New Defender at Eastnor

Definitely lucked out there.

Would love a new Defender.

Think piers was there too

It’s a really good place/experience.  I did a half day there in a Discovery 3

Embargo lifted…

I spent the afternoon in the silver car – a D240 SE.

Obviously – the vast majority of the driving was off road, but the stand out points are as follows:

- Defender is on a beefed up Disco/RRS/RR platform which results in a much stiffer body shell and even more durable suspension components. The output is easily demonstrated – the instructors sent us down a heavily rutted and potholed track and said drive down it at 30 mph. I went quicker than that and it was a genuinely incredible thing to experience (due to the fact that we are purposely smashing these things into holes that would wipe out a normal car and the ride quality and general body beefcakery whilst doing so). There are some videos somewhere of the Defender curb test which consists of driving one at 45kph into a standard UK curb stone (and then driving off with nothing broken).

- The 2.0 diesel installation is very quiet and the torque swell made light work of what must have been nearly 3 tonnes or vehicle + passengers

- The off road ability is a notch above the existing D7U cars (which are very, very good in standard form) and that down to a multitude of additional tweaks and refinements (approach, break over, departure angles – the super, duper extended lift mode which gives more lift than on it’s sister cars, the upgraded terrain response, etc).

- It is massive – both inside and out (and I’m not sure that’s welcome given the pressure that mass and weight puts on emissions and fuel economy)

- The rubber floors (not the mats, the actual floors) are interesting.

If I was going to have one – I think it would have to be a base D200 with options limited to Pangea Green with the extended wheel arch trims and mud flaps. Very well equipped as a base car and I’m not really seeing the need to go for any more power or lots of jangly bits (although – the diesel 3.0 six would be tempting).

I like the look of that, it's much better without the weird body coloured bit mid-window on the 3 door.

Yes, I like it and base spec would be fine too.

Mine came to £48,145 - I did relent a little and threw in a few fripperies like a heated steering wheel.

Even the base spec would feel like you were in a space ship!  

I can only find the configurator for the 110.

Edit: found it now

Please correct me if I sound daft but how is the X model almost double the price of the base model given that it just adds a load extra equipment and am I right to question the logic of developing three different types of LED headlights for one model of vehicle. I'm sure the New Defender is going to be a great car but it's incredibly expensive so surely not going to be the old faithful workhorse of your every day farmer. Perhaps that's why they drive Japanese 4x4s and pick ups these days.

Because they can.  People will always want the best / most expensive and are prepared to pay a premium, although the engine is a lot more appealing than the 4 pot diesels and the extra equipment as standard is pricey on the lesser model eg electric leather seats and better trim for £5k.  It’s the same reason / no different to a G63 being about 50% more than a G350d.

I know it’s been said a lot, but it’s not aimed at the farmer, although plenty had Disco 1/2/3/4s, so you never know. 

It’s the suckers that spec these to the eyeballs that deliver the big profits. Zee Germans have been doing this for decades.

What new Japanese 4x4 can you get for £42k this days? (I genuinely don’t know).

I have but there is rumour that it will have a 40mile electric range so 6% tax....

Time to opt out and not be so restricted?