New Defender Owners..

[LRNAD90]

So we went to a tree farm to cut down our Christmas tree this weekend. When we got back to the truck, there was a new D130 parked next to us. As I'm tying the tree to the roof of the Defender, the 130 owner comes back, and says "wow your truck is really cool, what is that?"

Uh, seriously...

 

[rocky]

I had the opposite experience at the kennebunkport rest area two weeks ago. A couple on a new 110 stopped by me and complimented my 90.

 

[rover4x4]

the tree bungee corded to the rooftop should been a dead giveaway.

 

[OregonLizard]

No hate, I just hope they ordered with offroad pack and a locker when all these leases are up.

 

[FlyersFan76]

I had a Disco owner asked me what kind of Land Rover I drove in the late 90's. I was standing in a Land Rover dealership. LOL

I saw a similar post over the weekend. Family took their Hummer EV and D130 to get a tree. I called it the HINO and the DINO go out for a Christmas Tree.

 

[gerken]

I have both. A new '23 D90, and a new-to-me 1998 110, LHD.

It goes without saying, but the new D90 is an infinitely better vehicle and is one of the most fun vehicles I've ever driven. It's outrageously fast for what it is (the P400 engine in the 90 is nutty), is incredible off-road, and looks great. I have a relatively base model with coilovers, off-road package, very few upgrades apart from the P400 engine. In the small Land Rover community it's universally hated by people that seemingly think it's hip to put people down and don't realize that getting their keyboard-warrior on and railing against the New Defender just makes you very common. Dime a dozen in the off-road, LR world. There are very few original Defender owners who have commented anything positive, and they stand out because it's usually a noteworthy event. Personally I really don't care about the weird hatred because the truck is amazing.

I've off-roaded my D90 all across the United States in the two years I've had it. Utah, New Mexico, Nebraska (Halsey National Forest sand dunes), Broken Bow Oklahoma, Texas, Northern Michigan and all over Ohio.

The '98 110 everyone here knows all about.

Based on getting the 110 out, the other 99.99% of the world loves the old Defender, probably a shade more than my new one, but almost anyone that doesn't own an original Defender loves the new one too.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

I have both. A new '23 D90, and a new-to-me 1998 110, LHD.

It goes without saying, but the new D90 is an infinitely better vehicle and is one of the most fun vehicles I've ever driven. It's outrageously fast for what it is (the P400 engine in the 90 is nutty), is incredible off-road, and looks great. I have a relatively base model with coilovers, off-road package, very few upgrades apart from the P400 engine. In the small Land Rover community it's universally hated by people that seemingly think it's hip to put people down and don't realize that getting their keyboard-warrior on and railing against the New Defender just makes you very common. Dime a dozen in the off-road, LR world. There are very few original Defender owners who have commented anything positive, and they stand out because it's usually a noteworthy event. Personally I really don't care about the weird hatred because the truck is amazing.

I've off-roaded my D90 all across the United States in the two years I've had it. Utah, New Mexico, Nebraska (Halsey National Forest sand dunes), Broken Bow Oklahoma, Texas, Northern Michigan and all over Ohio.

The '98 110 everyone here knows all about.

Based on getting the 110 out, the other 99.99% of the world loves the old Defender, probably a shade more than my new one, but almost anyone that doesn't own an original Defender loves the new one too.

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Well said. The hate is stale. Plenty of gritty original defender owners I’d never invite over. They can think what they will I love ours and have had no issues and my dealer is in the minority being they are fantastic. I actually enjoy going there.

Maybe my skinny jeans aren’t skinny enough. But what TF else are you going to buy new? Only thing that looks remotely interesting is new GX. At least the D110 stands out from the crowd and is capable.

 

[erover82]

If only LR had called it the Patagonia Rover or something else, anything else, this wouldn't be a subject. Unfortunately, they didn't, and being that they have nothing more in common than any two other random 4wd vehicles, its created this awkward tension over what the name symbolizes. It's very similar to the Mustang Mach-E situation. Anyways, it's all played out now. The die-hards will stick with the classic or move to one of several modern alternatives which are more similar to the classic Defender, but that didn't exist a few years ago. In any case, if it gets you out there and back, that's what matters.

 

[WeBeCinYa]

When does the mass Exodus happen from here for the grenade forums?

 

[mgreenspan]

My only beef with the new Defender is the price tag.

In 22 years of driving I have owned:
- 1998 Discovery
- 1986 325i
- 1984 90
- 1984 110 pickup
- 1985 110 station wagon
- 1995 Volvo 740
- 1999 Discovery
- 2013 Ford Escape (only new vehicle)
- 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4
- 2007 GX 470 (current)
- 1965 IIA 88” (current and still a project)
- 2006 Ford Galaxy Ghia
- 2013 Evoque diesel stripper model (current)
- 1998 Land Cruiser Colorado
- 1972 MGB GT (current POS and no longer registered project/backyard art)
- 2015 Toyota Yaris (current)

The total for all of these (minus upgrades and maintenance) is roughly equal to what the optioned version of any Defender or even the Grenadier is that I would buy. I’m not a cheapfuck, but at the same time maybe I am? Only ever financed two of them and prices skewed from living in the UK partially. Point remains. Shits wildly expensive.

 

[gerken]

In the same way the hordes of original Defender owners feel the need to tell me how much the despise the vehicle's name or designation or whatever, I can't help but think the Grenadier looks like a try-hard original Defender but needed to conform to the various crash-test standards and crumple zones that I just can't escape the duck-face, sorority girl look of it. If the primary factor in a theoretical Grenadier/Defender 2 purchase match is simply the looks, then just stay with the original. I'd bet those people too won't actually drive their Grenadiers in actual off-road scenarios.

I know more people with "show car" original Defenders that barely drive them than owners who actually take their original Defenders off road on technical terrain. The Grenadiers will be similar. Used on roads primarily.

 

[brdhmltn]

Why anyone would buy any land rover product period right now with their supply chain issues is beyond me. They would have to pay me to take it.

The new defender is cool, but it should have been called discovery