I know I shouldnt compare but....
Having got my patrol on the road, and driving for a short while before gearbox packed up, after a total rebuild, and having to drive a 2001 defender the other day, I remind myself how a g knocks spots off them for drivability and handling, but why the fuck anyone would by a defender is beyond me, I got bruises on my right elbow every time I wanted to turn, hitting it on the door, and as for the drafts through all the gaps, jesus, thank god the heater was decent!
Mr Perfect
May I remind you, they are not 'gap's' they, are drain channels.
Spider1V
i think its part of british politics mate !
i briefly owned a 90. spent bundles on a 300tdi conversion etc, [you know me] .
i tried to love it but it was a bad relationship, sold it to local cyp-ridiot thank god !!
never again....
For my sins, I have previously owned a Range Rover and I can still recall going to the local dealer to collect a part and noticing a few nearly new Puma Defenders sitting on the sale lot. What threw me off was the reg plates and the condition of the cars. Whilst they were all nearly new, the rear tow hitch and various nuts and bolts were all showing signs of rust. There were other ratty bits on them and when I commented to the salesman, he said, "yep, they all do that" as though it was acceptable. I have no issue with a well used car showing signs of age but nearly new, low miles stock, slowly rusting on the sales lot reminded me of car buying 20+ years ago
I will, however, admit that like the G, the slightly eccentric style of the Defender is appealing (for the same reason I love other quirky products), it is the quality and lack of function over form in many areas that puts me off.
[url=http:// http://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C1CHFX_en-GBGB438GB438&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=which+is+better+G+wagen+or+Defender%3F] http://www.google.co.uk/search[/url]
Simple question I asked on Google and see the results.
G not that well represented (the Australian trip was a marketing disaster - thats what happens when it a fluffy person in charge)...................... looks like I will dump my 500 and get myself a nice Defender 110. They must be good, because they are plentiful and cheap and It seems that G is only good for posing (in Bicester) and they are not that well made...(wrangler forum). It looks like Mr perfect had a dodgy one, as on the Defender 2 website they say it is one of the best built 4x4's.
So form an orderly Q and sensible offers please.............
Spider1V
A friend of mine recons he has 10 or 12 years driving left before he is too old so he went to a Land Rover dealership yesterday to enquire about trading in his 4 year old Disco for a new one. "This one should see me out" he said, "I need to get ten years out of it".
"Sorry" replied the salesman, " with all the technology on board the new one only has a life span of 7 years but it is almost 100% recyclable".
Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I too hate defenders with a passion. Being 6'4" and 18st I have to open the window in order to shut the door and be able to steer the damn things. I admit they go well, reasonable on fuel, good towing vehicle, capable off road, and easily/cheaply modified, but they fall apart for a pass time and are awful to drive. Bits are cheap, but you need plenty of them. A G Wagen is ' a better4x4xfarther'
'one life, why waste it driving a f*****g land rover'
'one life, why waste it driving a f*****g land rover'
Very good, going to the LRO show at Peterborough, wonder if I can get that printed on a T shirt. :-)
Look what's being planned for the Defender replacement.
There's going to be a load of hacked-off farmers
Very 'Urban' design. Can't quite see a 'snatch' version.....
Spider1V
The concept design seems to have lost almost all the iconic styling of the original Defender; however, no doubt pedestrian safety legislation has a lot to do with that. Imagine what a 'new' G would look like!?
Iirc the current Defender XS 90 is circa £30,000, so I would imagine this Japanese softroader love child will be quite a bit North of that in road going comfort trim.
Seems daft to change to that extent the iconic styling of the original Defender; as you say. By all means bring in a new model, but don't discontinue what for many people is still a popular vehicle, despite the age of the design. G Wagens have not changed much and look at their iconic status!! Still, I'm sure it would look great on the school run....
Can you imagine it containing a farmer, two sheepdogs and covered in mud? I doubt it.
Pedestrian safety has all but killed angular design. If you look at the bumper of the 2011 Jeep Wrangler, it looks like a giant rubber slug is eating the front bumper. If you don't alter the angles of the bodywork, it would seem the other option is to creat a road going bumper car.
The Defender is about angular industrial design, as is the G, therefore, to change that would be to alter the inherent character of the car. As per my comments above, I understand legislation is dictating change but sometimes if the change is a revolution rather than an evolution, perhaps it is worth starting from scratch and that includes changing the name. Just my 2-pence.
If Mercedes had ended the G production and introduced the ML as the new G, it wouldn't have made any sense, other than to the PR and Marketing departments, who were trying to live (and sell) off the heritage of an icon. My feeling is the Defender may be going the same way.
Just following on on some of the comments made above.
While there is a need to have pedestrian safety, due to the molly coddled society we are now living in, where Kids playgrounds are now so safe, they learn nothing of risk, pain etc. I think the angular design of the Land rover/ G does make people think twice.
Simple experiment - next time you are at a Zebra crossing in your G, you look and see how many people give you eye contact before they cross... Was watching this the other day, if its a round, bubble, pedestrian friendly people will look at car and then cross, if its angular or a truck they will certainly get eye contact before they venture out!
So I think the EU directive is self defeating and anyway if your taught the green cross code you should not have to worry as a pedestrian...
Spider1V
Many, many years ago when I was 15 and working on a Farm (could be why I'm a "Risk" manager now!), We got asked to look after a V8 Safari Which of course we did???! I loved that beast and always promised myself I'd buy one. When I started looking for a 4x4 my mate had a brand new County V8 which he bought round. I jumped in the drivers seat dead keen, but quicky realised it would criple me before I got the the end of the road! Also he was hacked off because it was white and rust was already staining the paint work below the hinges. Hence my love of the G's....if only I could aford a V8! But we should also note Merc placed the G to take on the Range Rovers, as Two Dogs once said of G's and Defenders " They are different beasts".
With the right build quality, this concept would have seemed to have made a lot more sense...
Than this Skoda Yeti and KIA Picanto love child
the most basic military spec 90 is not that far removed from is G-wagen military counterpart. However we in the UK have always had the most expensive highly optioned versions and as a consequence these were always contrasted unfavourably with the RR.
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