Thread: Disappointed in the D5 / waiting for the Defender

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I note the 4x4 Australia story in the current issue said the D5 has more space then the D4 did to take larger tyres, so that makes the D5 more bush friendly than the D4. It also has the same size brakes as the D4 so bespoke 18 inch wheels produced for the D4 will also fit the D5.
So it should be possible to fit 18s to a D5 with taller tyres than could be fitted to the D4. So that's good news.

Any other good news?


As for AllTerr,yes, correct,but the issue is there is nothing in the pipeline for the D5,ARB, as an example have said publicly that they have no interest in developing anything for the vehicle.
Maybe some other manufacturer is doing something?
You would think by now we would have heard of something,particularly as the vehicle has now been around for quite a while.

Originally Posted by scarry

Any other good news?


As for AllTerr,yes, correct,but the issue is there is nothing in the pipeline for the D5,ARB, as an example have said publicly that they have no interest in developing anything for the vehicle.
Maybe some other manufacturer is doing something?
You would think by now we would have heard of something,particularly as the vehicle has now been around for quite a while.

LR invests a lot of marketing money proclaiming the d5 to have excellent off road ability. Problem is people aren't stupid.

Im about to ruffle a lot of feathers here but a d5 is not a serious offroad vehcile. Its to expensive, complicated suspension, small wheels with a stupid tyre size, body panels are to exposed to damage and its a simply too fancy with too many potential problems.

Before anyone passes judgement and says im biased and dont know what im talking about; i own a y62 and its tough as nails, relaible and relatively simple compared to the d5 but i dont consider it a serious offroad vehicle either and at least they have a reputation for getting used and abused by our friends in the middle east for what nissan built them to do. The patrol has many of the same issues i just listed above except for the fact that is has a proper offroad friendly tyre size.

If i was arb would i invest in the d5? No! Id rather spend money developing products for the dual cab ute segment, jeep, landcruisers, ford, mazda etc. The disco ain't no offroader, its a vehcile made for feminists to claim offroad "equality" when doing the school run! Lol , politically incorrect and true LR built the ulimate feminist vehicle!

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I note the 4x4 Australia story in the current issue said the D5 has more space then the D4 did to take larger tyres, so that makes the D5 more bush friendly than the D4. It also has the same size brakes as the D4 so bespoke 18 inch wheels produced for the D4 will also fit the D5.
So it should be possible to fit 18s to a D5 with taller tyres than could be fitted to the D4. So that's good news.

There’s a catch.. the Compomotive need reworking as the offset has changed and the current D4 sized units hit the arms..

Originally Posted by 1nando

LR invests a lot of marketing money proclaiming the d5 to have excellent off road ability. Problem is people aren't stupid.

Im about to ruffle a lot of feathers here but a d5 is not a serious offroad vehcile. Its to expensive, complicated suspension, small wheels with a stupid tyre size, body panels are to exposed to damage and its a simply too fancy with too many potential problems.

Before anyone passes judgement and says im biased and dont know what im talking about; i own a y62 and its tough as nails, relaible and relatively simple compared to the d5 but i dont consider it a serious offroad vehicle either and at least they have a reputation for getting used and abused by our friends in the middle east for what nissan built them to do. The patrol has many of the same issues i just listed above except for the fact that is has a proper offroad friendly tyre size.

If i was arb would i invest in the d5? No! Id rather spend money developing products for the dual cab ute segment, jeep, landcruisers, ford, mazda etc. The disco ain't no offroader, its a vehcile made for feminists to claim offroad "equality" when doing the school run! Lol , politically incorrect and true LR built the ulimate feminist vehicle!

Exactly, the all new defender ‘land rover’ will be pitching it against the dual cab brigade....not sure of the number ms in other countries but in Aus it’s a pretty big market....than the battle is to convince people to change marquee which will be very tough.....therefore the all new defender will be aimed at European market.

Originally Posted by 1nando

LR invests a lot of marketing money proclaiming the d5 to have excellent off road ability. Problem is people aren't stupid.

Im about to ruffle a lot of feathers here but a d5 is not a serious offroad vehcile. Its to expensive, complicated suspension, small wheels with a stupid tyre size, body panels are to exposed to damage and its a simply too fancy with too many potential problems.

