"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
10/10/2013 at 10:57 • Filed to: Land Rover
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"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
10/10/2013 at 10:57 • Filed to: Land Rover | 0
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Jaguar Land Rover has announced that !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Defender production will cease in December 2015.
First produced in 1948 the Defender was then just called the Land Rover. It proved popular as a utility vehicle, and soon became part of the national fabric, indeed !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with his very own Series 1 Land Rover in 1954.
Series 1 became Series 2 in 1958, and Series 3 in 1971. In 1983 the Land Rover received an update with new engines, a new four wheel drive system (from the Range Rover), new panels and a refreshed interior. The name changed too, to Defender.
Since then engines and gearboxes have changed, but little else. I drove a 2012 model last year and found it remarkably similar to a 1989 Defender 90 I used to own. I wasn't too complimentary about the 2012 version, saying:
"The modern version has a 2.2 litre diesel which has 122bhp and, frankly, it felt just as slow as my old one. I was hoping the modern Defender would have improved somewhat but it hasn't at all. The steering is heavy (and the wheel is too large and too close to the door), the engine feels weak and the the gearbox and clutch were dire.
The clutch pedal felt like it was attached to the clutch itself with a bit of old spring. It was impossible to change gear smoothly. And you change gear lots of times. The gear ratios were ridiculously close together. Pulling out of junctions ended up being a rather frightening affair with the kangarooing clutch and first and second so close together. I didn't enjoy driving the Defender at all."
Many people love the Defender but it could hardly be disputed it needs a refresh. Land Rover released a design study last year which showed what the new Defender might look like.
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Speedmonkey
10/10/2013 at 11:09 |
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The 2012 has picked up a good bit of lard compared with the 89 - partly structural, partly in the axles, partly elsewhere. It's no surprise, really, that you didn't see the benefits of the improved power. Steering is pretty light in a Series II, but it weighs something on the order of a thousand pounds less. Clutch is goofy even there, though - mine has a much heavier spring than stock for that reason.
Also, viz the proposed replacement, I channel my inner valley girl to say "gag me with a spoon".
It was a saying of my grandfather's that each generation of the LR fixed everything *but* what was wrong with it, and that may well continue even with a fresh slate.
getchapopcorn
> Speedmonkey
10/10/2013 at 11:12 |
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RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> getchapopcorn
10/10/2013 at 11:15 |
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Don't know what video you posted, as youtube requires fiddling around to get around, but as I can glean youtubes from google to post, here's what is probably a good rejoinder to whatever that is.
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getchapopcorn
> RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
10/10/2013 at 11:20 |
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WhyRovers
> Speedmonkey
10/10/2013 at 12:34 |
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This sucks. It sounds like the Defender was straying from it's roots anyway but it still kinda sucks. Chances are though, that whatever replaces it I will hate, slowly change my mind about, then love. Somewhat like my feelings on the LR3/LR4. I hated the LR3 on launch. Now I have one, and I really like it. But it does lack some of the character of the 98 disco I have. I have wanted to own a Defender for the longest time, and I know supposedly they are launching the replacement in the US as well, but it won't be the same. I check ebay and other sites like a son of a bitch, waiting for a decent Series LR of whatever year that I can spend time on.
Your boy, BJR
> Speedmonkey
10/10/2013 at 13:09 |
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Somebody needs to make a sappy defender clip compilation to this song
King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider
> Speedmonkey
10/10/2013 at 13:33 |
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No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no.
{cries}
mambochapchap
> Speedmonkey
10/10/2013 at 13:50 |
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Land Rover, have you learned nothing from Porsche? I give up.