 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > Autocar Drives the DC100 Concept |
 
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| RobKeay Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Stafford Posts: 1567   
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I am struggling with this. Everyone seems to know why it's wrong and why Landrover are making a big error. I think instead of the constant public bashing of the concept why not give ideas. Things do need to change and I've got a right list. The defender is too costly to make and there's to much choice for the army and the commercial user. Lots of farmers and commercial users buy on price and cost of running.
Let's put all this Landrover knowledge on here to good use and design and spec a new defender! I'll start Auto and better build quantity More room for driver but not a seating position like an l200 |
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18th Nov 2011 2:17pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731  
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Let the girlies buy a DC100 and sort out the Defender (e.g. airbags and "Wade Aid" - joking) for the rest of us
 Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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18th Nov 2011 2:58pm |
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| dnorrishill Member Since: 15 Jul 2011 Location: Hampshire Posts: 610  
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I also think that Land Rover would get a better reaction is their concept was also shown with a sack of feed, a bale of straw and a Labrador in the back. Maybe even do a Camel Trophy/G4 type mockup, show that it will be "man" enough.
I have no problem with the beech buggy thing (I won't be buying one though) and if they can use variants like this to spread design and production costs well that's to everyone's advantage. It's the styling that has everyone hot under the collar, no one seems so bothered about the fundamental changes to the architecture of the thing (currently concept is built on a D4/RR Sport chassis), or the move from aluminium body panels etc. |
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18th Nov 2011 6:35pm |
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| Buzz Member Since: 11 Oct 2011 Location: Inverness Posts: 235 
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I have worked in the out door industry all my life, forestry and tree surgery mainly.
Even the hardest Land Rover haters will eventually admit that if they actually have to go deep in the woods and tow only a Defender will do it. What worries me is that independent suspension and fancy panel shapes will just make it to nice for real use. I have used L200's, Rangers and Navaras off road. Great in some areas but none do the job like a Defender. Great places to be but hopeless off road. I had a 2007 Ranger for a while, slid it into a tree stump. With the Defender I'd live with that damage and nobody would look twice. I agree change is required, unfortunately to my mind the things that hold the Defender back are also the elements that make it great. Chassis, beam axles, cheap ally panels etc. Exciting times ahead maybe? |
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18th Nov 2011 7:31pm |
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| spudfan Member Since: 10 Sep 2007 Location: Co Donegal Posts: 4479 
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Well said. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali 2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu 2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai |
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18th Nov 2011 7:42pm |
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| Buzz Member Since: 11 Oct 2011 Location: Inverness Posts: 235
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Whatever they come up with will be brilliant. Just will we be able to justify using them for work!
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18th Nov 2011 7:47pm |
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| RobKeay Member Since: 19 Jul 2009 Location: Stafford Posts: 1567
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Think beam axles work alright disco2 had them. I am also a tree surgeon and use the landy in the woods but I did the same with my disco3. In fact I did more mental off roading in the d3. I keep changing my mind about defender replacement but how can they replace a vehicle that's nearly 30. I guess build it India with cheap labour. Sad times
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18th Nov 2011 8:30pm |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3140 
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Thats right - very few to none of the complaints have been about the underlying tech, just about the way the damn thing looks, and the lack of any lwb or xlwb variants. I don't really want it to have independent suspension, but that wouldn't make me not buy a Defender. It looking like a hairdessers car would though. 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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19th Nov 2011 10:07am |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 415 
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Indeed. I'm not even really sure if live axles are that great compared to independent suspension, or is it just a traditionalist thing. Certainly the H1 is independent and that would give any Defender a run for its money when it comes to hard offroad work (albeit perhaps so great in a tight forest). I am concerned about DIY maintainability. LR has yet to convince us the DC100 is spanner-maintainable and not full of expensive bits that break and are difficult and cost a fortune to replace. Reviewers often comment on exposed screws in Defenders. I like that! They fit the nature of the Defender, and I'd want the DC100 to continue that tradition. But yes, it would be great if the DC100 looked a bit more rough and tough. The design spec should be "Would the MOD use it?". That would go a long way to making the car just right. |
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19th Nov 2011 11:45am |
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| T1G UP Member Since: 08 Dec 2009 Location: Bath Posts: 3101 
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there building it for the US market....period theres 600 Million of them and 60 million in the UK It's a dressed up or down D3, so it will have the same issues as a D3 but will have a real poverty spec for utilities etc |
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19th Nov 2011 11:48am |
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| Ads90 Member Since: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds Posts: 800 
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Perfectly reasonable to assume this, I suspect. And on that - anyone know what the width of this prototype is? One of the (many) things I like about the Defender is that it's quite narrow - British-country-lane-friendly narrow. |
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19th Nov 2011 1:09pm |
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