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lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2262

Defender L663 overlanding review

This month's LRM

Road test of a new Defender and an old Defender across Botswana

The review is pretty good, although obviously written by a die hard fan of the old model. Great to hear his experience with the new Defender, which had no issues during the trip.

He did comment that the new Defender was "highly capable but soulless" and l don't entirely agree with that, it's not got the heritage of the old one but it does have a character unlike some new vehicles l've driven

He says it was "great fun hooning across the pans at 100mph" which isn't really the way to overland. No wonder he "didn't feel at one with the environment like in his 130"

I agree with his concerns that while the new Defender didn't give any trouble, if it did out there he wouldn't be able to get it repaired, unlike the old one which can be "fixed at the roadside with a coke can and a pair of pliers"
Bizarrely the only breakdown on the trip is in his TD5 130 which they managed to fix and carry on.

He says that it's unlikely there will be an influx of new Defenders to overlanding and he's probably right although it has been done, (notably the trans Africa trip by Kingsley Holgate)

l agree with his comments that the old Defender was made for this kind of trip, and the new one is
too precious to take on the worst trails for risk of paint work damage, although that will depend on the owner.

Personally if crossing Botswana l probably WOULD prefer an old model, probably a 300tdi, but it's clear from the review that the new one is fully capable.

Last edited by lightning on 30th Mar 2023 10:37pm. Edited 2 times in total

30th Mar 2023 7:55pm

Nick-St

Member Since: 23 Apr 2013
Location: Surrey
Posts: 267

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey

Not sure you could fix a 2.2 Puma at the side of the road either!!

30th Mar 2023 7:57pm

familymad

Member Since: 13 Dec 2011
Location: Bucks
Posts: 3465

2016 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black

I never felt at ease with our TDCI in Africa. Sure if it had lunched an injector or needed something ECU based we would have been flatbedding it across to Gib 1951 80" S1 2.0
1995 110 300TDI
1995 90 300TDI

1st Apr 2023 7:41am

stevemfr

Member Since: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Strasbpurg
Posts: 100

This is exactly the reason we developed the IIDTool. The best 4x4xfar was limited to going places a tow truck could reach to bring it back to a main dealer. We (GAP Diagnostic) are nothing but a group of LR enthusiasts who went a bit overboard

I disagree on the repairability of older vehicles vs newer, btw. How many LR owners would be able to diagnose much less repair a fueling problem on a TD5? On a vehicle with proper diagnostics, it will tell you what is wrong. And these days that will even generally be correct.

RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s,
2 FL1s and a L663 on the way

11th Apr 2023 4:03pm

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2262

How many people have had a new Defender actually break down, so it can't be driven?

l've actually only heard of one. Sure, there's issues as with any complex vehicle but nothing that actually stops it from being driven.

l've never actually had a modern vehicle let me down since my brand new Alfa Romeo broke down on the motorway back in 1998.

Even that started again after 45 minutes (only to break down again at the dealership)

11th Apr 2023 8:56pm

stevemfr

Member Since: 18 Sep 2022
Location: Strasbpurg
Posts: 100

The fewer there that break down are the better for all of us, no?

If I understood what you are saying correctly: the point is not if the vehicle is no longer moving or not, the point is being able to repair your LR anywhere with bailing wire and duct tape. Just like 50 years ago. Only now it's bailing wire, duct tape and a small, highly capable diagnostic tool. So you can go anywhere just like 50 years ago.

RRC 2Dr, RRC 4Dr,
P38, and 2 L322s,
2 FL1s and a L663 on the way

11th Apr 2023 9:46pm

WizzardPrang

Member Since: 05 Nov 2020
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 123

It was a good article but Pat is a dyed in the wool old defender chap (nothing wrong with that).

BruceT on here has done numerous overland trips, have a look at his YouTube: @OverlandingwithBruce

Also, Simon (PowerfulUK) did a video debunking ASPW's contention that the new Defender would grind to a halt if a sensor failed. Current vehicle: 2020 Defender 110S
Gone: Defender 90 HT 200Tdi, Discovery Sport, Freelander 2

Insta: wizzardprang

11th Apr 2023 10:41pm

wyvern

Member Since: 14 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2074

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red

The only issue that I have come accross with the new style defender has been a flat battery which was from having the door open numerous times when parked up overnight while camping ... but was easily solved with a jump start ...

Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126

12th Apr 2023 10:52am

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