Thread: Defender build quality

Wear Boots
Hose out when finished
Wipe down with a sponge and your done

Water comes in and water goes out. In other vehicles water comes in and stinks. Water does not go out so good, then they place a rubber tub type mat on the floor for the water to sit under?

I guess I am happy to be able to jump in with muddy boots on and not worry, I can hose out and wipe down and the job is finished, no airing of carpets et cetera. When in the bush and dust and sticks get in (as they do), no worries, I will clean them out a bit later.

When I hose the vehicle and water gets in, it is OK I can wipe it dry when I am done.

The build quality is up to the standard of this vehicle and probably should not be compared to any others. You see if you buy a Defender knowing that you will find extra screws on the floor that came from somewhere that is not yet obvious, or the sun peers through a gap that in another vehicle would have you running back to the sales office, it is this apreciation of the vehicle that will draw you to what is good about it.

Regards,

The gaps in the seals ARE there intentionally. But if you don't want them - you can do as I did - ask LRA to put full seals in - and they do it under warranty.

And now my new Defender doesn't leak at all - when I took it down to Victoria at Christmas we drove through rain than would have made Noah nervous - not a drop came in.

Furthermore, I've driven it 100s of kms down red bulldust tracks and the like - windows all closed - AC on outside air - and no dust gets in either.

Now I have had several other panel issues sorted under warranty - and as a result, mine is quite perfect now - but hand made cars will always exhibit some variation - if you get one that you're unhappy with, well, in my experience, the dealer will try to sort things.

Originally Posted by Greylandy

You either "GET IT" .. or you don't. Simple as that.

Thats all that needs to be said.

If you don't like, don't buy a 110.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Pretty soon it will only be a few old enthusiasts that will buy them and by that stage they will be dead and buried as was the P76. dont get me wrong i like the fender and what it is but i wont justify buying a car this side of the millenium that basically hasnt been improved since 1982.

I think there are a few reasons why it is still around in its current incarnation:

- EU Armed Forces still use and buy them.

-The public (mostly enthusiasts) still buy them. Although not record numbers but I don't think the Defender owes LR anything even though they are hand built.

-Major development money was spent on updating the RR, Freelander new D3 and RR Sport. Because the Defender was still selling they didn't deem it necessary to spend any significant development $$$ on it (or they didn't have any $$$ left!)

-Land Rover's turmoil history and movements between BMW and Ford has delayed the release of a new Defender.(See next point)

-The current 2008 Defender is a stop gap for an all new Defender to be released in 2013. Why spend huge $$$ on fixing the door seals now if a new model is already built (as the rumour goes) The release date was pushed back because Ford knew they were going to flog LR with Jaquar, I think the development of an all new defender is much further down the line than we realise.

Sheesh, you bluddy one eyed Fender drivers who cant see the rose from the bushes. I love Defenders, wish I had one next to my D3, in fact if I could get out of the d3 and get a 7 seat fender...I would. The point that I think was being made is that it is not about what is features of the Fender, like drainage etc but moreso about the fact that LRA have presented a Fender at the Brissie Show and one by the sounds of it at the Canberra show, that have inherent issues and problems, ie crap that you one eyed lot would most likely hit the roof if you had just shelled out $50k. That is the crux of the thread not having a go at fenders or you just have to "GET IT". Like a bunch of kids with their fingers in their ears going LALALALALA .

Regards

Stevo

Lots of good comments about Defenders. It must be agreed that to LR followers, everyone is happy with the build quality/performance etc.... just that LRA cant expect us to be their only market, you would expect them to be trying to expand the client base, and with a mixed brand audience, and lots of one eyed Tojo owners ... I was very disappointed that they gave all the knockers something to remember, rather than the capabilities etc of the vehicle.

Hope that they do a 'once over' etc on Cooma display vehicle. Then again, we will all be LR followers so probably does not matter!

Originally Posted by stevo68

Like a bunch of kids with their fingers in their ears going LALALALALA .

AM NOT!

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Interesting. We questioned these gaps with Austral and were told that was how they were made...and that is that!! Next time we are in there I shall bring up this fact that they fixed yours for you and see what happens. They have a new service manager, so it will probably depend on his attitude

If they are water tight in the cabin they won't sink. If they won't sink they cannot regain traction when they are being washed down stream. If they do not regain traction you have to swim to shore.

Being a TD5 yours does need decent seals though.