patrick_y[PuristSPro Moderator]
33611
I love them all...
Old Landcruisers (Toyota)
Old Defenders (Land Rover)
Old Gelandewagens (Mercedes-Benz)
I love them all.
Realistically, I'd probably get a modern day Gelandewagen, it's easily serviced here in California, a lot of Mercedes-Benz dealerships equipped to service that car. But I think Gelandewagens develop rattles over time. All the older ones I've driven had interior rattling sounds that were somewhat to extremely annoying.
Defenders here in California are quite rare, obnoxiously expensive for what they are, and not easy to service.
I don't know, but I imagine old FJ40s are just a nightmare for service, there are probably few competent mechanics, and they're old cars so parts are hard to come by. But they do look cool! When I was in college, my roommate had the modern-retro Toyota FJ Cruiser, which is quite a capable car off the road too. I did like that car. And they don't sell FJ Cruisers anymore. I'm reminiscing a blue bodied FJ Cruiser with a white roof, just driving down to the beach. A couple surfboards (all broken and chipped), a blanket (an set of orange bedsheets that was made of 100% scratchy cotton), and a picnic basket (plastic cooler in reality) filled with (not sandwiches) tacos, corn tortillas and meats in Pyrex glass containers. We would shred the meat on the beach and just chat about home and the funny memories of growing up.
Rats, it's Monday. Discounted Tacos are sold on Tuesday, Taco Tuesday...
I am fortunate to have....
By: BDLJ : May 30th, 2015-23:37
...several of these in my neighbourhood, mainly late model Defenders, but there is a 110 and a Series 2 that I often see. My father had a Series 2 that he drove around Australia with friends in the 60s...could you imagine touring across Australia in a car...
True...
By: patrick_y : June 1st, 2015-10:37
You're right. It is more of a result of the production methods being unable to advance due to the design of the car being incapable for robots of today. Not entirely due to the desirability of hand craftsmanship, but just out of necessity. Good point! Wil...
I'm quite certain....
By: BDLJ : June 2nd, 2015-00:16
..they are still for sale here. I used to work just down the road from the main local dealership (complete with a properly challenging obstacle course....) and last I remember they were still on the lot. I don't doubt they'll finish up soon as Solihull cl...
The main limit...
By: BDLJ : June 2nd, 2015-23:24
...on a lot of those unsealed roads is corrugations. Many of them are really bad so you basically speed up until the car stops shaking like a jackhammer and sit at that. Much faster or slower means the car goes crazy again...really tiring and a great reli...
I'll miss it...
By: patrick_y : June 1st, 2015-10:26
It will be possible to buy non UK built Defender in other countries. For instance, South Africa has a factory for the African market. But Western European sales is supposed to end in December 2015. Other factories are in Malaysia and Pakistan. I haven't s...
I love them all...
By: patrick_y : June 1st, 2015-10:15
Old Landcruisers (Toyota) Old Defenders (Land Rover) Old Gelandewagens (Mercedes-Benz) I love them all. Realistically, I'd probably get a modern day Gelandewagen, it's easily serviced here in California, a lot of Mercedes-Benz dealerships equipped to serv...
LOL! Sounds great to me!
By: MichaelC : June 2nd, 2015-13:59
I wish I were there on the beach with you my Friend. One thing about the old FJ40s, the engines and systems are very basic. I believe a competent mechanic can figure his way through servicing most needs. Parts remain commonly available. I do give an edge ...
An era is coming to an end...
By: luc00 : June 4th, 2015-10:22
i really enjoyed it even if it was not reliable, fast, confortable and even not the best one off road. But it had character and that is so dificult to recreate. I remember some drives in the altiplano in bolivia where the V8 was struggling with rarified o...
Thanks for sharing!
By: patrick_y : June 5th, 2015-13:42
Thank you for sharing those nice pictures of the Defender in (presumably) Bolivia. Cars have to breath too, but I know I'd be the one struggling at 4500meters, and I'd probably be struggling more than the car. "it had character and that is so difficult to...
