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New Land Rover Defender

Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 17:59

Muzzgit [WA]

Hi y'all. I read with interest in this months 4WD monthly about the new 4cyl 2.4L common rail defender with a so called "heavy duty" 6 speed manual box!

Anyone else out there taken an interest? I've never been a Land Rover enthusiast, heck I've never driven one! But it looks good on paper.
Trying to wash out black smelly mud.
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Cheers,
Muzz.

I don't mind my missus having the last word, I just wish she'd get to it.
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ThreadID: 55150 Replies: 10
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AnswerID: 290640   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:43

Member - John replied:

Muzz, think they have always looked good on paper.............and that's about it.


Let the posts begin.......
Before the last trip
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John
Reply 1 of 10
FollowupID: 556022   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:04

Member - Doug T (FNQ) posted:

John
They have always looked good on wheels too , like the Toyota Troopcarrier They look Tough, they look the part , and are an Aussie Icon, just look up and ask Len Beadell,

.
Along the Gibbie Creek Track
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Doug & Dusty
Along the Gibbie Creek Track
Gregory National Park
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 556089   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 00:06

Muzzgit [WA] posted:

Too right doug. When I go on holidays into parts of the South West, I often wonder about the crazy b*stards who made all those tracks through the scrub.

I imagine what it would've been like, knowing I wanted to get to a particular bit of the coast but I would have to make my own tracks.

I have learnt from some older folk that most of those tracks were cut through with Land Rovers.
Trying to wash out black smelly mud.
Click Image to Enlarge
Cheers,
Muzz.

I don't mind my missus having the last word, I just wish she'd get to it.
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 290648   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:10

al replied:

when you talk to len say hello from al will u long time since i've seen him my self ! lol
regards
al
Reply 2 of 10
AnswerID: 290650   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:12

Davo_60 replied:

I reckon they seem like a good thing and it is what I would buy if in the market for a new 4wd. I'd be prepared to take a punt on build quality and they offer good value for the price plus a decent load carrying capacity.

Dave
Reply 3 of 10
AnswerID: 290653   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:19

Member - Roachie (SA) replied:

Muzz, Like you, I'm thinking they look good on paper and have a good payload capacity, kW and torque figures (for the size of the donk).

I would consider getting one in the future, once they have proven themselves to be reliable.

I don't believe I've just typed the preceeding 2 paragraphs!!! hahah.... but I do mean what I've written. It'd be a 130 dual cab for me.


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There's only one thing more painful than learning from experience and that is NOT learning from experience!
Reply 4 of 10
FollowupID: 556084   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 22:59

mowing posted:

Roachie, "once they have proven themselves reliable" are you planning on being an octogenarian ?


Regards

Mark
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 556086   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 23:49

Muzzgit [WA] posted:

Roachie, you might find it hard to go from V8 cubes to a 2.4 pissant electronically controlled gizmo thingy,,,,,you know what I mean.
Trying to wash out black smelly mud.
Click Image to Enlarge
Cheers,
Muzz.

I don't mind my missus having the last word, I just wish she'd get to it.
FollowUp 2 of 2
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AnswerID: 290666   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:08

V8Diesel replied:

I'm waiting for the new 4.8T, 9 door, 900cc, 3 cyl, supercharged, VVT triple turboed, CRD, twin Hicloned, fitch equipped 'workhorse' model.

2.4 overstressed litres of high tech gadgetry to push all that metal around.............when I see a few with 500+ trouble free km's on the clock I'll start taking them seriously.

Maybe I'm wrong, but it just seems there no such thing as a free lunch.
Reply 5 of 10
FollowupID: 556090   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 00:12

Muzzgit [WA] posted:

The way things are now, most new cars are made with fuel economy and comfort first and foremost. Throw it away after five years and get a new one.

Sorry to say Dave but big old busses like yours are a dying breed, and dying faster than you think.
Trying to wash out black smelly mud.
Click Image to Enlarge
Cheers,
Muzz.

