Land Rover Defender 2020

[Interceptor]

TBH I'm more disappointed in the new pretender than a prehistoric wolf would be looking at a pug or chihuahua and learning they're his evolutionary descendants.

I'd rather hock myself to the eyeballs and buy a G-wagen

[Sabantien]

It appeals to me because I want a 4wd but I also want my luxuries, but still think this looks more like a Disco than a Defender. Go to their website and the profile looks like the Range Rover/Sport, just with the back chopped off.

These vehicles are legendary for their off road ability, so I have no doubt it will have that.

But their offroad ability is overshadowed by their unreliability, especially when it comes to electronics, and this is chock full of them.

Probably just as well i'm not the target market, so it doesn't really matter what i think.

[Vesper Martini]

Recent Land rovers have no such Reliability issues, it would be foolish to write them off on that basis.

[cheap]

Reliable you say, www.disco3.co.uk probably the largest forum for the Land Rover product. Check the volume of issues and defects - perhaps you’ll change your opinion on reliability?

As for offroad, I actually do many KM’s offroad and hardly ever see any LR product.

Grey nomads - negative on that perspective. Greys are penny pinchers who know about LR’s poor reliability and luxury toy perception. 4x4 utes, Land Cruiser, Patrol with the odd big US Truck, this is the Grey market.

[Sprintey]

You'd easily bet on the Japanese built stuff (give or take recent diesel quibbles)

But the Mrs' mad uncle took a Classic Rangey all the way across in recent years, went in from Sunny Coast and came out somewhere near Karratha. I was amazed as the car looked pretty beat up before the trip!

I wonder if LR will do a simple 12volt wiring electrics version of base model with no info tech or computers and a physical key haha

[Crazy Dazz]

They can call it whatever they want,
but in no universe is that a Defender or descendent thereof.

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

They can call it whatever they want,
but in no universe is that a Defender or descendent thereof.

I think it’s pretty good. The problem is the Defender didn’t change for 50 years.

If the Defender had followed normal car generational updates, and this was gen 7 Defender, we would be conmenting how it’s kept remarkably true

Look at the original LandCruiser and a 200 series now, there is probably bigger difference there

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

I dunno Grey Nomads don't like change & are hard to please.

I do see quite a few late model Discovery's pulling big vans.

[CyberWasp]

Suzuki has shown them how it should have been done with their latest iteration of the Jimny / Sierra.

[Sprintey]

One must remember that the original was in no shape or form called a 'Defender' until the late 1980s/early 1990s...

It was quite simply a Land Rover all the way through Series I, II, IIa, III, Stage 1 V8; and then the 'County'. The name 'Defender' comes after that.

If anything, the more iconic names were '109/88' - the wheelbases.

[Sprintey]

Also & despite my preference for Japanese built 'reliability:

200 LC - diesel only
Hilux - diesel only
Prado - diesel only

If I want to build a 4wd and want a petrol drivetrain, the Defender is now the best choice for flexible layout/bodystyles with a petrol motor.

(The Y62 Patrol is a great choice in the 5 door wagon bodystyle, too.)

[SSVPom]

Local dealer to me says the starting point on the road for a 110 5 door will be $80k.
Too much in my opinion, especially as that will be the 140kw 4 cylinder ‘base’ model, less any desirable option packs.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by cheap

Reliable you say, www.disco3.co.uk probably the largest forum for the Land Rover product. Check the volume of issues and defects - perhaps you’ll change your opinion on reliability?

As for offroad, I actually do many KM’s offroad and hardly ever see any LR product.

Grey nomads - negative on that perspective. Greys are penny pinchers who know about LR’s poor reliability and luxury toy perception. 4x4 utes, Land Cruiser, Patrol with the odd big US Truck, this is the Grey market.

Posting a link to a forums main page is not very specific. but I had a quick look and couldn't find anything to change my Opinion.
I know a few people with Disco 3s & 4s. its the initial outlay that keeps them out of the Bush.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Brazen

Look at the original LandCruiser and a 200 series now, there is probably bigger difference there

But the descendant of the original BJ20 Landcruiser is the current 70 series VDJ76/78/79 etc.).

The 200 series is the descendant of the FJ55.

Dr Terry

[Sprintey]

A 79 or 76 is not too far off a 1985 70 series. Lots has changed mechanically but overall concept similar.

If you take a close look at a 76 wagon, look into the body welding etc, it's identical to how a 60 is put together, right up to the way they do the roof rain catching rails.

[Sprintey]

Back to Defender, it's made of alloy, it's not going to rust. That's a massive plus. No steel chassis to rust either. That's one reason so many are on the road (steel chassis replacements being made up until today help the older ones too).

