Fivespddisco
Supporting Sponsor
Part 1 new Defender exterior first impressions
Before we can get to the review I must address the elephant in the room.
The Classic Defender.
The Classic Defender is an icon. Plain and simple. If you want the new Defender to be just like the Classic Defender, then get a Classic Defender. Not getting either, but complaining about the new Defender is like arguing over what Batman was the best. At the end of the day it's just nonsense and we all know the right answer is Christian Bale
Onto the New Defender or as we are calling it in house Defender 2 The First thing I noticed when walking up to the Defender 2 was the size. The truck is way bigger in person, not overpowering big but yet you feel its presence. From ten feet away you know it was purpose built. If I had to sum up my first site to just one word it would be, SOLID. I immediately made my way to the front. I had to see the headlights for myself. Like most, I wanted the lights to be round and did not enjoy the angry eyes lights as they have been dubbed. Standing for a long pause in the front I felt my head leaning to the side like a confused dog. I was so ready to feel disappointed and let my internet rage troll out, but it did not happen. I don't want to admit this, but the lights work with the body and after a few minutes they become the new norm. By the end of the weekend I stopped noticing that they were not completely round. Moving from the front to the back, I stood five feet from the truck and just smiled. Not a kid getting a cookie smile, I went full Grinch smile. The kind that makes your ears hurt. Simply put they got the back of the truck right. It is so good! The Door mounted spare tire sits above the rear bumper with room for a lager tire. 35in tire perhaps? The tail light setup is perfect. It's modern, behind body led lights that stay out of harm's way but feel reminiscent of the old style with light guards. The rear end folded metal trim in the body is a direct call back to the galvanized end caps on the Series. Finally the classic Defender belt line, pure beauty. When you get to see one in person, just stand and look at the back of the truck. You will feel the adventurous spirits of past generations begging to make their own stories with the Defender 2. If you don't buy a Defender 2, you will definitely enjoy following one on the trails. The next stop in my must see list was the body color landing pads. These are the floating squares that act as protection from the side mounted accessories. With the ladder and side box attached you can not see them. With out those accessories installed they stick out and feel like an afterthought. That is my biggest visual complaint about the new design. Here's the rub, as an enthusiast I am conflicted to complain about a function over form design. Land Rover gave the truck an extra option to help it on adventures off road, and I’m complaining about that?
My head hurts.
If I put emotion aside and go full logic like the birth of the original Series, the obvious reason the Defender 2 has a rounder front end is to conform with the global laws. One must then consider that the engineers at Land Rover are on the side of the enthusiast, fighting the play it safe everyone gets a trophy world we now live in, to make the Defender 2 the best they can. What a daunting task that must have been for a low volume manufacturer to keep their thirsty signature off roader world compliant. Let that thought settle for a minute.
Now ask what has the Land Rover enthusiast base done to thank the engineers tasked with this endeavor? Endlessly complain of course, because the Defender 2 does not look like a toaster. Are you starting to feel all the Trolls on the inter webs may be wrong? I think so.
More to follow.
Justin Lucky8 Off Road
Photos generously provided by Chris Jeyes
Before we can get to the review I must address the elephant in the room.
The Classic Defender.
The Classic Defender is an icon. Plain and simple. If you want the new Defender to be just like the Classic Defender, then get a Classic Defender. Not getting either, but complaining about the new Defender is like arguing over what Batman was the best. At the end of the day it's just nonsense and we all know the right answer is Christian Bale
Onto the New Defender or as we are calling it in house Defender 2 The First thing I noticed when walking up to the Defender 2 was the size. The truck is way bigger in person, not overpowering big but yet you feel its presence. From ten feet away you know it was purpose built. If I had to sum up my first site to just one word it would be, SOLID. I immediately made my way to the front. I had to see the headlights for myself. Like most, I wanted the lights to be round and did not enjoy the angry eyes lights as they have been dubbed. Standing for a long pause in the front I felt my head leaning to the side like a confused dog. I was so ready to feel disappointed and let my internet rage troll out, but it did not happen. I don't want to admit this, but the lights work with the body and after a few minutes they become the new norm. By the end of the weekend I stopped noticing that they were not completely round. Moving from the front to the back, I stood five feet from the truck and just smiled. Not a kid getting a cookie smile, I went full Grinch smile. The kind that makes your ears hurt. Simply put they got the back of the truck right. It is so good! The Door mounted spare tire sits above the rear bumper with room for a lager tire. 35in tire perhaps? The tail light setup is perfect. It's modern, behind body led lights that stay out of harm's way but feel reminiscent of the old style with light guards. The rear end folded metal trim in the body is a direct call back to the galvanized end caps on the Series. Finally the classic Defender belt line, pure beauty. When you get to see one in person, just stand and look at the back of the truck. You will feel the adventurous spirits of past generations begging to make their own stories with the Defender 2. If you don't buy a Defender 2, you will definitely enjoy following one on the trails. The next stop in my must see list was the body color landing pads. These are the floating squares that act as protection from the side mounted accessories. With the ladder and side box attached you can not see them. With out those accessories installed they stick out and feel like an afterthought. That is my biggest visual complaint about the new design. Here's the rub, as an enthusiast I am conflicted to complain about a function over form design. Land Rover gave the truck an extra option to help it on adventures off road, and I’m complaining about that?
My head hurts.
If I put emotion aside and go full logic like the birth of the original Series, the obvious reason the Defender 2 has a rounder front end is to conform with the global laws. One must then consider that the engineers at Land Rover are on the side of the enthusiast, fighting the play it safe everyone gets a trophy world we now live in, to make the Defender 2 the best they can. What a daunting task that must have been for a low volume manufacturer to keep their thirsty signature off roader world compliant. Let that thought settle for a minute.
Now ask what has the Land Rover enthusiast base done to thank the engineers tasked with this endeavor? Endlessly complain of course, because the Defender 2 does not look like a toaster. Are you starting to feel all the Trolls on the inter webs may be wrong? I think so.
More to follow.
Justin Lucky8 Off Road
Photos generously provided by Chris Jeyes
Attachments
Last edited:
