New Land Rover Defender

Submitted: Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 18:59
ThreadID: 55150 Views:2685 Replies:10 FollowUps:11
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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.
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Reply By: Member - John - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:43

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 19:43
Muzz, think they have always looked good on paper.............and that's about it.


Let the posts begin.......
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Follow Up By: Member - Doug T (FNQ) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:04

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:04
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,

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Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 01:06

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 01:06
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.
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Reply By: al - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:10

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:10
when you talk to len say hello from al will u long time since i've seen him my self ! lol
regards
al
AnswerID: 290648

Reply By: Davo_60 - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:12

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:12
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
AnswerID: 290650

Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:19

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 20:19
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.

AnswerID: 290653

Follow Up By: mowing - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 23:59

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 23:59
Roachie, "once they have proven themselves reliable" are you planning on being an octogenarian ?


Regards

Mark
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Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 00:49

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 00:49
Roachie, you might find it hard to go from V8 cubes to a 2.4 bleep ant electronically controlled gizmo thingy,,,,,you know what I mean.
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FollowupID: 556086

Reply By: V8Diesel - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:08

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:08
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.
AnswerID: 290666

Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 01:12

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 01:12
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.
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FollowupID: 556090

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:47

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:47
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?
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FollowupID: 556137

Reply By: Peter 2 - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:27

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 21:27
Remember too that it is a Ford Transit engine and transmssion supposedly 're- engineered' for the Landrover.
AnswerID: 290672

Follow Up By: Muzzgit [WA] - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 00:57

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 00:57
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.

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FollowupID: 556087

Reply By: Member - Davidp P (VIC) - Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 22:39

Monday, Mar 03, 2008 at 22:39
It is to be the very last dont forget.....silverback
AnswerID: 290687

Reply By: BMKal - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 04:37

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 04:37
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.
AnswerID: 290698

Follow Up By: Julian - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 14:07

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 14:07
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
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FollowupID: 556147

Reply By: Member -Signman - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:41

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 12:41
The 'Collins Class' Submarine looked good on paper.....

AnswerID: 290732

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 13:09

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 13:09
GOLD!!!
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FollowupID: 556139

Follow Up By: patto - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 13:17

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 13:17
its a pity that it has to operates in the water ond not on a peice of paper
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Follow Up By: Steve - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 14:14

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 14:14
English not your first language then?
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Reply By: Steve63 - Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 17:47

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2008 at 17:47
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
AnswerID: 290781

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