 | Home > My New Defender (L663) > D300 cancelled, D350 incoming |
 
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3671   
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Hello. I don’t have the advanced off road pack and have never found it lacking off road, and it gets a fair bit of use (albeit mine is a 90). How much off road are you expecting to do?
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8th Jul 2024 4:22pm |
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| Eric Caterpillar Member Since: 17 Jun 2024 Location: Scotland Posts: 38 
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Not sure as I haven't done it before. There's an off road course right on my doorstep plus Land Rover are advertising the ones where you bring your own car, so that could be a shout too.
Was thinking a set of dedicated 18" wheels with some proper tyres should do? Also, I saw some helpful post with links to LR specialists who can code in the advanced terrain response software. So the only bit I'd be missing is the rear diff. |
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9th Jul 2024 6:29am |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3671
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The vehicles that landrover provide for their off road days are on road tyres and do incredibly well, so I wouldn’t worry about the compromise of off road tyres before you’ve tried it. I have the Duratrac tyre on mine and it is excellent off road but costs me 6-7mpg. If I didn’t spend a lot of time off road, on my own and with no phone signal I wouldn’t bother.
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9th Jul 2024 6:19pm |
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| johnlad Member Since: 18 Dec 2023 Location: Blackpool Posts: 54
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The vehicle I was on on the LR course was running the Goodyear adventure all terrain tyres and has the locking rear differential.
Also without the locking rear differential, I think the advanced off road pack just adds camera views |
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9th Jul 2024 9:28pm |
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| zilch Member Since: 11 Sep 2019 Location: Whitsundays & Sydney Posts: 816 
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18” wheels do not fit the D300 unless you do some fettling to the rear brake calipers with an angle grinder, or you have the rear calipers changed (my P400 has same brakes as a D300 and we had the rear caliper swap, same pads,rotors etc). That assumes it comes with the same standard rotor size as a D300 and not larger rotors on the D350.. might be worth investigating yet another pommie bar steward down under MY20 110 P400 SE Defender MY10 3.0 RR Sport |
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10th Jul 2024 10:33pm |
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| DFNDER Member Since: 02 Oct 2023 Location: Perth WA Posts: 131
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Welcome, and you won't be disappointed in your LR ownership journey.
I added the AOR pack to my 24 build spec, but left the tow pack off, as all this adds is a fancy way to reverse the car with a trailer, which I can already do. The AOR pack adds the e-diff, plus some other detail I can't remember, but the e diff alone is well worth it. Even on road, it helps in spirited take offs and in slippery roundabouts, expertly proportioning power to the wheel that needs it. I hope the D350 is all it's reported to be, and congrats on securing an X spec. |
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11th Jul 2024 4:52am |
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| Eric Caterpillar Member Since: 17 Jun 2024 Location: Scotland Posts: 38
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Cheers, already some interesting points being made. I'm byuing this Defender as a replacement to my current Merc E53 estate, I need more space inside and a better ride quality as my local roads are poor quality at places. Have never owned a car of that type (4x4, suv, etc.) or a diesel actually, so this is a completely uknknown teritory to me.
I'm asking about off roading as this seems cheaper to do than owning a dedicated track car, but should provide a similar level of enjoyment. Was told by the supplyiung dealer an approximate date of collection - mid October-, so have followed the delivery times thread with great interest. Spec I went for is D350 X Dynamic 110 (not the full X, but don't have a choice in that regards for the MY25 anyway), Pangea Green with Caraway brown interior, 20" grey alloys, tow bar, 4 zone climate control, fridge, head up display. The big ommisions are the full towing pack, advanced off road pack, so not getting a rear diff. I also understand that some of the missing functions (dynamic mode, advanced off road driving modes, speed limiter memory function) can be coded in by aftermarket parties (as linked on this forum), would that cause any issues with the warranty and secondly, I'm assuming since these services are advertised, the extra coded functions do not disappear after a software update? |
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11th Jul 2024 6:44am |
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| Crazymind Member Since: 11 Jun 2024 Location: Glasgow Posts: 137
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I am sure your Merc boot is cavernous compared to the Defender. Boot space is quite disappointing on the 110. If you we looking for more space you should have taken into consideration the 130.
Off roading… it depends what you have in mind. You can possibly do anything with the defender… You can get pretty much anything coded in case you would want. At a price though. Warranty will not cover most of the things you have messed with… |
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11th Jul 2024 7:38am |
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| Eric Caterpillar Member Since: 17 Jun 2024 Location: Scotland Posts: 38
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On the boot space Merc is 640 litres vs 786 Defender, however I'm thinking in the usual LR fashion, the are quoting space to the roof?
