GTP Cool Wall: Land Rover Defender 90
- Thread starter BKGlover
- 120 comments
- 33,595 views
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
I've only seen a few here in Michigan, and when I do, it is a very special occasion. Definitely a very cool off-roader that is capable, dependable (unlike most of their siblings), and will show most other off-roaders what it means to get dirty. It definitely has a more reserved, gentlemanly, and "purposeful" feel to it. Although, calling it completely "civilized" is a stretch. Cooler than a Wrangler? On average, yes. Although, there are some variants of each that'd have me swinging either way.
- 4,209
- Wasilla, AK
Kind of like a Jeep, only European.
Someone restrain me before I vote "meh".
Someone restrain me before I vote "meh".
- 4,209
- Wasilla, AK
It wasn't tuned for max output.
- 27,219
- United Kingdom
GilesGuthrie
Staff Emeritus
- 11,038
- Edinburgh, UK
- CMDRTheDarkLord
Sub Zero
Any vehicle which can exist for so long, and be so capable, and with such disregard for fashion and bling in this appearance-obsessed world is seriously cool. Just look at the travesty that is the Merc G63. All side-exit exhausts and neons and road tyres for the terminally-bored Dubai millionaires. And the Defender with its rattly tractor engine, a body that was so non-straight when it left the factory that you don't bother with dent repairs, dependably storming whatever road/track/field/dune/mountain you throw at it, without a care in the world.
What makes the Defender cool is its utter, total, insouciance.
Any vehicle which can exist for so long, and be so capable, and with such disregard for fashion and bling in this appearance-obsessed world is seriously cool. Just look at the travesty that is the Merc G63. All side-exit exhausts and neons and road tyres for the terminally-bored Dubai millionaires. And the Defender with its rattly tractor engine, a body that was so non-straight when it left the factory that you don't bother with dent repairs, dependably storming whatever road/track/field/dune/mountain you throw at it, without a care in the world.
What makes the Defender cool is its utter, total, insouciance.
- 27,387
- Toronto
- NewAesthetic
- SlipZtrEm
Voted for Sub Zero. It's an icon, a deserved one, and from the first time I started reading Car and Evo back in 2001, Land Rover was talking about how they'd replace it. They still haven't decided, and I imagine they won't for a while still. There's an older 70's one in my neighbourhood that absolutely looks the business đź‘Ť.
The people who are doubting it (typically with blind patriotism) are fools.
The people who are doubting it (typically with blind patriotism) are fools.
- 4,081
- Somerset
- Pagey279
Sub Zero!
On the way from my home town to Bath on a particular road there is a very very steep, rocky and muddy track running adjacent to the road. Every time I drove past it I wondered to myself how that track even got there, it seemed so impossible to drive along in any vehicle I could think of. And one day I was driving along and saw a Defender making absolute mince meat of it, it didn't even look like it was struggling.
It's an iconic, rugged, simple, incredibly dependable and virtually unbeatable SUV in the terrain it was designed for.
If ever I need to by a 4x4 I would buy one of these over anything in a heartbeat.
On the way from my home town to Bath on a particular road there is a very very steep, rocky and muddy track running adjacent to the road. Every time I drove past it I wondered to myself how that track even got there, it seemed so impossible to drive along in any vehicle I could think of. And one day I was driving along and saw a Defender making absolute mince meat of it, it didn't even look like it was struggling.
It's an iconic, rugged, simple, incredibly dependable and virtually unbeatable SUV in the terrain it was designed for.
If ever I need to by a 4x4 I would buy one of these over anything in a heartbeat.
- 3,460
- Hollywood
Fitting an aluminium chassis on the current Defender would take it in the wrong direction, in my opinion.
An aluminium chassis would make the already-expensive Defender even more expensive, and difficult to repair outside of a specialist workshop. Aluminium would likely also spell the end for the simple bolt-together assembly, although this is of limited relevance to most modern-day users (but I love the idea that I can turn my 110 hardtop into a soft top in a few hours!).
The best approach would be to fit them with a galvanised chassis from the factory, which is already big business in the Defender aftermarket over here in the U.K.
