Disappointed in the D5 / waiting for the Defender

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Originally Posted by plusnq

You need to apply a dollar value to your time to reflect a true economic cost. The opportunity cost of lost earnings whilst doing your own mechanical work is not usually accounted for by those who want to do their own work. That’s the true economics of the situation. Most of us who enjoy working on our vehicles don’t record that cost in the ledger.

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Not sure I agree with that totally. Add the cost of dealer servicing and having any repair items not covered under warranty, down time of having the vehicle at a service centre, especially with Land Rover many kms from home, usually a day lost in the service centre. Arrive back at designated time to find they have not even started your service.
Most servicing can be done at home easily and really the only time a $ value comes into your hours is if it affects your earning capacity, so I don't count servicing. My next job working out why the head or head gasket has gone is one of those that will affect me so will be a cost. However if I put it into a LR dealer to fix could potentially cost me well over $7k. If I do it myself, maybe 2 days work max and around $3k max.
Then how many of us could actually afford a new HSE D5 or Range Rover. RR have the biggest depreciation of any vehicle eg what did a 2009 odd TDV8 Cost? Over $200k? Yet you can get them for $30-$70 k depending on kms.

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Originally Posted by Vern

Yep, most mechanics make $237k a year[emoji6]

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Sadly they don't, but that doesn't stop the dealership from charging them out at that rate!

To make a fair comparison, you need to add the cost of tools and possibly space to store tools and conduct repairs to the vehicle.

Some people have harder access to increased income than others, who might just put their hand up for overtime.

So that new d5 is a disapointment, best to wait for the new defender?

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Originally Posted by 1nando

Guys can we get back on topic please?

I think its fair to say that everyone has a different opinion and idea of what "offroad" means to them.
My idea of "serious offroad" may or may not be different to yours and as a result I've built my vehicle to address the weak points it has when tackling my idea of "offroad".

"Offroad" to me means:

- approach angles, traversing and break over angles must be excellent.

- all corners of the vehicle must be easily protected from damage or impact when traveling through deep ruts with high banks for example.

- a decent to excellent payload with a cargo area that is both practicle and efficient

- solid axles and large tyres with a excellent side wall and large footprint (ie 255/85/16)

- lockers both front and rear

- decent fuel economy

- comfortable. It might be hard to believe for some but my defender has a extremely comfortable seating position. Im 6ft and have had spinal surgery and i dont get any back pain driving my truck over long journeys.

- the ability to see all corners of my vehicle eaily

The points above are important to me, i need my truck to be able to give me the ability to tour comfortably but also go out and keep up (usually show up) with Patrols and cruisers on 35s and 37s on track days for example. My truck is a "truck", its a purpose built vehicle that i have fun in and more importantly have confidence in. I can confidently tackle rutted terrain with high side banks and not risk panel damage.

The d5 for me does not meet my criteria.

Now ill wait for someone to tell me that my idea of "offroad" is wrong and that i should be driving a d5 if i wanted a serious offroader . [emoji16]

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Your correct with definitions of OFF ROAD it is different to each user.

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Originally Posted by rammypluge

To make a fair comparison, you need to add the cost of tools and possibly space to store tools and conduct repairs to the vehicle.

Some people have harder access to increased income than others, who might just put their hand up for overtime.

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Yep and how I justify buying tools and having a reasonable home workshop

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Originally Posted by Zeros

...so the pump in the fuel tank is a computer now Neil? [bigwhistle]

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Mate, luddautism ( newly minted word, all rights reserved) knows no bounds. i.e. Not constrained to just "computers". Rightly extended to cover fear of things more complicated than funnels, buckets, gravity feeding fuel, and built-in manual priming options on fuel pumps - Luddautism must include things like electric in-tank fuel prime pumps and ... maybe even electric light bulbs.

I love the line in "Hey True Blue" that asks, "...will you tie it up with wire, just to keep the show on the road". But I reckon that if the singer were driving a modern defender somewhere remote and a wheel sensor died, and he had both tie wire and a spare wheel sensor in his spares kit - he'd have the (rather basic) knowledge needed to use the spare wheel sensor, and the sense to reserve the tie wire in case he needed it later to keep his camp chair functional.

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Originally Posted by Vern

So that new d5 is a disapointment, best to wait for the new defender?

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Don't go there,we want to stay on topic......[bigwhistle]

I hear on the grapevine that LR want to make the next Defender the best expedition vehicle ever, and are currently debating the best form of engine bay access.[emoji6]https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/313.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/314.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/315.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...017/10/316.jpg

I doubt anyone with 'Luddautism' would ever even buy a Land Rover...unreliable in every way don't you know?[bigrolf][tonguewink]