Love Story

[noyakfat]

Hi all,

In my ongoing quest for knowledge about Defenders (and to add further fuel to the fire that is my desire to own one of these beasts by next year) I was able to test drive one this morning I just thought I'd share my initial impressions of a couple of commonly mentioned things.

I took a 110 station wagon 5-seater (Orkney Grey) for a test drive today and let's just say I think I'm in love

My expectations were quite low, given the negative things I have read about certain aspects such as cabin noise, seat comfort, leg-room, clunky gear box, high-revving thingy during gear changes... etc etc.

I had a good long drive and I must say I didn't experience anything that I would consider problematic. However, I've decided it is all relative. That is, it depends on the vehicle being compared to the Defender. My last fourby (which I had for 7 years) was a 97 Nissan Patrol GQ Wagon, which was quite "agricultural" as well.

I am a sniffter under 6ft 2in, and I actually was surprised with the legroom and overall seating position comfort I experienced in the LR. I found the seat very supportive (far better than what I had in the Nissan) and despite having to put the seat back to its rearmost position I felt I could comfortably drive that vehicle for a long stint. I have always been in favour of the elbow on the sill anyway, so that was a natural extension for me.

There was no problem with gear shifting, even though the Salesman told me that many people have problems operating the clutch??? I found that an upshift anywhere between 2,000 to 2,500 rpm was fine, and I suspect some people having issues may perhaps be trying to throw the stick into the next gear position without that slight little almost two-stage stick shift movement that just seems to work. We have to remember we are not driving sports cars, but work trucks

I did pick up (audibly) the high revving sensation a couple of times, but again this didn't cause any noticeable effect on driving the vehicle in a variety of traffic and road conditions.

With the windows up, fanging along the highway at 100km/hr, I found the cabin noise to be a non-issue. It was most certainly on par with my Nissan and may have even been quieter. Conversation was maintained at an easy level.

Overall, I absolutely loved it! I was very pleasantly surprised and I still have a big stupid grin on my face. I even found myself waving to another grey defender while driving home in our subaru forester

I am now hoping the rest of the year passes by with relative speed so it won't be too much longer until I can get my hands on a Puma of my own.

Cheers,
Nige

[Loubrey]

And another one is born...

Well done mate and hope you'll have it in your driveway before long!

Cheers,

Lou

[discojools]

Nige,
What lovely story!

[rick130]

Mate, you're the same height as moi and SWMBO has had a GQ through the nineties and now a GU for the last eleven years.

The Deefer is much more comfy for me on a trip than either Nissan has been, although the GU kills it for noise or more correctly the lack of.

[noyakfat]

Mate, you're the same height as moi and SWMBO has had a GQ and now a GU for the last eleven years.

The Deefer is much more comfy for me on a trip than either Nissan has been, although the GU kills it for noise or more correctly the lack of.

Thanks Rick,

I guess I am "fortunate" to have only owned base model commercials before, so I don't have too high an expectation to begin with. I certainly loved the Defender and that "cement" in my vehicle choice is starting to harden...

The most difficult thing will be patience. I will have to wait at least another 7 months or so, but at least I can do lots of research in that time.

I will also be one of those boring types who orders a Fuji white

[Nick S]

Hi Nige
must be that time of the year, I also took a new Puma 110 for a drive on Sat in Melb and have to agree with you, nice car, bit basic inside compared to my RRC but had a good feel, plenty of power and relatively quiet. The only thing I could not work out was the HUGE turning circle, maybe the steering stops were not adjusted properly. So now the dilemma, what to do with the RRC with 14 year of work on it and a heap of good bits like MD lockers front and rear and a really nice 4.6 etc
Nick

[LoveB]

enjoy... see you in canberra soon

[noyakfat]

Hi Nige The only thing I could not work out was the HUGE turning circle. So now the dilemma, what to do with the RRC with 14 year of work on it and a heap of good bits like MD lockers front and rear and a really nice 4.6 etc
Nick

I found it as good as the GQ I used to drive with 33's on it. I became quite skilled at backing into all my car parking situations with that vehicle, and I'm sure it was a good apprenticeship for Defender ownership.

As for the RRC, I'm sure you'll find any number of salivating potential owners on this site once you can bring yourself to sever that umbilical cord

[Nick S]

Yes Nige
its a bit like severing the umbilical, guess its just going to take time to get over it!

[ugu80]

despite having to put the seat back to its rearmost position I felt I could comfortably drive that vehicle for a long stint.
Nige

Don't forget Mulgo can give you more room if you want it.