Period Land Rovers

[Penners]

I know that quite a number of PPUK members are Land Rover owners, so I thought the following link wouldn't be a million miles off-topic:-

http://manufacturing.automotive-business-review.com/news/jaguar-land-rover-to-end-production-of-defender-model-091013

 

[TheForge]

Seems like a very shortsighted decision, I can really see farmers rushing to buy a sports buggy style vehicle.

Echoes of events at Morgan earlier this week..http://themakingprogressblues.wordp...-you-dont-know-what-youve-got-until-its-gone/

 

[Flyfisher]

Most of the farmers around here seem to use foreign 4x4 pickup trucks, Toyota seems to be a particular favourite.

I find it hard to believe that "The company has taken the decision to halt the model in response to the tougher environmental and emissions laws across the world.". They have plenty of engines that meet the required emission laws in their other vehicles so what could be the problem with fitting them into a Defender? They've done it many times in the past.

But even if they decided to halt production themselves, I wonder if they considered licencing production to some other manufacturer? Or perhaps sheer economics are against them . . . which brings me back to our local farmers driving around in Toyotas.

 

[Penners]

My son has spent 16 years working for various humanitarian aid agencies in a huge variety of hostile environments (natural and man-made). His observation is that the Toyota Land Cruiser seems to be the preferred vehicle for such applications, because of its reliability and near-indestructability.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Such an iconic vehicle, how very sad! We almost bought one but in the end decided to go for comfort and got the Landrover Disco facelift with the cream leather seats. I love it!!

However I must say it isn't very keen on our track or being exposed to rain, it's a bit of a princessy Landrover really. We had to have a lot of expensive repairs done to the suspension and also the electrics where rain gets in, even though we put it in the garage every night. Maybe we should get a Defender whist we still can!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

That's not fair I love the Defender--however, my Freelander is the last one with a Land Rover engine and touch wood it's still chugging along. Son has a Discovery and is thinking of getting something less thirsty---

 

[LadyArowana]

My son has spent 16 years working for various humanitarian aid agencies in a huge variety of hostile environments (natural and man-made). His observation is that the Toyota Land Cruiser seems to be the preferred vehicle for such applications, because of its reliability and near-indestructability.

I second that observation, it's the vehicle of choice for a lot of the more challenging environments in Asia, rare to see a Landrover, the odd one that does pop up is usually some mad Brit who has been on a "gap year" since the '70's

 

[Feltwell]

Despite being a big fan of Land Rovers, I can clearly see why farmers drive other vehicles these days.

For getting around a farm, a quad bike is cheap, nimble, carries what you need most of the time and is light so doesn't churn the ground up like a 4x4 does, especially when it's wet.

For going further afield or carrying more, a Toyota Hilux pickup or similar is cheap, reliable, and has a much bigger load space than a Defender - especially the short wheelbase version. They aren't as good off-road but they don't need to be - they are still perfectly capable of driving across a muddy field or towing a livestock trailer, Farmers don't generally go extreme off-roading!

Working as an engineer on construction sites, admittedly a few years ago now, I drove both Hilux's and Defenders regularly. The Hilux was more car-like to drive and much more comfortable. I still preferred the Defender though.....

Anyway, coil-sprung Defenders or 90/110 are just too comfortable, I really want the masochism of driving an old Series Land Rover, a nice early series iia will grace the drive one day.....

 

[88v8]

Current Landy.
Second pic is loaded with half ton of quarry tiles.

Landrover killed the overseas sales by making the Defender too complex - instead of marketing a simple model that didn't kowtow to the EU's crackpot emissions and safety laws, they tried selling the European model overseas where it was just too expensive and hard to maintain.
Now it's being killed entirely because the body shape is too square and lumpy for 'safety'.

Most buyers now prefer the 'lifestyle' models such as the Rangie and Freelander, and that godawful rotbox the Disco.
I'll stick to my Series, with no aircon, electric windows, ABS, ecu, pas, airbags, cat, etc. None of that junk. It just goes, steers and stops.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

Current Landy.
I'll stick to my Series, with no aircon, . . . .