Beach driving, no rust. Sounds great.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Back to Defender, it's made of alloy, it's not going to rust. That's a massive plus. No steel chassis to rust either. That's one reason so many are on the road (steel chassis replacements being made up until today help the older ones too).

Beach driving, no rust. Sounds great.

Aluminium corrodes you know.

[Sprintey]

I guess it does. But not at the same rate as non-stainless steel?

I've seen some corrosion on alloy LR doors where the door skin meets the steel frame, someone mentioned some sort of electro decay (wrong term, I forget what they called it). Also, sometimes you fit a sacrificial anode on boats, saving the alloy hull while the more reactive metal decays.

Promise I won't drive it through the surf

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

I guess it does. But not at the same rate as non-stainless steel?

I've seen some corrosion on alloy LR doors where the door skin meets the steel frame, someone mentioned some sort of electro decay (wrong term, I forget what they called it). Also, sometimes you fit a sacrificial anode on boats, saving the alloy hull while the more reactive metal decays.

Promise I won't drive it through the surf

Yeah, dissimilar metals. KW's have aluminium cabs but where the heavy U shaped reinforced bar bolts across the back, allows corrosion to take place.
Like Silver Eagle coaches being SS frame have corrosion in the steel suspension contact points.
Even so LR's would take a while for that to .happen.

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

A 79 or 76 is not too far off a 1985 70 series. Lots has changed mechanically but overall concept similar.

If you take a close look at a 76 wagon, look into the body welding etc, it's identical to how a 60 is put together, right up to the way they do the roof rain catching rails.

Yes, but my point is that the 200, was derived from the 100 series, which was based on the 80 series, which was born of the 60 series which all began with the FJ55.

Today's 70 series came from the 40 series, which began with the 20. A totally different bloodline.

The Prado is a different line again.

In the same way that a Range Rover was a different line to a Defender/County or a Disco.

Dr Terry

[Sprintey]

4xoverland on youtube has an excellent appraisal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utZRGNCeZFM

Seriously good numbers for the car. His impression of it's weakness is like an Apple product - but I think in time people will find workarounds to mod and hack the things into Bush Mechanics abilities. He's right that the coil sprung basic model is the great hope for it, and that someone will make 17s that fit.

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

4xoverland on youtube has an excellent appraisal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utZRGNCeZFM

Seriously good numbers for the car. His impression of it's weakness is like an Apple product - but I think in time people will find workarounds to mod and hack the things into Bush Mechanics abilities. He's right that the coil sprung basic model is the great hope for it, and that someone will make 17s that fit.

The Apple thing is spot on. And yeah, you can hack things, but it's not simple.

This isn't just a LR thing, it's most new cars. That's why I'm a fan of the older 4wds, it's just getting harder to find them in decent condition, at least ones that people are willing to sell.

[Sioso]

Top of the line model is over $150K, yeah that seems reasonable for a Defender
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-6044126/?Cr=0

[Sprintey]

Yikes! As long as the little 90 with the steelies, coil springs, cloth interior with rubber floormats, smaller petrol motor is closer to 50K....

[Crazy Dazz]

rather average review here: https://www.whichcar.com.au/reviews/...p400-se-review
sadly, I guess that's what passes for "motoring journalism" these days.

I have no particular opinion on this car, except to say that its not really a successor for the Defender (which may not be a bad thing)

So question is, is there really a need for a "Defender Type" 4wd.
Something reasonably capable off road, indestructible and reliable, but relatively basic and inexpensive?

and if so, what current vehicle(s) best suit that criteria.

The 70 series I guess is Toyota's offering, but I think that fails due to its cost and over-powered V8

[Sprintey]

Here's some much better auto journalism from a punter, in a great owner review with a twist:

https://www.caradvice.com.au/owner-r...er-110-review/

[jpd80]

The Defenders overall shape reminds me of a giant T6 Bronco but different.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

rather average review here: https://www.whichcar.com.au/reviews/...p400-se-review
sadly, I guess that's what passes for "motoring journalism" these days.

I have no particular opinion on this car, except to say that its not really a successor for the Defender (which may not be a bad thing)

So question is, is there really a need for a "Defender Type" 4wd.
Something reasonably capable off road, indestructible and reliable, but relatively basic and inexpensive?

and if so, what current vehicle(s) best suit that criteria.

The 70 series I guess is Toyota's offering, but I think that fails due to its cost and over-powered V8

Jimny?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So question is, is there really a need for a "Defender Type" 4wd.
Something reasonably capable off road, indestructible and reliable, but relatively basic and inexpensive?

The Mercedes G wagon was doing ok there until you mentioned inexpensive

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

Jimny?

The new Jimny is epic - I don't even like 4x4s but I look at one of those in Green and I think wow I could see myself driving one of those as a daily.

I'd love a Jimny but with more muscle - circa 150KW turbo 4 in manual and I'd be happy as.