Thread: Disappointed in the D5 / waiting for the Defender

Originally Posted by Arapiles

Agreed - the D5 is potentially a good thing, particularly if the real world fuel consumption is as quoted. BUT, as between the D4 and the D5, from a parent's point of view, the D5 loses out. Why?

• smaller second and third row windows with lower seats = less light, less leg-room and less visibility, especially for kids. There's also less head-room, even for adults
• can't see the corners of the bonnet
• second row seats don't split individually any longer - no idea why they didn't keep that. Being able to separately fold the middle seat is really useful, but on the D5 it's just the back of the middle seat that folds down, not the seat
• split tail gate - it should've been retained
• boxy is actually good if you're carrying stuff

Losing the chassis rails and 400 odd kgs was a good thing, but they seem to have ditched the unique elements that distinguished the D4 and its predecessors.

The new Defender is apparently going to be based on the D5 - but perhaps it'll look something like the D4?

-Seats are full size, more leg room... my 6’2” mate can sit in the back without issues.
-Many people can’t see corner of a D4 bonnet either, certainly not the bumper beyond it.. I’m fortunate I’m tall enough and can see a D5 bonnet corner. Most shorter people can’t see the corner of any modern vehicle.
- Seat loss is disappointing but hardly an issue.
- Split tail gate has benefits but so does a lift up - for a shopping run etc it provides shelter when loading/unloading and less reaching to get to back of middle seats
- boxy is good and at 1230l it appears to be 30l down. Until you factor in over 40l of storage throughout (a place for everything a kid wants and a parent needs)

The smaller windows = less light.. well tinted windows significantly reduce light also... what smaller windows do gain is reduced heat on occupants... and I with children at the “must be in a booster seat” age bracket they can easily see out.

9 USB ports - kids and parents dream.

Originally Posted by rammypluge

I have done a particularly significant amount of offroading over the last three years. I dont recall seing a single Range Rover, RRS, or Evoque. Possibly have been some old rangies but dont recall. Saw one Disco 3, it was reported as being a bummer on sand, heavy, sunk, and was tough to recover. Saw another one borrowed by teens from parents(?) and bogged! Seen a few Defenders.

Its one thing to justify the coin to buy a modern rangie, but another altogether to trash its resale by turning it into something no soccer mum wants to touch.

Again with the Soccer Mum references...

Let’s talk numbers...

D90 - optioned up ran at $60k
D4 - 7 seats Xenons etc $74k

Hardly a worry to add some pin stripes to a D4 (mine was on tracks the day after driving it home) the D90 was the same.

Who gets more upset? The wife, scratching her 90

Are some stripes “trashing resale?” I seriously doubt it... and if that’s your aim you’re off the mark...

As for seeing them offroad... the only Defenders I see offroad around here - there’s 2.... yet there’s a significant number in town... yet in this region I see a lot of D3/4 and RRS out exploring...

I enjoy mine offroad so much that I’m currently installing the requirements to have it Mine Site approved so I can drive it daily for work...

Originally Posted by 1nando

We are considering a used d4 for the mrs. If i had to buy a new family 4wd id pick the top of the range Pajero every day of the week. Its a rock solid platform, reliable, excellent price and id be saving 20k compared to a base d5 at around 70k. Id have no problem pin striping a pajero....id hate to pin stripe a d5. See my logic?

You didn’t find the seats like sitting on a concrete bench? Or haven’t driven long enough to find out?

Don’t buy one if you want to tow more than a 6x4...

And the current Top Mode Paj is $67k + options

There is always a solution you just have to find what works for you. I love the D5 it is by far the most capable off road vehicle to date. Pity I didn't wait another year for the SVX. I bought mine with full intentions of using it off road. Do i care about scratches at this early stage absolutely .... that is why i am having it wrapped in PPF. Problem Solved.

I wouldn't let pin striping stop me from enjoying the great outdoors.

Next problem I am facing is Buying Rims and Off Road Tyres.. Separate Problem but like i say their is always a solution you just have to find what works for you.

Well there’s one in here... 70 odd posts on the forum and 60 of them are complaining...

It’s like we installed a token Toyota driver....

Said it once and ill say it again. If anyone is willing to back their d5 against my defender in the bush ill happily accept the challenge. After all according to this thread your d5 is more capable than anything else on the market so i should run away scared. Ill pick the track.......whem the plastic starts getting scratched we can all sit down and talk about how capable it is but how unlucky you were to scratch the panel. 🤣🤣🤣

And the other thing is it costs the same to fix pin stripes on any vehicle unless you are being ripped off.

Interestingly I believe the Landrover paint is harder than Toyota paint - I had a 150 Prado for a while that used to get pinstripes just looking at the bush

Originally Posted by AllTerr

We are in the market for a new car for the Mrs. Next year as well and have decided on the RRS or Vogue, and through talking it over, neither of us will hesitate to take it in the bush. It IS a 4wd after all. It's why we buy them.

Post a pic like this when ready...

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