Hate to say it, but just purchased a FJ Cruiser- would have loved to have gotten a 2-3 year old Defender instead if LR was selling them over here.
LR3 Owner said:Why dont one of you computer nuts start a web page that is a petition that people could sign... than maybe when there are a few hundred or thousand hits... maybe LR will think its worth it...
CADisco said:When the US mandated airbags, a brand new D90 was almost twice as much as a fully loaded jeep Wrangler. I know, I looked at them at Symes LR in Pasadena and bought a Sahara two weeks later. Now if I had known they were going to stop inporting them and they would INCREASE in price (few automobiles do), I would have bite the bullet and bought the Defender. But from the perspective of someone who wanted an off-road toy and a daily driver, the Jeep was a more logical decision. As someone mentioned, when Jeep went from teh leaf spring YJ to the coil spring TJ, it raised the bar and the two were closer in capability, making the cost difference even more absurd.
LR is late to the party... The TJ is a capable canvas to begin building an off-roader from; relatively inexpensive and aftermarket support is almost limitless. The new JK, especially the 4 door, is being swooped up like pancakes at a fireman's breakfast and you can stick 35's on it with as little as 2.5" of lift. Hummer has the H3, Toyota the new FJ. If LR had brought back the Defender at say a 20% premium over a fully loaded Rubicon 6 or 8 years ago, it would ahve a niche. As it is, only a hand full of die-hards would buy it if introduced now and if the price had a simular 70%+ premium.
My $.02...