Are you sure? My FiL used to have a series 3 safari and it definitely had aircon . . . at least that's what I thought those little opening flaps below the windscreen were for. :wink:

 

[Keith Bowman]

My son has spent 16 years working for various humanitarian aid agencies in a huge variety of hostile environments (natural and man-made). His observation is that the Toyota Land Cruiser seems to be the preferred vehicle for such applications, because of its reliability and near-indestructability.

I understand the down under they say if you want to head for the outback, use a Land Rover: if you want to come back use a Land Cruiser

 

[Keith Bowman]

My son has spent 16 years working for various humanitarian aid agencies in a huge variety of hostile environments (natural and man-made). His observation is that the Toyota Land Cruiser seems to be the preferred vehicle for such applications, because of its reliability and near-indestructability.

Down under they say if you're heading for the outback, use a Land Rover. If you want to be able to come back, use a Land Cruiser.

 

[TheForge]

Our Series III, Frank, with our apple scratter in the background being cleaned after cider making.

Frank(ly) it's a miracle he's still going!

 

[Flyfisher]

Down under they say if you're heading for the outback, use a Land Rover. If you want to be able to come back, use a Land Cruiser.

Do they usually say it in a large cave? :wink:

 

[Penners]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[middi]

" 4 x 4 by far" = land rover DEFENDER, anything else is a REPLICA. It has nothing to do with better or worse it is all a state of one's mind.
I drive a defender 110 xs ( air con, bells, whistles and even tells jokes) I avoid puddles formed on tarmac after rain. I believe that ( like all other defender owners enthusiasts) we drive the only 4x4 likely to get us out of the shite if we need to.
And YES !!! we are aware that if the rattling stops we get very worried because we KNOW that whatever it was has dropped off somewhere.
We also know that the persistent oil leaks from defenders are the only way defenders can leave their scent so other defenders can follow.
These Iconic loveable rogues will be badly missed.

Middi

 

[Lime]

I've been driving series Land Rovers for the last 30 years.
I have all 3 of the series, all long wheelbase and much prefer the series one for fun.
The series 2a and 3 are both Safaris whereas the series 1 is a pickup.
I don't think modern Land Rovers have much in common with them.
The problem so many Land Rovers have is that they get bought and driven by people who fancy themselves as off-roaders but know next to nothing about caring for the vehicle.
Hence the failures and breakdowns where they get stuck in the middle of nowhere.
With a selection of spanners specific to Land Rover, other tools and spares on board all the time, knowing how to drive and knowing the vehicles inside and out I have rarely found myself in major trouble.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2I17OtZp6E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwlALeoBOKU

 

[Penners]

The problem so many Land Rovers have is that they get bought and driven by people who fancy themselves as off-roaders but know next to nothing about caring for the vehicle.
Hence the failures and breakdowns where they get stuck in the middle of nowhere.

But isn't that the point? Motor vehicles have come a very long way since the Land Rover first appeared, and the world now expects a 4WD "workhorse" to be trouble-free. No mollycoddling, no nursing it through difficult situations, just turn the key and drive.

That's what people have become used to from their Toyotas, Nissans and the like, so that's what they expect.

 

[LadyArowana]

just turn the key and drive.

Sounds like a lot of effort, someone should invent a launch control push button.

 

[middi]

Now, Lessen here chaps, the reason why I bought a defender was to wave to other oncoming defender drivers ( :wink: ).
I tell you, no other 4x4 drivers have ever experienced that thrill
I have no Intention whatsoever to drive through 3 feet of muddy water or up a 45deg, rocky slope. The repair charges are over £100 per hour plus damaged parts.
Lime is right, the series defenders especially, are a passion. A few people actually know what these vehicle were ( and are !!!) capable of in rough terrain. The series landys were extremely easy to keep them on the move with the aid of minimum tooling and a bit of mechanical knowledge.
Penners does also make another important point, The motoring world moves on, unfortunately Love and nostalgia for these great workhorses endures.

( ps I did have a series II for a while in the seventies and keeping it running on and off road was very simple and economical as I am or more accurately, was, a qualified vehicle technician)

Middi