Land Rover Engineer Requires Info

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Originally Posted by ATH

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PS. Nearly followed a mate who has a new Defender on order, but this time the head ruled the heart

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Smart move, I think the new 'Fender is rubbish.

Xavie

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Originally Posted by JDNSW

...and aggressive and impatient drivers rarely drive Defenders).

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True. I had a V8 County.

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Originally Posted by rmp

You may well end killing a customer because he couldn't get his car over a dune as the engine was in limp mode, but he might have been willing to take the risk of engine damage by revving it. His choice, not yours.

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Don't make the mistake of thinking this means just losing a customer. This does mean what it says.

You'd be surpriosed how many people die in Australia from being bogged in sand (or broken down) in the outback. Not just tourists although they seem to make the headlines but Australians who know the bush and how to survive.

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Originally Posted by ORC1

Hello All

I work in the Land Rover Off Road Capability team based at the design centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. Part of this role is to ensure that LRs remain to be the best off road vehicles possible, I'm currently doing a "real" customer based study into usage and would like comments about our products. I'm mainly interested in current vehicles although I'm still keen to understand any historic issues you guys have.

Thanks for your help.

Lawrence

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Gday all i think some people have lost track, Loz is after good info on the off road capabilities, I think this is a great oppertunity for us Aussies to have a benificial say in what we could see as some improvements that benifit us, dont worry about the yanks they are happy aslong as it can beat a jeep and wow thats hard

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Originally Posted by MarknDeb

Gday all i think some people have lost track, Loz is after good info on the off road capabilities, I think this is a great oppertunity for us Aussies to have a benificial say in what we could see as some improvements that benifit us, dont worry about the yanks they are happy aslong as it can beat a jeep and wow thats hard

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Speaking of having lost track, Loz, when do we get some feedback on the info you have gleaned from this Forum.
I think every contributor to your request would REALLY like to know what yours and Land Rovers thoughts are on the info provided here.
When can we expect an answer, Regards Frank.

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Originally Posted by MarknDeb

<snip>
they are happy aslong as it can beat a jeep and wow thats hard

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can Defender beat, let alone match a Wrangler Rubicon in an extreme situation without breaking something ?

Jeep listened to the punters, hopefully Loz is trying to do the same.
A Rubicon is a better off road performer out of the box than a Defender.
Nomex suit now on. :D

[QUOTE=ORC1;679924]Hello All

I work in the Land Rover Off Road Capability team based at the design centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. Part of this role is to ensure that LRs remain to be the best off road vehicles possible, I'm currently doing a "real" customer based study into usage and would like comments about our products. I'm mainly interested in current vehicles although I'm still keen to understand any historic issues you guys have.

Thanks for your help.


mate welcome aboard :D mate all i can say is whats with that stupid little nylon split ring holding the dizzy shaft in (surely it should be metal my god!) and WHATS!!! with the bloddy leaks my D1 leaks still ad I'm not a happy man :mad:

but all in all l love the bloody thing so l can forgive these things simply to own my pride of joy :D

cheers

matt

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Originally Posted by rick130

can Defender beat, let alone match a Wrangler Rubicon in an extreme situation without breaking something ?

Jeep listened to the punters, hopefully Loz is trying to do the same.
A Rubicon is a better off road performer out of the box than a Defender.
Nomex suit now on. :D

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Difficult to compare these, unless you are taking about the 4 door Rubicon? Also, the Rubicon is not available in diesel, so again a difficult comparison. I have had both (TJ Wrangle modified to Rubicon spec before they imported the model), and definitely feel the Deefer is greatly superior in most situations.

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Originally Posted by RonMcGr

Well, Lawrence posted the same message on "Disco Web" and there is a "Land Rover Off Road Capability team".

If you are still not sure:

Land Rover welcomes all questions, enquiries and customer feedback.
For test drive or brochure enquiries
You can contact Land Rover Administration on:
0800 110 110.


