Why Land Rover will not bring back the Defender to USA
- Thread starter PacificGroveRover
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What explanation do you need? Right now NAS Defenders are too expensive for most people.Keith Armstrong said:
L
LR3 Owner
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garland823 said:
There are plenty out there that are under $20k just depends if you want a high mileage truck or not. I bought a 94 D90 5 years ago for $15k with 70k miles on it. It was a fine truck. Just need to search in the places snot nosed kids dont live.
ZROVER said:
Where did you get this info? Do you know anything about how the new defender will built eg. solid axles, EAS, luxury and base versions, etc?
The answer to the original answer is that Jeep killed them when the TJ came out. With its coils just like the defender, it was then superior to the LR in the way that it rode better, was heck of a lot more user friendly, and cost less than half the price.
Don't get me wrong, I too really liked the Defender, mostly for its rarety. In fact, if it hadnt been for the price, I would have traded my Jeep back then.
You see, I'm a new Rover owner (2000 SE7 D2), and still drive my TJ sahara which is fully loaded, modified and capable. I've been driving Jeeps for 20 Years now( 2 YJs, 1 XJ and now a TJ), and I agree with the fact that the more it's available, the more chances you will see school girls and teenagers driving them. In fact, 10-15 years ago, any Jeeper would stop on the side of the road to help a stranded Jeeper. In the last 5-10 years, I've witnessed the famous Jeep wave disappearance. Now, if you wave to an on-coming Jeep, you'll most likely get a confused face in which you can read the I don't know you look.....
If the defender is to come back, it better be ready to battle the Jeep wrangler, Toyota FJ cruiser and the soon to come short wheelbase convertible Hummer. Speaking of convertible, I'm sure that chrysler is praying the Jeep gods that Toyota doesn't wake up and come up with a convertible FJ cruiser. That would hurt big time....... Hopefully that Defender will be affordable, or it will be very short-lifed.
Now, with my last comment.....let's sit back and watch the new LR2 die really fast.
Don't get me wrong, I too really liked the Defender, mostly for its rarety. In fact, if it hadnt been for the price, I would have traded my Jeep back then.
You see, I'm a new Rover owner (2000 SE7 D2), and still drive my TJ sahara which is fully loaded, modified and capable. I've been driving Jeeps for 20 Years now( 2 YJs, 1 XJ and now a TJ), and I agree with the fact that the more it's available, the more chances you will see school girls and teenagers driving them. In fact, 10-15 years ago, any Jeeper would stop on the side of the road to help a stranded Jeeper. In the last 5-10 years, I've witnessed the famous Jeep wave disappearance. Now, if you wave to an on-coming Jeep, you'll most likely get a confused face in which you can read the I don't know you look.....
If the defender is to come back, it better be ready to battle the Jeep wrangler, Toyota FJ cruiser and the soon to come short wheelbase convertible Hummer. Speaking of convertible, I'm sure that chrysler is praying the Jeep gods that Toyota doesn't wake up and come up with a convertible FJ cruiser. That would hurt big time....... Hopefully that Defender will be affordable, or it will be very short-lifed.
Now, with my last comment.....let's sit back and watch the new LR2 die really fast.
Steph said:
I read something a few months back about a convertible FJ, can't remember where. It was an interview with one of the lead designers in some magazine and he mentioned it was something that they were considering. Damn, I have no idea where I saw that.
What were the prices of Jeeps and Defenders back then?
I'm having trouble buying that they were going after the same people...(even though maybe they should have been).
I'm having trouble buying that they were going after the same people...(even though maybe they should have been).
You hit the nail right on the head. They should have been.
Should the Defender had been priced somewhere around 3-5 grand more than the Jeep, it would most definitely still be here and going strong. But up here in Canada, a defender was almost 3 times the price of a base Wrangler, or twice the price of a fully loaded one. Of course, the defender had a V8 while the Wrangler had the inline 6, but the 6 had more power than the V-8.
Let's just hope that the LR folks make better marketing decisions and not just repeat history.... Personally, I'd like a 110 4 door. Preferably for only a couple of grand more than a fully loaded Rubicon unlimited 4 door wrangler. That would be great!!!
Should the Defender had been priced somewhere around 3-5 grand more than the Jeep, it would most definitely still be here and going strong. But up here in Canada, a defender was almost 3 times the price of a base Wrangler, or twice the price of a fully loaded one. Of course, the defender had a V8 while the Wrangler had the inline 6, but the 6 had more power than the V-8.
Let's just hope that the LR folks make better marketing decisions and not just repeat history.... Personally, I'd like a 110 4 door. Preferably for only a couple of grand more than a fully loaded Rubicon unlimited 4 door wrangler. That would be great!!!
