Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
Defender….
….got my lads Deafener for weekend, this is the ‘modern’ Puma 2.4 version
God it’s awful……
Handbrake digs in left calf, window winder in right calf, door pull in right thigh. Steering wheel too close and too low. Gearbox awful (but clutch is light!). Heater is either ‘cold’ or localised area heat gun level.
1st gear gets you to about 8mph before notchy change to 2nd. At least lots of torque means you can pretty much leave it in 3rd around town….
You have to steer using just your left hand to feed the wheel through to your trapped RH arm wedged in against the door.
How people say JLR should have carried these on is, IMO, pretty ridiculous. They are not ‘foible's’, it’s not ‘quaint’. It’s just ridiculously outdated engineering and if it wore a Japanese badge it would be called out for what it is….
About 1978 is when these should have been put down
Click image to enlarge
1st Dec 2023 4:37 pm
Martin Site Admin and Owner
Member Since: 06 Nov 2004
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 18457
Shush - they’re amazing!!06 D3 SE / 15 LR D90 XS SW / 88 LR 90 Td5 / 68 BMW 2000 ti
Any issues with the site let me know!
1st Dec 2023 5:24 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23371
You’re describing “character”. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography
1st Dec 2023 5:26 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
There’s the view of two of the wise monkeys….
1st Dec 2023 5:42 pm
chugga90
Member Since: 13 Aug 2014
Location: Buckinghamshire
Posts: 434
Does your boy run an activity type business with the Defender?
It looks similar to one I read an article about in Classic Land Rover?
ThanksDiscovery commercial tdv6 auto 2013
Volkswagen t6 lwb Kombi dsg 4motion 2018
Volkswagen t5.1 lwb single cab tipper 2013
Discovery commercial sdv6 auto 2014 gone and not really missed.
Range Rover Tdv8 gone
Freelander 2 I6 very sadly gone
VW t5 Dsg gone and missed
1st Dec 2023 6:44 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
He doesn’t.
He bought it pretty much like that but ‘downsized’ the wheels and arches to how it is now and did quite a bit on suspension, brakes and steering. It’s a ‘van’ to him with intent for some remote camping trips as he’s moving to Germany in January and they want to go back to the Balkan’s as their Crafter camper van struggled in some of the more remote areas they visited.
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
1st Dec 2023 9:24 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72790
Ah, reminds me of the days driving down to southern Greece in a 110 TD, before the “i” bit, then back across the Alps. And the virtually new 90 TD5 that we took to Iceland me broke down on the drive back through Europe. Twice. Great memories. To be repeated? No chance, I value comfort too much!
1st Dec 2023 9:31 pm
Brian Considine
Member Since: 05 Dec 2022
Location: Nr Margate
Posts: 281
I don't care how "awful" they are, I still want one !
1st Dec 2023 9:58 pm
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13110
I agree with astonbuilder (shocking! )
Defenders are awful things except for what they were designed for - farm vehicles. They're OK for Farmer Giles to potter around in with some fodder in the back. For anything else they are truly awful things.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
1st Dec 2023 10:40 pm
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13110
DSL wrote:
Ah, reminds me of the days driving down to southern Greece in a 110 TD, before the “i” bit, then back across the Alps. And the virtually new 90 TD5 that we took to Iceland me broke down on the drive back through Europe. Twice. Great memories. To be repeated? No chance, I value comfort too much!
I remember chatting to some Defender types that had driven from northern England to Les Comes. They admitted that the trip was unpleasant and hoped Les Comes was worth it. Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
1st Dec 2023 10:42 pm
johnlad
Member Since: 02 Dec 2016
Location: blackpool
Posts: 408
I love both of mine , 93 200tdi 90, and 23 3.0 d 110.
Click image to enlarge
Strangely I’ve no pics of the 110.
1st Dec 2023 10:53 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13913
Brian Considine wrote:
I don't care how "awful" they are, I still want one !
I think here is therapy and medication to help you get over that. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
I remember chatting to some Defender types that had driven from northern England to Les Comes. They admitted that the trip was unpleasant and hoped Les Comes was worth it.
We only went from North Manchester to just past Lancaster as passengers in a mates 110 and both SWMBO and I were soooo glad I'd opted for a Disco 1 instead of a 90..
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
1st Dec 2023 10:59 pm
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 592
The OP is completely right about the discomforts of being in one, but LT is right too about character. Years ago, many cars had individual characteristics and any car-lover could choose one that reflected their likes and dislikes. Now, not so much.
My son, now 21, has always loved cars. With no pushing from me, he now has a Series 2a and a 2.2 Tdci. He has spent nearly all the money he earned working harvests, and I tried to dissuade him. His argument was that it was his dream, and if not now, then when?
He's at uni so leaves them at home as doesn't want them nicked. He comes and gets them for trips, and ALL his friends want to ride with him..... so much for comfort!d4 HSE
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... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