I don't mind my missus having the last word, I just wish she'd get to it.
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 556137   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 11:47

Truckster (Vic) posted:

V8 is right... its all going the wrong way for remote touring....


FWIW I think they appear to have bleep build quality, with all the bends and rivets pulling panels in everywhere. Very much looks like a pre-production model, but its the real guff.

Have they fixed the seating position so your in the middle of the steering wheel yet?
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 290672   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:27

Peter 2 replied:

Remember too that it is a Ford Transit engine and transmssion supposedly 're- engineered' for the Landrover.
Madigan Line 07
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Peter
1988 M1026 Humvee
Reply 6 of 10
FollowupID: 556087   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 23:57

Muzzgit [WA] posted:

I dunno about the ford donk,,,, they are still having nightmares about the transit vans with more problems than a 3.0 patrol!!!

The Transit vans have the same fuel pump as the 3.0 patrol and are more troublesome. I have just had my 3.0 patrol fuel pump re-conned at 148,000 klm and it cost $3680.00.

The fuel injection place told me they do one of these fuel pumps almost weekly!

I doubt the new Defender is even related to the transit.

Trying to wash out black smelly mud.
Click Image to Enlarge
Cheers,
Muzz.

I don't mind my missus having the last word, I just wish she'd get to it.
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 290687   Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:39

Member - Davidp P (VIC) replied:

It is to be the very last dont forget.....silverback

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silverback
Reply 7 of 10
AnswerID: 290698   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 03:37

BMKal replied:

Muzz,

It is the Ford Transit engine, and so far, no problems reported in the Defender. They are definitely worth considering - all reports on them are good, both from the magazine comparisons and from quite a few who own them (on the Land Rover forum). They've scored pretty well in every comparison they've been in so far.

The biggest problem I've heard of so far is actually getting one. Apparently Land Rover Australia has only a fairly limited "quota" and most of these are sold before they hit the shore. From what I've read, if you want anything other than a white one, you're in for a bit of a wait.

And I never take any notice of the people who just bag them (or any other make) without personal first hand knowledge of what they're talking about. They've got nothing constructive as they don't know sh*t. Need to get a life and educate their small minds.
Reply 8 of 10
FollowupID: 556147   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 13:07

Julian posted:

I've got one and it's bloody brilliant! Had a TD5 Defender from new and did 230,000kms with no problems. Now this one I've had since November and no problems. It's quieter, faster, better put together, more comfortable, better heating/air conditioning and nobody's noticed that I've changed vehicles as it's the same colour (green)!
Highly recommended

Jules
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 290732   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 11:41

Member -Signman replied:

The 'Collins Class' Submarine looked good on paper.....

The Ultimate Hitch-hiker
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Signman- NSW
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Reply 9 of 10
FollowupID: 556139   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:09

Truckster (Vic) posted:

GOLD!!!
FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 556141   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:17

patto posted:

its a pity that it has to operates in the water ond not on a peice of paper
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 556149   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 13:14

Steve posted:

English not your first language then?
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 290781   Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 16:47

Steve63 replied:

Had a look at the defender last time we upgraded. Looked good on paper and the people who have them like them. If you see one out bush have a chat. It will be more insightful than the rubbish you get in the 4wd mags. My current thinking is that review results are more related to advertising space purchased than product performance. I can think of a couple of items I own that have had positive reviews and are just a waste of space. Many times I think the review is really a "infomercial". That is a advert written as a honest review or recommendation.

The only thing that put me off was spares in the bush. We have had that problem big time with a previous vehicle. Most places told us they would have to get (ie fly) the parts in and added if you had a Landcruiser or Patrol they had the parts we needed on the shelf. That ate up 14 days of our travel plans. This is one of the resons we use standard parts ie no suspension upgrades (springs and shocks) as much as possible.

I still think they are a great vehicle. Maybe next time...

Steve
Reply 10 of 10