Land Rover Defender to end production

[spdrun]

Hopefully, Land Rover will replace it with a worthy vehicle, not another cutie-utie designed for Venice Beach body builder types and soccer mooooooomies:

Britain: Land Rover Defender, RIP | The Economist

[Stretch]

I reckon through the bad times the British armed forces helped to keep that one alive. The problem these days is that the military use of a Land Rover has been somewhat reduced by "modern" land mine situations.

[Jorn]

Originally Posted by Stretch

I reckon through the bad times the British armed forces helped to keep that one alive. The problem these days is that the military use of a Land Rover has been somewhat reduced by "modern" land mine situations.

I think it's more the rich "hipsters" in large European cities. Don't think I've ever seen more Defenders than in A'dam.

[compress ignite]

Why even look at anything other than a Toyota Diesel LC ?

The option is not available in the U.S.,But elsewhere...
It's the only sensible (from reliability and cost) choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q86z195M7z4

[kerry]

Should cut down considerably on the overall need for mechanics.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by compress ignite

Why even look at anything other than a Toyota Diesel LC ?

The option is not available in the U.S.,But elsewhere...
It's the only sensible (from reliability and cost) choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q86z195M7z4

Because it uses diesel would be my answer. Bought diesel but never again. Gas model, absolutely will look at. Besides the Land Rover if I am reading right might be OK for the military but since I don't have to or want to prove to others that I can tolerate a vehicle devoid of creature comforts, I'll pass on the Defender.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by kerry

Should cut down considerably on the overall need for mechanics.

Supposedly it was easier to fix.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by Jorn

I think it's more the rich "hipsters" in large European cities. Don't think I've ever seen more Defenders than in A'dam.

Well it is has been a long time since I went to Amsterdam but I don't remember seeing many Land Rovers.

I think the Defender had a bit of status for a while in the late 1990s but on the whole it got wiped out by MLs and HRVs

[aklim]

Originally Posted by Stretch

I think the Defender had a bit of status for a while in the late 1990s but on the whole it got wiped out by MLs and HRVs

I'm not sure what status it had other than as a bare minimum stripped down vehicle. My thought is that when the MLs and HRVs came out the wanna be tough guys fell by the wayside. We had those guys when the Hummer came out and when the discomfort of the gas price came, they ditched the Macho status symbol and got what they needed S opposed to what image they wanted to project.

[P.C.]

Those who are distressed about missing an opportunity to sample the Land Rover experience should be consoled that Toro, John Deere and Snapper are still producing products...

[compress ignite]

"Lawn Tractor" (Riding Mowers) Quality has so degraded ,
Thanks to pressures from the "Big Box" stores (W*l M*rt,L*wes,H*me D*pot,Etc.)
that they be manufactured to a "Price Point"
['Lowest possible Longevity that will get them out the door.]
rather than traditional Quality,as to make them literally "JUNK-ON-WHEELS."

[Zulfiqar]

funny reading replies here about the "comforts" of a defender, it was never meant to be "comfortable" - its like a british version of the mutt, no nonsense mechanical item.

The Land Cruiser not the tarted up barge of the USA but the ones that are real LC used in military around the world are quite similar, you get absolute nothing in terms of creature comforts.

the macho wannabees who bought the hummer H2 were in a state of mind which I dont want to know - why would I want to buy a square bodied SUV that is pretty much useless even in town that gives a new meaning to bad gas mileage and drains my account dry.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

funny reading replies here about the "comforts" of a defender, it was never meant to be "comfortable" - its like a british version of the mutt, no nonsense mechanical item.

The Land Cruiser not the tarted up barge of the USA but the ones that are real LC used in military around the world are quite similar, you get absolute nothing in terms of creature comforts.

the macho wannabees who bought the hummer H2 were in a state of mind which I dont want to know - why would I want to buy a square bodied SUV that is pretty much useless even in town that gives a new meaning to bad gas mileage and drains my account dry.

And maybe that is PART, not all, PART of why it failed.

For a military, you bet. I'd not be asking for AC, stereo, 12 way reclining seats, etc, etc. For a car to go around town or cross country, why would I need to subject myself to discomfort and pay for it? Makes no sense to me.

Why is it useless around town? They gave me one as a loaner for a few hours and it wasn't bad.

[Zulfiqar]

Originally Posted by aklim

And maybe that is PART, not all, PART of why it failed.

For a military, you bet. I'd not be asking for AC, stereo, 12 way reclining seats, etc, etc. For a car to go around town or cross country, why would I need to subject myself to discomfort and pay for it? Makes no sense to me.

Why is it useless around town? They gave me one as a loaner for a few hours and it wasn't bad.

different strokes here,

the defender market was not mommy mobiles with dvd players playing mickey mouse or 500 way massage seats for the driver. It was bought usually by people who actually had to go offroad - seen lots of them in the kalahari desert.

I had the agony of driving the monstrosity called the H2 - and I live in Houston (roads are pretty large here - it still was bad - and I was tired after 3 hours in it) - doesnt park easily, very clumsy controls, bad visibility whole thing shakes on bad roads.

I dont see it being useful as a mommy carrier or even doing butch duty - maybe I ask too much from vehicles.

currently my concerns are long times in driving seat - hence easement and comfort, less fatigue - my car checks those points.

[aklim]

Originally Posted by Zulfiqar

It was bought usually by people who actually had to go offroad - seen lots of them in the kalahari desert.

I had the agony of driving the monstrosity called the H2 - and I live in Houston (roads are pretty large here - it still was bad - and I was tired after 3 hours in it) - doesnt park easily, very clumsy controls, bad visibility whole thing shakes on bad roads.

I dont see it being useful as a mommy carrier or even doing butch duty - maybe I ask too much from vehicles.

currently my concerns are long times in driving seat - hence easement and comfort, less fatigue - my car checks those points.

Unfortunately, you are correct. If I was going into the desert, the old military Jeep or the defender is adequate. When that crowd shrinks, well, the product dies with the market. It won't sell well to the crowd that cares about creature comforts.

I found the H2 and H3 easier (relatively) than the H1 but compared to other SUVs or my Excursion, there isn't much of a difference. Obviously, compared to your E320 (W210?) you are correct. It sucks. Hell, even compared to my 99 E300, it sucks for the reasons you mentioned but they are different vehicles.

I'm sure you don't but that is NOT what it was designed for. It was designed to LOOK the part. It was designed so I can look to be tough and rugged to show off to my buddies. Run any of the H series alongside with the military Hummer and take it thru the paces if you want to see parts fall off in rough terrain.

Maybe the W210 does but it scores no points when it comes to LOOKING tough. I can't look or sound rugged to my buddies when I pull up in a W210. Again, you bought a H series for the image. Much like a lot of the militia wear camo and prance around with an AR to look and sound tough to their buddies. Obviously joining the military and being tough is harder than to look the part. Would I wear camo if I was hunting anything but deer during gun season? Sure. Because the situation demands it. Same as if I was training in the military. For daily wear? If I need to look the part, yes.