H166 HUE The Last Defender

[Bobthebeard]

I bet the 'new' Defender has small windows, a lower roof line and retina searing head/tail lights. So not really a Defender at all then.... Just another fashion directed vee hickle. Great for school runs.

[Noel Tidybeard]

That's a false and emotive argument - they could just stop making cars altogether to reduce road deaths.

teach kids road sense might work as well

[captain_70s]

Isn't it the fact that the Defender is shit for both pedestrians and occupants in an accident that it hasn't been sold in the US for yonks?

 

I've never really understood the market for these to be honest. They are hideously expensive brand new and uncompromisingly uncomfortable, very basic in design yet not terribly reliable and anybody who wants to "go anywhere" may as well buy one from 20 years ago that's essentially the same but cheaper. I very rarely see them around up here, most have simply dissolved away and all the farmers have Hilux pick-ups.

[New POD]

The Indian-owned Land Rover?

 

TATA were planning a JRL plant in China because of erm import duty and exchange rate risk mitigation.

[RoadworkUK]

Now all we need is Mercedes to stop building the G-Wagen; a car which genuinely should have ceased production two decades ago and is now exclusively bought by people who wear £3000 a pair jeans below their arses.

[Lacquer Peel]

 

 

Isn't it the fact that the Defender is shit for both pedestrians and occupants in an accident that it hasn't been sold in the US for yonks?

It's only recently that commercial vehicles have been subjected to the same crash tests as cars in the US and Europe.

 

 

The body on frame pickups popular in the US used to crash REALLY badly.

[garbaldy]

Bleedin norra what speed is that pickup crash test conducted at,

I knew discos folded like tin foil but didn't realise all separate chassis vehicles did.

[Felly Magic]

I don't think this will be the last we see of the Defender really, TATA love selling old tech to Indians, so perhaps an Indian Defender is on the cards. The Ford Cargo and Leyland PD3 still live on in India...Just a thought

[brickwall]

Defenders will still be on the road for yonks. It was hand built for the most parts, so it was inefficient and had to go, but we'll see what comes next...

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I wonder how long it will be until the first brand new homemade Defender, made from parts brought over the counter, happens?

[JohnDeere]

Do we deffo know it's for pedestrian safety? My money's on the space could be used more efficiently for a line that churns out motors faster and at a higher profit margin (which is fair enough, it's a business at the end of the day).

I think that's exactly it, plus JLR want to move Solihull to be all riveted ally moncoque manufacturing. When the Disco retires in March that will be the end of steel chassis-based construction there.

 

What you also realise watching the final assembly there is that a LWB RR costs basically the same to manufacture as a Disco but sells for twice as much. So the more high-end motors you can have sailing down the line, the better for the West Midlands and Tata's economies.

[ERNO]

What's people living in rural areas opinion on the amount of Land Rovers in working use by farmers etc.? There always seems to be a few for sale on eBay in Cumbria and Yorkshire.

[ERNO]

I'd imagine a lot of people have switched to a quad bike in the last twenty years. Big quads with a couple of bales on the back are pretty much standard for feeding sheep etc these days.

[brickwall]

Land Rovers a plenty around these parts.

[ERNO]

Land Rovers a plenty around these parts.

 

I don't get out of London much so I was wondering how many were still doing active work in fields. The HiLux is fairly ubiquitous too but the only Land Rovers I see are an old Series LR which someone local drives and the odd "urban" Defender. 

[warren t claim]

I'm more worried about what the Darleks are going to do for spare lights now.

[garethj]

They weren't Land Rover lights, you didn't see the Daleks light up dim and then flash when the indicators and brakes were on at the same time.

[willswitchengage]

I think that's exactly it, plus JLR want to move Solihull to be all riveted ally moncoque manufacturing. When the Disco retires in March that will be the end of steel chassis-based construction there.

 

What you also realise watching the final assembly there is that a LWB RR costs basically the same to manufacture as a Disco but sells for twice as much. So the more high-end motors you can have sailing down the line, the better for the West Midlands and Tata's economies.

 

So does this mean the RR Sport is body on chassis as well?!

 

That is also so correct. VW loses money on Lupos and Polos and things, but makes mega bunce on its Audis. They cost the same to make. Who loses? Stupid consumers...

[ERNO]

I think the new Defender platform, whatever that may be, might be quite exciting. I have the impression that there's a decent amount of R&D money around at JLR these days to come up with something good. It would be great to see something with a pickup body, or other special bodies for that matter, at a price that was affordable to farmers, local authorities, power companies etc.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

So does this mean the RR Sport is body on chassis as well?!

 

That is also so correct. VW loses money on Lupos and Polos and things, but makes mega bunce on its Audis. They cost the same to make. Who loses? Stupid consumers...

No, the new RRS uses the same platform as the proper Range Rover. That leaves the Discovery as the only thing with a chassis.

The Discovery Sport and Evoque use the Freelander 2 platform , which is basically a 10 year old Mondeo one, ironically put together in the same factory where the X-Type was made.

[willswitchengage]

Ah ok, googled the old one though...

 

 

I wonder if all the drug dealers and successful hairdressers know their cars have the dynamic properties of an Iveco Eurocargo

[garbaldy]

Let's see how mr may deals with land rover tonight on episode two of cars of the people.

 

In a show of solidarity to LR I put a deposit down on one today,

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just noticed the missing comma in my previous post. But as Scousers are supposed to be comedy geniuses, perhaps they do build them ironically.

[Albert Ross]

I drive a 2a 109" diesel. I work at a rural Lincolnshire Main LR dealer. We still have a dozen Defenders "in stock". I have the privilege of drilling holes in pristine bodywork, and lobbing rivnuts in them. It's quite an emotional feeling, knowing these are the last ones we'll register... seriously. But, business is business. More money can be had by fitting electric automatic opening sidesteps to RR Sports, than by selling filters to enthusiasts, who all crow on about "the good old days". I prefer mine because it has elbow room. I also feel mine handles better on leaf springs, than modern boingies.... but, progress is progress. If the company survives, just like the Judge Dredd film perceived, then so be it, I keep my job.

[JohnDeere]

I wonder if all the drug dealers and successful hairdressers know their cars have the dynamic properties of an Iveco Eurocargo

don't worry, the Disco 3/4, and particularly the old Sport, go around bends surprisingly well for 2.5 tonne trucks