| Author | Message | ||
     Gregory M Lichtenson (Gml) New Member Username: Gml Post Number: 9 Registered: 09-2003 |
I have tried to call Mr,Bill Backer several times out on the west coast but he never returns my phone calls,I hope this is not a sign of things to come from LANDROVER AKA FORD.I EVEN LEFT DETAILED QUESTIONS ON HIS ANSWERING MACHINE,ASKING WHEN THE NEW DEFENDER IS RETURNING AND TO NO AVAIL NADA NOT A WORD!!!!! Its not a big secret in the word of auto manufacturers etc...that Ford I mean L/R are looking to if not years ago re design this great 4X4....Remember its not called defender for nothing..so Mr.Bill Backer if you are checking this site for feed back here it be big man,oh also forgot if you ever want to contact Landrover to ask tech questions good luck cant find out there # or address I do know they are somewhere in NJ I think Mahha NJ etc, If any one has a techs number at the new Landrover Oh sorry Ford please RSVP RSVP ....... | ||
| Will Bobbitt (Rkores) Senior Member Username: Rkores Post Number: 309 Registered: 09-2002 |
Dude, Chill out. His name is Bill Baker and he is the head of corporate communications for Land Rover North America. Bill Has been working with Land Rover since '86-'87, so he's not a new kid off the block. He is actually retiring soon, so I doubt you will get in contact with him. Another thing is, they cannot release information until it is cleared across the pond, so I doubt he can tell you anything at all. Will | ||
| Dan Armbruster (Dan_armbruster) Member Username: Dan_armbruster Post Number: 240 Registered: 04-2003 |
Gregory, why the hell do you think that ford and/or land rover executives would even acknowledge you as a human being. You are of no importance to them whatsoever, and you post this like you are someone special. Consumers are the last people to find out information about these types of things so settle down. Who cares if you left detailed questions on the answering machine? Do you really think that he actually answers those messages let alone listens to them? | ||
| Will Bobbitt (Rkores) Senior Member Username: Rkores Post Number: 310 Registered: 09-2002 |
Bill is a great guy, and I am sure that if he could acknowledge your request he would. But he has to stay tight lipped about things. Will | ||
| OLIVER CLOTHSOFF (Everythingleaks) Senior Member Username: Everythingleaks Post Number: 306 Registered: 10-2002 |
Have to agree with Will, Bill is a great guy. I just meet him and his wife out at TReK and they are both down to earth people that LOVE the product and what it stands for. His wife doesn't even work for Land Rover and I bet she could tell you more about the product that your average D-web member. Attemping to get info from across the pond is not easy and at this time the new defender project is on hold according to www.landroverchronicle.com. Bill is the last of the original five that started Range Rover North America back in '87 and according to his wife fights hard to keep the Land Rover heritage alive within the company as Ford is trying to crush it. From what I was told it was not easy to get another TReK out of Ford and it is because of people like Bill Baker and Bob Burns (also been around since '87) that understand the importance of such off-road events that they continue to happen. It is the Jag people that are entering the company that are steering it in a direction away from the Land Rover we used to know. I would encourage people from this board to write letters to Bill and Bob directly and share on paper what this truck and the Land Rover way mean to you. It was because of a lot of complaining from off-roaders and people at LRNA who believe in the product that brought diff-lock back to our market for the '04 model year. If the complaint is on paper and is something proper to share they have a little more ammo to fight with. | ||
| Will Bobbitt (Rkores) Senior Member Username: Rkores Post Number: 311 Registered: 09-2002 |
Oliver, You were at TReK? What trial were you in? And you are right, Mary Lynn knows her stuff. Will | ||
| mantaray (Mantaray) Member Username: Mantaray Post Number: 149 Registered: 02-2002 |
last i heard at an auto show this past january was that the project had been scrapped. i was given no names, but was told the guy spear-heading the project was retiring. besides, last i heard about the possible return was that it would be offered in 2 models, one with IFS and the other completely independent, so it woulda sucked anyhow. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 886 Registered: 02-2003 |
the defender is comming back in 2007 | ||
| Mark & Bev Preston (Markp) Member Username: Markp Post Number: 233 Registered: 02-2002 |
Hope it is 2007. I generally don't buy the first year but looks like I might have to. 2008 could see lower SUVs, trucks USA TODAY ^ | Sep 9, 03 | Jayne O'Donnell http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-09-08-crash2_x.htm After 2008 I suspect many trucks will have air suspension or some variant of it. Then again the solution would be to get rid of all those small dangereous cars and make cars ride higher. | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 2305 Registered: 10-2001 |
that is why God created OME. so that we will always be able to ride high no matter what the government does.  | ||
| Justin (Vanroth) Member Username: Vanroth Post Number: 91 Registered: 02-2003 |
Before too long they will be requiring trucks to have bumpers made out of NERF.... Hey that might actually be pretty cool! -justin | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 891 Registered: 02-2003 |
i'm sorry i meant 2005 | ||
| Greg Tearne (Gooddoggomez) Member Username: Gooddoggomez Post Number: 56 Registered: 02-2003 |
The Defender, as they stand with Td5, will continue to be made in the Ford plant in Pretoria, South Africa until 2007. The first short wheel based Landies arrived in July/August since the end of the Series III - the D90 is now available in Australia. I had a good paw over one while my Disco was in for a service. Such a great combination of serious off-roader and everyday transport. There is even a promotion on here to win the use of a D90 for a year. Even my 6 month old nephew has entered on my behalf.  |
