Thread: Disappointed in the D5 / waiting for the Defender

Originally Posted by plusnq

my question is, if you had to buy a new vehicle right now, what would you buy?

Must admit, the Pajero would be given a solid look. and i'm ashamed to admit it, but i'd also look at a 200 series i suppose (though admit it is a wildly different price position) - big, square-ish, strong.

Originally Posted by DeanoH

And a pretty good question too

At the risk of getting back on topic, how about the new Defender ? but that doesn't qualify as the question is right now.

The answer for me is that there is nothing new available on the market that meets my requirements and hasn't been for some time.

The problem isn't the vehicles so much, they're probably as reliable as they can be within the design life/criteria of the vehicle but IMO way too much reliance on complex electronics to be considered for serious and often remote off road travel. The issue that I grapple with is what I consider to be a responsible and safe 'manner' in which to approach remote off road travel. For me this means nearly anal pre trip planing and preparation, a thorough understanding of the vehicle and how it works and the tools/ability to diagnose and repair or if repair can't be made the ability to identify which specific components need to be obtained.
A simple vehicle makes this a lot easier but the days of simple vehicles is long gone.
Current methodology/culture seems to be to carry an EPIRB and press the button when the ashtrays full and pass the responsibility on to someone else. I'm old school and don't think this way and don't even carry an EPIRB though I do have UHF, HF and Satphone. .

This is an example of the sort of travel I'm referring to

www.oka4wd.com/media/kunena/attachments/776/2014TheGreatSandyDesertABRIDGEDsmall.pdf


sometimes as part of a group and sometimes solo.

Would you take a D5 on this trip with any expectation of it reaching the other end ?, hopefully the new Defender will 'cut the mustard'.

Deano

thanks for your detailed answer.

I do understand where you are coming from. I’m old school from when Petrol engines were still the primary engines in 4WD and things were simple enough that a bush mechanic would have a good chance of getting it going again even if in a reduced capacity. But those days are long gone. I miss some of the simplicity of the old vehicles, but I don’t miss their unreliability, harsh ride and lack of creature comforts for the 1000km journey to start my remote travel. I have a D4 these days and I can drive 12 hour days again and again if required. In the old days, I’d be scheduling lay days just so I could recuperate.

The appalling payload of modern vehicles makes them more difficult to kit out for remote travel imho. Payloads of 700kg before we add in long range fuel tank, bull bar winch, roofrack and second spare and suddenly we are over gvm before the missus and kids get in the vehicle. All the manufacturers are guilty of this in their wagons. I’d also like it if the engineers thought about remote travel when designing their limp home modes for new vehicles. Dropping to the bump stops or losing so much power you struggle to get off the beach makes life pretty difficult when it happens.

I dont think the new Defender will meet your needs either. There is the Iveco Daily 4x4 which has its own issues, but is still relatively old school with a good payload and some modern comforts. All the vehicles have compromises, we just have to choose which set of compromises we can live with. The manufacturers are only after the biggest market share so niche vehicles are less and less likely.

Safe travels. Cheers.

Shane

Originally Posted by AllTerr

I would.

"You're a better man than me Gunga Din"

I'll look for bleached bones next time I'm out there.

Deano

And again it turns into a Luddite festival of doom and gloom...

Strange how all the brands full of electrickery seem to make it home without the nightly news full of tales of death by technology in outback Australia... 🤡

G Professional Wagon

Originally Posted by Tombie

And again it turns into a Luddite festival of doom and gloom...

Strange how all the brands full of electrickery seem to make it home without the nightly news full of tales of death by technology in outback Australia... 🤡

We need to do a trip Tombie,I have minimal time for Luddites. Pat

Originally Posted by Tombie

Canbus is hardly voodoo...

A severed wire in general can result in the same thing.


I take it then none of you Fly, Use lifts etc.... all in case something goes wrong...

Severed a few wires without realising, car behaved strange, windows wouldnt go up, a variety of dash warning lights, 60 trillion fuses to check, numerous battery disconnects, etc. Up to three mechanics, 2 days of headscratching, etc. So not worth it.

Originally Posted by PAT303

We need to do a trip Tombie,I have minimal time for Luddites. Pat

I’m up for a bit of that action...