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Home > General > No more Defenders and Freelanders (apparently) |
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pab Member Since: 28 Aug 2012 Location: Now in Mid-Wales Posts: 2006 |
Sorry to dissent, but I hated the DC100 - particularly as a Defender replacement. It was a plaything, not a workhorse.
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18th May 2013 9:27 am |
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j77 Member Since: 26 Nov 2008 Location: Fife Posts: 2909 |
I have the DC100 brochure and they are very tough and rugged, the interiors can still be scrubbed down as with the current Defender. LR have to make it saleable or as they have stated the Defender will have no future.
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18th May 2013 11:02 am |
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pab Member Since: 28 Aug 2012 Location: Now in Mid-Wales Posts: 2006 |
There certainly are aspects of the DC100 which are rugged, yes, and they even fitted the concept car with a winch and tow points at each corner (which won't, of course, make it to production for reasons of cost and pedestrian safety respectively). But with those protruding wheelarches and various plastic mouldings it's just too vulnerable for a Defender replacement. A workhorse inevitably takes the odd knock, and one advantage of the Defender is that these do it very little damage due to the flat aluminium panels (which won't rust and are easily repaired) and good protection from its steel bumpers (which are, of course, a problem with the new regs). Then there's practicality - with that low roofline and what appears to be a relatively narrow rear door it's not obvious that it has sufficient load space or accessibility. And there's the looks - I can't see the old-school farmers going for it!
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18th May 2013 11:57 am |
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Adrian888 Member Since: 07 Apr 2013 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 174 |
There comes a point when continually re-engineering a car to meet the continual flood of legislation coming out Brussels becomes uneconomic and it is easier to start with a clean sheet. Given all the conflicting safety/economy targets and legislation being heaped upon manufacturers I can understand why JLR have probably reached the stage the Defender needs a totally new start. However i also suspect there will be legislative loopholes they can exploit to keep it going a bit longer, just call it French and they will be allowed to do anything.
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18th May 2013 1:50 pm |
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taztastic Member Since: 03 Feb 2011 Location: North West Posts: 8652 |
Hmm, I am not sure the Defender has any future at all?
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18th May 2013 3:10 pm |
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pab Member Since: 28 Aug 2012 Location: Now in Mid-Wales Posts: 2006 |
Don't forget the third-world markets - there are plenty of opportunities there, and Toyota and Nissan have had it all their own way for too long... |
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18th May 2013 3:33 pm |
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taztastic Member Since: 03 Feb 2011 Location: North West Posts: 8652 |
That is very true but I think it is too late for those markets to come back to LR, the reliability of the oriental stuff has been so good, saying that though, there is a huge problem with stolen Defenders going overseas for spares, so there may be a market.
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18th May 2013 4:00 pm |
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limestone Member Since: 18 May 2013 Location: Romania Posts: 10 |
So, let me please understand..Which car has chance to be released in 2015 ? New Defender when will be put in production, estimated year ? |
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18th May 2013 4:07 pm |
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richardk Member Since: 11 Jan 2009 Location: Norwich Posts: 909 |
I've always liked the style of the Disco...but not its size..way too big for me...this could be the answer.
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18th May 2013 4:08 pm |
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pab Member Since: 28 Aug 2012 Location: Now in Mid-Wales Posts: 2006 |
That's pretty much what I meant when I said above that the DC100 seemed to me to be aimed at the same market as the original FL1 (targa version). I certainly think there is a market for such a car, and whilst it wouldn't be of interest to me I'd be happy to see a DC100 derivative in that role, just not as the Defender replacement. But I still think there's a market for a workhorse-type vehicle at a price point similar to the Defender. That might be a cut-down Discovery (the size is right, so strip out all the electronics, air suspension, etc, and give it a hard-wearing interior and the TD4 engine to bring the price down and it could be a winner) or something completely new. I agree that it will be hard to depose Toyota in the third-world markets, but not impossible - after all LR were even more firmly established when Toyota first came along. And there are also new markets opening up in Asia - huge markets in which one doesn't need that big a market share to be selling a worthwhile number of vehicles. |
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18th May 2013 4:30 pm |
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richardk Member Since: 11 Jan 2009 Location: Norwich Posts: 909 |
As a FL2 owner and one that hasn't wanted a Defender I find it hard to comment on what a Defender should be...I think I leave that to the other forum. But if the Defender replacement turns more suitable for my needs I'll consider it |
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18th May 2013 4:51 pm |
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camper2 Member Since: 28 Nov 2012 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 41 |
I think it will be sad to see the end of Defenders, I have had a few - first one in the 70's! But the Freelander just hasn't done it for me. Trading down from an HSE 3.8 RR Sport was always going to be a huge change, and at first I liked the FR2 as a compromise. But now after a few months there just isn't that feeling of pride. Defenders, Disco's, RRSorts; I enjoyed them all even in the garage if you know what I mean. But I rarely give this one a second glance any more; it's just a car. A smaller version of the present Disco would probably be my next choice if that is on the cards. Now - Black 2012 FR2 SD4 XS really miss the RRS
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19th May 2013 8:47 am |
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j77 Member Since: 26 Nov 2008 Location: Fife Posts: 2909 |
The Freelander has been cast aside for the past few years all the attention has been on the Evoque, LR need to make special whether it be a Freelander 3 or a baby Disco, either one will be my next car.
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19th May 2013 11:07 am |
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chicken george Member Since: 05 Dec 2007 Location: N. Yorks Posts: 13289 |
quad bikes wont take a stock trailer full of sheep to markets etc, quad bikes arnt much fun in bad weather or for visiting stock in distant fields incolving road travel the pickup truck type off roaders dont off road as well as a defender arnt much more reliable or even more comfortable, farmers especially upland sheep farmers and the like will always need a defender type vehicle. pickups such toyota mitsubishi and ford/mazda seem to be continually surprising ownwers wtith the huge cost of repairs, defender parts do often seem a bargain in comparison and any decent mechanic can fix a defender without special tools, At work At home "I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race |
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19th May 2013 11:58 am |
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