 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > Replacement for defender - a little bit more news |
 
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 422  
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You're saying it can't be smoother and retain its original charm as a functional, utilitarian, rough and great offroad vehicle? It's not like it'd be the first time it got a bit smoother... There are several fantastic utility vehicles out there selling well, and being things of pride for their companies. They are seen as valuable assets. Land Rover, as of late, seems more interested in mere fashion, and thus actually not even understanding why their brand is so strong in the first place. |
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13th Mar 2014 11:05pm |
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| SailingTom Member Since: 19 Nov 2013 Location: ESSEX Posts: 1720 
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If there was a correct statement in here that is the one (I agree with all you said, but didnt want to quote it all  )
Realistically Id say since about 2005 with the td5 the defender as I put earlier is the disgraced old smelly dog of the family that gets put away when guests are over! To prove the point I can show it clearly, just type in current land rover line up in google images and id say since then Its always been tucked at the back, Its very clear that the Range Rover is the vehicle they see as the leader of the Jaguar Land Rover brand. The new Defender im sure will be good, but we all have the one people will imagine and remember.  Defender puma dormobile camper |
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14th Mar 2014 6:57am |
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| What puddle? Member Since: 25 Oct 2013 Location: Reading Posts: 952
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Setok, I'm saying that the new Defender will HAVE to be less utilitarian to appeal...and sell. It will HAVE to be more 'cartoonish'. It's inevitable. The new Defender simply won't have the charm and the soul of the current one though. How can it? We've watched the Defender evolve slightly into something clever and tough with bags of soul. But let's be honest, that's all it has. It isn't comfortable, it isn't reliable, it isn't built too well, it isn't even leak-proof! The new one will have plastic where once was metal. It will have air bags and a crumble zone. But it won't have soul. On another forum a while back I said about cars with soul: Minor, Mini, Beetle, VW Camper, MGB, Mustang, a few old Alfa Romeos, and of course, the Defender. I had a brand new Freelander as a hire car a few months back. It was totally insipid to drive, absolutely functional and nice, but no soul at all. If I had one I wouldn't care if someone bashed into it.
You're right, Land Rover being 'fashionable' grates. Using Victoria Beckham to promote the Evoque made me cringe - still does. But we have to accept that JLR aren't in this to please us, they need to make money. The thoughts about the Defender being the key to the LR brand may well be right, but that key is inevitably going to be more plasticky and soft. Now left. |
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14th Mar 2014 7:43am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17361 
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I couldn't agree more, and I think that that was when I realised that not only was the writing on the wall for the Defender, but that the entire human race is actually doomed. There really is no hope left! Truly a rock-bottom moment.  |
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14th Mar 2014 8:43am |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3149 
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I found out recently that there is a nightclub in Lancashire somewhere called "Evoque". I shall leave you to work out what kind of clientele they appeal to but didn't come as a shock to me... 2011 110 USW
1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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14th Mar 2014 8:53am |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265 
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American market though, give 'em some credit for not doing it here |
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14th Mar 2014 9:20am |
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| What puddle? Member Since: 25 Oct 2013 Location: Reading Posts: 952
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Sorry, I don't know what you mean by 'American market'. What I saw was her prancing next to a white Evoque at the terrible launch parade (watched it live online), and also on TV when she 'designed' a silver one. If you look, she ALWAYS uses the same stupid stance, of putting one leg in front of the other - god, she annoys me! Now left.
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14th Mar 2014 9:55am |
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| AndrewS Member Since: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Hereford Posts: 3707 
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Fair play a balanced discussion ref the new defender (if it exists) better than the usual doom and gloom
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14th Mar 2014 9:59am |
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| g-mack Member Since: 07 Jan 2014 Location: northumberland Posts: 1967
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[quote="Setok"]
hit the nail on the head!!!! people who buy RRs want the luxury but they can get that anywhere! they buy a RR because they want the luxury and know that their RR is from the best off road car maker in the world! they must be the best! the army,farmers, utility companies, fire ambulance police mountain rescue..................all use them. when the all the fire rescue army police blah blah start using toyotas, then the best luxury off road car to be seen in will be a lexus!!! And JL rue the day they tore out their backbone!!!! My 109 thread my youtube channel |
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14th Mar 2014 10:12am |
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| Tiger Member Since: 06 Jul 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2265
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Most of the VB publicity was aimed at the US market, she doesn't test well in the UK but in the US she was huge at the time seen as a "British Icon" Yes I know 
So the stuff you saw wasn't really aimed at us limeys. As a market we like the #hibernot stuff This is the current US advert This is the current UK advert |
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14th Mar 2014 10:19am |
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| Morepower Member Since: 08 Jan 2013 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 630 
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As I see it, JLR are only interested in high end vehicles these days... Which is nice when the goings good (markets are in boom etc etc) However it wasn't all that long ago, When the bubble burst that JLR where in dire straits... I maybe wrong here but any sensible business model would suggest a balanced package of vehicles spreading the risk...Where the Defender falls into this category I'm un sure... I mean it's hardly cheap is it?.... However, It was once was the back bone of the company (probably a good two decades ago), The market has changed now though... I mean how many Range Rovers etc etc do you see being seriously off roaded?... I've never seen one.. Come to think of it, neither have I seen a Disco 3 or 4... However capable these vehicles are... In reality, Once the electronics go walk abouts.. Their generally stranded by the wayside.. (how many RR's do you see on flat beds being draged in for repair)... Anyway.. The idea behind the Defender is that it should be simple and easy to fix in the field... That doesn't mean it's can't be good to drive etc etc... It just depends on what JLR are aiming it at... This we'll just have to wait and see... It doesn't matter how bad it is, It can always get worse...
2013 Bowler 110 (Sold) 2016 Bowler 90 Rally Spec (Sold) |
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14th Mar 2014 10:26am |
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| What puddle? Member Since: 25 Oct 2013 Location: Reading Posts: 952
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Well, I don't know about you people, but I love this...I'd seriously buy it tomorrow to sit alongside my 1998 Defender. I'll be disappointed if the final one is far removed from this.
Now left. |
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14th Mar 2014 12:07pm |
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| steve E Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Tenby Posts: 2073 
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Id buy the DC100 for the wife
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14th Mar 2014 12:46pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17361
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But would you buy one to replace your Defender? |
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14th Mar 2014 1:46pm |
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