| Author |
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Zinhead
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 07:55 pm: | 
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convince Ford to bring in the D110 in a few years. Supposedly, the new Hummer is one of the hotest cars on the market right now. It's the only GM vehicle selling at full MSRP with no rebates or 0% financing. Seeing the success that GM is having selling these $50K tonka toys, do you think it might convince Ford there is a market for the Defender in this country? |
Will Roeder (Will_Roeder)
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 08:00 pm: |
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very possible....but will it be anything like the D110 we know????...doubtful |
Pugsly
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 08:22 pm: |
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Okay, what we have to remember here is that there is no way that Land Rover can bring the current generation Defender back into the US.
Do I believe that a next generation Defender will be designed so that it can be sold into the US market, yes.
But it won't look like what you are thinking of. |
muskyman
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 10:27 pm: |
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the H2 is still gonna fall flat on its face its just gonna take a year or so...just wait and see |
Greg H
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 10:35 pm: |
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I agree.
Unfortunately, LR does currently offer anything of interest to me in their showrooms. That's really sad because I'm an LR enthusiast. The only Ford SUV's ever made that I even like are the early Bronco's and the Ford GPW (not even a Ford design).
I hope that the Hummer H2 and the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon do very well and send a powerful message to Ford that LR needs to at least offer one or two truly offroad oriented vehicles. If they need to share a drivetrain with a Ford product than maybe a new Defender 90 and Ford Bronco (like the early design) without HDC, electronic air suspensions etc. that try to appeal to everyone. With the following emphasis:
1. approach and departure angles
2. ground clearance
3. breakover angle (90-100" WB?)
4. sidehill angle
5. fording depth
6. low gearing
7. preferably offered with F&R lockers
I test drove an H2 and was impressed but it's just not me. |
David Marchand (Dmarchand)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 08:09 am: |
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Hmmm. I test drove an '02 D90 in Switz. This summer. It had HDC and TC, along with creature comforts ike heated seats, etc. I don't think it's realistic to say that if LR brings the d90 or 110 back, they won't have gobs of electronic creature comforts and "traction aids". Loading these vehicles up in our market, is the way in which they instill the "LR mystique", as that image stands today when you look at what's in the showroom now. I can't say I like it, but that's the direction.
Let's just hope for solid axles and lockable TC's. The rest we can modify.
As far as the H2, that thing is ridiculous. I can't see it being offroad worthy except in the west. Even then, only 9 inches of ground clearance, and I bet it couldn't ford a trickling brook. All that plastic on the sides and front. The skid plates on it barely cover the necessary bits and are thin. Besides, the yellow one's look like school buses (honk, honk, c'mon kids...).
That rubicon is looking more and more appealing, except for the lack of space the heeps have. |
Chad Meyer (Ccdm3)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 10:34 am: |
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There are 4 used H2s for sale within a 2 block radius by my work. I do not think this is a good sign of their popularity. They have all been sitting for the last 3 months. The owners could have only had them for a month or so before trading them in. I stopped by to look at all of them to see if they were trade ins or dealer purchases. All of them were traded in on sports cars! |
muskyman
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 10:46 am: |
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yes there are 183 used ones on autotrader.com right now...thats a pretty high number of "limited supply" vehicles allready up for sale used |
Glenn Guinto (Glenn)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 12:09 pm: |
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Oh no!!!....Don't give LR any ideas of H2-fying the Defender!!!
-glenn |
Paul D. Morgan (V22guy)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 12:26 pm: |
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There is a H2 (aka rolling bread box) in my neighborhood. However, I am only checking it out because there is a hotty driving it.  |
Greg P. (Gparrish)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 12:56 pm: |
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Anyone wanna buy my D2 for $45,000 so I can get an H2? |
Greg H
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 03:07 pm: |
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Alright guys-I'm talking about major mfgers appealing to OFFROAD use of their vehicles. When have you seen a stock Exploder/Tahoe/Envoy/etc. off-road? (I mean more than a dirt road that I could drive in my VW Jetta). I've only seen 1 Ford Exploder offroad in years and it was a 2door that the guy spent as much $ on suspension mods as he paid for the vehicle new!
The sales guy at the Hummer dealer (Mark Christopher Hummer in Ontario,CA) couldn't wait to tell me that they sold 80 H2's in three months. He went on to drop names of how many professional athletes had bought vehicles from them ("I think we've outfitted almost the entire Dodger organization"). I wasn't impressed. Obviously it's a fad vehicle for the wealthy and when that changes they'll be alot of used on the market.
My local LR dealer (Land Rover of Riverside, CA) just closed it's doors. Now the lot is filled with BMW's. I want to test drive a new 7-series on the off-road track!)
If Ford allows LR to bring over a new D90 with coils and live axles (yes, even with HDC and TC) I'll be in line. I think they'll only do that if they see the market for it and that means H2's and Rubicons selling very well. |
Heath McGuire (Discoheath)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 04:07 pm: |
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Isn't the only problem with the current Defender the lack of airbags. How hard could it be to fix that if LR really wanted too. |
Pugsly
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 04:16 pm: |
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It's more than lack of airbags. Lack of crumple zones and side impact protection also come to mind. |
Phillip Perkinson (R0ver4x4)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 06:02 pm: |
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How is that I feel safer in my d-90 than I do in any other car I drive. Is a roll cage not enough? I do not understand the importance of crumple zones if you are in a well made car, why have a car than will disentigrate? O to transfer energy or impact or something I imagine??? |
Eric
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 06:51 pm: |
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I have seen a Tahoe up to its gills in mud out on the great salt lake here in Utah. The poor bastard could not get the 4wd to engage. Apparently, the vehicle requires forward motion to engage the front axle. After you are stuck it's too late.
I found this out when I drove my 99 D1 out to him to ask if he wanted to use my cell phone. He had already called the tow trucks. I never had an ounce of trouble. My CDL was not locked, but I had the tires aired down to about 8psi. I drove back to the road to watch.
A suburban full of teenagers drove out to help and got helplessly stuck too. The had 4wd but the axles were getting caught on stuff, and with the long wheelbase and stock tires the belly came down on the mud, by then it was too late.
It took two 4wd tow trucks with chains to pull the tahoe free. It was fun to watch. I came back the next day and the teenagers were still digging the suburban out with shovels... yikes!!
The H2 is not much better than a tahoe from what I understand.... |
Dobie Disco (Mary)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 08:32 pm: |
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Does anyone really buy a new Hummer for offroad purposes? |
Carter Simcoe (Carter)
| | Posted on Friday, November 01, 2002 - 09:13 pm: |
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not if they know anything about offroading |
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