Or write to:
Land Rover Administration
Freepost TK494
Twickenham
TW2 5UN


For service or warranty enquiries
You can contact the Land Rover Customer Service Centre on:
08705 000 500.

Or write to:
Customer Relationship Centre
Abbey Road
Whitley
Coventry
CV3 4LH


Call centre opening hours

Land Rover Administration:
Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 6:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday & Bank Holidays: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Land Rover Customer Service:
Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Calls may be monitored and recorded for training or quality assurance purposes.

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sent a copy of this thread to Land Rover head office with a request to acknowledge it

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Originally Posted by rmp

Here's some ideas, all from personal experience in a variety of LRs. PM me for more details if required:

1. Low-profile rims. No, no, no. On what planet does a 45 profile tyre operate well offroad? Offer 18, 19, even 20 and 21 inch rims if you must, but make all your vehicles avaialble with 17s, max. And I don't want to hear about the giant brake calipers necessitating those rims. You are clever engineers, build a braking system that doesn't require rims from a pimpmobile. This is a MAJOR problem with modern Land Rovers because it affects everything; puncture probability, ride, traction, ability to air down....even overheating on sand as has happened to me in one your finest vehicles.

2. Traction control. LR used to have the best. Now Toyota with the LC200 have stepped ahead and frankly it makes the Range Rover look very average indeed. Need to step up there and soon.

3. Parkbrake. Why can't you secure a D3 or RRS downhill? Because the parkbrake only works on the rear wheels, and the centre diff unlocks at rest. Hence, only two wheels are locked. Again, on this planet, you need all FOUR wheels locked.

4. Lowering the suspension at 40kmph. No, no, no. Come out here and I will demonstrate why auto-lower is a bad idea. Make it 100. And this leads me on to my next point.

5. Control. I'm a big fan of electronics and progress. I'm not a fan of giving up driver control. For example, while I think the electronics do a great job of deciding when the centre and rear diffs should be locked, there are times when I'll want to override. For example, just see Point 3 above. Oh and Point 4. Offroad driving is unpredictable. I've recovered a car by putting it into 2WD and deliberabtely wheelspining it around. I don't want any electronics deciding I can't be doing whatever I want with the car. Have them there by all means, and I understand the LR marketing with technology and how easy they are to use, but....give us the overrides too.

6. Reslience. When the eletronics decide something is wrong, give us information so we can make a call on it ourselves. You may well end killing a customer because he couldn't get his car over a dune as the engine was in limp mode, but he might have been willing to take the risk of engine damage by revving it. His choice, not yours.

Also on that subject make the electronics field-replaceable units. ECU died? Flick in another one. Yes, I know about the cost. But you did ask the question.

Air suspension; love it. But, make it inflatable with a normal compressor should the main one fail.

7. Defender. Take the swaybars off the 110 and throw them away. Our previous models didn't have them and I'd like to understand why LR feels the MY07 needs them. Then give it at least a rear locker and better traction control. The Defender is now embarrased offroad by the Wrangler, 76 and Hummer at least. You can't claim best-in-class offroad capability for it I'm afraid.

Now LR is doing a lot of stuff right with 4WDs. Retain the driving position, the squared-off bonnet, the throttle response, low-low range gearing, nice diesels, the sequential shift autos, HDC adjustable by cruise control, recovery points (oh, add them to Defender please), excellent traction control, and Terrain Response. Turning circle excellent on new vehicles. Dynamic Response also fantastic. Make it standard!

HDC needs to be even slower on all models I've ever driven. Let me show you some rocky downhills and you will agree.

Why is a rear locker not standard on the Vogue? C'mon, it would barely dent the profit margin, surely!

Those are some initial thoughts, hope it helps.

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I was going to contribute something to this thread regarding the newer LR models, but I think this post covers everything better than I could. Well done, and I hope Loz takes note!

Cheers,

Gordon