Comments on: Land Rover Defender first steer

By: danny boy

danny boy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:37:27 +0000

Land Rover Rules..!
from the day one, to present…
don’t believe it?
just see:
The Darien Gap Expedition back in to the series landy era…
The Camel Trophy back in to the golden era of “sand glow” vehicles…
etc…
they all did an awesome job there, with a standard tires sizes, standar engine, standard gear plus winch…
thats why i love em’…go standard, go landy, go anywhere…
still need prove? my dad drove a landy series III (standar engine) back in 1990 on a expedition with his couple of friends (only using 1 vehicles). they only put a front PTO koenig winch, and standard 7.50×16 extra grip tires…4 days in hell, but they finally made it to the destination…

I live in Indonesia which have so many land rover owner, land cruiser owner, jeep owner, jap’s 4×4 vehicles owner, etc…
and they all respect each other…
and so do i…
I love landy, i love em’ just the way they are…
and i respect other non landy 4×4 vehicles, cuz they have their own ability which different than landys…

cheer up guys… =)
go landy!
go 4×4..!

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:49:11 +0000

I apologise to the Landcruiser lovers, but I no longer believe that the mighty Cruiser has a place in the ranks of true offroaders. It lacks the Landie’s ground clearance, having only 220mm, (Compared to 200 on the Subaru Outback, for Pete’s sake!) it has only 1970’s style LEAF SPRINGS at the back, and features part-time 4WD and optional difflocks compared to Defender’s constant 4WD, centre lock and traction control. It has a turning orbit, not a turning circle. The Cruiser uses a monstrous, gas-guzzling 4.5L V8 to achieve the same 3500kg towing capacity as the Landie’s frugal 2.4 four, with no doubt considerably more maintenance due to double the capacity, double the cylinders and no tall sixth gear to take the strain out of highway miles. I think some earlier comments from Toyota owners say it all – they actually fear that their much-vaunted engines are going to STOP, so far from a qualified mechanic? As a 300Tdi owner, I have no such fear, and I believe honestly that the same can be said for all Landie TD4’s, computer controlled or not. The ‘Cruiser, undoubtedly, is unparalleled at what it is designed and marketed for – commercial use. That’s construction sites and mine tunnels. Not offroading.
Also, to the person who mentioned oil leaks; Dream on, sunshine.
Apologies for the long-winded post!

By: dullbird

dullbird — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:15:03 +0000

so frugle one

exactly how many landrovers have you been in, driven and been off road in ?????? mmmmmmmmmm thought so another toyota driver with a mate of a mate story…..

toyotas are reliable because you poof’s dont take em anywhere to get broke….

a defender is an athelete…..yes rightly when you stress an athelete they get hurt.

the toyota said while the defender was climbing the rocks “i will have a go at failing in a minute i’m just gunna finish me macca’s”
there fat, and ugly and they weigh the same as a small warship….and you know what EVERY MAN AND HIS DOG HAS GOT ONE talk about conformists…be original..

dont slate what you dont know about!!! get a life…oh and a half decent car, not saying buy a defender maybe by a vitara..that would still out perform your hunk of junk ;)

By: Benny

Benny — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:45:15 +0000

Too right Frugal one.

I am and apprentice 4wd mechanic and these things are absolutly hated for the very poor reliability.

If it had a toyota motor maybe i would reconsider but Ford Transit just makes me shiver cause there nuthin special either. But the Ford motor Has to be more reliable!!

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:20:59 +0000

Why is it that australian Toyota owners hate Land Rover so much? Why can’t they accept that the Defender does what it is meant to do very well.

Because L/R’s are shit!

Always have been, always will.FULL-STOP

Cheers

F-0

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:19:41 +0000

Jason Says:
November 21st, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Absolutely superb photos guys.

I believe photos where supplied by LRA as others are using them too

Cheers

F-0

By: Brian Green

Brian Green — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:29:37 +0000

Well Frugal One is a muppet. If he thinks “even the poms hate them” is correct he should visit the Uk and the rest of Europe. The Defender is immensely popular and is the vehicle of choice for anybody who wants a heavy duty working vehicle. Around 6000 a year are sold in the UK, 3000 in Italy, 2000 in Germany, France 1800, Spain 1200 etc. The are the main light utility vehicle of the Italian, French,Potugese, Czech ( and many more) Govt’s and extremely popular as fire dept vehicles in switzerland and Austria.

Toyota ,(who make good cars, I drive a UK built Avensis)decided to withdraw the 70 series from the EU markets as sales ( a few hundread per annum) could not justify the expense of Euro 4 approval. It may be a toyota world in Au but it is a Land rover world up here.

Why is it that australian Toyota owners hate Land Rover so much? Why can’t they accept that the Defender does what it is meant to do very well.

By: Reckless1

Reckless1 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:36:51 +0000

How much does the nut behind the wheel cost?

Not sure why anyone would have to buy a wheel nut – I’ve been driving and have owned at least two cars for the last 40 years. I’ve never had to buy a wheel nut…..

