deep Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 5 hours ago, reb78 said: I agree completely. If they had just called it something else it would have been received a lot better!! How it's received by us few diehards wouldn't make much difference to sales, would it? Further, there can't be too many like our sour colleague Chicken Drumstick, who, having cooled off for many months waiting, would still refuse to buy one on principle (even if it matched those peoples' needs very well!)? For that sort of money, you'd only buy it because it either matched your needs and budget or because money pours out of your pores and you just buy stuff for fun. I think it will match the needs and budget of an absolute swag of people. Truck buyers will look elsewhere, as they have done for quite some time anyway, sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Let's be honest the new defender is no different to the (not so now but at the time) new mini, beetle or fiat 500 etc all good cars but the purists hated them. Now many of the purists own, have owned or would own the new version. Do I want one now, no. But in the future (given a lottery win) would I consider one probably...... Mike 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Drumstick Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 3 hours ago, miketomcat said: Let's be honest the new defender is no different to the (not so now but at the time) new mini, beetle or fiat 500 etc all good cars but the purists hated them. Now many of the purists own, have owned or would own the new version. Do I want one now, no. But in the future (given a lottery win) would I consider one probably...... Mike I think it is slightly different. The Mini was just a small car, the new MINI (R50) was also a small car, just slightly bigger to meet the then current crash/impact regs. And to maximise interior space. The Fiat 500 was the same pretty much. And both kept very true to the originals styling, look and abilities. And aimed at a similar type of use. The Defender was something rather different. It was a specialised off road vehicle (of which there have always been very few). It was the Lotus Elise or Caterham of the off road world. Imagine if Porsche had introduced the Panamara as the new "911" and stopped production of the out going 911. The Panamara is an awesome performance saloon car, but would make for a poor 911 replacement. I believe the same is true with the new Defender. I fully understand why JLR have chosen to exploit the Defender name and heritage, it will, at least for the short term massively increase sales, as they can milk it for all it's worth. But ultimately they are rather betraying what the model was. Which may have longer term impacts yet unknown. So while I actually like the new Defender in isolation (quite a lot, as I say I can see me owning one at some point). It is nonetheless the most disappointing new vehicle launch in the past 20 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 On 9/29/2019 at 10:24 AM, Chicken Drumstick said: On 9/29/2019 at 9:28 AM, Escape said: Really a different league to the Jimny, that can't be compared to a Defender. That’s exactly my point. I’m not knocking the new Defender as a vehicle. It looks great overall. And I can we’ll see me owing one as a used example in years to come. But it would be replacing my Range Rover or a Discovery. It would not be replacing a Series or proper Defender. I agree the new one isn't really a replacement for the old one. Although in the 21st century, a lot were bought as lifestyle vehicles and not for their working or offroading capabilities. My point is that the Jimny can't be compared to the old/real Defender, it's certainly no better replacement than what JLR have designed. It may look familiar, but it's no working vehicle. Fun to rent while on holiday on some island, or throw around a pay and play site, yes. Less suited for everyday work, think big Ifor trailer on a muddy construction site, something the new Defender will handle easily. Or even just a horsebox on a wet field. Filip PS: I wanted to counter your claim the new Mini R50 was a small car (I always call them Maxi), but I stand corrected. It's actually shorter than a 90 and lighter (in base form) than my Esprit... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Chicken Drumstick said: The Defender was something rather different. It was a specialised off road vehicle (of which there have always been very few). It was the Lotus Elise or Caterham of the off road world. Maybe a TVR For the Jimny you have to consider where it's designed and made. Japan has a speed limit of 50mph, it's comfortable at 50mph not really above. Japan has bad winters and hills, a light 4x4 with narrow tyres might be handy. Fuel is expensive so you don't want to run a big heavy thing for the odd times you need 4x4. Population is high and space is at a premium, small is easy. So I agree it isn't comparable to the Defender as the design spec for the series / defender was very different. Many industrial machines are touchscreen now, its cheaper than mounting physical buttons and you can have as many layers and displays as you like all near the driver. Everything on a network so it's just a case of writing code for turn on / off, don't allow if something else is on etc. Much easier than doing it with relays or logic controllers or PICs and you can update the code remotely as required. Some of out machines were completely touchscreen apart from the e-stop. They've now gone back to buttons for the common functiosn thankfully. I don't like them as you have to look at them to coordinate the finger press and they're usually covered in grease, I bought a load of touchscreen pens off ebay and make people use them to try keep them clean. I think it's dangerous whilst driving and I think that functions needed whilst driving should have to be backed up with steering wheel or dash buttons. Edited September 30, 2019 by Cynic-al 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Drumstick Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Escape said: My point is that the