Land Rover Defender Production to end in 2015

...after 67 years of production...

We were talking in another recent thread how current LR products are not blatantly off-road vehicles... more go to the mall or Rodeo Drive.

Nontheless, they are selling like nobodies business.


Here is the link:
Yahoo!


This seems to be the end of an era, the Range Rover was the first foray into what LR has become.

 

I always liked the Defender. The truck was really cool, but like the Wrangler, it's got to come to an end at some point.

 

I think it's more that the reason for a Defender is gone... at least in enough volume to justify it.



Don't see an end for the Wrangler soon...

The Wrangler is going very STRONG... selling like hotcakes.

 

Jeep has done well to keep it updated enough that its not horrible to drive, while keeping it a jeep. And it's image has always been about fun: the beach, woods, outdoors and freedom.

 

Didnt rr sport just set record to top pikes peak in stock class? Thats pretty good. I would consider one (vs porsche trucks for example) for sure

 

+1 I love the Defender, amazingly capable truck.

Jeep is coming out with a new Wranger in 2016, IIRC...that should make it stick around for another decade or so.

 

I have always liked both of these vehicles, but especially the Wrangler and I am shocked at these numbers;

"The vehicle again had its best sales month ever in May, with Chrysler Group LLC reporting U.S. sales of 16,272"


Simply amazing that they sold that many wranglers in 1 month, that's like top selling sedan numbers not a specialty off road vehicle.

 

I just thought about that for minute, that is 740 wranglers a day being produced for the US market alone. That is more than the entire production of "X" vehicles that were being produced in the BMW plant in SC for the entire world when I lived there a few years ago.

 

yep since the re-design in 07, they average about 100k units/year. it's a big seller, and I imagine a big profit center for Chrysler (or Fiat )

 

Would love to have a Defender, but wouldn't pay the ridiculous prices, even in rough shape, the NAS 110s command here in the US as they only brought in 500. They sell for cheap in the UK...wish they were priced like that here.

 

The four door wrangler has opened up the market so much. That and the fact that you can get them 2wd. Hard tops that actually seal. It's done well. I just hope they keep it like it is. New engines are great, but they have enough soft vehicles.

 

The four door Wrangler is very different from the two door...

The four door is based on the Grand Cherokee platform. The two door is not... basic Wrangler.


I can remember when Jeep put an auto tranny in the Wrangler (horrors) and A/C (what's the world coming to?). And CARPET! Defiling the great Jeep CJ.

 

I do not believe that is correct.

 

The wrangler platform is the same two door or four. The JK is a solid frame vehicle, the Grand Cherokee is a unibody. Has been since the ZJ.

 

I'm planning on getting a D90 at the end of this year - gotta get one before they stop production!!

 

This place always has a great line-up of Defender's and I used to drive by it at least once a year when I lived up there. Put the address into google street view and see.

Land Rover | Copley Motorcars

BUT for the price of one of these you could have 1 each of 2 door AND 4 door rubicon's with all the add-ons with some dough left over. And imo the Wranglers would look better and perform better.

 

Perhaps in the US... but you can buy a new Defender in Australia for ~$5k more than a Wrangler ($45k vs $40k). At one year old the Defender is still worth ~$45k while the Wrangler has lost 20% and now worth ~$30-34k.

 

True story:
In 1995 we suddenly had to replace an aging Suburban, and shopped Range Rover. RR too much for the budget, shop down to LR Defender 90. Base $28K, out the door, $36K+. "lot of money for a rover..." Lets' look at the Discovery.... Yes! Base $36K, out the door $40K. Leather! 2 sunroofs! 4 doors! Bought it. Very happy with it. Still own it. Have had it up to the axles in snow. Immaculate condition.

Resale value today: $3500, on a verrry good day.

Resale value on an average D90: around $36K.

 

Well that makes it more a choice of personal preference (for you guys) since the initial outlay is about the same. I would still go for the Wrangler, even though the Defender is cool, the Wrangler Rubicon rules for rugged looks and off-road performance.

I have always said though that if you want a luxury off road capable vehicle the Range Rover would be the choice.

a favorite shot of a Wrangler


EDIT; I wonder what powerplants are available for the Jeep down under, the pentastar has helped the on road performance a lot I hear and Europe has had a diesel option for some time with nice torque.
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Initial outlay... sure. But Wranglers fall in value like typical cars... Defenders maintain their value and are therefore a much better economic choice (if that matters to a car nut )...

Looks... a personal thing
Off road performance? I'm not sure there is any real difference - both are extremely capable straight off the showroom floor.

No idea... never looked

 

Defender slow depreciation is partly (mostly) due to rarity perhaps.

All other LR offerings depreciate like a safe falling out of a 5th story window.

 

Perhaps in the US... our nearing 6yr old Discovery 3 was $65k new and now worth about $40k... not that bad

 

at least in the US, Wranglers hold their value extremely well.

The Ten Least Depreciated Cars Of The Last Ten Years

 

Good to know... but I'm also trying to keep the thread at least a little British... this thread diverged onto Jeeps in post 2

 

" The Ten Least Reliable Cars"
Does that bring it back to British?

But I agree. Lets keep it on Defenders. The only Land Rover I still liked..lol.

Do they still sell the truck down there?