God for a day? Drive a Defender.

[Bob Kontak]

Visiting my pal who has a late 90's Land Rover Defender 90.

I drive it into town to get beer or occasional food and nearly each trip I get sidelined by some dude that treats me like a God, is glassy eyed from checking the ride out and want's to talk at length. Seriously, people walk up to the car from the sidewalk, knock on the window when I'm at a stop sign and want to yak - like, please pull over so we can yak.

So I am down with the attention but why are there not more Defenders in the USA if they have such a following.

On Cars.com there are 215,000 Chevys, 7,000 Porsches, 5 Veyrons and 33 Defenders for sale.

Is it a non-import issue? They are expensive but not that expensive so why so few here even if only grey market? My pal's low mileage one cost under $30k three years back and the local dealer has no problem working on it.

[SteamWolf]

they are slow, have weak axles and are as luxurious as a massey ferguson. The diesels are available in slow (Isusu powered for the Aus Army) or slower (TDi/TD5), or the same 4.0L fuel guzzling gutless alloy boat anchor as seen in the discoveries and range rovers. Back in the 70's and early 80's they were hard to beat offroad but these days everything is as good.

I have owned a diesel disco, my old man has a V8 one, and I have a few friends with defenders and original land rovers.

My disco was a great thing for what it was and I do miss the use I got out of it. Certainly rode better than the Japanese equivalents. The same can't be said for the Defender though. Mind you, the USA has flat un-lumpy roads so it may be a good thing there.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by SteamWolf

they are slow, have weak axles and are as luxurious as a massey ferguson. The diesels are available in slow (Isusu powered for the Aus Army) or slower (TDi/TD5), or the same 4.0L fuel guzzling gutless alloy boat anchor as seen in the discoveries and range rovers. Back in the 70's and early 80's they were hard to beat offroad but these days everything is as good.

I have owned a diesel disco, my old man has a V8 one, and I have a few friends with defenders and original land rovers.

My disco was a great thing for what it was and I do miss the use I got out of it. Certainly rode better than the Japanese equivalents. The same can't be said for the Defender though. Mind you, the USA has flat un-lumpy roads so it may be a good thing there.

I still want one. Badly.

[GG Allin]

Didn't they stop bringing them over due to DOT requirements at some point too? No airbags?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by SteamWolf

or the same 4.0L fuel guzzling gutless alloy boat anchor as seen in the discoveries and range rovers.

Yes, It has that.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I still want one. Badly.

See. I tole you. Peeps love them.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by GG Allin

No airbags?

Not a one.

[tharbert]

I was deployed to RAF Fairford for the Kosovo Conflict. We flew BUF's out of there. In any event, I had a Defender issued to me as a DD. I absolutely loved it. It felt like the cool farm vehicle it's supposed to be, all utility.

[svandamme]

it's to clean.
Defenders should be muddy at the very least.

Hell, i got more mud on the roof of my Bmw then that Defender as on it's mudflaps. It's not right

[SteamWolf]

Yeah no air bags. They are classed as a truck here so get away with it.

Like all English and Euro cars, they have that x factor of character that sucks you into loving them even while they send you broke.

[SteamWolf]

oh, a guy at work is selling his '95 LWB diesel 110 at the moment. Think he wants $5k for it.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I would much rather have an FJ40.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by tharbert

It felt like the cool farm vehicle it's supposed to be, all utility.

How long till we're there? My butt is sore.



Open up the vents, Daddy. I can't breathe.



This thing is awesome. As basic as an old 911.

Originally Posted by SteamWolf

4.0L fuel guzzling gutless alloy boat anchor

Actually, Not sure if it has the 4.0L.

[Tanick]

Excellent. I never thought I'd find any Land Rover Loving on here. I can do you mud (on my 90) or snow (on the 110), take your pick. I do love them, they won't bankrupt you as everything for them is cheap and easy to fix. You do need to get a decent set of tools though, the delicate stuff you can use on 911's just breaks on these. I had to buy a 3/4" socket set.

As far as I know they couldn't export them to the US after about 1990. Those last ones had to have an external roll cage, extra lights etc.

[SteamWolf]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I would much rather have an FJ40.

eww even more agricultural. Been in many FJ's and land rovers, worked on many, and ... actually... I'd rather work on the FJ and drive the land rover lol

[mph911]

I love mine..

[GG Allin]

What happens when a Defender gets stuck in the mud?........You pull it out with a G Wagon.

[SteamWolf]

Did they only sell the SWB there?

Incidentally, the Australian Army is selling off their older fleet
Department Of Defence - Defence Disposal Agency

6x6 land rover perenti anyone?

[911boost]

I thought 1995 was the last year they exported them to the US? They still fetch about $30K here from what I have seen.

[SteamWolf]

Originally Posted by GG Allin

What happens when a Defender gets stuck in the mud?........You pull it out with a G Wagon.

How many G wagons does it take to cross the Outback?
Mercedes-Benz G-Class broken by the Australian Outback |*CarAdvice

One, but it has to be built like a Land Rover.

[Scott R]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I would much rather have an FJ40.

They both rust the same.