Thread: Land Rover doesn't understand Australia - no ute !

Originally Posted by W&KO

I think plenty would disagree.....

They would disagree on “looks” alone in many cases.
And that would be the only basis in most cases.

Vans for almost all trades are far more suitable.
Although ‘Stick burners’ usually have LTs (Light Trucks) if they do serious stuff.

The heavy diesel mechs have an LT and a Ute - ironically the Ute has gullwing boxes taking up the entire tray rendering it no longer useful as a tray and more exposed than a van.

Originally Posted by Eevo

thats what i thought but ive never seen a large volume of light trucks on a mine site. 90% would be ute or /big heavy trucks

You need to get out more......

Originally Posted by Tombie

They would disagree on “looks” alone in many cases.
And that would be the only basis in most cases.

Vans for almost all trades are far more suitable.
Although ‘Stick burners’ usually have LTs (Light Trucks) if they do serious stuff.

The heavy diesel mechs have an LT and a Ute - ironically the Ute has gullwing boxes taking up the entire tray rendering it no longer useful as a tray and more exposed than a van.

But where a ute does excel is in off road work,such as diesel mechanics that work on earth moving equipment,as an example.
Many utes are also more comfortable on rough country roads,and on long country runs.
And with dual cabs,the kids can be picked up from school,and driven around on the weekends.Now thats important....But a tiny tray,way too small for the average tradie.

Vans have very limited wheel travel,we are talking a few inches at best.Once off the black top they are totally hopeless.

A vans tray height is also a great advantage over a ute,particularly a tray back ute.

So its sort of horses for courses,but as said,its vans for us.

For the rough site access they always bring the Service truck.

You would never put a family in a Diesel Mechs Vehicle.

Each to there own........a van doesn’t suit my needs for work plus I don’t pay for the Ute or fuel or personal running around.

I don’t reckon companies that currently run utes will be lining up to switch there fleet to defenders......vans or light trucks?? ....given it’s Land Rover that made the statement above ‘why would people buy utes’ can only assume they reckon the defender can replace all utes in the market.

Maybe they are thinking the same way? Why buy a Ute.

There’s Light Trucks for work
Wagons for families etc
Vans for those whose work suits.
Commercial Spec Defender May fit for some.
Many just use trailers for bulky gear.

Maybe that’s the thinking, not the suggestion a family spec defender can replace them.

Using an old style Defender for a work vehicle for employees would want a fantastic risk assessment documented. Providing a worker with such could prove expensive if things go bad.

It’s the above reason that Toyota shoved SRS into the 70.... they would lose all the market.

TataXenon.jpg

The real Defender replacement???


From my personal perspective, I wouldn't consider buying the old defender but the new one is perfect for what I would want in my next vehicle - not that I'm looking to upgrade any time soon.

Originally Posted by 16PMark

Maybe LR could copy Mercedes' idea, and build a ute on an already existing platform from Japan....coz that's gone well.....

Yeah, rumours that they're going to axe it!

I don't think LR are idiots at all .. been said before .. market too small to spend $s on such a vehicle.

Afterall, why buy a Tata ute for well over $60K, when you can buy the genuine thing for less than $30K!

Who was it that owns LR now?

Wouldn't surprise me if they did do one well into the future with some newer model update to the current Xenon comes along.