Jimny can't be compared to the old/real Defender, it's certainly no better replacement than what JLR have designed. It may look familiar, but it's no working vehicle. Fun to rent while on holiday on some island, or throw around a pay and play site, yes. Less suited for everyday work, think big Ifor trailer on a muddy construction site, something the new Defender will handle easily. Or even just a horsebox on a wet field. To some degree I agree. But the Jimny was never intended as a utility vehicle in the same way as the Defender. But like the Land Rover, it hails from the original Willys Jeep, just a slightly different route. The first Jimny was the LJ10 Which was modified from the Mitsubishi Jeep. I'm not sure what the L stands for, but I'm willing to bet the J is meant for Jeep. Today's Jimny is just an evolution of that design, but one that has arguably stayed more true to the original in terms of size. [/img] Although you can see in 1981 Suzuki, liked Jeep did with the Wrangler, was switch to the recreational market, rather than utility, when they introduced the SJ. Today's 4th Generation Jimny actually does a pretty good impression of what a modernised Series 1 Land Rover might be. Very similar dimension, but with Defender like suspension. And aimed at the recreational market more than anything. On this basis I think it is a viable alternative to a traditional Defender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Al, the Defender is definitely more like a Lotus Elise, a TVR would be way to plush and powerfull (and not as easy to drive). 🙂 Actually, the bare bodywork inside the Elise does remind me of my Defender with the floormats etc removed. Couldn't agree more on the touchscreens. I was playing with a midsize rental excavator a few weeks ago and spent about half an hour going through all the menus in an attempt to have the radio play some rock or metal instead of schlagers... Filip 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Yeah but the TVRs had similar build uniqueness to the defender I love the Elise, it's cut back so you feel what's happening rather than being isolated and handles very well but isn't over powered so you can have fun on the road and enjoy a spirited drive without causing death and carnage, or worse, breaking the speed limit to do so! If I was in a position to have a weekend fun car it would be high up the list. I think the key thing to remember with the Jimny was it wasn't designed for the UK, it's not that suited to the UK, there's just a small following of people who like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Current Top Gear magazine have a feature on the Defender, they seem to like it well enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Well I have my new Defender. Went and collected this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 PIcs or it never happened Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 22 minutes ago, Bowie69 said: PIcs or it never happened Sorry but you will have to wait until I have somebody to help me post a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 8 minutes ago, mmgemini said: Sorry but you will have to wait until I have somebody to help me post a pic Use the click to chose file link below the reply text box, it'll upload direct from your pc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 2 minutes ago, western said: Use the click to chose file link below the reply text box, it'll upload direct from your pc Now you have well and truly lost me Ralph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 If you cant upload pics on here Mike, I doubt you will be able to manage the touchscreen in the new defender.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Have you got any pics on your pc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 One of these I think I still want to see it cheers Steve b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 16 minutes ago, steve b said: One of these I think I still want to see it cheers Steve b 1 hour ago, western said: Use the click to chose file link below the reply text box, it'll upload direct from your pc Now you have well and truly lost me Ralph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 (edited) You are right Steve. I was in the shop at 10.30 and they had sold four by then. The box is big and heavy Edited October 1, 2019 by mmgemini 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 excellent , you should do a little build thread . Lego technic kits are pretty good from what I've seen cheers Steve b 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 (edited) 35 minutes ago, steve b said: excellent , you should do a little build thread . Lego technic kits are pretty good from what I've seen cheers Steve b I've forgotten how to post pics. Instruction are not on line yet. I do have a LEGO Unimog Edited October 1, 2019 by mmgemini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 This one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snagger Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Lego is twice as expensive in Dubai as in Europe or North America. For the price they’re charging for this kit, you could buy a project vehicle or MoT failed Discovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Escape Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Has anyone (besides journalists and JLR personnel etc) had a chance to see the new Defender in UK? We got a viewing (invite only, but didn't seem to be to selective) last weekend, I believe the Netherlands also had their chance and the vehicle is now heading to Eastern Europe. Seems strange the UK would be left out?? Filip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 12 hours ago, steve b said: excellent , you should do a little build thread . Lego technic kits are pretty good from what I've seen cheers Steve b They are I've got an enormous bright orange 911 kit. Its about 2ft long with working paddle shift gearbox! The colour puts me off the Defender kit though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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