Disappointed in the D5 / waiting for the Defender

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Originally Posted by Zeros

When did the world flip? ...I guess it's all about luxury touring out of the cities now, rather than base model vehicles being designed for bush practicality. ...So a base model D5 is now actually just a station wagon / people mover?

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Pretty much!
It has less towing capacity and less off road ability.

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Originally Posted by Graeme

I should have dunked the suspected leaking valve block into a tub of water.

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When my system was leaking i thought of putting a trace of refrigerant into the air intake,put the vehicle in off road height and then go around with an electronic leak detecter.

A dye that didn't affect the system may also be helpful,as used in refrigeration.Put into the system at manufacturing time would be good.

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Originally Posted by Zeros

When did the world flip? ...I guess it's all about luxury touring out of the cities now, rather than base model vehicles being designed for bush practicality. ...So a base model D5 is now actually just a station wagon / people mover?

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I think we just have to face that offroad drivers are not the market. It is marketed as an offroader, to a vast majority of non offroaders.

If the vehicle was genuinely aimed at offroaders, it would have rubber floor mats (no carpet), built in sill protection, AT high profile tyres, high engine air intake, front and rear heavy duty bars (alloy or steel, not plastic), front centre and rear driver controlled diff locks, etc.

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Originally Posted by Grentarc

The base model is aimed at the people who don't use it in the bush - it's is more aimed at the school run crowd

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i would think most buyers would be as you have said,whatever model they choose.
Limited accessories won't help either.

How many RRS,Audie Q7,BMW X5,etc do you see doing remote touring,or for that matter,out of the city?

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Originally Posted by rammypluge

I think we just have to face that offroad drivers are not the market. It is marketed as an offroader, to a vast majority of non offroaders.

If the vehicle was genuinely aimed at offroaders, it would have rubber floor mats (no carpet), built in sill protection, AT high profile tyres, high engine air intake, front and rear heavy duty bars (alloy or steel, not plastic), front centre and rear driver controlled diff locks, etc.

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There must be one of the many Land Rover owners who have never been offroad,because none of my vehicles have ever been fitted with sill protection,heavy duty front and rear bars,front and rear diff locks or any of the other macho bush tucker man wannabee crap. Pat

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Originally Posted by scarry

i would think most buyers would be as you have said,whatever model they choose.
Limited accessories won't help either.

How many RRS,Audie Q7,BMW X5,etc do you see doing remote touring,or for that matter,out of the city?

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About three years ago I did the great central deserts with my eldest sister Joanne,I was surprised how many D3-4 and RRS RR's were there,many cruising at 100 towing respectable sized caravans. Unfortunately once we got back to the coast it was 200 series Land Loosers wobbling along at 80 with a block of flats hanging off their arse. Pat

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Originally Posted by scarry

When my system was leaking i thought of putting a trace of refrigerant into the air intake,put the vehicle in off road height and then go around with an electronic leak detecter.

A dye that didn't affect the system may also be helpful,as used in refrigeration.Put into the system at manufacturing time would be good.

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And I can look back as a boy trying to get cars started by stuffing about with points,condensers,every time it rained they'd get moisture in the dizzy,putting leads against the block looking for spark.Today is no different than yesterday,that's why god created mechanic's. Pat

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Originally Posted by scarry

How many RRS,Audie Q7,BMW X5,etc do you see doing remote touring,or for that matter,out of the city?

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Exactly. So has Discovery joined Range Rover as a luxury urban 'I might go off road one day but I really just want the image of being adventurous' type of vehicle? Leaving Land Rover with no real off road vehicles? Boy the next Defender is important in maintaining that green oval image that the rest of the stable rely on! Amazing.

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Originally Posted by Zeros

Exactly. So has Discovery joined Range Rover as a luxury urban 'I might go off road one day but I really just want the image of being adventurous' type of vehicle? Leaving Land Rover with no real off road vehicles? Boy the next Defender is important in maintaining that green oval image that the rest of the stable rely on! Amazing.

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The D5 with 2 speed transfer and EAS is way more capable than a D4, so no, they are just offering cheaper spec levels for those that won't use the extra features.

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Originally Posted by PAT303

There must be one of the many Land Rover owners who have never been offroad,because none of my vehicles have ever been fitted with sill protection,heavy duty front and rear bars,front and rear diff locks or any of the other macho bush tucker man wannabee crap. Pat

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Agreed Pat. I've never needed any of that aftermarket stuff on my Defender other than a bull bar (which has saved me on many occasions from roo strike). ...although I reckon the bush tucker man's set up was pretty basic too!

...so if even the base model D5 doesn't have low range, aren't the wanabee's now the core of Land Rover's market?