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HOME NEW VEHICLES FIND A DEALER Defender Find out More Freelander 2 Find out More Discovery 4 Find out More Range Rover Evoque Find out More Range Rover Sport Find out More The Range Rover Find out More Close Factory Tours and Experiences Overview Malverns Solihull Halewood Visit Halewood The Halewood manufacturing plant in Liverpool is the site of the newest of the three central Land Rover Experience Centres. The award winning facilities are home to the Land Rover Freelander 2. Our tour provides rare insight into every stage of the assembly process from the sheet metal press, to painting and robot assembly of the driveline all the way through to the finished product. Once you've seen how they're put together, you'll want to put Freelander 2 and the other Land Rover vehicles to the test on our off-road tracks. The spectacular course is entirely man made and purpose-built to showcase the dramatic capability of each vehicle. It uses a combination of steep slopes, low friction surfaces and other obstacles to emphasise the superb grip and traction abilities of each vehicle. Land Rover Experience Halewood is also the perfect location for events and can host up to 150 people. The venue includes a suite of conference rooms and a large state-of-the-art presentation theatre. Five minutes from a whole host of hotels and a collection service from John Lennon Airport, you'll be greeted by our in-house catering service for refreshments. Tour optionsSeveral tours run daily and include an insight into both Jaguar and Land Rover production facilities and a 30 minute off-road demonstration in a high specification Land Rover. Please get in touch for further information on tour timings and availability. All participants must be over the age of 10.. Once you've seen how they're put together on the tour, you'll want to put Freelander 2 and the other Land Rover vehicles to the test on our off-road tracks. The spectacular course is entirely man-made and purpose-built to showcase the dramatic capability of each vehicle. It uses a combination of steep slopes, low friction surfaces and other obstacles to emphasise the superb grip and traction abilities of each vehicle. Corporate eventsLand Rover ExperienceHalewood is also the perfect location for events and can host up to 150 people and features a selection of meeting and break-out rooms. The venue includes a suite of conference rooms and a large state-of-the-art presentation theatre. Five minutes from a whole host of hotels and a collection service from John Lennon Airport, you'll be greeted by our in-house catering service for refreshments and bacon rolls. Please get in touch and we can discuss your exact requirements. Contact / find usTo book an activity or course, please give us a ring or email using the details below: Telephone: +44 (0) 151 448 4023Email: halewood@landroverexperience.com You can find us at the following address, and directions are below: Land Rover Experience – HalewoodHalewood Visitor CentreSouth RoadLiverpoolL24 9BJ More in Experience Land Rover Overview Find a Centre Driving Adventures Corporate Events Training Expeditions Factory Tours and Experiences Land Rover Halewood Sitemap Vehicles Defender Freelander 2 Discovery 4 Range Rover Evoque Range Rover Sport The Range Rover Land Rover Armoured Vehicles Tourist, Diplomatic, and Forces Personnel Sales Professional Vehicles Owners Servicing and Maintenance Land Rover Guides Bluetooth® Handbooks and Manuals Accessories Merchandise CO2 Offsetting Takeback and Recycle (EU Only) Experience Land Rover Overview Find a Centre Driving Adventures Corporate Events Training Expeditions Factory Tours and Experiences About Land Rover Land Rover News Sustainability Heritage Careers Vehicle E-Brochures e-Brochures Select a Country Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions International Site Disclaimer International Standards || HOME NEW VEHICLES APPROVED USED VEHICLES Request a Test Drive FIND A DEALER Defender FROM £19,755 Find out More Freelander 2 FROM £21,695 Find out More Build Discovery 4 FROM £35,995 Find out More Build Range Rover Evoque Find out More Range Rover Sport FROM £46,995 Find out More Build The Range Rover FROM £67,495 Find out More Build Close Servicing and Maintenance Genuine Parts Servicing Navigation Mapping Update Roadside Assistance Handbooks and Owners Stay True To Land Rover With Land Rover Genuine Parts Land Rover’s Genuine Parts are designed specifically for your vehicle and come with numerous benefits that will ultimately help extend the lifespan of your Land Rover. The advantages of Land Rover Genuine Parts: - These parts have been designed, tested and manufactured according to Land Rover’s uncompromising premium standard to ensure the superior quality and durability of every part. - Every Land Rover Genuine Part comes with a 12-month warranty. - With each part and component, you can have complete confidence in its fit, quality, durability and function. - Land Rover Genuine Parts, in combination with regular vehicle maintenance, will help protect your Land Rover, providing enhanced safety and performance.All Land Rover Genuine Parts can be ordered and purchased at any Land Rover dealership. For more information, including price details, please contact your Land Rover dealer. Land Rover Genuine Air Filters: Air