New defender order

[jb007]

Hi All

I am considering placing an order for a Defender P400 S with couple of options and I called two dealers in Sydney to discuss pricing and got contradictory information:
1) One dealer mentioned that LR is not accepting any orders for the S (and lower) variants for any of the models and this includes Defender so my options would be to look at SE as starting point
2) Second dealer mentioned that I should be able to place an order for any variant advertised on the LR website but mentioned that MY23.5 specifications will be released shortly and LR will advise what will change (features and/or pricing) from the MY23 specifications

Has anyone else heard about LR only accepting orders for SE variants or above? Or is the dealer pushing me towards the higher spec?


Thanks
JB

[Summiitt]

I agree with the second dealer, if its on the au website, it should be able to be ordered. I can recommend Macaurthur Landrover in sydney-Isaac Taylor, he was good and honest with pricing etc, and I'm towards Cooma, so not that local, but an easy transaction

[one_iota]

I agree with the second dealer, if its on the au website, it should be able to be ordered. I can recommend Macaurthur Landrover in sydney-Isaac Taylor, he was good and honest with pricing etc, and I'm towards Cooma, so not that local, but an easy transaction

My experience in ordering suggests that the offer on the website is not a guarantee of what will be delivered. When I ordered the dealer and I looked at what JLR were able to offer at that specific point in time. It is a moveable feast. At a point in the process, the offer will be confirmed with specific details. You can accept the offer or back out. Given the state of material supply and lead times it is almost impossible to know.

For example on ordering a D300 SE: The larger centre screen was no longer standard or optional. The matrix headlights option was likewise no longer available.

[mowog]

I have a P400 S 110 on Order that was before all the web site updates. The contract states a MY23 with the big screen and a few other options. I did contact my dealer when I saw the MY23.5 changes its still not clear what I will get built

[jb007]

The continuously moving target worries me a bit and the fact that what you sign-up for in the contract may change until the build is locked in.
I know its unlikely but what if LR decides of offer air suspension as an option on P400 S and they decide to charge extra for having air suspension!

I see the deposit as an order fees to get in the queue but the exact pricing / spec will be determined closer to the build date. Until then the specs / pricing can change and the customer needs to decide if they want to pay extra (if the price goes up) or cancel the order.

PS: I spoke to the dealer in Parramatta today and the sales person informed me that parts supply seems to be getting slightly better eg availability of larger screens. He also thinks that the larger screen will become standard to minimise variance between models. Will wait and see what comes through for MY23.5

[Tombie]

Happened even with the old Defender.

We placed a build order just before the next MY release was due.

What we ordered couldn’t be delivered as they changed the spec in the new MY.
We had to re-configure.


Personally, wait for the new MY spec to be released and place order then.

[Summiitt]

The continuously moving target worries me a bit and the fact that what you sign-up for in the contract may change until the build is locked in.
I know its unlikely but what if LR decides of offer air suspension as an option on P400 S and they decide to charge extra for having air suspension!

I see the deposit as an order fees to get in the queue but the exact pricing / spec will be determined closer to the build date. Until then the specs / pricing can change and the customer needs to decide if they want to pay extra (if the price goes up) or cancel the order.

PS: I spoke to the dealer in Parramatta today and the sales person informed me that parts supply seems to be getting slightly better eg availability of larger screens. He also thinks that the larger screen will become standard to minimise variance between models. Will wait and see what comes through for MY23.5

My 90 was ordered in April 21 with a 7 month build, it turned out to be a 12 month build, however I gained quite a few updates that I didn't ask for, a 22MY comp plate and they held the price agreed to in 21, so I was pretty happy

[laughto]

I've had my order in for a D300 SE since late May '21 and still has not been built. It is currently in queue for a build for this month, however has been put back a week - again.

Since our original order, we have been thru a MY22 -> MY23 model change with price rise (which dealer absorbed), spec changes and components not able to be supplied (interactive display and 11.5 touchscreen amongst others). I'm not confident that our current Built date of 24/6 will see the light of day, and may push us to a MY23.5 model, with whatever changes that may bring.

The way I see it, the long and short of it given the current delays, you are unlikely to end up with the car you originally signed up for unless you are very lucky. If ours is built in the next month, by the time we get it, it will be close to 18 months! Lots of things change in that time.

[jb007]

Thanks every one for providing their own personal insights - I will test drive both the D300 and P400 models next week and will base my decision on that.

I can wait up to 18 months for the vehicle to be built and delivered as the lease on my current vehicle expires end of 2023 and based on feedback from others it looks like I will be waiting that long and who knows which model year will be built/delivered then - probably MY24!

In terms of the engine choice (D300 vs P400) I am still not sure which way to go. I have listed few points about my (foreseeable) needs and I am hoping to get some inputs from other members who have gone through a similar decision:
- I have owned diesels over last 10 years: Discovery 4 SDV6 for 6 years and BMW X5 30D for last 4 years and I have been happy with the diesels for the grunt and fuel economy
- My personal situation has changed over last couple of years and I do more short trips now (kids school drop-offs and pick-ups, kids sports, etc) than before. So most of my driving will be in the city with occasional longer trips - say 3 to 4 trips a year
- I have done 45K kms in 4 years in my current vehicle - but COVID is partially to blame for that. Realistically I would do no more than 15K kms a year
- In terms of 4WD I don't plan to do any extreme stuff - just driving on beach, to the camp sites, easier fire trails, etc. In other words I am not looking to challenge my ability or risk damage to my vehicle but still have occasional off-road fun
- I don't plan to go to remote touring but if I go it will be once in a lifetime trip and I am happy to carry petrol if required
- I don't plan to tow anything
- I plan to keep the Defender for a longer time frame - lets say 10 years (in fact I still miss my Discovery 4 and I only sold it as I had to go overseas for work)


Based on these points, I am seriously considering switching to a petrol (P400) this time around as I have read (on various forums) about oil dilution (what ever that means), DPF related issues on the diesel engines when they are mostly driven in the urban situations. Based on my personal experience, I have been driving my X5 30D (also with an inline 6 diesel) in urban situations and I have noticed that the condition based servicing (CBS) suggests oil changes more frequently than recommended by BMW so my hypothesis is that shorter trips are causing the system to detect "something" in the oil to suggest more frequent oil changes which can't be good for the long term. Not sure what its doing to the DPF!


On the other hand, the fuel economy of P400 worries me a bit - I have read that it varies from 11 L / 100kms to 16 L / 100kms (far from the 9.9 L / 100kms advertised by LR).
I know that fuel economy is proportionally tied to the way you drive and I am a fairly conservative driver - my current average on X5 30D is 8.6 L / 100kms (over 45K kms). I don't expect the Defender P400 to come close to the economy of the X5 but I don't want it to be twice as bad either


Can I please get some real life / long term fuel economy figures for the Defender 110 P400 so that I can get some idea from real users and not review websites.

Sorry for a bit of a brain dump but all the points above do not make the decision easy! And I have not even started thinking about the options!

[laughto]

Sure sounds like a P400 to me. Only reason I opted for the D300 was because of some extended trips towing a can. Otherwise petrol engine would be my choice based on the points you raise.