- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 23,706
- Location
- Utah
- Car(s)
- '21 Gladiator, '11 R6, '00 VFR800, '11 Multistrada
Some call me a Luddite or old fashioned because my preference is for mechanical shift linkages, locking diffs, and articulation to get around off road. I inherently distrust air suspension, electronics, and sensors. The new Defender has been criticized by off road purists for the 18" rims (minimum, they go up from there), and reliance on electronics to get through technical terrain.
Not only do I think it's not as fun to let the computer do all the work, a vehicle that is so reliant on a swarm of sensors to know what it's doing can't be repaired in the field or limped home if something fails. If just one ride-height sensor goes on the Defender's fancy air suspension, the vehicle defaults to the lowest setting with no way to override it and you're potentially deep in the bush with no ground clearance to get home. Not good for a company that has a poor track record with electronics.
The Fast Lane Truck bought a brand new Defender and.... let's just say it's not gone well.
Then this:
It sounds like all the warnings from the 4WD community are coming true. The large wheels and short sidewalls are a problem for flotation and traction while making the tires more prone to puncture, the electronics are questionable at best, and I suspect we see air suspension failures shortly after these vehicles get out of warranty (probably sooner if Land Rover/Range Rover's history is anything to go by). Andrew St. Pierre White - a long time lover of the Defender and Land Rover, as well as being an Overlanding/Off Road expert expressed his doubts about it when it was unveiled and so far he's been right. I guess time will tell.
The reliance on electronics rather than mechanical traction and suspension is demonstrated well here:
"It has the flex of an ironing board"
Not only do I think it's not as fun to let the computer do all the work, a vehicle that is so reliant on a swarm of sensors to know what it's doing can't be repaired in the field or limped home if something fails. If just one ride-height sensor goes on the Defender's fancy air suspension, the vehicle defaults to the lowest setting with no way to override it and you're potentially deep in the bush with no ground clearance to get home. Not good for a company that has a poor track record with electronics.
The Fast Lane Truck bought a brand new Defender and.... let's just say it's not gone well.
Then this:
It sounds like all the warnings from the 4WD community are coming true. The large wheels and short sidewalls are a problem for flotation and traction while making the tires more prone to puncture, the electronics are questionable at best, and I suspect we see air suspension failures shortly after these vehicles get out of warranty (probably sooner if Land Rover/Range Rover's history is anything to go by). Andrew St. Pierre White - a long time lover of the Defender and Land Rover, as well as being an Overlanding/Off Road expert expressed his doubts about it when it was unveiled and so far he's been right. I guess time will tell.
The reliance on electronics rather than mechanical traction and suspension is demonstrated well here:
"It has the flex of an ironing board"
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