Having said that, chassis rusting isn't as big of a problem as it is made out to be. The chassis is made from thick steel that takes decades to rust enough to be of concern and, by that point, bigger commercial users have long replaced their fleet with new vehicles, and smaller commercial users, second-hand buyers and, of course, enthusiasts have had them welded/stripped and coated/a galvanised chassis fitted. Besides, it's part of the ownership experience!
The Defenders huge problem is just what everybody loves about it - it hasn't changed much in a world that has. A boxy shape that makes even the most economical diesel engines look bad, bolt-together assembly that pushes the driver to mental instability through obsessive rattle hunting, and such dated crash safety that means you still can't spec airbags, will spell the end for it shortly, unless Land Rover decide to dump a lot of money into it instead of the design of its replacement.
The next Defender will probably be of aluminium construction (with integrated body frame like the Disco), with a more-rounded shape to fit with the current range, much better crash safety, and a more refined/better designed cabin. One things for sure, the current models will become very expensive and sought-after.
Anyone who says that they want to go faster in a Defender either has never driven/been driven in one above 50mph, or is incredibly brave (read: stupid). The current models will do 90mph... NOPENOPENOPE.
- 23,800
- Philippines
Again, overtaken by one. Doing 90 mph. Downhill. On the stock tires.
Mad.
Pretty much. If we put a Halo or Modern Warfare Jeep on the Cool Wall... or even a Tomb Raider Defender, it'd get enough Seriously Uncool votes to spontaneously combust.
The regular Jeep is just fine. The moment you name it after something... no.
Not unless it's the Jurassic Park variant. With authentic T.Rex bitemarks and Jeff Goldblum's blood all over the back seat.
Mad.
Pretty much. If we put a Halo or Modern Warfare Jeep on the Cool Wall... or even a Tomb Raider Defender, it'd get enough Seriously Uncool votes to spontaneously combust.
The regular Jeep is just fine. The moment you name it after something... no.
Not unless it's the Jurassic Park variant. With authentic T.Rex bitemarks and Jeff Goldblum's blood all over the back seat.
- 4,029
- Derbyshire, UK
- DG Silva
If I can just quote this one again, because it does seem like a stereotypical American quote. While it may have low power outputs, Land Rovers always have been, and always will be, about low-end torque.
Because the engines are built with BHP towards the bottom end of the scale of priorities, it's the turning force that is the 2nd most important thing; actually, the 4WD system is the most important thing, with big levers that clunk cogs together. 221lb-ft torque in the TD5 engine (which has been upgraded up 265lb-ft in the Duratorque engine), in conjunction with a brilliant high/low range gearbox, means it is more than capable than many other off-roaders.
Meanwhile, those cars with high power outputs and low torque outputs get stuck in ruts, because they can't get enough power when the wheels are turning slowly to get out, and when they do get enough power, the wheels are spinning too quickly and just dig a hole to further in to.
- 9,884
- Carthage, TN
- race_emhard
An SUV that is meant to drive off-road.
Cool.
Cool.
- 4,572
- Moscow
- Rage_Racer_VOLK
- RageRacer48
Exactly it's that kind of 4x4s I love.
Cool.
Cool.
- 4,209
- Wasilla, AK
Thaks for setting me straight. SZ.
- 6,117
- Texas
No no no...The actual video game Halo Jeep, with a few mods of course.
500 bucks, big tires and some extra vroom vroom.
Sooo, you buy the sticker-laden thing, then pay more for it to do what it SHOULD have done initially by putting mods on it.
Again, no. If it can't do it stock, then it doesn't matter. Seriously, If you have to mod it, then it obviously wasn't good enough to begin with.
- 29,878
- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
Sub Zero
In an age of Chelsea tractors, an actual 4x4 that actually works is Franking cool. I actually like the styling too, the understatement adds to the charm.
Let's not forget, that Land Rover used to be part of the Premium Automotive Group. Ford did actually own and build Land Rover Defenders.
Choke on it, rednecks.
In an age of Chelsea tractors, an actual 4x4 that actually works is Franking cool. I actually like the styling too, the understatement adds to the charm.
This is the best off-roader on the planet...
Let's not forget, that Land Rover used to be part of the Premium Automotive Group. Ford did actually own and build Land Rover Defenders.
Choke on it, rednecks.
