Thread: Won’t be retro...

I read the world's best-selling SUV is the Nissan X-Trail, so that says a lot about what buyers want.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I read the world's best-selling SUV is the Nissan X-Trail, so that says a lot about what buyers want.

Yep, because they are bloody reliable - even the old ones. One review I read said ‘You’d have to be extremely unlucky to get a bad one’. We’ve had several in the family and next has the new model which I personally don’t like the shape of as it’s very generic now, but still a good little rig, can tow lighter loads with ease and is very easy to live with. Clutch on the older models is a bit heavy if I had to think of a negative to them.

Originally Posted by weeds

Agree the new defer if it happens will be complex and will have electronics everywhere.....

Yeah, but it’s not like electronics are new in vehicles and in general, they are so reliable you mostly forget it’s all there (when done properly) and even in older complex vehicles like the L322 - in general, they don’t suffer major show stopping electronic failures, usually sensors etc as they age. Go way back to the 14CUX system - usually presents sensor issues when it plays up, but the ECU is extremely reliable, even now, nearly 30 years later. With modern complex vehicles, when first released a few changes get made along the way to software and a few bits as the model gets into the grove, but the electronics in a vehicle wouldn’t be a concern to me at all.

Originally Posted by Red90

The problem with the new Defender is three fold. First it will be expensive. Second it will be complex and lastly it will be built on a platform that is not inherently good off road.

Expensive? Not known yet, but current Defenders are not exactly cheap.

Complex? No more so than other contemporary vehicles.

Not good off road? If you mean the D4 - which isn't the same platform, then that's not correct.

Originally Posted by Homestar

Yeah, but it’s not like electronics are new in vehicles and in general, they are so reliable you mostly forget it’s all there (when done properly) and even in older complex vehicles like the L322 - in general, they don’t suffer major show stopping electronic failures, usually sensors etc as they age. Go way back to the 14CUX system - usually presents sensor issues when it plays up, but the ECU is extremely reliable, even now, nearly 30 years later. With modern complex vehicles, when first released a few changes get made along the way to software and a few bits as the model gets into the grove, but the electronics in a vehicle wouldn’t be a concern to me at all.

I suppose I was referring to hoses them out......not sure I would hose a L322 out

I often hose my Defenders out, load area and rear passenger footwell. It’s much easier after a big trip and carpets definitely wouldn’t survive long in my vehicles. I have a large piece of marine carpet and rubber mats that I remove to clean, dirt and water always get under them.

I’m more cautious with puma around front seat boxes and I don’t hose out the front foot wells. I never hose the engine bay.

Originally Posted by Homestar

All Current Hilux models from 2015 including dual cab are ANCAP 5 star rated - Toyota Hilux (Jul 2015 – onwards) Crash Test Results | ANCAP - and do get used in Mining - certainly where I am anyway, there are heaps of them being used.

Sorry referring to the 79, good point with hilux! I wonder if all the mines joined the class action re: hiluxes

Originally Posted by trout1105

I simply use those rubber mats you can get at the auto joints, they have a lip around the edges so that all the crap on your boots stays on the mat and not on the floor.
All you need to do is drag them out when they are dirty/full and hose them out
I am not a fan of rubber/plastic floors as they are always hotter and noisier than a carpeted floor and I can put up with the inconvenience of having to run a vacuum over them every now and then

I too use those, mats, but would still like to do a deep river crossing and pull out everything on the floor to dry out, wash out..newer cars are better sealed though i suppose.