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Yes my Defender enjoys parking next to a tree. 👍😊
But the shift from that actually being the priority, to buying the 'image' of doing it, is blatantly obvious as JLR's new priority.
With JLR reportedly considering buying Aston Martin and a Gold Coast JLR dealer building a new 9 million dollar showroom, as just two examples, the whole notion that Land Rover would cease to exist if it didn't focus entirely on the urban luxury top end of the market is entirely spurious.
The facial (and other) injuries from the thoughtless design of the D5 tailgate will really create a huge marketing/design problem.
A large number of the 4WD fraternity usually buy a used 4WD as their project car and I wonder if the lack of live axels and a solid chassis will stop them wanting to buy a used D5 when the time comes and will affect the resale value of these.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicky
Couldn't agree more.... that damn tailgate is a deal breaker... [bawl]
A D5 will still take you out to the bush and beyond. (Ask Lee Jackson) I'd still by one in a heartbeat if I could afford one, and keep the D2 for a bit more of the hardcore "playing".
Millions of Mini Vans over here have that one piece full length tailgate, plus it is on the Ford Explorer here and it looks just like the D5, (which we call the Discovery), as well as being the same size.Quote:
Originally Posted by oldsalt
The upper and lower hatch on our 3's and 4's probably cost more than double the one piece door, hence the logic. The good news is that the FFRRHSE still has the upper and lower doors, and yes, I hope the new Defender is a coil spring D4 but I think it will instead be your Ford Raptor.
[QUOTE=bbyer;2734337…..The good news is that the FFRRHSE still has the upper and lower doors, …...[/QUOTE]
So we have to go to the top of the Range now to get back what was messed up because of cost??
Some people, probably many, actually prefer the one piece tailgate for practical reasons. I just can't understand the negativity on here. Its like the Defender vs D4 thread that got completely out of hand. I've given up reading the garbage in the similar thread in this D5 forum. Lots of opinions with very little experience of living with the car.
I have 6 kids and drove around in a Toyota Commuter Bus for many years without any injuries caused by the massive one piece tailgate. Since then I have had 2 VW Transporters and now a Disco Sport, all with one piece tailgates and no issues with getting hit in the face or such things as stated in this thread. While the D4 split tailgate is good for a table or seat, it is terrible for trying to load the very long boot space and provides hardly any protection from rain and sun. I greatly missed the one piece tailgate when I went from a VW Multivan to the D4. There are always swings and roundabouts.
The difference is your Toyota bus tailgate was manually operated, and you were in charge of the kids. So are the other one piece tails, all manual. It's the remote function that is dangerous. Sit on the offset tail in a D4 with your tea maker beside you and look at all our beautiful scenery. Now try carrying long timbers with that tail open in the D5, good luck with that. Easy in a D4 with the glass half down. Not negative just practical.Quote:
Originally Posted by BobD
