| Author | Message | ||
     R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 488 Registered: 07-2002 |
Let's say Land Rover really does screw up the product line as bad as we all hope they won't. I don't mind them having nice new luxury cars that keep up with the trends - they do have to sell things. But I would like to see them continue to build the solid axle line of trucks like Defenders and Discoverys. Anyway, lets say they don't. Whether or not I decide to buy a new Rover down the line. Would it be possible to keep my 1994 Discovery in good running condition for a long period of time? For instance, I have a 1965 Series IIa that I can find virtually any part for, new, in the box, because they still make a lot of the parts for all the military clients around the world. But, my Discovery is nearly 10 years old now, has 107k miles on it, and I love taking it off road, but really want to keep it in prime condition. Am I going to be able to keep it in prime condition over the next 10 years? Will I be able to buy new parts for it when it is 30 years old? I can see myself owning a new Rover, I like the feeling of driving a luxury sofa down the road and knowing I could take it off-road if anarchy breaks out on the way to work - but I would also keep the '94. (I wish I could get a RR Classic too.) Also, despite all the talk about the new "wimpy" Defenders that will be coming out. I bet they will keep making the old style for military purposes, which means we will be seeing them around for quite a while. http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net | ||
| Stacey R Abend (Srafj40) Member Username: Srafj40 Post Number: 54 Registered: 03-2003 |
R.B. Hypothetical.....talk to your brother and come to the Dark Side. :-) Just gave your brother my best regards. Stacey | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 491 Registered: 07-2002 |
Well, it's the same thing really. The new 100's have no style compared to the 80's and 60's. And Toyota has been using IFS for a long time. Nothing against Toyota though, it's just that in 20 years or so both LR and Toyota will be too technical, too complicated, too pretty to take off road. Yes, reliabilty will go up, but who wants reliability in a sissy compromise of a truck? And like I was saying, I don't want a beater, patchwork, homemade Discovery in 10 years. And I don't want a computer on 4 wheels either. You would think that a company like Toyota or LR could decide to keep making the successful old school models, while upgrading them, and while creating new things for the changing demands in the general public. That is why I actually like the Freelander, it is a good car, and it is probably the best made for it's category - but if all of the cars in the LR line follow the lead of the new RR's and Freelanders, they will loose touch with what a LR actually is. Look at Toyota, they build great pick-ups, and the LC's are awesome trucks. But they don't sell the diesel models in the US, and it is hard to find a model with all locking diffs, and look at the news lately - Awesome 4-door pick-ups all over the place in Afghanistan and Iraq - do you think they could have started selling those in the US a good 10 years ago? And finally do you think they buy their trucks for the same price we pay here? You can probably pick up a Toyota in Afghanistan for $10k new, where you would pay $30k in the US for the same truck. I know it's not a perfect world, but not everything is about the money. Sometimes a compromise should be made for the good of the product, not the bottom line of the company. I really do like my brother's truck, I looked at buying an FJ-60 about 5 years ago, but didn't have the money. http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net | ||
| Stacey R Abend (Srafj40) Member Username: Srafj40 Post Number: 55 Registered: 03-2003 |
R.B. There is the same angst in the cruiser community. Lucking Assie's Bastards. http://www.tlc4x4.com/2000/Restorations/new/fj40/tlc_resto_fj40.htm Proto type It is property of Toyota's SoCal design studio. It is not like the FJ Cruiser that you may have seen. Dream. Then you get lucky guys like this. http://www.cruizers.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/004496.html OK no locking diffs. but for that price..... Stacey | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 493 Registered: 07-2002 |
Ya, even Jeep is staying old-school with the Rubicon. | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Member Username: Markp Post Number: 193 Registered: 02-2002 |
R.B., I hope Land Rover doesn't screw things up and move too far upscale. I think the commercial and military side of the business will keep them somewhat sane. I have to believe they make a lot of money from the military sales. Plus don't forget they are the International Harvester of Britian - agricultural and farm. Those two factors will influence the decisions for both the Defender and Discovery. The Range Rover and Freelander are a different niche. Take a look at: http://www.thelandroverchronicle.com/new_page_431.htm Here is how the new line-up could look (all prices are US) MODEL BASE PRICE U.S. in today's money 2005 Discovery Series III $38K 2005 "Baby Range Rover" $49K 2006 Freelander $27K 2007 Discovery Sport $32K 2007 Mini Landie $15K 2007 Defender 90 $36K 2007 Defender 110 $42K My eye is on the 2007 Defender 110. I hope they offer it with a diesel. As for keeping your 94 I don't think you will have a problem. I have a 59' Austin Healey and two International Scouts (sons drive them) that I have had since the early 80's. What I have found is that as vehicles get older parts actually get easier to find, especially for vehicles that fall under a collectible marque, like Land Rover. Several suppliers will begin to offer parts and the selection grows. XKE, originally a Jaguar supplier, is now also offering Land Rover parts. Others will pick up on it. And you have Rovers North, Atlantic British, .... etc. British marques just seem to have a built in supplier infrastructure. Probably becuase the same place they get AH, MG, Jag, Triumph parts also carries Land Rover. As for Toyota, they don't seem to have as strong a supplier chain. You can get parts for older FJ's but it seems scarcer. Enjoy the Disco and go find a Classic! - Mark | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 496 Registered: 07-2002 |
Follow this link to see exactly what I am talking about. http://www.autokatalog.net/NEW/LANDROV/DEFENDER.JPG That is NOT a Defender. It may be a good off-road vehicle, modern, even good looking in real life. But it isn't a Defender, it is a new type of car all together. | ||
| Stacey R Abend (Srafj40) Member Username: Srafj40 Post Number: 56 Registered: 03-2003 |
It is called a Subaru Bratt. lol. you can see the jump seats in back with scott ski pole handles. ;-) | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Member Username: Markp Post Number: 194 Registered: 02-2002 |
I don't think that is accurate. You couldn't make that a 2007 Defender 90 AND 110. Looks more like what the 2006 Freelander might be. There have been many attempts at showing the new defender. I can guarantee one thing, they are all wrong. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 497 Registered: 07-2002 |
The reason I like the Freelander is that it is a Land Rover, and it is capible, not as good as a Defender or even a Discovery. But my point is that it is a truely new car, not a remake of what used to be a good car. |
