2020 Defender

DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
Cool story. No debit card?
When you're checking account tied to your debt card has only god knows how many K's in it, or your credit card has a 25k credit limit, you just don't hand them out. Yes you can recoup that but it can add up to a lot of expenditures to go through. It was a small town, uber rich, uber conservative, Dutch/German community. Mason jars of cash buried in the back yard type of place. Not joking.
 

JackW

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2005
675
69
I like the look. What permutation of features did you pick? Curious to hear what your experience and impressions are like once you've logged some miles and gotten to know it.

I decided to go with the four cylinder because its so much more mechanically and electrically simpler than the P400 as well as much less money . I think its the sweet spot in the range - I got to drive one and was very satisfied with the power and liked that the four cylinder comes with lower gearing in the differentials which in theory will yield a performance benefit off road. The four has only one intercooler mounted in the front right corner as opposed to the two intercoolers in the six. The lack of the MHEV system is the main reason I chose the four - my first choice would have been a six cylinder non-MHEV diesel but that's not gonna happen. I own two other diesel Land Rovers - a 300 TDI 90 and an old SIIA 109 wagon as well as a 1967 SIIA 88 Petrol that I'm restoring.
This will be Land Rover #20 for me - I've had a Series 1, a bunch of Series IIA's about five Range Rover Classics, a Discovery 1, an LR3 and the TDV6 Discovery 5.

I've selected all of the off-road goodies that one would want on a Defender, lockers, 18" wheels with the "off road" tires, ATPC, front skid plate, tow package, raised air intake, fender flares with the small mudflaps, hood decal and roof rack (no stupid external lunch box). I did bling up the interior a bit with the upgraded seats, wood trim and sound system (full leather since I wasn't real impressed with the cloth/leather combination). I'm planning on adding rock sliders, winch (the factory winch mount is currently on backorder but I also want to see what ARB comes up with) and probably front and rear bumpers to replace the plastic. I'm expecting the aftermarket (especially the Australians and the Germans) to be all over this vehicle in ways that took years to develop parts for the LR3/LR4 vehicles.

I really like my Discovery 5 - it is a great vehicle but it isn't something you get the feeling of affection for like an old Land Rover or even one of the first four generations of Discovery. The new Defender has a certain presence about it - and I think its audience will grow as it did for the LR3. I was one of the few who really liked the way the LR3 looked when it first came out - when I finally bought one I was very pleasantry surprised out how much I grew to like it. It was primarily because of the experience I had with that truck that prompted me to try the D5 - that and the TDV6 engine.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know the new Defender. I'll report back on my impressions as we get some experience with the new truck.
Defender-3.jpgDefender-4.jpgDefender-2.jpgDefender-5.jpgDefender-6.jpg
 
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DiscoHasBeen

Well-known member
Aug 7, 2016
1,171
262
Indy
Cool story. Had a mook ass old member. Older than dirt but he would drive in these old ass vintage sports cars. Asked the pro about it and he said Tony used to go to Cali as a young man and race. Nothing serious just some get togethers with people like Clark Gable.
 

jymmiejamz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2004
6,008
361
35
Los Angeles, Ca
When you're checking account tied to your debt card has only god knows how many K's in it, or your credit card has a 25k credit limit, you just don't hand them out.

My Amex doesn’t have a preset spending limit , but you can check “spending power” if you want to make a large purchase. I’m not some rich baller and $25k is within my limit. I will use my card anywhere.

Oh, and by the way, I’m a Land Rover mechanic like Stew.

AA375E90-FDF2-4A32-AA5C-DBE71C3BE456.jpeg
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
The 4 cyl is my choice too. And its the mild hybrid stuff I don't want. We don't see problems with it. I just don't want to be buying one of those alternators outside of warranty. To me its amazing all that shit works as seamlessly as it does. You basically have a roughly 40 volt system running an electric supercharger to fill the turbo lag, and drive the vehicle from the serpentine belt under full load and light load when conditions are correct.

I can't avoid the technology but I'm not buying any of that shit. Keep it simple.
 
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fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,927
201
Lake Villa, IL
I was thinking the same thing. The guy from that story just sounds like a straight up ass clown. People that are impressed by that kind of behavior are suspect.
My Amex doesn’t have a preset spending limit , but you can check “spending power” if you want to make a large purchase. I’m not some rich baller and $25k is within my limit. I will use my card anywhere.

Oh, and by the way, I’m a Land Rover mechanic like Stew.

View attachment 59722
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
My Amex doesn’t have a preset spending limit , but you can check “spending power” if you want to make a large purchase. I’m not some rich baller and $25k is within my limit. I will use my card anywhere.

Oh, and by the way, I’m a Land Rover mechanic like Stew.

View attachment 59722
I didn't know you was a Mook too. We almost never meet rich people in our job, do we?
 
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discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Up in miniapolis they are adding a dealership to the city and those guys are getting paid to stay and paid to defect. Just on guarantee pay in the union shop, I'm told they make close to 100 grand before they book an hour. Just hit the clock for 40 hrs.
 

Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
I decided to go with the four cylinder because its so much more mechanically and electrically simpler than the P400 as well as much less money . I think its the sweet spot in the range - I got to drive one and was very satisfied with the power and liked that the four cylinder comes with lower gearing in the differentials which in theory will yield a performance benefit off road. The four has only one intercooler mounted in the front right corner as opposed to the two intercoolers in the six. The lack of the MHEV system is the main reason I chose the four - my first choice would have been a six cylinder non-MHEV diesel but that's not gonna happen. I own two other diesel Land Rovers - a 300 TDI 90 and an old SIIA 109 wagon as well as a 1967 SIIA 88 Petrol that I'm restoring.
This will be Land Rover #20 for me - I've had a Series 1, a bunch of Series IIA's about five Range Rover Classics, a Discovery 1, an LR3 and the TDV6 Discovery 5.

I've selected all of the off-road goodies that one would want on a Defender, lockers, 18" wheels with the "off road" tires, ATPC, front skid plate, tow package, raised air intake, fender flares with the small mudflaps, hood decal and roof rack (no stupid external lunch box). I did bling up the interior a bit with the upgraded seats, wood trim and sound system (full leather since I wasn't real impressed with the cloth/leather combination). I'm planning on adding rock sliders, winch (the factory winch mount is currently on backorder but I also want to see what ARB comes up with) and probably front and rear bumpers to replace the plastic. I'm expecting the aftermarket (especially the Australians and the Germans) to be all over this vehicle

I'm really looking forward to getting to know the new Defender. I'll report back on my impressions as we get some experience with the new truck.

Best of luck with the new Landy! Sounds and looks like a great Rover. Look forward to hearing your first impressions.
 

Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
Probably not. Fixing this shit is a game designed to humble the mighty. I don't know what you do, but I would probably rather do that.
Based on the amount of swearing and screw ups I have working on my own Rover you’re probably right. I have gotten much better at not throwing tools lately
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
In LA we had a least four techs making over $250k and one that was making over $400k. I would think even the C techs were making close to $100k, but I’m not sure about that
Sweet jeebus. How much of that comes from customers’ pockets and how much comes from JLR warranty and after market warranty work?
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Sweet jeebus. How much of that comes from customers’ pockets and how much

My money comes from all of that and sales too. I'm in the process of being put out to pasture. Pretty sure if they could kill me and put my brain on a kid they would have already done that. I am just a cost of doing business.