Filters have the primary purpose of filtering and flowing clean and contaminant-free air to the engine system. Land Rover Genuine Air Filters are specifically designed to maintain the demanding Land Rover standards for Filtration and Calibration. FiltrationThese air filters provide a micron level of filtration protection against any harmful particles – such as dirt or dust, especially in off-road conditions. Our air filters also minimise restriction on air flow and maintain the controlled flow of clean air required by the engine system.CalibrationEach air filter is calibrated to work with a specific Land Rover vehicle derivative, enabling the air flow needed by the engine system and its sensors. Non-genuine air filters may disrupt air flow, leading to issues with sensor readings and potentially compromising engine performance and fuel economy, as well as causing a notable increase in tailpipe emissions. Land Rover Genuine Alloy Wheels: Tested to perform far in excess of normal road requirements, Land Rover Genuine Alloy Wheels comfortably handle conditions of extreme stress, over widely varying terrain. Land Rover’s tough engineering standards are measured in the form of: Strength - Our alloy wheels are crafted using an aluminium and silicone alloy compound for optimum strength and durability. Each alloy wheel is then subjected to a detailed X-ray test to ensure the wheel is free from even the most microscopic of cracks. Balance - Engineered to precise geometric and balance standards, our alloy wheels help provide a safer clearance from components (such as brake callipers), ensuring on and off-road capability is never compromised.Durability - Subjected to a punishing 12-week dynamic corrosion test, Land Rover Genuine Alloy Wheels are analysed for resistance to corrosive fluids (brake fluid, fuel and cleaning products). Further to this, each wheel is then put though a 1,000-hour salt spray test, monitoring durability in unrelenting conditions. Safety - The Pendulum Impact Test simulates kerb strike impacts against each alloy wheel at its weakest and strongest points. This structural behaviour test helps ensure optimal safety and shock absorption, helping to protect both passenger and vehicle. Land Rover Genuine Brakes: Up to 12 months of meticulous design and development go into each version of Land Rover Genuine Brake Discs and Pads. Issues like rapid brake fade, low-wear life, grinding, squeaking and unbalanced braking are addressed through rigorous testing procedures focused on five key targets: Refinement - Land Rover’s global testing programme uses temperature and weather extremes to measure and eradicate refinement issues such as brake squeal and juddering. Our brake pads and discs are tested in various locations, ranging from the dusty and scorching heat of Death Valley, California, to the sub-zero climates of northern Scandinavia.Performance - Land Rover Genuine Brakes are run through the industry standard AMS Brake Fade test – used by the leading manufacturers for high performance vehicles. After the test vehicle is rapidly accelerated up to 100kph, the brakes are applied as hard as possible until the vehicle comes to a stop. This procedure is repeated non-stop for 12 cycles to ensure that safe stopping performance is not compromised during the test.Stability - Driving tests on winding alpine mountain roads in the French Alps push disc and pad temperatures to over 500°C with prolonged and strenuous breaking. Even under such extreme conditions, our brake pads and discs remain stable and steady.Pedal Feel - All Land Rover Genuine Brakes are designed to handle a 'Chauffeur Stop.' This unique standard is used to ensure that the vehicle is capable of stopping smoothly at a variety of both high and low speeds. Furthermore, this capability helps provide secure and accessible deceleration which the driver feels through the brake pedal. Parking - The superior braking ability of our breaks is demonstrated through a parking test, whereby certain Land Rover vehicles are able to hold stationary on a steep 30° (58% gradient) incline using only the Park Brake System. Land Rover Genuine Exhausts: Our exhaust systems are designed for power with refinement. With a Land Rover Genuine Exhaust, you can be sure you’ll always get superlative performance and fuel economy because the parts are calibrated to Land Rover’s unique requirements and standards.Acoustics - Our exhaust system provides an optimised acoustic experience for all driving conditions. Many months of development go into ensuring the optimum sound is always produced by the exhaust, commensurate with the legislative requirements.Material Strength - Stainless steel is used to give the entire exhaust system a robust and durable structure, able to withstand exhaust gas temperatures in excess of 700ºC.Development - Land Rover Genuine Exhausts are subjected to over 1,000 hours of rigorous testing on specialist dynamometer rigs to simulate a variety of challenging driving conditions. Land Rover Genuine Fuel Filters:Land Rover Genuine Fuel Filters provide advanced protection for Land Rover petrol and diesel engines against corrosive and harmful products. The risk from inferior filters As with any vehicle, there is the risk that the fuel you put into your Land Rover may contain contaminants and particles – like dirt, sand or rust. If a fuel filter has