Before anyone passes judgement and says im biased and dont know what im talking about; i own a y62 and its tough as nails, relaible and relatively simple compared to the d5 but i dont consider it a serious offroad vehicle either and at least they have a reputation for getting used and abused by our friends in the middle east for what nissan built them to do. The patrol has many of the same issues i just listed above except for the fact that is has a proper offroad friendly tyre size.

If i was arb would i invest in the d5? No! Id rather spend money developing products for the dual cab ute segment, jeep, landcruisers, ford, mazda etc. The disco ain't no offroader, its a vehcile made for feminists to claim offroad "equality" when doing the school run! Lol , politically incorrect and true LR built the ulimate feminist vehicle!

We could go on for ever about this,lets just hope the new Deefer is attractive to us D3/4 owners,and those that want a reasonably priced off road touring wagon.....,not a Range Rover with a Discovery badge on the front

Originally Posted by DeanoH

I hope I'm wrong but I can't really see the 'new' Defender being anything more than a glorified hairdressers car/SUV. Landrover started getting out of the game of making truly off road 4WD's long ago. The Range Rover and Discovery lines became softer and more luxurious at the expense of utilitarian capability; fine on road 4WD's suited to a more European or American market and with the demise of the Defender Elvis had well and truly left the room.

Odds are the new Defender will be an alloy monocoque air bag sprung macho looking soft roader capitalising on the Defender name and reputation aimed at the poseur market. IMO it is unlikely to be a true 4WD suitable for 'touring and remote offroaders for Australian conditions'. I will be absolutely ecstatic if I'm proved wrong.

Deano

I’m pretty sure there are many cars on the market that go touring and remote 4WDing in Aus....plenty of late model Land Rover owners currently doing it.

If I had the coin I’d ditch the defender......but value for money I’m happy enough with the defender with average air-con, no radio, road noise, heat ......

Disagree mate. LR has clearly stated it will be the most off road capable vehicle ever produced, thats a big call! They've also said there will be a ute.

In order to make that call they would definitely look at what sells in offroad markets. The 2 biggest offroad market where LR has had decent sucess in Aus and Africa. What vehicles sell in these 2 continents? 70 series and hilux are the most common id say and guessing by Andrew st Pierres comments id say thats a fair assumption. Hate them or love them these 2 vehicles are common, tough and beem around a long time then consider the ranger which is popular in Australia and LR has all the intel it needs to built a potential segment winner. Targeting a ute to the european market is like targeting a v8 petrol patrol at europe.....not going to happen!

I honestly believe LR's only way of protecting and maintaining their off road ability reputation will be through the new defender. If they dont sales will drop over time as many people buy LR's as a luxury car with "offroad" ability and dream of adventurous travels they'll more than likely never experience. If they dont keep to their offroad heritage then people start lppking at other european vehicles with no offroad ability like Audi, Mercedes, BMW etc. LR's point of difference with all of these is its so called offroad ability and heritage, without that their vehciles arw just over priced tanks like the rest of the segment

Originally Posted by weeds

Exactly, the all new defender ‘land rover’ will be pitching it against the dual cab brigade....not sure of the number ms in other countries but in Aus it’s a pretty big market....than the battle is to convince people to change marquee which will be very tough.....therefore the all new defender will be aimed at European market.

Originally Posted by 1nando

Disagree mate. LR has clearly stated it will be the most off road capable vehicle ever produced, thats a big call! They've also said there will be a ute.

In order to make that call they would definitely look at what sells in offroad markets. The 2 biggest offroad market where LR has had decent sucess in Aus and Africa. What vehicles sell in these 2 continents? 70 series and hilux are the most common id say and guessing by Andrew st Pierres comments id say thats a fair assumption. Hate them or love them these 2 vehicles are common, tough and beem around a long time then consider the ranger which is popular in Australia and LR has all the intel it needs to built a potential segment winner. Targeting a ute to the european market is like targeting a v8 petrol patrol at europe.....not going to happen!

I honestly believe LR's only way of protecting and maintaining their off road ability reputation will be through the new defender. If they dont sales will drop over time as many people buy LR's as a luxury car with "offroad" ability and dream of adventurous travels they'll more than likely never experience.

Guess we’ll have to wait and see......marketing hype is one thing, sales is another otherwise it’ll be a flop.