Has anyone else received a booking for the new Defender launch at Solihull or Halewood? There weren’t many dates but I’m going to see it this coming Saturday? 1951 80" S1
1958 88" S2

I received an email last week but all dates filled . May pop to Gunwharf to have a look in a fortnight

Ok,

Will take shots and give an update on it all. 1951 80" S1
1958 88" S2

**** if allowed ****  1951 80" S1
1958 88" S2

Yes I also received an email last week, posted in another thread, decided not to go as it’s too far to travel to either location for a 2 hour factory trip. I’m sure i’ll Get to see a whole load of them sitting unsold in the compound at my local dealership this rural area being an area where most new Defenders used to be sold to farmers and utility companies not to wannabe adventurers or commuters. Epsom Green Tdi300 County Hard Top converted into a Station Wagon
Departed - RRS2 HSE Dynamic replaced by Mini Countryman PHEV

I had the email and within seconds all of the slots I could make were filled, I complained and they have now arranged for me to go on Sunday morning.

 1951 80" S1
1958 88" S2

I’m going on Saturday as well. The one at the end of the afternoon. 1995 Defender 110 CSW
1971 SIIA Lightweight

Might see you then  1951 80" S1
1958 88" S2

Any good ? I'm going tomorrow ?

Well you get very nice snacks.
50 mins of marketing talk to tell you how brilliant it is.
50 mins of hands on. First RHD vehicle I have seen.
Brilliant back door which is assisted so can stay open in any position.
Ground clearance looks great in high mode.
Though mud flaps seem vulnerable to damage.
Good second row seat legroom. Luggage area third row seats seems small.
Doors seem huge and will present problems in car parks as whole vehicle is wide.
The ex D4 owners were loving it. As no sign of release date for full hybrid I am much more ambivalent.














 1995 Defender 110 CSW
1971 SIIA Lightweight

Silver vehicle was the one used in promo shots and had dirt and dust in all the right places. Green is a HSE so not available at launch. The silver one was early in pre pro build and the HSE was a big step up in build quality and material quality. The plastics were softer and flooring more rubberised. Only 4 110’s currently built

Rear 6&7 seats were Disco Sport sized and a little disappointing. The view over the bonnet from the drivers seat looks pure Defender and the high sided waistline gives a real feeling of invincibility. The interior is a win with just the right amount of exposed metal and industrial looking fastenings. The rear door is a win. It didn’t feel that big inside considering the overall size of the thing.

The 20” wheels on the silver vehicle looked right shod with MTR Duratech’s whereas the HSE all season’s didn’t quite have the same effect. Wheel arch protectors look great as do the big mud flaps and fake A bar.

So big question. Was it desirable and a Defender like my previous 14 110’s? Tricky, it didn’t win my heart over but I can see it being an incredible vehicle and wins the head over other products on the market. It feels built to withstand hard family life but didn’t make me feel it will withstand time like the old one.

I’m torn and not sure I need or want one, but could definitely use one. The previous Defender was always wanted and I bought most of them even when I didn’t need one.

Does that make any sense?!



Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge 1951 80" S1
1958 88" S2

Ramsay and familymad thanks for the pics  Being a sewage diver at least I know how deep the 💩 will be at work today.
2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90
2000 XS TD5 90

I'm at Solihull tomorrow at 9.00 anyone else going in the morning? 130's have feeling's as well you know

As you are going there, during the 50 minute marketing waffle (best in class, sand dunes, wading, towing blah blah blah). Can you ask them to drive you to the nearest open and multistory car park and demonstrate parking the thing.

The reason I ask is that as per my recent post elsewhere it took me three attempts to park my wife's Velar in a carpark in Godalming last week before I could actually get out of the car. Even then that was because the euro box to my right was small. The opposite driver would never have got back into their car.

The Velar is wide, the new Defender is wider! New owners won't be offroading or dune bashing, they will be doing normal day to day things.