poor filtration levels, these abrasive particles (even at microscopic levels) can come into contact with the fuel injectors and surrounding components to cause problems with: - Emissions- Power- Fuel Economy- Noise Inferior filters can also accelerate wear and damage to the fuel injectors and fuel pump, potentially resulting in complicated and costly problems. Land Rover Genuine Fuel Filters will: - Filter out contaminates, even at microscopic levels- Filter out any water from the diesel fuel- Provide optimum protection- Help to maintain a controlled and precise flow of fuel to the engine As with all Land Rover Genuine Parts and Accessories, our fuel filters are subjected to a barrage of tests including: - Durability - Corrosion - Pressure cycle - Safety crash testing Land Rover Genuine Oil Filters: Land Rover Genuine Oil Filters are designed to provide full-flow filtration of engine oil.Oil filters are absolutely crucial for engine function and durability. The filtered oil is vital to lubricate and help prevent wear to internal moving engine components such as the crankshaft and camshafts. The risks of using inferior oil filtersSome of the major issues that may occur include: - A filter blocks too quickly, causing an emergency bypass valve to open, thus supplying unfiltered oil to the engine and damaging its components - Particles pass through, increasing engine wear and emissions output - A filter element in unable to handle engine oil running at a high temperature and bursts or breaks up, potentially leading to engine failure - Sealing ability is compromised, allowing unfiltered oil or low oil pressure to cause engine failure How to help protect your Land Rover Land Rover Genuine Oil Filters are put through a development process that includes thousands of hours of engine tests and tens of thousands of miles of intense vehicle testing in extreme climate conditions. By using Genuine Oil Filters, replaced at specified service intervals, you can be confident of the quality, fit, durability and function of your Land Rover and its component parts. More in Owners Warranty and Assistance Servicing and Maintenance Land Rover Guides Vehicle Accessories Merchandise CO2 Offsetting Bluetooth® Takeback and Recycle Land Rover Servicing and Maintenance Genuine Parts Sitemap Vehicles Defender Freelander 2 Discovery 4 Range Rover Evoque Range Rover Sport The Range Rover Approved Used Vehicles Corporate Sales Tourist, Diplomatic and Military Personnel Price Lists Armoured Vehicles Finance Finance Overview Promotions Personal Finance Packages Business Finance Packages Insurance Motability Financial Services Customers Contact Us FAQs Owners Warranty and Assistance Servicing and Maintenance Land Rover Guides Vehicle Accessories Merchandise CO2 Offsetting Bluetooth® Takeback and Recycle Experience Land Rover Land Rover Experience Adventure Days Catalonian Adventure Centre Locations Corporate Events Pro user Training About Land Rover Land Rover News Sustainability Heritage Sponsorship Land Rover Events and Exhibitions 4x4 in Schools Careers Go Beyond Build & Price Request a Test Drive Request a Brochure Find a Dealer Keep me informed Select a Country Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions International Standards || CALL 0161 797 7050 or 0161 797 7050 | 07834 376 507 Also try A1 4x4 Limited home parts services contact NW's Cheapest 4x4 Parts "Cheap" doesnt have to mean "Nasty". All our used parts are dismantled on site by experienced mechanics. Also, backed up by a 30 day warranty - you can be assured your money isnt wasted! Fitting Service Available A1 4X4 have mechanics onsite with over 40 years experience, who will happily fit parts for you. Also forming part of the customer services team, you will always get the best advice from the right people! A1 Land Rover Breakers A1 Land Rover Breakers is the UK's most diverse 4x4 parts and breakers. A1 Land Rover Breakers Ltd are the North West's leading breakers of Land Rover and Range Rovers, based in Bury, Lancashire. Specialising in breaking all models, A1 can offer parts for any Land Rover ever put into production. From 1985-2003 Discovery TD5/100/300 to Land Rover Defender 90's/110's and Freelanders. A1 Land Rover Breakers Ltd even stock parts for classic Range Rovers. We also break all other 4x4 vehicles!... 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Donate Advanced Search Forum Vehicle Sections Land Rover Main Forum Sections Land Rover Defender Landrover Defender aerodynamics If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. + Reply to Thread Page 1 of 2 1 2 Last Jump to page: Results 1 to 15 of 21 Thread: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email this Page… Subscribe to this Thread… 1st Oct 2009 11:51 #1 Ibex View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Trainee Join Date 2nd Aug 2009 Location Chorley, Lancs Posts 56 Landrover Defender aerodynamics OK, stop laughing you lot. We all know the basic Landrover in this respect resembles a small bungalow - but is that all there is to it? Has anybody ever actually done some serious wind tunnel analysis? I have seen some quite unlikely devices fitted to trucks for example which are supposed to improve mpg, and if they didn't I assume the companies concerned wouldn't have bothered. I spend a lot of my time cruising at an indicated 65mph on the motorway, returning about 33mpg from my Overdrive and intercooled 110 TD5, and spend some of that time wondering if some kind of aerofoil section at the back of the roof, or just in front of the bonnet leading edge might just take this motor nearer to the magic 35mpg. I would be interested in any comments from forum members on the subject. Ex aerospace engineer (you might have guessed, right?) now in semi retirement. