Not specifically Range Rover but thought it was worth a post.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-24446070

Its like loosing a close older relative.

Sad indeed, but unfortunately inevitable considering how EU regulations are going.

It's one of the reasons I'm hanging onto my '94 110. These are iconic, and massively useful, vehicles. If I had to keep only one of my 4 cars, the truth is my 110 would be the one. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

 All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2021 AM new Vantage

If it wasn't for this truly iconic vehicle, there would be no Land Rover and ultimately no Range Rover.
It will be truly missed by all Land Rover customers worldwide.
I for one am going to buy one, before the end of production.

We as a forum should start thinking how we can can contribute to a celebration of this truly life changing vehicle.

Stan?? Martin?? Get your thinking caps on.....

This gets mentioned quite frequently but it really does have to be just a matter of time.

Notwithstanding that there's a V8 90 sitting on my drive alongside it's Fat cousin, I too can't help thinking that the smart money will be buying one of the last batch made.....

I have an old series three I have nearly finished restoring with a 2.5 Daihatsu diesel with overdrive & I love it. Have had it for ten years now & it never fails to make me smile  Worse things happen at sea! Well thats what swmbo said when WRENS came to sea!!!

We'll miss you.

OK, an Icon for 6 decades, but is it only me who won't be sorry to see the back of it?

The bottom line is that Defender sales are on their ar5e (for a reason) they cost way too much (labour intensive build process) and they are noisy, damp, smelly, uncomfortable clatterboxes that rot, leak and break your back. The facts are that there are much nicer vehicles out there and it is the others which are selling.

The die-hard defender nutters aren't buying new cars, they buy 300TDi ones so they can be fixed with a large hammer and a mig welder. Bear in mind that there are still those people who sneer at Defender because it's not on leaf springs, although they must also be members of the Flat Earth Society, but seriously, how many are in the market for a TD5, never mind a Puma....Norra lot.

I was driving a rather large John Deere tractor last week and (choosing words very carefully) it was quieter, more comfortable, more powerful and just a thoroughly better experience than a defender. Truthfully defender should have been canned at the end of TD5 production. Everything since has been nothing more than increasingly futile attempts to keep them legal to sell. something the USA saw through a long time ago.

As for its replacement, the T5 chassis in 2 wheelbases with modular options including a properly hard wearing interior would be my best guess. Think modern day Isuzu Trooper. The Japanese still seem able to pull it off.

Yeah, it's an Icon but I've had 2 of them and I really ain't all misty eyed about it going.

I'm sorry but, what a load of nonsense!!!

And as for your final statement!!! Japs couldn't pull themselves off!!! let alone rival an ikon...

The Defender, like the original Mini in many ways, has lacked development throughout its life.

Many owners have made theirs better by installing bigger TD engines. The 4.2 out of a Landcruiser goes well and I think LR should have gone that way rather than the measly little 2.2 / 2.4 units of the latest models. Even the 3.0 TDCi would have been better.

But they didn't. Such a shame.

NVH can be improved dramatically with decent sound deadening materials. Interior ambience with better furniture.

So that,s the engines, noise, refinement and interior sorted. Looks-wise, they need nothing doing. So, I imagine, it's just automating the assembly process.

Then add some 'lifestyle' Overfinch models with more oomph, such as a decent petrol V8 and their appeal multiplies. Look at the increasing aftermarket models available to prove that point. Why don't LR have some of that to themselves?

Then there's the utiluity aspect. Large, lazy, torquey engines coupled with a wider choice of options, the standard hose-down interior with a nod to modern technology and, maybe, even make the 130 the standard utility model for the loadspace? Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Safety - doesn't have any and it can't be added.

I can't raise a tear over the end of Defender production.
I've had three - a 200 Tdi 90 SW, a 300 Tdi SW (bought brand new in 1994 !) and a 2007 Tdci 110 XS SW. Quite simply, they don't fit into the world we live in anymore - hopelessly outdated. The Tdci I owned was the best example of this. Excellent drivetrain (apart from the useless TC),but that was taken from the Transit. It was a classic example of "fur coat, no knickers" . . .
Yes, people love them as weekend toys. But speak to someone who has to use one everyday - that's different story altogether.
It should have been replaced years ago and I think LR have become far too complacent over it's iconic status.
We should be seeing them every time we watch the news from around the world, but we see Toyotas instead. They're better . . .
I'd love to get one purely as a toy, but not to live with everyday -

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

The reason they carry on selling is simply utility companies.

If BT/National grid/Waterways... Could get an F150 with semi economical engine over here they no doubt would do. There isn't anything else in its class that is as modular or has as many already made fit out kits ready to go.

When its replaced i think they biggest mistake LR will make is changing the rear form factor for the 130 back box's. If they allow the current style back box to fit on with the same mounting points and the like they will secure more business but i bet my money on it changing quite a bit. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

mzplcg wrote:

The bottom line is that Defender sales are on their ar5e

Martin wrote:

Absolute tosh! Defender sales are very strong. Where's your information about them being low from?