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familymad

Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3467

2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black

2014 Range Rover

So, popped the a defender into Hadley Green's (now Grange!) for some warranty items a few weeks ago. The vehicle is sold with a deposit on it but not returned back from the dealer as yet. I was running around in a Disco 4 HSE which was nice, if a bit bling. It did have 7 seats though so was a useful size for our big family. This week they did a swap and dropped off a 2014 Full Fat Range Rover 4.4 TDV8........ and the kids went mental

So do I want one?
Days one and two -

I was blown away by the performance and refinement. It's so quiet and cosseting to drive. A total mile eater. I could imagine a trip to Italy or further would be an absolute doddle. The seats are lovely and the engine and box are seamless. It's a monster performer. I averaged 29MPG over a mix of M4/M25 stop start traffic and A roads. Some of the options this vehicle had made me laugh. Electric folding side steps! Meridian surround sound stereo (awesome), automatic boot opening/closure and soft close doors.
All was well apart from the slightly odd and jealous looks you get in it. I felt uncomfortable driving it to the kids school and to my place of work because of what it says. It says money and looks money no doubt. That's enough for me to walk away. It does look lovely through!!

Day 3 - came home from work at 2am. Pulled onto the drive and got my gear from the boot. Closed the boot by the button and it seemed to shut. The car wouldn't lock. It kept bleeping to say not locked. I walked around opening and closing all the doors. I now got into it and turned the ignition on. Boot not closed was the message. I opened it and closed it and finally it locked on the 3rd attempt!
Later in the same day I was in traffic around Heathrow. I was sitting at a set of traffic lights and I had placed her into Park on the gearbox rather than holding it on the brakes. Just before the lights changed I selected D but a warning message popped up. Boot not closed!! It wouldn't let me drive forward either!. Blow me but it wasn't lying and the boot had now half opened!! Lots of horns honking and angry drivers while I had to stop the engine and manually close the boot as it wouldn't close by auto.
Day 4 - jumped in to drive to work and be greeted by 'Start Engine low battery' message. No kids had even set foot in it and nothing was left on overnight. I drove her 30miles to work and when I turned it off the same low battery message appeared. I did feel some anxiety about it working when I returned 8hrs later but it did start again! It developed a front suspension clunk while I had it so I feel at home from the Defender!

So my mind was made up. Complex and electronic with bags of character provided by software glitches. Not for me. Positives were the engine and gearbox. Negatives, image, small boot and all the stuff that's gonna be shocking to get fixed once out of warranty. It was throwing some Wobblies already when less than 6 months old! What cost will touch sensitive door handles be each? Folding sidesteps when they fail half down? Ouch.

Lovely to have been allowed to drive one ....... did I mention that engine and gearbox???!

1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI
1995 90 300TDI

13th Jul 2014 4:56pm

steve E

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Tenby
Posts: 2073

You can't get a better review of a car than that.
I would love to have one though

13th Jul 2014 5:22pm

Smilesapart

Member Since: 28 Sep 2013
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 735

I started off thinking they look amazing, but the more I see them the more I think they exude wealth in a disgusting way. The lights at the back are too small and you pay all that money for a dash board that's A) inferior to the last model and B) the same as a much cheaper Evoque. But try as I do not to, everytime I see one I just thing Rich Flash git. But I swear I'm not jealous of the car, but maybe a bit jealous someone can afford to spend that much on a car. These were not feelings I got seeing someone in the last model. So what's changed?

13th Jul 2014 5:33pm

Fabio

Member Since: 05 Aug 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 589

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

I would love to drive one but the only way i would buy one, is if i won the euromillions!
I had a disco3 and never had any problems but the last service was 1500£...
Too expensive for me!

13th Jul 2014 5:39pm

TJ101

Member Since: 30 May 2007
Location: Taunton Somerset
Posts: 3747

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Montalcino Red

Make me feel happier, that i have not changed my 09MY,, RR,, Bar service's & pads all round, never missed a beat

California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1

Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK

13th Jul 2014 6:19pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6047

If I had that sort of money to burn I'd get a disco 4, IMO they look much nicer. the FFRR just looks too big and lardy.

I drive a 110, that's big but boxy, but the RR is just fat. imagine a fat businessman driving it with his fat gut and fat wallet

13th Jul 2014 6:36pm

Mac87

Member Since: 06 Nov 2013
Location: Kent
Posts: 64

I thought the new RR would grow on me, but it just hasn't, I prefer the RRS and am a big fan of the Disco. As has been said, don't like the Evoquey dash, much prefer the overall package of the previous model.

And no, I'd never in a million years buy a £100k car brand new, I'd rather someone else take the depreciation hit.

13th Jul 2014 6:41pm

Smilesapart

Member Since: 28 Sep 2013
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 735

I think the D4 is a fantastic vehicle and way more desirable to me than the RR or the RRS

13th Jul 2014 7:13pm

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SVX Station Wagon Santorini Black

diesel_jim wrote:
, but the RR is just fat. imagine a fat businessman driving it with his fat gut and fat wallet

Here it is more a matter of FFRR usually being driven by slender blondes with a flat fitness trimmed belly, but with a husband with a fat wallet.

I also do not really appreciate the new FFRR, looks more like just another station wagon to me.
I still like the previous FFRR model, more boxy, more character, and.... here again mostly driven by slender blondes with a flat fitness trimmed belly, and a husband with a fat wallet.

Agree the D4 is a nice truck, but nobody here will even glance at or pay any attention to a D4, a RRS, or a FFRR for that matter. But, when a Defender passes or stops at a traffic light, (and we have quite a large number Defenders here), hey ho, the whole traffic scene wakes up and starts looking in envy.

Interesting to note that a lot of sporty slender tall ponytailed blondes with flat, etc. etc. etc....... also drive Defenders here. Those are the ones with good taste. And... they invariably will return "The Defender Wave"

Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

Last edited by ericvv on 13th Jul 2014 9:21pm. Edited 4 times in total

13th Jul 2014 7:30pm

pjw4233

Member Since: 30 Nov 2009
Location: Lake District & Cheshire
Posts: 273

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Stornoway Grey

There is something about young blonde women with gym flat bellies, that drive Defenders that I like

13th Jul 2014 9:15pm

ericvv

Member Since: 02 Jun 2011
Location: Near the Jet d'Eau
Posts: 5816

^^ X2

You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o
https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I
https://vimeo.com/201482507
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw

13th Jul 2014 9:22pm

TD5_dan

Member Since: 24 Feb 2012
Location: Essex
Posts: 449

You haven't got to worry about all the gizmos going wrong as I'm sure it won't be long before Britpart will have a crack at making touch sensitive door handles

2001 TD5 110 County Station Wagon - sold
1970 Series 2A Station Wagon
1970 Series 2A hard top
1960 Series 2
1972 Series 3

13th Jul 2014 9:26pm

steve E

Member Since: 06 Mar 2011
Location: Tenby
Posts: 2073

I'm missing the gym going flat bellied defender driving ladies.
Seems a 100k range rover is in order

13th Jul 2014 10:00pm

Cuthbert

Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Up North
Posts: 1535

Spent an evening trying out the latest model Range Rover - very impressive on road - would not like to own it a day after the warranty expires.

How many people have the skill to keep all that electro-trickery fully functional a few years down the line?

13th Jul 2014 11:14pm

ken

Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

L405 every day over the new D4 why because the D4 is trying to be a L322 just sold my green D4 2014

L405 on the drive just waiting to see if there are decent changes to the 2015, me I also love the xtech and that will never change

14th Jul 2014 4:49am

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