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 12:38 #2 listerd View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Apprentice Join Date 11th Nov 2008 Location oxford Posts 384 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics at a guess i would say any wing you put on would just create more drag and put on more down force. i don't think land rovers nead more grip and or air resistance YCHJCYA2PDTHFH club member. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 12:46 #3 Setok View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries Visit Homepage View Articles Trainee Join Date 23rd Jun 2008 Location Helsinki, Finland Age 33 Posts 64 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Originally Posted by listerd at a guess i would say any wing you put on would just create more drag and put on more down force. i don't think land rovers nead more grip and or air resistance That is not true. If you have a vertical surface then putting a wing in front of it will reduce drag. The air will be passed over that vertical area by the wing. It all depends on the wing and the location. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 12:54 #4 wyvern View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Apprentice Join Date 5th Apr 2008 Location Sunny Cornwall Posts 367 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics is the question 'will a house brick reach terminal velocity if dropped high enough ?' Elgar - 110 Defender TDCI Dormobile Foxxy - Disco II TD5 Several Bicycles and an Amada of Canoes Proud member of the YCHJCYA2PDTHFH club Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 12:55 #5 listerd View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Apprentice Join Date 11th Nov 2008 Location oxford Posts 384 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Originally Posted by Setok That is not true. If you have a vertical surface then putting a wing in front of it will reduce drag. The air will be passed over that vertical area by the wing. It all depends on the wing and the location. i agree with what your saying but you would need one hell of a wing to pass air over the front and over the windscreen. YCHJCYA2PDTHFH club member. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 13:17 #6 Jon v8 View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Diagnostic Expert Join Date 27th Aug 2005 Location Nr Bath,sw England Age 45 Posts 1,854 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Rather than mess around with the wing,why dont you run at 56mph with the trucks ? Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 13:19 #7 toppa View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Guru Join Date 9th Apr 2005 Location Woking,Surrey Posts 17,565 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Why am i also thinking 747 and gliding Cheers I once travelled far, i have the overwhelming desire to do it again....... Member of the YCHJCYA2PDTHFH club A hound sleeps lethargically as a tiny petal is crushed by an elaborate iron arm, the hound dreams of becoming a repressive god..... Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 13:28 #8 velpremus View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Trainee Join Date 16th Apr 2007 Location Greater Manchester Posts 90 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Get yourself a scale model, a spring balance and a hairdryer. measure the force acting on the "as is landrover" - then stick bits of modeling paper to try and lower the drag. FI teams spend millions - a tenner should see you right. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 14:25 #9 listerd View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Apprentice Join Date 11th Nov 2008 Location oxford Posts 384 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics lets face it they aren't designed to be aerodynamic. f1 cars are but they can't drive over ploughed fields. YCHJCYA2PDTHFH club member. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 14:32 #10 velpremus View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Trainee Join Date 16th Apr 2007 Location Greater Manchester Posts 90 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics The drag coeffient of an F1 car is greater than a Landrover! [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_drag_coefficient[/ame] Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 14:42 #11 reb78 View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Mechanic Join Date 5th Mar 2009 Posts 747 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics lro did that feature a while ago where they wrapped a 90 in cling film - think they got to nearly 40mpg on a tdi.... Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 16:24 #12 bahamarover View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Engineer Join Date 22nd Jan 2004 Location andros Posts 1,746 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Originally Posted by Ibex OK, stop laughing you lot. We all know the basic Landrover in this respect resembles a small bungalow - but is that all there is to it? Has anybody ever actually done some serious wind tunnel analysis? I have seen some quite unlikely devices fitted to trucks for example which are supposed to improve mpg, and if they didn't I assume the companies concerned wouldn't have bothered. I spend a lot of my time cruising at an indicated 65mph on the motorway, returning about 33mpg from my Overdrive and intercooled 110 TD5, and spend some of that time wondering if some kind of aerofoil section at the back of the roof, or just in front of the bonnet leading edge might just take this motor nearer to the magic 35mpg. I would be interested in any comments from forum members on the subject. Ex aerospace engineer (you might have guessed, right?) now in semi retirement. i think an underbody tray would be a good idea,also lowering the back off the cab a few inches.....(MAJOR WORK)..not really practical...but its what they did with the Dakar range rovers,apart from that probably road tyres instead of MT's will give you a couple of miles as well Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 16:52 #13 paulie100 View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Apprentice Join Date 29th Jul 2009 Location Darlington Posts 152 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics To improve mpg, buy a truck to drive in front of you... or failing that, nail a snow plough to the front :-) Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 19:19 #14 monkeyarmada View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries Visit Homepage View Articles Trainee Join Date 6th Feb 2009 Location Warwickshire Posts 43 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics Possibly related, or not... but does anyone else notice the 'pool' of water that builds up the bonnet in the rain, only to leap onto the windscreen when you slow down for a corner... ... just me then? Simon. Reply With Quote 1st Oct 2009 19:23 #15 Dave78 View Profile View Forum Posts View Blog Entries View Articles Engineer Join Date 21st Apr 2006 Location Warwickshire Age 32 Posts 3,354 Re: Landrover Defender aerodynamics I believe that defenders have been put in wind tunnels.. and as I understand it to improve the aerodynamics. 1) Fill in the gap between the front bumper and the wings/grill 2) Put a spare wheel on the bonnet Other Half to Mrs Dave.. Financial backer of cakes to Team Kipling I'm in the YCHJCYA2PDTHFH club, Are you? Reply With Quote + Reply to Thread Page 1 of 2 1 2 Last Jump to page: Quick Navigation Land Rover Defender Top Site Areas Settings Private Messages Subscriptions Who's Online Search Forums Forums Home Forums Vehicle Sections Land Rover Main Forum Sections Series Land Rovers Land Rover Discovery Discovery Series I and II Discovery Series 3 and 4 Land Rover Freelander Land Rover Defender Non Landies! 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(0 members and 1 guests) Similar Threads Defender Aerodynamics By culp in forum Land Rover Defender Replies: 25 Last Post: 21st Aug 2008, 14:50 Landrover Aerodynamics!!! By timbott in forum Series Land Rovers Replies: 4 Last Post: 4th Feb 2003, 20:00 Bookmarks Bookmarks Digg del.icio.us StumbleUpon Google Facebook MyYahoo Myspace Twitter Posting Permissions You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts BB code is On Smilies are On [IMG] code is Off HTML code is Off Forum Rules Contact Us Land Rover UK Forums Archive Top All times are GMT. The time now is 11:07. Powered by vBulletin™ Version 4.0.7 Copyright © 2010 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. Extra Tabs by vBulletin Hispano Copyright ©2000 - 2010 Land Rover UK Forums || Skip to content Skip to navigation Skip to search Homepage Accessibility help Access keys help Change Country United Kingdom Australia United States Top Gear Account Login Register Top Gear Site search Search topgear.com for Go Site Navigation Home News Car News First Drives Formula One Latest from the Top Gear TV Show Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS on track Most powerful road-going Porsche ever built hits SilverstoneMore Cars Car Reviews Car Chooser Galleries Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport driven Still one of the greatest cars in the (real) world and now cheaper to runMore The Show The Top Gear blog Series Guide Latest from Clarkson Latest from Hammond Latest from May Latest from The Stig Who is the Stig? Top Gear over Christmas: more details! 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It’s a 90-inch job with a station wagon body plus some Lara Croft extras such as tread plates in unnecessary places. I’m constantly flabbergasted by it. Its basic design is older than my house – and you have to live in a pretty new house before you can say that of any other car currently in production. It doesn’t just hark from a time before computer-aided design, it seems to be rooted in an age prior to the invention of the mathematical instruments set we used for designing cars in the back of our maths books at school. The shape was obviously worked out using some pieces of folded cardboard, and the last time I saw hinges like the ones on the Defender’s back door, they were on the smokebox of a locomotive in the Science Museum. Oh, sure, one or two cosmetic bits have been added