patrick_y[PuristSPro Moderator]
33598
Mainly safety is my concern...
Safety and practicality are my main concerns.
While I really like the look of the old Land Cruisers, the fact that the car is ancient and doesn't have certain safety features nor creature comforts is a concern.
The Defender is good in a way that it has a small 2.2 liter diesel engine. It will have a reasonable range on each tank of fuel.
The Gelandewagen in the US always have very thirsty petrol engines. Thus, the range of the car is simply too short to be practical. Imagine going camping in the wilderness, you'll actually have to monitor your fuel usage quite carefully. And in day to day driving, the range of the massive 25.4 US Gallon tank is only around 325 miles, assuming 13 mpg average and that you use almost every last drop of fuel. Maybe an inline 6 cylinder diesel would be more appropriate? And Mercedes-Benz dealers are abundant in the USA, so serviceability isn't a major issue.
But all that said, I do like the Defender. It's got the cloth interior, it looks the most authentic and modern, but more industrial interior than the Gelandewagen.
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...
