Jump to content

The end is coming...


Recommended Posts

What I can't understand is that it is down to emissions. If you can get cars with 850 BHP through emissions why not a Defender? I can understand if they said they can't fit airbags, or a crumple zone, but not emissions.

But stopping production, is better than making some softy ploppy plops

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Personally, I'd take it back to first principles.

You don't want a defender replacement, you need the natural evolution of the vehicle.

The DC100 isn't adventurous, simple or radical enough.

The truth is the defender is horrendously labour intensive, JLR are using this as an excuse to bin it and move production offshore!

Interesting times.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unless they stop making the Transit as well, from where the engine is taken, the excuse cited is complete BS!

The truth is more likely to be partly high production cost and partly perhaps either a final closure of the loophole that allows the Defender to be counted as an existing model for safety and thus continue without any of the modern safety measures, or some developing guilt/paranoia that one day they will get sued when somebody leaves their teeth in the steering wheel.

It's a real shame for places like here where people do still use the Defender for what it's supposed to be used for - remote areas with end user maintenance, where the last thing you want is stupid airbags and pretensioners and air suspension. Even the current Pumas are developing a bit of a reputation for being farmer-unfriendly. I drove a 300Tdi 110 over the weekend that I sold about three or four years ago, and since it left the showroom and went to an island it's never been on any sort of road. Ever. That's what the Defender is good at.

Having done 20,000 miles in six years my 2006 300Tdi will do me another 20 years or so, by which time I'll be too old and crotchety to go anywhere I need it :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To be honest, I bet they will want the production line for the 2015 replacement, tis only 15 months away after all...

It's odd in a way, people are eulogising how wonderful the 'Puma' Defender is, at the same time moaning about corrosion issues, price, performance, crash safety, 'hideous' special editions, to me it sounds like actually the best thing they can do is stop production, the sooner they do, the sooner a decent replacement will be made.

Fingers crossed they will get it right unlike the DC100 concept (which is NOT the new 'fender, in case anyone was unsure).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To be honest, I bet they will want the production line for the 2015 replacement, tis only 15 months away after all...

It's odd in a way, people are eulogising how wonderful the 'Puma' Defender is, at the same time moaning about corrosion issues, price, performance, crash safety, 'hideous' special editions, to me it sounds like actually the best thing they can do is stop production, the sooner they do, the sooner a decent replacement will be made.

Fingers crossed they will get it right unlike the DC100 concept (which is NOT the new 'fender, in case anyone was unsure).

The world just isn't what it was when the Land Rover first came out. It was a pioneer, working car in a world that needed it. Now that market has shrunk and perceptions have shifted much more. The idea of "being easy to fix" has been replaced by "not needing fixing". Anyway, the Defender has lost all that simplicity and is in neither camp now. Wonderful as it has been, it's become a dinosaur with nowhere to live and it's well and truly time to move on.

If the market no longer accepts the rugged simplicity of a Series type vehicle, why make one? Land Rover have the experience, technology, knowledge and ability to make something thoroughly modern and easier to maintain but I wonder if they will have the balls to make a truck rather than a car? They already have a range of 4WD cars. If they built one model with the focus on ground clearance, light impact resistance, drive-train strength, torque and so on rather than motorway speed and road handling, they may have a solid niche all to themselves and earn back the reputation on which all their sales are made. Just saying!

The DC100 looks great - as a Freelander replacement!

Don

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Land Rover have the experience, technology, knowledge and ability to make something thoroughly modern and easier to maintain but I wonder if they will have the balls to make a truck rather than a car? They already have a range of 4WD cars. If they built one model with the focus on ground clearance, light impact resistance, drive-train strength, torque and so on rather than motorway speed and road handling, they may have a solid niche all to themselves and earn back the reputation on which all their sales are made. Just saying!

Agree with this entirely, they don't need another 'SUV' no matter how cool they may make it look.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just wonder how many people it will affect who make a living from all the bolt on bits- up grades we all love to buy coss theres a hell of a lot of them out there ... I surpose it depends just how much it is like or diffrent to the Defender.

I wonder if the new one will have doors that rot and sun roofs that leak

this is it the replacement revield at the Los Angeles motor show

post-10229-0-14916600-1381352075_thumb.jpg

post-10229-0-82535500-1381352228_thumb.jpg

Truley HORRID

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just wonder how many people it will affect who make a living from all the bolt on bits- up grades we all love to buy coss theres a hell of a lot of them out there ... I surpose it depends just how much it is like or diffrent to the Defender.

I wonder if the new one will have doors that rot and sun roofs that leak

Truley HORRID

Vulnerable, low front (but pedestrian safe); limited wheel travel up front; impractical wheels; impractical dashboard (search DC100 on youtube); limited ground clearance; super dumb spare wheel carrier...

BUT I did like the style. Can they make it modular? Is it cheap to build? I hear this concept won't be made but would expect many of the design features to make it through. I reckon they should look at the bonnet of a Stage One V8 or early 90/110 and start their styling from that. Or square the concept up a bit and keep the headlights round and it would be fine.

The bolt-on makers will keep adapting. It's their job!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, 2 years ago....

http://www.autojunction.in/car-news-india/Land-Rover-DC100-to-form-new-product-line-new-Defender-yet-to-come-32452.cms

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/lifestyle-vehicles/8070026/Land-Rover-backs-down-on-Defender

AFAIK there's no actual Defender-replacement concept that's been revealed at all, as the above link says the DC100 is to be another product line...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its a shame the Iconic defender is leaving us. The DC100 does look good, but its not as good looking as the good old defender!! Plus id be gutted getting the DC100 dirty.

It might be me but i cant help but see some similarities between the DC100 and the toyota Fj, just some random thought i had!

DC100-8_2057398i.jpg

toyota-fj-cruiser.jpg

Edited by western
Link to comment
Share on other sites

They have been hinting at this for some years now and there have been plenty of comments about the lack of profit owing to the manual build costs.

The admission that the replacement won't be cheap sounds like they are moving the whole range up and away from it's roots. I do wonder how the JLR group will get on once there heritage has been killed off.

I am looking forward to the possibilities for our favourite adaptable vehicle thought ! Lets try this one ?

The pattern parts suppliers that we all buy parts from. Some of them are actual OEM suppliers. We can buy almost all parts of a Defender from these suppliers.

So if you can't buy a new Defender from Land Rover, what's stopping companies building the vehicle we all want ? It might not be a new vehicle but most of us on here are already some way down the path of breathing new life into an existing vehicle.

Another interesting development will be the Utility companies that use Defenders for their specialist vehicles. What will there solution be when they can't buy Defenders ?

You never know what might come out of this, we might be pleasantly surprised !

Alan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Its a shame the Iconic defender is leaving us. The DC100 does look good, but its not as good looking as the good old defender!! Plus id be gutted getting the DC100 dirty.

It might be me but i cant help but see some similarities between the DC100 and the toyota Fj, just some random thought i had!

That Toyota FJ is one fugly beast. Makes the DC100 look pretty by comparison.

I actually thought the DC100 looked like the BMW made Mini, with very slightly larger tyres...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. By using our website you agree to our Cookie Policy