New Defender

[Nithsdale]

You are correct about the ranger, also a good vehicle.

Toyota do have the job sewn up globally, and are the worlds biggest 4x4 producer. Toyota arent pushing their vehicles here because it is such a small market for them and they already have strong global demand for their vehicles, whats the point in selling more vehicles than you can produce? This is the same reason why we didnt get the 2.8 engine in the hilux in 2015 like the rest of the world did, the uk is a small market and it wasnt worth the R&D cost of getting it through our emissions legislation at that time.

Hopefully thats explained it a bit better?

Toyota have been promising the UK a basic Land Cruiser commercial ever since Daihatsu stopped the Fourtrak. 20 years later their eventual offering falls well short - it isn't worth sh*t if it can't tow 3.5t like everything else. It's almost like Toyota don't want to sell the vehicle...

I live in the UK, I couldn't care less about what's sold the rest of the world

 

[Dead Rabbits]

actually the old Defender has the record as the most environmentally friendly car ever produced as a huge % of produced cars are still running or are recycled for parts

you don’t see many double cab picks on the road 20,30,40,50 plus years old !

Till you add in the amount of oil they leak.......

 

[dave mountain]

Toyota have been promising the UK a basic Land Cruiser commercial ever since Daihatsu stopped the Fourtrak. 20 years later their eventual offering falls well short - it isn't worth sh*t if it can't tow 3.5t like everything else. It's almost like Toyota don't want to sell the vehicle...

I live in the UK, I couldn't care less about what's sold the rest of the world

yes 3.5t would be desirable but that doesn't make it a bad vehicle, it is still a far better option for a work vehicle than a new defender. If 3.5t is important then the older 4.2/4.5 land cruisers are a good option

 

[Nithsdale]

yes 3.5t would be desirable but that doesn't make it a bad vehicle, it is still a far better option for a work vehicle than a new defender. If 3.5t is important then the older 4.2/4.5 land cruisers are a good option

But those older ones weren't done in commercial variant?

 

[ollie989898]

Yes, you should get a Land Rover. They go on forever!!

If you change the:

Shell bearings, pistons, altenator, turbochargers, exhaust, EGR valve, fuel pump, the back door, suspension air bags and compressor and finally, the actual chassis.

 

[dave mountain]

But those older ones weren't done in commercial variant?

And? Only need a 15mm spanner to make them commercial

 

[The Seeker]

I think the new defender looks bloody awful its more of an off-road evoke and its only made worse by finding out the basic spec is 48K. Massive massive fail in my opinion

 

[Nithsdale]

And? Only need a 15mm spanner to make them commercial

Then get it reclassified...

But you've already bought it, so lost the VAT

 

[dave mountain]

Then get it reclassified...

But you've already bought it, so lost the VAT

Yeah, I thought that at first, but then I got more than I paid when I sold it so actually benefited as I didn't have to charge vat. it was still a much better purchase than the defender I had for the same period, even if that hadn't been the case. No need to get them reclassified if you buy the right ones as the road tax is the same anyway. Granted the newer ones are more to tax but still a good bit cheaper to run overall than a defender.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

I'm waiting for an answer to post 57.

 

[M-J-G]

I hated the old defender because they were awkward and uncomfortable, but at least they were a no frills workhorse, the new one is an ugly dog and doesn't serve the purpose of the old one.
Can't imagine they'll be a hit as they don't seem to suit any market from what I see.

As for the farming/workhorse market, its basically the same as the quad bike situation in that we're too small (and shrinking) a market for anyone to cater for specifically.

 

[ollie989898]

I hated the old defender because they were awkward and uncomfortable, but at least they were a no frills workhorse, the new one is an ugly dog and doesn't serve the purpose of the old one.
Can't imagine they'll be a hit as they don't seem to suit any market from what I see.

As for the farming/workhorse market, its basically the same as the quad bike situation in that we're too small (and shrinking) a market for anyone to cater for specifically.

Were they a 'no frills' workhorse??

They were dearer than Jap pickups, yet basically had a similar level of specification but a pish poor driving position seat and cabin designed for a small monkey to drive?

About the only thing of note was the full time 4wd drive and yet it was just as hopeless on road tyres as anything else. Other 4x4 vehicles could off road just as well if the right tyres were used.

 

[Bald Rick]

73 Defenders listed on “Land Rover Approved Used” all £52k up

 

[dave mountain]

Were they a 'no frills' workhorse??

They were dearer than Jap pickups, yet basically had a similar level of specification but a pish poor driving position seat and cabin designed for a small monkey to drive?

About the only thing of note was the full time 4wd drive and yet it was just as hopeless on road tyres as anything else. Other 4x4 vehicles could off road just as well if the right tyres were used.

That is very true. The only vehicles that were markedly better off road than the pickups/defenders were the triple locked vehicles: the nissan patrol and the 80 series land cruiser, but they both had the downside of being very heavy.

 

[ollie989898]

That is very true. The only vehicles that were markedly better off road than the pickups/defenders were the triple locked vehicles: the nissan patrol and the 80 series land cruiser, but they both had the downside of being very heavy.

Those vehicles must have been more pricey into the bargain, certainly Defender money at the time?

 

[Cowabunga]

yes 3.5t would be desirable but that doesn't make it a bad vehicle, it is still a far better option for a work vehicle than a new defender. If 3.5t is important then the older 4.2/4.5 land cruisers are a good option

The Ford Ranger tows far better than the Land Cruiser. I own both, the LC being a 100 series 4.2.

 

[Cowabunga]

Those vehicles must have been more pricey into the bargain, certainly Defender money at the time?

I paid £43,000 for my Land Cruiser 100 series in 1998. Considerably more than Defender money and no VAT back or tax relief. That is £76200 adjusted for inflation. Mid range Range Rover Sport money today.

 

[Nearly]

Might not be too long before @Nearly has a selection in the yard then.

If you want an old Defender then get 2 rebuilt with galv chassis and you'll have one up and running most days. This will still be well under the budget for a new Defender.
I've 3 Disco 2 but only my son's one is on the road at the moment. Oops.

 

[dave mountain]

Those vehicles must have been more pricey into the bargain, certainly Defender money at the time?

Yes both much more pricey, not really comparable vehicles at the time.

 

[Nithsdale]

As for the farming/workhorse market, its basically the same as the quad bike situation in that we're too small (and shrinking) a market for anyone to cater for specifically.

That isn't true... it's the import charge (tariffs) to bring the ATV into the EU which has limited our choices. The tariff on the smaller bikes make them as expensive as the bigger bikes, so the small bikes are dropped from the lineup as manufacturers know they couldn't sell them.

Or at least, that is the line I was given from both Arctic Cat and Polaris when I enquired about bikes they make but do not sell in the UK/EU...

Also emissions rules are ever tightening here and not in other continents... Suzuki have dropped the 400 (existing stock are all that's left) as it fails the new emissions rules which come into force in September, for instance. Go back to 4x4's and it is the EU's emissions regulations why Mitsubishi are exiting the EU market, entirely