arch boxes is the same.

Forward facing fold up seats look good although the re-shaped wheel arch does push your legs to one side (away from the window) when you sit in them.