Thread: The New Defender

Originally Posted by SpudHeadTed

...right ok...so even if you’re mechanically minded, have all the tools and diagnostics, you won’t need them anyway...Land Rovers simply don’t break down. Cool thanks Tombie.

You’re welcome

You seem to miss the point. Regardless of what fails, if you have no capability to resolve it then you’re stuck.

If you have what you need and are capable of the work you can get going again, or limp it back to support.

Only recently a post showed an old Defender with a destroyed front diff on a flat bed - the owner wasn’t sure how to get it moving again.

Modern electronics rarely fail. Almost always a mechanical device. Modern electrics have significant redundancy and protection. A D4 for example can almost completely shut down an still limp back to civilisation. It will even conserve power by closing down less important systems until reserves are exhausted.

The most simplistic example of progress was the change from points to electronic ignition. Nobody went bush without several spare sets of points and condenser spares.
With the introduction of Electronic / Optical controlled ignition devices this went out the window.

Not saying nothing will break down; just that in a well maintained vehicle, driven with respect, it’s highly unlikely.

Have a great day.

Originally Posted by manic

Justify it however you want. I'm not judging. Just saying, if we all kept cars longer from day one, a **** load less would have been manufactured. Fact. And yes I know how it works in the REAL world. Just a shame is all.

FYI : my smartphone has been replaced almost every year. Sometimes I loose it. But most times it just breaks. They are certainly not built to last.

Never broken a mobile phone in my life. Not so much as a chip on them.

Environmental sealed cases and screen protectors.

I work in a very rough environment and when I upgrade they are always in A1 condition.



Agree that vehicles can be kept in great order for much longer. Although it would destroy an entire industry, and likely prevent many from owning a vehicle - 2nd, 3rd owners etc.

Not to mention that as technology changes, you simply update your toolset and your knowledge to accommodate it.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Modern electronics rarely fail. Almost always a mechanical device.

Spot on and because it is the electronics that relay the "failure" message, the old dinosaurs read this as an electronics failure.

My RRS is 13 years old and I have had it for 10 years and I have never had an electronics failure (ooops I tell a lie - I made the mistake of pressure washing the engine and water got into the transfer case ECU - the car still ran - sort of and fixed itself in a couple of days) but everything else when an alert message has come up on the dash it has been mechanical - alternator, egrs, air compressor, brake pads etc.

Oh also I will add - one year after I got my car - it and my house took a direct lightning bolt (the mark is still on my bonnet) - blew a set top box and a x box in the house and in the car it shortened out the Scangauge plugged into OBD2 port - on trying to start the car everything weird happens, doors locking unlocking, no instruments, engine cutting out - removed the scangauge and all was good and it has been for the last 9 years.

My car will start under Telstra Tower in Canberra but my brothers 200 Series Sahara wont

This shows just how tough the electronics are in our vehicles.

Garry

Originally Posted by Tombie

You’re welcome

.....
The most simplistic example of progress was the change from points to electronic ignition. Nobody went bush without several spare sets of points and condenser spares.
With the introduction of Electronic / Optical controlled ignition devices this went out the window.

Not saying nothing will break down; just that in a well maintained vehicle, driven with respect, it’s highly unlikely.

Have a great day.

Bit of a sweeping statement - I have been driving in the bush, mostly in vehicles with points ignition, for sixty years, and I can't recall a time I carried a spare set of points and condenser. Much of this time was in areas that at the time were far more remote than anywhere in Australia today.

The only time I have ever been stopped in the bush by an ignition issue it was a loose spade terminal in the primary circuit. With proper maintenance these should never be a breakdown risk. (The only time I have had an unrecoverable breakdown in the bush was a broken clutch driven plate in the middle of the Simpson 55 years ago.)

I agree though that modern vehicles tend to be more reliable, and certainly need less maintenance.

I can't agree though that all the changes are necessarily for the good. I think for example of my son's recent problem with the window mechanism on his car, one of the more popular ones in Australia, six years old. Electric, of course - gearbox failure; $900 for parts (OEM only), and a two month wait. Similar issue with the manual winder on the 110, twenty years ago when it was only about twelve years old - cost an afternoon an a small amount of gas and silver solder, still going.

Originally Posted by Red90

Most of the people on these forums. New cars are crap.

Disagree on both

Originally Posted by 1nando

I don't get it I'm sorry. Are you assuming I throw my vehcile in the bin after 5 years? Cause I don't! I sell it to someone who pays a good % less than I did at purchase time.
Have you not upgraded your home at some stage either by moving into a new one or renovating?
Have you not upgraded your phone or are you still using a can and string?
Have you not upgraded anything?

It's not about wastage as a result of upgrading, as used items sell in the used market.

In the meanwhile I can afford to buy a nice new vehicle every time a lease is up so I simply pass my used vehcile to someone that either does not want or cannot afford to buy new. Simple, recycling really

Where are those cars now? I'd be impressed by this statement if one of their rego's was HUE 166.

Originally Posted by RANDLOVER

Where are those cars now? I'd be impressed by this statement if one of their rego's was HUE 166.

I'd be impressed if any of you paddled your way to Europe in a canoe instead of catching a plane..... but thanks to those ever so unreliable electrics you got there on a plane.

Restoring a 70 year old vehicle is not impressive.

My current vehcile is a lot more modern than my 110 was but damn has it been reliable, not 1 issue with it! ... and it has 1000% more wizardry