Chicken Drumstick

Personally I think that is a bad idea. Lights on in some conditions just cause dazzle to others and make it much harder for them to judge speed and distance. It was a trick used during the war, essentially hiding behind light. It is super easy to demonstrate, get a torch (not too powerful one) shine it in someones face from 5-10 feet away, then hold your hand behind the torch and ask them to tell you how many fingers you are holding up. In remote places, such as parts of Scandinavia I can see the benefit of DRL or headlights in the old Volvo sense. As you may go hours without seeing another vehicle. But in the UK that just isn't the case and from the Midlands down to the SE on almost any road you'd be lucky to 60 seconds without seeing another vehicle.

Electric seats are great. Very often need to move a seat and I find with most manual seats that I want the seat half way between two clicks! Can't say I've heard of seat motors failing. And I thought with the RRC it was more the switches (usually gummed up rather than completely failed), not the motors. I agree with auto wipers, never got on with those. Auto headlights, well it wouldn't be a deal breaker either way. But the setup in my Jimny works well, you can either have them full manual. Or so that they come on when dark, a 2nd option than does auto mainbeam too. Which works brilliantly on B roads. But less good on dual carriage ways.

Indeed a Puma is the best of the bunch in that regard. I often say to people, they may all look basically the same. But LR made quite a few changes and updates over the years. I think if I was building/modding and had a reasonable budget I’d probably go for an Ibex though.

Sadly I’m only a dreamer due to lack of funds. But the Grenadier is exactly the sort of thing I’d buy if I had the money. The new Defender is a fine vehicle in its own way. But they drive like a tall heavy estate car. Because that is essentially what they are nowadays. Nothing wrong with this. It’s what the market wanted. And modern Range Rovers drive the same. Ie being more car like. And dynamically they do handle and ride like a big car. For me I want a 4x4 to be a 4x4 and feel like it. My short list would include the Jeep Wrangler. But I’d really want a Rubicon. The engine options aren’t great in the U.K. though and there is no options list. Jeep also knobble the tow ratings on some models. I really like the Ford Bronco too. But no real opportunity to own one in the U.K. not even sure they are all that feasible to get through an IVA either. But certainly any buying prospect is much more of a challenge. The other car on my list would be the new Ford Ranger Raptor. Although sadly the EU/U.K. version is missing around 110hp over the one sold anywhere else. But that aside it looks pretty awesome. The Bronco would probably be the most civilised. The Ranger maybe the most fun. Although roof off options with the Wrangler appeal. But the Grenadier probably the easiest to live with overall and the best all rounder. I like rugged 4x4’s with real off road capability. I’m quite happy to have ECU’s and some luxury items though. And at these prices for any of them I’d expect them tbh. A traditional Defender is great. But you’d need an engine swap and do something pretty major with the axles to even get close to the others. And ultimately you’d still end up with something that leaks and rattles. Dynamically the old model would always be a pretty large backwards step. Plus buying and rebuilding with heavy modifications will consume real cash. Much harder to finance such a purchase. The new Defender is on my list too. But would be in 5th or lower place if I was given the choice. The only real thing is, being in the U.K. they are, or will become quite easily attainable. And they won’t hold their money forever. But I do wonder if I’d always wonder if I’d bought the wrong vehicle. But time will tell. It’s either wait for used prices to drop to my price range. Or swap another engine into my p38a. Which on face value does everything I really want and drives how I want. Just a little fickle and likes a drink! The Ineos Grenadier would appear to be largely the same kind of vehicle with similar abilities. Hence why I’d say it would be ideal for me. I believe my p38a was £54,000 new in 1999. Which must be well over £100k today if you account for inflation. So maybe the price of the Grenadier isn’t so bad after all.

I have a late 3.9 serp like that in my TR7, it came out of a 1996 Disco 1. It really screams, lovely engine. Have noticed it before, the earlier 3.9's just feel a bit more lazy compared to the last of the line.

Think the HP24 is stronger. But probably not a real world issue on a single vehicle. Lots run the 22. Really depends what you want. For me the manuals are a lot more fun and in theory should offer better cruising mpg. Autos tend to make the RV8 feel lazy IMO. But lots of people like autos.

That's fine and I don't want to re-rail this thread, so maybe we agree to differ. All I can say is, what you have posted is very interesting. But does not tally with what is on the .gov site.

I'm not sure I agree. An insurance company can't say they will cover a specific item and even document it on your policies, then turn around and say they won't after an accident or claim. That isn't how things work. You can change lots of things on a car after you have bought it. No car maker sells a vehicle on extreme mud terrain remould tyres, which will impact stopping distances in the wet or dry. As they would not be part of the type approval for the vehicle. But it is perfectly legal to fit them the moment you roll off the dealers forecourt. And I do not believe anyone would be prosecuted for having them fitted to a vehicle, even if involved in an RTC where they could have stopped quicker on a different tyre. Also worth noting, the .gov site makes no mentioned to the fitting or use of a bullbar, the only mention is to "selling". Again, I suspect this is a rather key piece of information. Meaning that even selling them for off road use would be illegal, just a like a restricted item such as a firearm. Clearly reality differs as there are loads of companies "selling" bullbars, which would be the illegal bit. If this was true, they would be simple open and shut cases to prosecute all of these companies selling bullbars. I very much suspect the restriction is to new vehicles ony being supplied with a bullbar that doesn't meet approval standard. If you wish to buy and fit one afterwards it is perfectly fine (even if not recommended), all you need to do is inform you insurance.