over the decades. Lights and what have you, and a new plastic radiator grille. But as soon as you drive in to a few things on one of your ‘expeditions’, these will all fall off, and then you’ll be back with the Wilkes brothers’ farm biffabout of 1948. I love it. It’s definitely a chap’s car. A woman would look ridiculous in it because you would know she must have more sense. I, on the other hand, am very happy bouncing around the capital, parking up and then standing on the bonnet just because I can. You may like to arrive in style – I like to arrive with an arse like a farmer’s face. Just how utilitarian is this thing? Well, there’s a flap just under the windscreen, running the full width of the vehicle, which can be opened with a crude lever from inside. Basically, you open this if the engine’s not quite noisy enough for you or, when you take the Land Rover to the local jet wash, you can do the inside at the same time. However, yesterday, something bothered me about the Landie. At first I thought it was the centre console, which features all sorts of things that don’t belong in a Defender – electric window switches, seat heater switches, heated screen switches and a radio. Fitting these to a Defender is like carpeting a shed. But it wasn’t just that. The real problem was that it was just too new. Somehow, a Land Rover is only truly acceptable when it’s old, and ideally given to you by your dad. I can’t really explain why, but it’s a bit like shotguns and wristwatches. Or money. “How utilitarian is it? There’s a flap under the windscreen, which you open if the engine’s not quite noisy enough” Now my Top Gear colleague Richard Hammond – he has a Land Rover that is cresting the peak of elegant decay. It’s a 110 V8 with ‘canvass and sticks’ (as Hammond would say. He means it’s got a removable and roll-upable fabric roof supported by a collapsible steel frame. And it usually does). It’s black, but where the paint is flaking off in places you can see that it used to be red and the property of the Post Office. From a distance it looks quite tidy, but, up close, vegetation can be observed taking root at any sharp included angle. Anything not absolutely essential simply isn’t there any more, and several things that were once part of the engine are now in the passenger’s footwell. It really is quite a magnificent thing and it has got me thinking. Soon, the Land Rover Defender will go out of production and England will be ruined unless something is done about it. Fortunately, I have a plan... The other day, I had dinner with a man in his late Forties at his home. At the end of the meal he took out a bottle of rather fine but deeply obscure single malt whisky. In fact, it turned out to be his own. His father had bought a whole barrel of the stuff, freshly distilled, way back in the 1970s, and then left it in a hut somewhere in Scotland to age. This bloke hadn’t so much drunk his inheritance as inherited his drink. Let’s face it, no-one has ever walked into a bar and asked for a nice young Scotch. The older the better, and that’s only possible if our forebears take the trouble to put the stuff aside for us. It requires a disciplined and far-sighted society, which is probably why we don’t have 18-year-old Greek ouzo. Land Rover – officially at any rate – can’t actually build an old car, so it’s up to us to lay a few down while we’ve still got the chance. This requires thought. Whisky needs an old sherry barrel from the Iberian Peninsular. Balsamic vinegar, to take another highly coveted example, has to pass through a succession of barrels of various woods if it is to achieve the right flavour, and that can take 12 years. So I quite like the idea of a barn-matured Defender. My experiences with the things suggests that two decades in the back of a cow shed should be just about right. That would give it a good nose. On the other hand, those with a hardier palette might prefer a field-aged model, parked in a meadow with the windows half open to ensure a good mossy finish in 2025. Come to think of it, this scheme would work rather well for the new Bentley Continental GT as well. It’s a great car now, but, rather like that cheap French grog that most of its first owners will drive off to collect once a year, rather nouveau. Half a lifetime in the car park of the Savoy – doors left unlocked so the odd pissed toff can sleep in it – should make it more pukka than a Rembrandt with your ancestors in it. Sadly, my own father never did such a grand thing for me, and I don’t have any children of my own. So, had a son recently? Well, put his name down for a posh school or a golf club if you really must, but, for God’s sake, put him down for a Defender. James May, Column, Land Rover, Defender Want to comment on this? dgr8stig commented on this article at 05:52 am on 27 February 2009 That Mr. May, Defines the essence of the defender. "Fitting these (electric window, heated seat and screen switches...)to a Defender is like carpeting a shed". Link to this comment Report this comment You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct. Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said. This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page. I want to report this comment for: Defamation, copyright infringement, incitement to commit a crime Abuse, offensive comments, attacks Commercial misuse Other (please specify below) Use this box to give us any specific details: EcoWarlord commented on this article at 06:15 pm on 05 March 2009 Rubbish. If the vehicle is used for work or serious travel improvments need to be made. Off road with the correct tyres its the best non tractor vehicle. I've just been using one to mulch newly planted nut and fruit trees with woodchips on a sloping dampish field. (thinking we might have a warming summer coming up). Brilliant. That was a 300TDi. I also have a Series 3. Fantasic vibes especially at raves and the like. Put a (top range vibe) subbass in and its like convoy free rave parties cira 1991! Disturbing...but for working, a vehicle in 2009 has to have certain atributes like reversing lights, some acceleration etc. Things that could be improved in the latest transit engined Defender (test drove one yesterday): Link to this comment Report this comment You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct. Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said. This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page. I want to report this comment for: Defamation, copyright infringement, incitement to commit a crime Abuse, offensive comments, attacks Commercial misuse Other (please specify below) Use this box to give us any specific details: EcoWarlord commented on this article at 06:19 pm on 05 March 2009 (cont) 1/ Please produce a (non metalic paint) standard county green coloured vehicle. Green roof also. I want to be invisible by merging into the mass of farmers vehicles - yes its that bad in rural blighty if one has dreadlocks. (rather than in some sort of incongrous luminous metalic paint job). Also people want green vehicle for camaflarge when hunting. 2/ As standard, put boxes ALL in the wasted space under the twin ledges in the back - thats bad design! People that use Landrovers as they should be usually have loads of bits and pieces that need to be put somewhere tucked away. SORT IT OUT PLEASE LANDROVER.3/ More leg room - Its horrificly cramped in the latest Landrover. Link to this comment Report this comment You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct. Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said. This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page. I want to report this comment for: Defamation, copyright infringement, incitement to commit a crime Abuse, offensive comments, attacks Commercial misuse Other (please specify below) Use this box to give us any specific details: EcoWarlord commented on this article at 06:19 pm on 05 March 2009 (cont) 4/ OBVIOUSLY sort out water leakage issues - asking for trouble in a modern computor controlled vehicle to have water entering inside the cabin and engine electrics issues also.Hope you're listening Tata. Enough crappy tat please. Lets have some respect for the product..and customer. Otherwise the new Defender seemed ok - as always though reliability issues are raised. Basically the whole process through design and manufacturing needs a quality control audit, Tata. Link to this comment Report this comment You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct. Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said. This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page. I want to report this comment for: Defamation, copyright infringement, incitement to commit a crime Abuse, offensive comments, attacks Commercial misuse Other (please specify below) Use this box to give us any specific details: EcoWarlord commented on this article at 06:28 pm on 05 March 2009 ..forget nonsense like alloy wheels please Tata - think whats actually important in a vehicle like this. It must be sealed from elements. It must be reliable. It must have storage space. It must be green coloured. You must offer rides to ANYONE in order to carbon offset by the way (forget paranoia and scism) - sharing in general is the key not 'green' lifestyle per say..this is something that the now mainstream 'green' thing totally misses out on. What is needed is sound consciousness of sharing rather than trains/vehicles or whatever per say. Less consumseristaion, sound lifestyles and sharing what you have. Bless. Link to this comment Report this comment You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct. Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said. This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page. I want to report this comment for: Defamation, copyright infringement, incitement to commit a crime Abuse, offensive comments, attacks Commercial misuse Other (please specify below) Use this box to give us any specific details: 1 2 3 next To post a comment: Log In | Register jeremy-clarkson Get Top Gear in your inbox each week Sign up for the newsletter now! Advertisement Accessibility Site Terms Privacy & cookies Code of conduct Contact us Advertise with us © BBC Worldwide Ltd. The Top Gear word mark and logo are trademarks of the BBC and are used under licence Top Gear international sites: UK USA Australia This website is made by BBC Worldwide. More about BBC Worldwide BBC Worldwide is a commercial company that is owned by the BBC (and just the BBC). No money from the licence fee was used to create this website. The profits we make from it go back to BBC programme-makers to help fund great new BBC programmes. 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