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axlesnap
Guest
The harsh reality is there is really nothing that will kill jeep sales, lets not forget the history, Jeep gave birth to the landcruiser, rover and every other utility out there. they sell the most, and have room to undercut or match the compition. I am a rover fan through and through, but jeep to my knowledge has always remained loyal to off-roading. ie rubicon ect....no production vehicle is even close to the capability of the newer wranglers. What the benift of what jeep is doing is raising the bar for our future defenders, and showing companies that they can sell well equiped vehicles here in the states and make money. Come on landrover and toyota give us some real otions.
-waiting for my defender
-waiting for my defender
Well, I'm definitely certain that even if Jeep seems untouchable, if Hummer decides to come up with a small convertible vehicle and if Toyota adds a convertible option to the FJ cruiser......it would be just like a louisville slugger in the forehead for Jeep.
I know more than a few Jeep owners that would make the switch to the FJ cruiser, if the hard top would be removeable and a soft top could take it's place for summer. Like to dual top option for Jeep. And even more if the doors would also be removeable.....Heck, some of them have made to switch without those options...
And lots of Americans respect the Hummer name jus as much as Jeep, for the same patriotic reasons. So a dual top Hummer would hurt Jeep sales just as well.
I know more than a few Jeep owners that would make the switch to the FJ cruiser, if the hard top would be removeable and a soft top could take it's place for summer. Like to dual top option for Jeep. And even more if the doors would also be removeable.....Heck, some of them have made to switch without those options...
And lots of Americans respect the Hummer name jus as much as Jeep, for the same patriotic reasons. So a dual top Hummer would hurt Jeep sales just as well.
The new Jeep Wrangler 4 door Rubicon Unlimited is $35,000 + a hefty dealer markup right now. Land Rover could easily bring in the Defender to go up against that! (assuming the new Defender sports all the required saftey gear, blah blah...)
Steph said:
total different market
the hummer people are all mall crawling posers trying to express thier I have more money then you ego's...it has nothing to do with off road
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gil stevens
Guest
hummer is the biggest marketing gimmick the automotive industry has ever seen.. and the H4 is coming.
Gotta be better off road than my Disco...don't they have full lockers in them?
I can't even lock my center diff...:banghead:
I can't even lock my center diff...:banghead:
Hummer has become what GM made it. Deep down, the Hummer name is synonym with a war machine that helped the U.S troops at winning battles. If it's becoming synonym with a mall cruiser, it's GM fault. I know that they are suppose to come up with a small vehicle to be in direct competition with the Wrangler.
And I agree with the fact that now that a fully loaded Wrangler 4 doors Rubicon is getting quite pricy, it would be the perfect timing to bring back a sensitively priced similarly equipped Defender. Thing is, that up here in Canada, a mid-1990s Defender was still $10 000.00 more than a 2007 Wrangler Rubicon 4 doors unlimited ????? So they better do their maths before repeating history.
And I agree with the fact that now that a fully loaded Wrangler 4 doors Rubicon is getting quite pricy, it would be the perfect timing to bring back a sensitively priced similarly equipped Defender. Thing is, that up here in Canada, a mid-1990s Defender was still $10 000.00 more than a 2007 Wrangler Rubicon 4 doors unlimited ????? So they better do their maths before repeating history.
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anthony0303
Guest
Mudhen said:
I have the original sticker on mine from 1995, #51-500 Defender SW for 26,500... which included the safety devices roof rack. I believe the POE's imported for a little less for the 94. Depending if you got the POE, which depending on your luck either did or didn't come with a C -bar / Fiberglass top. -A
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Rovermike
Guest
When we were looking at Discos, we stoped at a Porsche dealership as they had a D2 and a Defender 90 with a high top rear area. The defender had 97k miles on it, was very nicely optioned out with brush guards, spot lamps, roof rack ect. Price was 37K for it. The nice low milage Discovery 2 was around 15k for a 2001 model. I love my D1 and have lots of mods instore for it, I directly compare it to my wifes 1998 Grand Cherokee Larado. Its fully loaded for that model, and even with the slightly less power, the Discovery rides better and feels more sure footed in snow. Even Jeep is having its share of issues with the old school owners, Everything but the wrangler is IFS in the front, You rarely see a new Grand Cherokee set up for off road like you used to. The commander and newest version of the Liberty are just plain ugly and lets not forget the Compass that while badged Jeep is a dodge crossover that has a Dodge badged version. The Range Rover will always be the king of combining super luxury and off road ablities. I wasnt sure on the new LR3 when it came out compared to the styling of the older Discoverys. But I have seen a few lifted and set up nicely now. I am betting that as the UK defenders age, you will see more imported here to the states. I am wishing someone would set up shop, importing and installing diesels in the Discoverys, I know I would be on the list when the V8 finaly gives up. Cheers Mike and Michele T