No more Defenders !!

[Crusher]

O dear ...... No more Landrover Defenders.........

BBC News - Emission rules to end Land Rover Defender production

[paddlers]

I can't believe that they claim it's evolved over 67 years !!! They've obviously never owned/driven one !!

[Chris Caton]

[kerny]

Originally Posted by paddlers

I can't believe that they claim it's evolved over 67 years !!! They've obviously never owned/driven one !!

[Barrowboy]

67 years and never managed to manufacture a comfortable seat so I can understand why they themselves admit no chance of meeting any new emission regs!

[Chris Caton]

[paddlers]

Don't even mention the seat, I was out for 8 hours last night shooting & my back's still aching now !! How they can charge £20,000 plus for a vehicle with a seat that's that bad is beyond belief..

[Chris Caton]

[Festinghouse]

the end of self changing oil systems, and numerous welding projects

[paddlers]

I suppose part of the attraction is the similarity to driving a boat. As I have to take into consideration wind direction & the vague steering as I'm driving it. Don't get me wrong, it's a great vehicle (of choice) for work but boy is it uncomfortable. Spent a bit of time welding the steps back on and replacing the drivers door stay this week....

[wavelength]

As I have to take into consideration wind direction & the vague steering as I'm driving it.

aah yes...when three lanes of a motorway are simply not enough.

[mick]

Originally Posted by paddlers

I suppose part of the attraction is the similarity to driving a boat. As I have to take into consideration wind direction & the vague steering as I'm driving it. Don't get me wrong, it's a great vehicle (of choice) for work but boy is it uncomfortable. Spent a bit of time welding the steps back on and replacing the drivers door stay this week....

What is it a 90 or 110 the 90 are terrible but I find my 130 has a good ride got 35 psi all round

[paddlers]

It's a 90 Mick with Goodrich Mud Terrains, bit like a tractor. I also drive a 130 occasionally & agree a much better drive on the road but pretty hopeless off road due to having a 3 acre turning circle.... Personally wouldn't have anything else for work & I've had the lot from Range Rover to Suzuki 110 with Mercs, Toyotas & Izuzu in the middle..... but oh my aching back !!!

[Chris Caton]

my 90 also has bfg mud terrains, cruises at 70+ all day long n will do considerably more if needed, no back ache, no wandering steering, the heater is toasty, the heated seats r even toastier, the doors all shut like a RR, I'm 6ft+ n no light weight n the 90 is spot on, it gets used for work, towing, off road n everything else, I'm appy

[paddlers]

Must be a special Chris. On mine the doors have daylight at the bottom (despite LR fitting lots of plastic shims on the hinges from new), the bonnet barely fits, heaters hot in summer/cold in winter and the set bases collapse after a few months. I'm also 6ft & 17stone but don't fit in without the window down and my elbow sticking out...
This isn't the usual Defender baiting thread by a Jap owner as I've had them for thirty odd years & drove my first one age 14 & will miss them if they finish. Great vehicles for work but boy they're uncomfortable !!!

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by paddlers

Must be a special Chris. On mine the doors have daylight at the bottom (despite LR fitting lots of plastic shims on the hinges from new), the bonnet barely fits, heaters hot in summer/cold in winter and the set bases collapse after a few months. I'm also 6ft & 17stone but don't fit in without the window down and my elbow sticking out...
This isn't the usual Defender baiting thread by a Jap owner as I've had them for thirty odd years & drove my first one age 14 & will miss them if they finish. Great vehicles for work but boy they're uncomfortable !!!

no, nowt special, ex dealer demo, jus ad spec I wanted n was local, dealer was the usual crap, won't be goin back there
90 is jus a county hard top wiv heated seats n heated screen, no traction control or air con. av fitted a few bits since, including bulk head removal bar n seat rails, loads more seat space now, better suspension n anti roll bars binned, does me
funny enuff, I'm 6ft n 17'ish stone, still getting over op for bowel cancer last year n no probs wiv space, bin drivin them for best part of 40 years now so maybe I'm jus immune
opefully lr will get the next model sorted, they seem to be a bit more on the case these days, the latest rr sport is a nice motor, so is the disco

[IanH]

My 110 was worst vehicle that I ever owned. Every journey was an adventure. Even a local trip felt like I had undertaken the Dakar.

I guess I was seduced by the classic Series models, and thought that a 110 would be progress. I think they all came rusty direct out of the factory. I couldn't believe it when I bought some new replacement doors and they were already starting to rust. I guess that they had not learned how to prevent galvanic corrosion.

Best bit was the engine. Someone had replaced the petrol with a diesel from a Daihatsu Fourtrak.

In the end I used it as a shed.

[paddlers]

Nice idea getting the bulkhead moved back, a mate of mine had it done on his 130 and it made a huge difference to the driving position! Definitely a Marmite vehicle but there's no denying their basic workhorse ethic, I just wish it was more comfortable to sit in....!

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by paddlers

This isn't the usual Defender baiting thread by a Jap owner as I've had them for thirty odd years ...............

are you sure ............

Originally Posted by IanH

My 110 was worst vehicle that I ever owned. Every journey was an adventure. Even a local trip felt like I had undertaken the Dakar.

I guess I was seduced by the classic Series models, and thought that a 110 would be progress. I think they all came rusty direct out of the factory. I couldn't believe it when I bought some new replacement doors and they were already starting to rust. I guess that they had not learned how to prevent galvanic corrosion.

Best bit was the engine. Someone had replaced the petrol with a diesel from a Daihatsu Fourtrak.

In the end I used it as a shed.

[paddlers]

I knew somebody would have to chip in but didn't mention resale value..
Honestly think that they're a great vehicle but lacking in the comfort department. The only bit of modernisation seems to be the use of torx bolts.