Thread: Defender build quality

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Sorry but i dont buy that, if i'm paying 50k plus on a vehicle i expect not to see the ground when the doors are closed, you can have character and build quality. I love the LR products but even my 81 rangie had less gaps than a new deffy.

every series or defender i have owned has had that gap.... and it does let water and the like out very well , i certainly wouldnt be filling it in.

Water's going to come in...so it'll need somewhere to get out.
But really, if that's all you've got to complain about it can't be such a bad vehicle, can it.

Originally Posted by wally

Water's going to come in...so it'll need somewhere to get out.

Why not just open the doors on the other side?

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Just a shame dust doesn't play by the same rules as water

i've never had a problem with excessive dust i have to say,

but as others have said, its a known quantity and if it worries, you really shouldnt own a defender or you should invest in a high volume air conditioner so it keeps positive pressure in the cab..

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

Thats a silly thing to say Dave. If it worries me, fix the problem with some sticky foam strip. Less likely to wade deep water than drive a dusty road ( although that is arguable at the moment with all this rain), seeing as most of our trips are outback or on the local blacktop.

Methinks we have probs owned a Defender/Series type LR longer than you, so have had plenty of experience with dust to really know what living in the dust can be like....21+ yrs of non-aircon S3 outback trips etc was experience enough. Doesn't worry me enough to want to own something else, but less dust would be very nice all the same.

That's quite right - and even if you do drive through deep water and water comes in - as I said earlier - open the doors on the other side of the crossing - the water will drain faster than through the little seal gaps.

Well then, tell me why that section should not be sealed like a one-way valve, to keep the dust out, but able to let water drain out?

Originally Posted by Greylandy

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.

I'm siding with stevo on this one, i love the fender and its quirks etc but for the price paid i want at least some kind of QC, LR just ship them out to unsuspecting customers then when its breaks down then they expect the dealers to do the QC. Sorry but no one apart from entusiast would even look at a fender if comparing to the build quality of the jap vehicles (which i refuse to buy) so what i am left with ? a new 4wd that is no better than a 2nd hand vehicle that i expect some problems from. As much as i would love a new fender a 2nd hand one for 10k less with a few problems is better than 50k for a new one with the same problems. A good mate had a new MY2002 fender after spending 3 months total time at the dealers with numerous complaints after 12 months of nagging he got LR to give him a new MY2003 fender and after 2 attempted trips away (brwakdowns both trips) he did a direct swap for a 2 year old toyo troopy.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

I'm siding with stevo on this one, i love the fender and its quirks etc but for the price paid i want at least some kind of QC, LR just ship them out to unsuspecting customers then when its breaks down then they expect the dealers to do the QC. Sorry but no one apart from entusiast would even look at a fender if comparing to the build quality of the jap vehicles (which i refuse to buy) so what i am left with ? a new 4wd that is no better than a 2nd hand vehicle that i expect some problems from. As much as i would love a new fender a 2nd hand one for 10k less with a few problems is better than 50k for a new one with the same problems. A good mate had a new MY2002 fender after spending 3 months total time at the dealers with numerous complaints after 12 months of nagging he got LR to give him a new MY2003 fender and after 2 attempted trips away (brwakdowns both trips) he did a direct swap for a 2 year old toyo troopy.

Mate - a few gaps in the door seals and the odd panel misalignment are not problems! I can live with what it is - doesn't mean a few little things can't be done to improve it for my needs, which is all I've had to do.