The Merc is truly great for the size of its boot, it's the rear bench I am having massive issues with, it's not deep enough and it's sitting close to the floor, which combined with the fact Merc's air suspension is rock hard and I'm 6"2 makes for a horrible rear passenger time. The Defender is supposed to give me a better passenger comfort on  roads around Glasgow, and going to Dover to cross the Channel a couple of times a year.
Also, I am expecting some decent range out of the Defender, on my multiple test drives I managed to get mpg ranging from 27 to 39, depending on the conditions, which combined with a 89 litre fuel tank, should make me see 700+ miles cruising range? For reference, the Merc does indeed return 600+ on a steady cruise, I saw 700 going to Silverstone once. Fair point on the warranty not covering any codig, but I can't find any horror stories from people getting additional features coded and then the car electronics living up to LR reputation. |
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11th Jul 2024 8:01am |
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| Crazymind Member Since: 11 Jun 2024 Location: Glasgow Posts: 137
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The usability of the boot of your Merc has no comparison to the Defender.
The Merc boot is wider, deeper, and rear seat down, the distance between rear tailgate and front is much more than the Defender. you can probably sleep in the merc with seats down, not the defender (at least at 6"2). i ma 5'11 and Imy feet touch the rear tailgate and the head touch the front seats. Not really a surprise, The merc is 8" longer than the Defender. Space between your front seat and rear bench on The Defender, i am just guessing it will be very similar if not the same. However the rear bench of the Defender seats higher and its deep enough for tall adults. In terms of comfort, whit my 20" tyres it's very good with air supension for the kind od vehicle, however I don't think its any better than your Merc, possibly worse. The air suspension is a nice bit of kit but is not designed to give you the plush ride of the Full Fat Range Rover. You are Welcome to have a look and drive mine for a better comparison with your Merc. I am In Glasgow as well. |
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11th Jul 2024 9:11am |
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| Eric Caterpillar Member Since: 17 Jun 2024 Location: Scotland Posts: 38
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Think I'll have another look at the Defender this weekend, it's been a while since I had a test drive in one, but I'd swear it was more spacious inside than the E class. The boot is definitely more cavernous in the Merc, but the rear passenger space is severly compromised in the Merc - speaking from my own experience. Also, the air suspension setup on the E53 is anything but comfortable in the UK at least, on most Europeans roads it's fine.
I had a numer of test drives in various X5s and GLEs. The X5 has the best connection to the road and that engine is really good, but the rear space is too compromised for a car of that size. Then there's the GLE, best in terms of the space inside, both front and rear, I like the dashboard setup, all controlled via buttons and knobs, bar the touch capacitive steering wheel, unfortunately in the UK it only comes as 7 seater, so the boot is a bit compromised. The Merc also drives like a boat, zero steering feel and the suspension is floaty. In my opinion the Defender was positioned somewhere in between these two cars, good cabin space, drives better then the Merc, it has buttons still (!) and the boot seemed ok. Plus it can handle some off road if need be. |
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12th Jul 2024 10:24am |
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| Moo Member Since: 01 Oct 2021 Location: UK Posts: 1356 
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I’ve had three D3/4s and a XC90. I went from the XC9, which was a great car, to the Defender. I still find the small boot and side opening tailgate a pain. However, the interior space and rear seats on the Defender are very good 👍
As for comfort, I think the Defender is really impressive. I travel to Milan a lot and it just chews the miles. Anyway, having said that, I’m currently thinking of changing my Defender because of the boot and door issues. I still use my daughter’s D3 for load lugging. If boot size and comfort are concerns for you, have a look at an XC90. Very impressive car, beautifully built and the dealers are leagues ahead of LRs for quality service and support. Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy. |
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14th Jul 2024 9:23am |
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| norland Member Since: 08 Feb 2023 Location: uk Posts: 26 
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Have a look at a Discovery too. Boot space and hatchback access were a large part of what made me go that direction from Defender.
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14th Jul 2024 4:43pm |
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| ruben Member Since: 04 Feb 2021 Location: ASTURIAS Posts: 176 
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After a month, I agree with the small boot and the annoying door...but what the hell, something had to make it different from a discovery 3/4, right? so it's great!!
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14th Jul 2024 6:38pm |
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