Is it worth Saving the Defender ?

"Matthew Phillips" (flatsidewaysfl) 06/29/2015 at 17:05 • Filed to: None

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God bless this thing, look at it. It’s Classy and brutish, a proper englishman. Essentially a descendant from the 48 LR series as a Jeep Wrangler is from an old Willy’s Jeep. It has lived a long successful life gaining a cult following. This is an important truck that Tata motors can’t screw up, but will it really hurt them to just end the line altogether ?

Let’s look at it and it’s original proposed successor. Two years back LR gave us a variety of DC100 concepts to gauge interest in a second generation Defender, it looked cute, but not a representation of what the Defender is. A defender replacement needs to be that truck that can be effective in it’s work and be available in different configurations for that work. The DC100 is not that truck. I’m afraid the Defender might become a LR4/Discovery if they’re not careful.

Land rover could honestly just make the car that’s already trying to become the Defender

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited has been threatening to become the Defender since the 2005 Rescue Concept and most recently Jeep has even proved that the Wrangler can be massaged into what is efficiently a modern Defender with the Africa concept, from this past Moab expo. A simple Frame extension and a fixed roof to build a Defender. Of course it takes more than adding a new tail end on your Wrangler to make a Defender, but it will fill the role just the same.

So why not take the fight to the Wrangler ? Jeep has shown there is a market for this type of vehicle if done right. If Land Rover can make a modern Defender that starts at no more than 35 grand in USD, maybe offer the same capability the Rubicon offers as a starting model then from there you can accessorize or upgrade as needed. Then again there is this whole reliability issue. Trucks are meant for durability.

I honestly don’t know how reliable Defenders are, but it’s stable mates don’t really have a great reputation. A simple no frills truck is what this needs to be to be a viable option outside of the EU. Then again I could be wrong, and this truck may never see our side of the world, LR is still on track to produce a defender replacement, whether it be the DC100 or whatever else they drew up within the next year or so. We can only hope for a US bound Defender to take on the Wrangler. We all know that D+W=Bronco.

nermal > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:09

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I liked the most recent concept. Nothing wrong with modernizing!

Matthew Phillips > nermal 06/29/2015 at 17:11

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I can see it working if it was part of a Defender lineup with the DC100 as the entry level model.

MonkeePuzzle > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:15

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feels like this lada is coming in from the side to attack the defender

HammerheadFistpunch > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:16

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That headline is some quality comment creation stuff right there.

HammerheadFistpunch > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:18

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The defender needs to be more expensive than the wrangler because, as cool as the JKU is, its a fragile thing compared to a defender. I mean, they will both work really well off road, but one is meant for hard labor and the other is meant for hard lemonade.

Matthew Phillips > MonkeePuzzle 06/29/2015 at 17:19

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Great Scott... Keep that Lada at Bay sir !

djmt1 > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:20

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About time they replaced the old war horse. For all the attention it gets and it’s cult status they aren’t good vehicles especially when compared to it’s siblings.

Sure they are capable off road but all Land Rovers are even the FWD Evoque difference is that those cars are all delightful on a day to day basis.

Hopefully under the New Land Rover class system the Defender will be at the cheap end but then again Land Rover can’t even spell cheap as a cheap modernised Defender would be very appealing to me and many others hopefully.

Matthew Phillips > HammerheadFistpunch 06/29/2015 at 17:22

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Truck Vs Toy.

HammerheadFistpunch > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:23

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I like the wrangler, I think its great...but yes.

Matthew Phillips > HammerheadFistpunch 06/29/2015 at 17:24

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I will admit that I only like the Wrangler because I can’t get a Defender.

Matthew Phillips > djmt1 06/29/2015 at 17:27

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Your point is extremely valid, every LR lives up to it’s name, but would you honestly take your 90k Ranger Rover mudding ?

Berang > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:31

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Is it worth saving the Defender? Is there a place in this world for the Defender? It’s got to be going some place other than 1st world shopping mall parking lots. I’m sure there are lots of rough places out there where they can live, but in that case the world doesn’t need a more modern, more stylish, more comfortable Defender. It just needs a sturdy, go anywhere Defender, and who cares how ugly it looks.

WiscoProud > HammerheadFistpunch 06/29/2015 at 17:31

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bordering on "click bait"

djmt1 > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:32

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No but I would take a new Discovery off roading.

