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| farmer giles Member Since: 09 Feb 2011 Location: worcestershire Posts: 1299  
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there was an article in the Times motoring section about technological advances in car equipment and how most folk would prefer the basic alternatives. What things do you like/insist/need and what things do you dislike/would avoid?
likes for me: power steering, heated seats; central locking; air con dislikes: parking sensors; auto wipers/headlights; auto gearbox; sunroof; electronic handbrake; elec seats + mirrors; elec/air suspension; |
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17th Oct 2012 11:08am |
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| iruffell Member Since: 03 Sep 2010 Location: Marlow, Buckinghamshire Posts: 343  
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Agree with most of those; like: auto wipers and lights dislikes: silly noises when you haven't put your seatbelt on, left the lights on etc Last edited by iruffell on 17th Oct 2012 11:31am. Edited 1 time in total |
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17th Oct 2012 11:17am |
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| JWL Member Since: 26 Oct 2011 Location: Hereford Posts: 3443  
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Ah, it's so nice to be a Defender owner. We buy a bog standard shell of a vehicle then we put on what we want. If we want electronic handbrakes, electric seats, auto wipers/headlights then we can still get a green oval fix by buying those other Land Rovers that the dealers are more keen to sell.
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17th Oct 2012 11:24am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17724 
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I point blank wouldn't buy a vehicle which had any of the following unless they could be disabled:-
- keyless entry - auto headlights - auto wipers - parking sensors I see no point in electric handbrakes at all. I like electric windows. I don't like airbags but can live with them, but would rather the driver's airbag in all cars was replaced with a sharp spike. I also like the following and wish my Defender had them:- - the Disco2 style of central lokcing where 1 press unlocks the drivers door only and a second press unlocks the rest. - deadlocks and effective security I don't like DRLs and think that motorcyclists and other non-car-based road users will die in greater numbers when they become a requirement. I despise rear fog lights and would ban them if I could. I am convinced that they cause more accidents than they prevent. Most of the other features I can take or leave. One of the biggest attractions of the Defender is its old-fashioned simplicity! |
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17th Oct 2012 12:42pm |
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| wslr Member Since: 18 Jul 2010 Location: Wellington, Somerset Posts: 581
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Dislikes would have to include emissions equipment such as EGR/Cats. Not going to make me popular though.
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17th Oct 2012 12:47pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20754
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I think emissions control is a good thing but should NOT be at the cost of available power or cause other maintenance to become an issue such as having to replace EGR valves or DPF's.
There are also some modifications that could be done in general from the factory to all Defenders that would just improve them in general such as a full SS exhaust system (Even if the same design as standard) Yes, It would reflect in the price of buying a new one but it would last a very long time indeed instead of rusting. WeWillWin🇬🇧🇺🇸 ⛽ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª |
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17th Oct 2012 12:58pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17724
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On a global scale I don't think emissions restrictions do much good, the only long term solution it to get a grip on the problem of uncontrolled human population, which is clearly unsustainable in the long term. Unless eventually someone faces up to this, all the anti-polution and "green" measure in the world are utterly useless.
The planet doesn't need saving. It was here long before us and will still be here long after we have gone. But this is straying off topic somewhat! |
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17th Oct 2012 2:13pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731  
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I'm fairly tolerant but I DON'T like bloody great bright LCD displays in the middle of the instrument cluster, telling you loads of pointless information like what radio station you're listening to and what temperature your ar*e is at.
It's illegal to watch telly while you're driving so these things should be too. My 2004 Audi just has a simple tacho, rev-counter and some discrete red LEDs - you don't notice them if you don't want to. Bloody Audis nowadays look as cheap and "blinged up" as the latest Daiwoo "sports" model.
 and a stupid question but what is the downpipe made from? Mal's looks almost new  Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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17th Oct 2012 2:50pm |
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| Martin Site Admin Member Since: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Hook Norton Posts: 6662 
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Keyless entry/start is something I can't agree with, think it's a massive step back in security.
 1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW |
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17th Oct 2012 3:09pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20754
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Matt I believe it is a low grade SS but it does rust (can't guarantee it's correct) One thing for sure the bolts rust into dust
WeWillWin🇬🇧🇺🇸
⛽ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª |
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17th Oct 2012 3:27pm |
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| farmer giles Member Since: 09 Feb 2011 Location: worcestershire Posts: 1299
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stop/start technology would bug me.
steve: i agree with your comments about longevity. i am so suprised that manufacturers haven't seen the market for a galv chassis, bulkhead and cappings with stainless exhaust, manual gearbox, manual windows, vinyl seats, no carpet etc etc. although the manufacturer may loose the repeat sales i'm sure the world market for a reliable base vehicle is enormous |
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17th Oct 2012 3:40pm |
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| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: Côte d'Azur Posts: 883  
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Until a couple of months ago I had pretty much a “bl…dy tree-hugging emissions control freaking Jesus-beard nerds” opinion of environmentalists.
However, a period spent in Cairo rather opened my eyes. Well, not really, I couldn’t see through the smog. I’m not convinced that their particular problem isn’t as much caused by LPG heating as traffic but, nonetheless, I now look at environmental issues a little more objectively and hope that we've prevented London and other UK cities from ending up like Mexico City and many others. BUT, I think that passenger vehicle legislation has gone as far as it can and should go, for one reason and another (heavy taxation differentials, high fuel costs etc.) over 80% of European cars are already Euro IV and better, the remainder will disappear apart from Classic and cherished cars and, of course, old Land Rovers, the whole lot together not doing enough mileage to have a big environmental impact. So absolutely no reason for them to be legislated out of existence, which is what is slowly happening - 10% Bio-fuel will be the final nail in the coffin for many of 'em. As for gadgets and gee-gaws, there are those who tick every options box when they order a car, those like me who’d rather have, say, a basic BMW than a tricked-up Ford, and people who think a bit of bling can improve the aesthetics of a truck thrown together with exposed rivets and ripply aluminium panels with inch-wide shutlines. Peter |
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17th Oct 2012 3:40pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20754
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With this so called stop start stuff. How the hell do you run any aux electrical items such as an Amp or a a power inverter or such like with a high current draw. To my mind it just doesn't work out right. Say your in stop start traffic what happens then... music go off every time you stop.
 Surely it'd kill the battery keep stopping and starting all the time on top of a current draw.
 WeWillWin🇬🇧🇺🇸
⛽ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª |
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17th Oct 2012 4:30pm |
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| Green Machine Member Since: 19 Nov 2010 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 1226 
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HATE auto wipers, do my head in! Got them on the Golf and you can pretty much guarantee they're always doing exactly what you don't want them to! Starts drizzling gently, no wipers, no wipers, still no wipers . . . stops drizzling . . . wipers on full whack. Brilliant. In fairness, they do work OK most of the time, but light rain and darkness seem to be a bit of an issue for the sensor. What really bugs me about it is that VW have given me 'sensitivity control' on the wiper stalk, right, so that's a variable intermittent that doesn't work properly then. Give me a good old variable intermittent any day of the week! 2005 Td5 | 90 Station Wagon | Tonga Green
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17th Oct 2012 4:33pm |
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