Thread: Land Rover Engineer Requires Info

As a new to Land Rover person, who has just purchased a new Defender - I'd add this....

Why are there no recovery points fitted? I still need to find some and get them installed.

Why not make Defenders with spare wheel carriers? The rear door is still not strong enough to carry the wheel - especially off road in Australian conditions.

How about really thinking about the engine layout - an offroad vehicle needs to be robust - why is the alternator not mounted higher than the AC?

We need a dealer network in this country. Or give Ford the know how.

I reckon the tyres are actually pretty good but I'd have preferred an option of split rim steel wheels - trying to fit a new tyre or repair a flat on a nice looking alloy with 5 million flies for company is not much fun.

How about matching other manufacturer's warranty - 5 years is now a standard.

How about getting advertising material to match the vehicle specs - brochure implied front mudflaps, MP3 compatibility etc as standard but they're not.

And how about a few more solid paint options? I had to get a white one as it was the only non metallic paint colour.

As for the engine - I reckon you got that right - IMO, the new Defender doesn't need a TDV6 or 8 - if you guys drive it you'll see!

Overall - LR have done a great job with the new Defender - once I've sorted what I can from the above list I reckon I'll be unstoppable.

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Will be extremely happy to eat my words here,,,

we do have someone who could probably find out if this is a real post or not,,,,,

Originally Posted by Phoenix

For those that asked. I have had a looksee and Lawrence has the e-mail address to back up what he says in his post. I'm actually rather glad to see that LR are asking what we want to see. I hope you've got some time because I can see this post getting very big Lawrence.

Now for my 5c

Defenders have the option of off road tyres in the UK, the are't used as yuppy mobiles here, but workhorses and off road machines. fit them with off road tyres, at least as an option.

I love the new defender from what i've seen, nice work on that account

I'll think of more, but i'll add it then

as stated,, am VERY happy to eat my words
(ya gotta admit,, its was a bit unlikely--)

servicing is probably the biggest concern,,
lack of interest by salepeople at dealers is another,,

You cant expect to trade off

The Legend

and not help perpetuate it.

at least by supporting the vehicles that made that legend,,
and the enthusiasts that keep that history on the road,,,


Thankyou for your interest.

Welcome aboard Lawrence, it'll be a first for any vehicle manufacturer to ask advice from customers in an open forum such as this.......if this is fair dinkum!.
I agree broadly with the ideas Brian Hjelm, rick130, Phoenix and Blknightaus have raised, with regard to the Defender. I also think if you produce a vehicle with the reputation the Defender should have, then it should follow along the lines of:

Unwaivering reliability, so no electric windows etc, gizmo's are good in a vehicle that is not capable offroad, but have no place in the bush!.

A simple engine virtually anyone can work on, with basic knowledge (look at the Isuzu 4BD1), and overengineered, accessable, rebuildable mechanicals. Why is everything throwaway these days!.

Do something different to the norm!, build it to last!, lets have the firewall, door frames and chassis galvanised, or at least the option, stay with the aluminium-it's uniquely Land Rover-almost everyone mentions it in conversation.

Can we also have the front vents back, with airconditioning!.

Make the vehicle wider, 200mm each side should do it, and plan as much as possible for the fitment of quality aftermarket accessories, offer them yourselves and corner the market!.

Lawrence

Have to agree with the sentiment about the dealer network. Have a look at an Australian Land Rover dealer list for 1949 or even for 1969 then take a look at one now.

I can tell you in 1949 there were 43 recognised Land Rover dealers in NSW outside Sydney not including the master distributor of Grenville Motors. How many are there outside Sydney today?

One of those 1949 dealers was Modern Motors Dungog (OT & SA Rumble) a couple of years ago LR Australia sacked them because they weren't one of the big city dealers.

How can Land Rover ask for brand loyalty from us your customers when you don't have loyalty for your loyal local car dealers.

Diana

what they said
I love landrovers (a sickness I know )
my wife drives a current shape RR Td6
I have a 130 dual cab

BUT I also have a german luxo 4wd as a daily driver and japanese ute as well becuse they are waaaaay more reliable than any LR products (sorry to say )
(FYI Jap ute - I hate it, uncomfortable piece of junk, only 3 yrs old & only done 150 ks but I own it becuase it goes every day and NEVER lets you down)

lack of dealer support and the fact that they (the dealers) are complete and utter rip off if you do go to one are BIG issues here (I don't call them stealers for nothing and I aviod them like the plague)

I still love LRs but to be honest I wouldn't own one anymore (I've been let down to many times) if I wasn't handy with spanners & didn't have a freind with an aftermarket LR shop to fix them for me
LR I love them but wouldn't recommend one to a freind

Just make them reliable, they are already the most capable 4wd

Jase

All this stuff is all very cute... But if it has an engine, it should have a cup holder.

I'd love a D3 or Defender but the lack of dealers /service shops around the country is the biggest concern for me.
I'm going to do a BIG trip in a couple of years and don't want to be 1500 kms from the nearest service centre- so it looks like it'll have to be Jap at this stage - unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Barra1

Hi Lawrence,

Nobody buys a Defender to use as a suburban vehicle - ...
... Thanks for your interest. I daresay we will all be anticipating some good results out of this - but given the lack of interest from Land Rover over 60 years..........

Regards

Barra

I have to disagree with you over the 60 years bit, the lack of interest from Land Rover has only been about 40 years.

In the days of the Rover Co Ltd before BMC and British Leyland, Land Rover was very interested in the marque in Australia. Rover Co Ltd even had engineers in Australia working with the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Commission fixing problems. There are a number of examples where we had a direct influence on modifications one of those being removing the banjo fitting on the brakes of the 80".

Still since the 1960s when we approached Land Rover (remembering there was a Land Rover assembly plant in Enfield, Sydney) Land Rover was most disinterested while at the same time Toyota listened to everything we had to say and even put it in the vehicles. There are many examples of Oz design of subsequent LC fittings. The original turbo charger for example, a direct copy of the ARB design.

Diana