WiscoProud > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:32

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I'm in the same boat. I would love to see a legitimate contender to the Wrangler

boxrocket > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:33

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LR preserved some bits from the DC100 when they made the new Discovery Sport.

A Defender needs to look like a Defender: Blocky, bold, Spartan, and effective. No pretensions, just a workhorse. Mercedes still sells the G-Wagen in its mostly-original external form. LR can do the same but better.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:34

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The enduring benefit of the Defender is that it’s essentially a modular design from the bulkhead backwards. While it is certainly not as reliable as its overland/truck competition, its ability to be transformed into something that is multi-role and/or role-specific is second to none. I cannot name another vehicle that is suitable for on-road and off-road use that has such a variety of chassis lengths, body styles, utility accessories, and of course general hackability.

Land Rover alone offer over 300 different configurations on the Defender platform, with 3 different chassis lengths allowing HIABS, tipping bodies, van backs, pickups, 7-seaters, vehicle recovery etc. and the coachworks companies further extend that figure to something unknown. There is almost something for any situation.

That said, I completely understand the need for a replacement for the Defender, especially so that it can enter new markets, be safer for passengers and pedestrians, and perhaps just leak a little bit less. But what I don’t agree with is the removal of the current platform, which is popular and proven all across Europe, and the default small ‘truck’ for thousands of companies and individuals that need a multi-role, adaptable workhorse.

Matthew Phillips > djmt1 06/29/2015 at 17:34

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Maybe, just maybe.

Matthew Phillips > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 06/29/2015 at 17:35

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But what about a 4x4 Mercedes sprinter ?

that Firetruck is wonderful.

HammerheadFistpunch > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:36

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On a related note, we know a new defender is coming and that it will be the 3rd pillar in the Rover linup:

Defender - Dual Purpose

1. Defender Sport?

2. Defender

Discovery - Leisure

1. Discovery Sport

2. Discovery

Range Rover - Luxury

1. Range Rover

2. Range rover sport

3. Range Rover Evoke

I’m not sure what “dual purpose” is nor do I know if the Defender family will get a “sport” model but I wouldn’t count them out. A Defender sport could be a Wrangler competitor, but it would be tough to compete on price. I’m not afraid of an updated defender, but it should have the same market place, and not try to invade the one of the other pillars. Modern transmissions, safety features, etc just like the wrangler could be adapted and it should be and aluminum should still be used to keep with the light makes right theme Rover is going for. it just needs a refreshing, wider, better interior, door seals that, um, work, etc.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:37

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Try fixing it with a hammer and some used ketchup packets, then get back to me.

Matthew Phillips > HammerheadFistpunch 06/29/2015 at 17:38

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I think the opposite, looking at the Discovery Sport and the Evoque, the DC100 seems likely to be a sport model with the main defender picking up where the last one did.

Matthew Phillips > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 06/29/2015 at 17:38

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Touche

HammerheadFistpunch > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 17:40

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Perhaps, Frankly...I don’t think they have any clue what to do with the Defender. I think the DC100 concept was just to test the waters of change...it didn’t go over well. Could there be a more civilian, more...”lifestyle” defender? I think so, and I do think it would be called the sport. If they don’t nail the Defender “classic” though, its going to be tough to trade on that name to sell the sport models.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 06/29/2015 at 17:59

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Ketchup packets seem exsessive... what are you? Some fancy city lad?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 06/29/2015 at 18:02

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Pretty much this, all I want is a utility truck I can beat the piss out of that sits on a ladder frame with solid axles and a green oval badge. I want to be able to drop a half tonne of horse/cow/whatever shit over the rear axle take it home and mulch my garden or haul a load of firewood for the winter.

Steve in Manhattan > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 18:05

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I’d update it without changing that classic look. Just keep building it.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 06/29/2015 at 18:07

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A country boy through and through! The wind blows them in sometimes.

Matthew Phillips > WiscoProud 06/29/2015 at 18:08

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You clicked it worked.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Matthew Phillips 06/29/2015 at 18:43

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The silence around the new “Defender” worries me, especially after that whole DC100. I don’t see Land Rover staying true to the work horse roots of the Land Rover and instead trying to make a “life style” type vehicle like the Toyota did with the FJ with it eventually dying a slow and sad death. I really hope I’m wrong though.

Matthew Phillips > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 06/29/2015 at 19:05

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we’ve seen the new discovery in concept and production form since the last we heard about the Defender. I agree with you. If they can't do it right, don't do it.