DougG said:The sport model is pretty ridiculous, but let's see what the actual vehicle looks like when in production before we bash it. Just imagine what the Series Land Rover people where saying in the late 60's when the Range Rover concept was introduced. Although the DC100 looks a little odd, kinda like a Kia Soul, I bet it is an improvement on the current Defender in capability and comfort.
Ben said:You're totally in denial. Get a grip man. The Series, 90 and 110 were replaced with Toyota backies because they were far cheaper and way more reliable. That was 20 years ago.
The Defender's being replaced by the Foxhound. As for Tata's Land Rover brand, they have two options: they can sell overpriced status symbols to compete with the Mercedes ML and BMW X, Lexus etc. and they can sell cheaper cars on a common platform with crumple-zone unibodies, airbags, and independent suspensions that meet all the regulatory requirements of the EU. Tata is right to see that they have no other options. Nothing else would actually sell because there are no buyers.
The days of sporting around in ex-military vehicles and their derivatives are coming to an end. (The Series was based on US military jeeps, and I would assert that Land Rovers up to the D2 inclusive were derivatives). If you want to keep doing it, save what you have or get into one of those new Ocelots, but don't look to Tata.
Or if you're on a budget, these guys will have some surplus when they're done:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/10/14/why-rebel-groups-love-the-toyota-hilux.html
DougG said:If we are speaking strictly business, there is no market in the U.S.A for a Defender 90 or 110 aside from a small faction of enthusiasts. Americans want luxury, and gadgetry, and Tata is giving them what they think they want. The enthusiast market is not profitable to Tata. I don't like the direction Tata is taking Land Rover any less than anyone on this board, but I am being a realist. I am not in denial, and I do have a grip. My plan is to collect the classic Land Rovers, or the Land Rovers that I like, and preserve them as much as I can. The Land Rovers that are important to me are the Range Rover classic(the 95 LWB, and early RRC two door), the series II or IIA, the P38, yes I said P38, I think it is an important Land Rover, the Discovery up to 2004, a Defender 90 and the 2005 Range Rover. Any vehicle after that in my opinion is unappealing to me, and Land Rover will never again have any "classic" vehicles. Whether I get all these vehicles is probably unlikely, but I have a good start.
Ben said:Most of them would regret it.
garrett said:And the "Toyota's don't have character" claim is gay. Check out a 70 series or any number of ROW trucks that can now be imported legally. Sure the new(er) Land Cruisers might not have as much character, but neither do the hideous LR3/4s, LR2s, etc. quote]
to ben, from reading your posts here and on pirate i think you are new to anything four wheel drive. no offense, but CutItOut.
to garrett, you don't have to sell the love for rovers man, ONLY toyota has the sense to STILL have the lc70. they still have a solid commercial work vehicle, even if we can't get it here they kept a work truck in their production line. i would hope to think that rover would keep the defender commercial line alive and well long after the defender concept is actually on showroom floors....which yoou know todd and margo will shell out the coin for that thing.
look at mercedes, the G is still in production, even after market testing proved they would sell very very few units. the 463 chassis is still sitting on solid axles even if you want the amg trim.
so, hopefully there will still be a rover that is a rover in the future.
btw, we had a wolf 460 chassis truck brought in a bit back, solid fucking truck. the customer wanted a rifle rack, so we found one thru euro-truck....no shit it came out of hank williams jr old gwagen he kept up in montana. carbon fiber, oem, $650...for a gun rack?!?