As said. The info on the .gov site is a bit vague and incomplete. The first line is very clear. They are not illegal. This is the key take away. I also don’t believe insurance companies can “dump you either”. My insurance company happily had a bull added at no cost and shows on the policy documents. The last paragraph is interesting. On face value if you take it as written. It would be illegal to sell a 2nd hand bull bar. That isn’t approved. Or even a bull bar for a quad bike. Clearly this isn’t the case which means there is far more detail behind this paragraph than is published here. I suspect it is more about new vehicles under type approval can not be sold with one fitted that isn’t approved, rather than a person fitting one to said vehicle after they have bought it. Hence why manufacturers no longer offer them as dealer fit accessories. If you Google, there are loads of companies selling and fitting bull bars to post 2007 vehicles in the U.K. I doubt very much that they are all trading illegally. As many of the companies have been trading for decades. I also do not know if there is a legal definition of a bull bar. When does it become just a winch bumper or a heavy duty bumper for example?

Should be ok. Bull bars aren’t illegal in the U.K. I know there is the thing on the .gov site about post 2007. But there is more to it than that and it isn’t a blanket ban on them. It’d be more about if anyone is importing the bumpers.

I was thinking along similar lines, ideal to stand on for an elevated view over a hedge etc.

Probably best to get confirmation from the dealer you are ordering from. I know in the UK at least, specs can change after you order and has been quite frequent in the past couple of years on the Defender.

Do you have a budget op? I got hold of some KC Hitlites used a few years ago and found some new lenses going cheap online. Although that might not be so easy these days. I would say, don't snub LED. You just need to do a little more research. The do put out a lot more light and suck way less amps too. I went with Osram for a moderately priced compact lightbar. It's a spot beam and easily exceeds any halogen setup I've used or had. All running through a 5amp fuse too. Info in my review vids. But I can provide you with some links for more info if you want.

Do they? I can only see the bumpers, grill and headlight surrounds. Which is about the same amount as on my Jimny.

I still think they look great and loving that light blue colour. Sure there is a lot of Defender 110 in their visuals, but you can also see classic G-Wagen in the bonnet profile and even glimpses of Landcruiser 70 Series.

Vehicle was rebuilt with a replacement 200Tdi in the end, so no changes needed. I did speak with Ashcroft transmissions and they confirmed the above info in this thread. The Td5 will not mate to the Lt-77 or the R380 stumpy gearboxes.

I think it goes to show we are all different. I personally love how it looks. Wouldn't change a thing (only the price, so that I could afford one!!).

Glad they don't stick out. Rubbing will be down to the rim offset most likely. TBH - lift shackles are pretty cheap to buy and fit. Just give them a go and see how you get on. If they don't work out, take em off back to where you are now.

The USA spec Jeep Wrangler has a gap on the bumper, only the Euro ones don't. So I suspect it probably isn't emissions as US is normally stricter on those. I wonder if it is more along the lines of not allowing pedestrians to be able to get limbs trapped or something silly.

Suspect the bumper size is crash related, as someone else said, check out the Euro version of the Jeep Wrangler JK and JL. Not sure it is specifically ladder chassis related, plenty of other ladder chassis vehicles in production still. Pick up trucks, vans, SUV's... Just to add further. If you look at a late Puma Defender model the bumper is also pretty big with plastic gladding. The main difference on the Ineos (and Jeeps) is there is no air gap between the bumper and vehicle. Which makes it look deeper than it would otherwise.

Really depends what you are wanting to try and achieve overall. Extended spring hangers/shackles will go straight on and will give a lift, but they also change the diff angle as you can only add them to one end of the spring. Mil 109s running these would have had slightly different mounts at the other end of the spring to compensate. But lots and lots of people run extended shackles on otherwise stock Series. Spring over axle conversion is doable. But is quite a large modification and you'll have to solve some things with the steering arms. No reason not to do it if it is what you want, but would be more at the 'extreme' end of modding and would yield 4-6" of lift. You'd might need to consider other supporting mods. Another option would be different springs designed to give a lift. Not all parabolic or leaf springs are equal. But you might want to ride, handling and suspension travel too. The latter more so if you off road. Personally I'd say your tyres are a bit too fat for a Series and I'd guess are sticking out of the wheel arches. Which in the UK is illegal for road use (not MoT, but Construction & Use regulations). You'll need to add some Defender style extended spats to keep the wheels covered to remain legal for road use. On my Series I heavily modded the suspension and used to run up to an 8.25 x 16 tyre (size up from a 7.50 x 16). Which are about an inch or two taller than the 265's you have, but narrower. Link to my build thread if you are interested in the suspension mods: Personally I'd probably only SOA if wanting to run 35's or building for a specific off road need.

Thanks. I'd read it as being a body lift.

How do you do lift blocks on a Defender? I didn’t know they existed and have never seen any.

I don’t think that was ever promised. Do you have any references from Ineos? That said, it is way more simple and IMO better looking than the new Defender. Certainly it is on par with a well specced Hilux or Ranger. And the reality is. It was never going to compete with the likes of Ford or Toyota. They don’t have the infrastructure or economies of scale. If you want a cheap no frills utility vehicle. Go buy one. If you want a rugged properly capable 4x4 that could double as a cool daily driver and be extremely practical. Then the Grenadier certainly ticks a lot of boxes.

It’s because components are built and designed individually by loads of different companies. You can’t really have them working from one central location. As it would no longer be modular and you wouldn’t be able to reuse across different vehicles/models. There are plenty of use cases why you would need to have finer programmable control over many items in car.