And remember, fast moving parts are usually cheaper, but a LR wheelnut couldn’t be a fast moving part, could it :)

By: Cookie

Cookie — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:56:58 +0000

I bought a defender back in 2001 – a TD5. The main reason was that it could go EVERYWHERE. The only equivalent Jap at the time was the Troopy with the optional diff locks and that was less fuel efficient and $15K more expensive.
I’ve done some pretty serious 4wd trips over the years and it has never let me down.
My bigest gripe is the price of spare parts, try paying $56 each for wheel nuts!! I’m told LR do not import their own spares, they are imported by Caterpillar which may have something to do with it.
I would happily buy the new Defender but I don’t need to, mine is still in top condition and looks to have many more years of service life left. Cheers.

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 23:39:47 +0000

Clarkson [correctly] on L/Rover rubbish:

“As a result the company went bust and along came the Germans, who demonstrated with the new Mini that tradition doesn’t necessarily mean driving to work in the automotive equivalent of rickets.
We see exactly the same with the “proper old Land Rover”. It’s rubbish: uncomfortable, slow, impractical and with prices starting at £20,000, not that cheap. But nobody has the courage to pull the plug on a 60-year tradition, and start again. But somebody should.”

Yeap, even Poms hate them.

Thats why on the 7th day God created Toyota:-)

Cheers

F-0
*VOTE-NOW!*

By: Casey

Casey — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:16:09 +0000

I think the LR Defender’s record speaks for itself. It’ll be 60 next year and is probably the only real 4×4 on the market that owner’s aren’t afraid to use to its full potential.

The military applications of the vehicle of this time frame is further evidence of just how capable it really is.

Good on LR for sticking with Defender, I persoanlly hope it’s around for a long time to come.

By: Iamthestig

Iamthestig — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:13:48 +0000

Frugal One wrong again ? – Happens every day !

That is four big porkies in the last week. I take back my vote for his Top Gear appearance as he obviously wouldn’t be suited. Looks like he should have been a runner for PM on Saturday though !!!

By: Bavarian Missile

Bavarian Missile — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 13:10:38 +0000

Sorry but Im with Benjie!. This is the best !

I base my thoughts on my Dads! If he believes in them ……..so do I!

He has posture in my heart! Yes he has used them!!!!!!!!!

I love Land cruisers but he keeps telling me their better!

By: Benjie

Benjie — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:42:04 +0000

Frugal One:

The Australian Army has actually renewed their contract with Land Rover, not dumped it. Get your facts straight champ.

By: Astro Boy

Astro Boy — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:28:09 +0000

The new 4cyl has a variable geometry turbo and has more torque at lower rpm’s and the 6th gear is taller and 1st gear is shorter… i guess a lot of 2nd gear starting. Get over yourself japanese 4wd loving people. I got a Land Rover 3.5L V8, which is the same motor as the Range Rover’s and its a tray back i dont use it much now coz it cost too much to run lol, but the motor has never been touched and it has no leaks! And it has no rust because its made of aluminum! only there is surface rust on the firewall which is steel between the mudguard and door because it was used to tow boats on the beach. It pulled a submerged boat trailer that had its wheels sunk in the sand off the beach. The rear end of the LR had the ocean splashing over it. I had to hose all the seaweed and beach sand off the rear. For what it is.. a proper off road vehicle it is better and more practical than a landcruiser or patrol. All the panels can be easily removed and the body over time will not weaken from stress. I’m not a die hard landrover fan i have a FJ62 which is brilliant as well. But i wouldnt put the toyota through what the LR has gone through it would have corroded away by now.

remember the land rover was designed as a lightweight vehicle for air lifting and is made out of aluminum because after WWII thats all they had left from airplanes. They were also painted the same green as spitfires. You cant compare the 70 series to the LR, the LR was made for war… the landcruiser wasnt.

Frugal one, the land rover is being dumped because they have stopped making the old diesel that couldnt be stopped by a EMP and the TD5 would require electronic diagnostic equipment to service… so the army doesnt want that and the extra power resulted in people crashing. Also the land rover doesnt have enough armor and has weight carrying limits because it was designed to be a light weight vehicle. The army has found them to be very reliable so i dont know what hell your on about.

By: Me.

Me. — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:57:03 +0000

In case you don’t know what I mean by one-one, I went crazy then, sorry. LOL :P I ment 2, because I’ve seen some funny ways of saying 2 on this site, e.g. 11 for 2.

By: Me.

Me. — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:49:46 +0000

That was the series one one, the series ones had Ferguson tractor engines and what a “put, put, bang” shaking car they were.

By: Me.

Me. — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:46:20 +0000

Alot of the Series one one Land Rovers had Holden red motors put in them, the one I know has a 173cu. There frame rusted out from the inside because they were boxed in.

By: David

David — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:31:03 +0000

The last Defender had the TD5 under the bonnet.
Backward step?

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:04:57 +0000

A Toyota and Nissan would s*hit all over these oil leaking appaling built vehicles

I would happly pay the extra for a Japanese made 4×4.

IS IT NO WONDER THE AUSSIE ARMY ARE DUMPING THEM FOR BENZ 4×4’s!!

The only thing missing from the photos and test is…

“Powered by Ford”, yes Virginia, its a Transit engine under the bonnet

Cheers

F-0

VOTE-NOW!