Thread: Won’t be retro...

Originally Posted by loanrangie

D3/4 middle seats are much better than the D5 seats which don't fold that flat, i hope they dont put the gear shift in the dash like that honda or the spy shots we have seen.

Good point, but they are almost as close to flat do not even be an issue.. without having tested this myself I would say that once you put your weight on them or anything on them it will press the cushioning in the seat down and end up completely flat.
On the other hand in what circumstance/s would a centimetre or two from flat actually be an issue?

With regards to the gear stick as long as there are paddle shifts on the steering wheel for gear selection and you can reach the gear stick easily I'll be ok with it.
Especially considering the benefits that are attained by not having it in between the two front seats.

Dash mounted gear change is more ergonomic & better than floor mounted in every way, Its like that on the Iveco Daily 4x4 and You have the option of one suspension drivers seat & a passenger / centre Bench seat or 2 suspension seats.

Leaves the floor clear to hose mud & dirt out & plenty of room to put a fridge.

Originally Posted by scarry

There is no other place for the gear shift if there are 3 front seats,except the old outdated steering column.

Hi ace vans have had it there for the last model run,manual and auto,and it’s fine,no issues at all.

And back to roof loads,hopefully it will be greater on the new Defender,as it’s pretty easy to get to 80 kg or so when touring,particularly if there is a RTT up there as well.

The D4 is rated at 75 KG,and on our last few trips I recon there has been more than that up there.

FWIW,the LC200 roof load is 200kg.


Oh well,we are guessing again

I agree with your original comment of having 75 kg or more.. I think we can safely say it will have more than the Discovery @80kg (including roof bars)

Having said that I think as has already been discussed on here its best to try to avoid putting any significant weight on the roof if at all possible.

Maybe 100kg would be a good number?

Originally Posted by goingbush

Dash mounted gear change is more ergonomic & better than floor mounted in every way, Its like that on the Iveco Daily 4x4 and You have the option of one suspension drivers seat & a passenger / centre Bench seat or 2 suspension seats.

Leaves the floor clear to hose mud & dirt out & plenty of room to put a fridge.

Interesting I hadn't thought about that, the possibility of a clear floor between two seats on the new defender..hmm.

Originally Posted by scarry

There is no other place for the gear shift if there are 3 front seats,except the old outdated steering column.

Hi ace vans have had it there for the last model run,manual and auto,and it’s fine,no issues at all.

And back to roof loads,hopefully it will be greater on the new Defender,as it’s pretty easy to get to 80 kg or so when touring,particularly if there is a RTT up there as well.

The D4 is rated at 75 KG,and on our last few trips I recon there has been more than that up there.

FWIW,the LC200 roof load is 200kg.


Oh well,we are guessing again

I meant that even if it didnt have a bench seat a shifter in the dash is so 1960's.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

I meant that even if it didnt have a bench seat a shifter in the dash is so 1960's.

Maybe they got it right in the 1960s

Originally Posted by blackrangie

Good point, but they are almost as close to flat do not even be an issue.. without having tested this myself I would say that once you put your weight on them or anything on them it will press the cushioning in the seat down and end up completely flat.
On the other hand in what circumstance/s would a centimetre or two from flat actually be an issue?

With regards to the gear stick as long as there are paddle shifts on the steering wheel for gear selection and you can reach the gear stick easily I'll be ok with it.
Especially considering the benefits that are attained by not having it in between the two front seats.

What you cant see in this pic is the fact that the floor slopes up towards the front.

Originally Posted by loanrangie

What you cant see in this pic is the fact that the floor slopes up towards the front.

I agree, but notice my comments regarding that?