Back on topic (
@Highlander): I still disagree with you - and with ASPW for 2 main reasons:
1. LR has improved. After working with LRs / LR diagnostics professionally for over 10 years now and having seen the improvements LR has made firsthand (especially in electronics where the electronic generation in the P38 / FL1 / D2 were the low point), I think of a lot of the hype on LRs being pure ship as internet exaggerations. People do exactly what I did above, they read a couple of key words and assume, or they generalize off of a few real negative experiences that they've read about. Not to mention LR's service and parts prices which really are something to beach about. All of this combines to make LR an easy target. YT Channels like TFL even add it to their repertoire: a click bait "how bad is LR" title follwed by a vid where they say "well, not that bad actually" - but a lot of viewers never get that far. By and large a LR will get you home the same as a any modern Benz/Audi/whatever. You just might have issues with the infotainment or the central locking system if it happens to be a 15 year old D3. Companies such as JDPower exacerbate things as well in that
they don't differentiate between drive line and infotainment. And did I already mention LR dealers, service and parts prices? Don't get me wrong: I have no delusions about LR quality. The reputation didn't originate out of nowhere and there is a reason that Toyota 4x4s are the most prevalent vehicles in remote areas of the world. I am just saying that the (internet) rep is much worse than reality.
2. Field repairability. People beach and moan about how inaccessible modern LRs are from a repair standpoint. But they are not that anymore. When we (GAP Diagnostic) started as a small group of LR enthusiast who wanted to solve exactly this issue, the only company in aftermarket LR diagnostics was Blackbox Solutions. And they charged $3k for a individual user, VIN locked one vehicle system. They had next to no support, but their systems were relatively comprehensive. Today there are all sorts of systems from the very inexpensive (and very limited) iCarsoft to systems such as ours. You
can repair a modern LR in the field. It's not going to be like repairing a Series 1, but that's a bit like comparing Edison's light bulb to a modern LED light. And you don't even have to carry a laptop and can still have a complete repair manual at your disposal at the same time. Field repairs always suck. I really enjoy working on cars, but not when I'm cold and wet and laying in the dirt somewhere. By the same token, I think that in many instances a field repair today is more doable than 25 years ago. And often the vehicle will even tell you what's wrong. 25 years ago that knowledge generally came from the repairers experience as a mechanic. Today it comes from the diagnostic tool, pdf manuals or even online sources.
What I'm trying to say is that a modern LR can be a good overland vehicle. Any engineering exercise is an exercise in compromise. Yes, LR engineers their cars with a strong road-going bias, but that's where their vehicles - or any 4x4 of any age for that matter - are going to spend the very largest percentage of their time - even hardcore off-roaders (the exception being purpose built vehicles that are trailered to events). Jeeps and Ineos Grenadiers are also built with this bias.
My wife and I had planned to drive from our home in Europe to visit with friends who live in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and then continue on to South Africa (we haven't because of the political situation in all of northern Africa). Even on a large trip like this, tho, and even when looking for trails and stretches where we could remain off-road as long as possible, the reality is that today you are going to be on road (or at the very minimum dirt tracks) a large portion of the time. And I do
NOT want to spend 6+ hrs/day bouncing around in an uncomfortable vehicle on road just to
After moving to Europe, I always thought I'd be buying a MB G (which I had considerable experience with in the 90s). My disdain for Brit automotive electrics and with that Land Rover turned to fascination when my future dad-in-law gave us his RRC for a few weeks. It was as comfortable as a MB S-class on the highway and as capable as a MB G off-road. The G of that era was not plush on-road. And I have been working on them and playing with them ever since. I own 8 LRs and I believe I know the brand - both positives and negatives.
IMO, the L663 is a worthy successor to that legacy. Very comfortable on-road and very capable off.
ASPW himself put it best at the end of a video that he's taken down off his YT channel where he took a stock D4 over a very rocky mountain pass with a bunch of big tire'd, older Defenders: "And on the drive home, who do you think is going to be more comfortable? Me (in a D4)? Or those guys (Defenders...)?" Portions of the vid can still be found here
https://expeditionportal.com/an-lr4...lenging-public-road-and-all-to-prove-a-point/
