Not quite like climbing into HUE 166, the original Land Rover, but not far off. True, the cabin materials and home comforts have moved on somewhat since 1968, but when compared with today's SUVs, even from Land Rover itself, the Defender feels frankly ancient.
There's a tiny amount of fore and aft driver's seat adjustment and the steering wheel is set solid, so you either fit or you don't. If you fancy giving your right elbow a rest, you'll need to open the window, while the clutch pedal has the feel of a gymnasium's weights machine.
The second row will sit two children in comfort, but not two or three adults. Weirdly, further back in the third row, the sixth and seventh seats are arguably the most comfortable of all. The Adventure's leather surfaces, perforated leather steering wheel and floor and roof lining do at least create a sense of quality.
Driving a Defender quickly on the road requires nerves and large biceps. The steering gives some feedback but it's extremely heavy and its lack of self-centring can catch you out at T-junctions if you're not paying attention. So too can its leaning body.
The Ford Transit-derived 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine is better news. It pulls hard from low revs, and the six-speed manual transmission - aside from its short first gear - gives you room to build speed quickly in its lower gears. The gearshift itself is stiff and notchy, though, while the noise and vibration at high revs are something to behold.
Ride quality is far from comfortable, but the 110 manages to feel more composed than its shorter-wheelbase counterparts due to its axles having slightly more time to regain composure between lumps and bumps at a cruise. Even so, its old-school chassis still takes no prisoners on particularly rough surfaces at low speed.
There it is, then. Not surprisingly, given that this car that has barely changed mechanically in decades of being sale, it isn't particularly fast, dynamic, refined or comfortable. But for the people that use them properly, use them for what they were and are designed to do, that simply won't matter. Those are the people giving you a knowing smirk and a nod from their Defender as they bounce past.
More importantly to them, for traversing moors, collecting feed, transporting animals, rescuing climbers and pulling trailers off-road, few 4x4s will provide the sort of strength and assurance that a Defender will. The Adventure's upgraded protection and practical Accessories will only make it even more useful in this respect.
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Citytiger
You can see
289
Jeez
This just shows how gullible people with large bank accounts are. This is just a clear up of accessories during run-out, turning the car into a juke box. Since most of these 'special editions' will end up in Londoners hands, (no countryman would be seen dead in this), boy, are they are in for a big shock the next time they drive into a multi storey car park!!
We have had a rash of mainly banker types settling in our village lately....the first thing they rush out and buy is a Defender 110...usually Black and very shiny, so you can spot them a mile off.....especially when their wife is trying to turn the thing around, (with the turning circle of a super tanker its a 20 point turn!)
Good sport though.
Frightmare Bob
289 wrote: .....£43+k, now
JLR's Land Rover division has long known the art of taking large amounts of money off those who simply must have the most expensive SUV/4X4.
I'm a disillusioned former Citroëniste.
Winston Churchill
Oh dear
The resentment and sheer envy is overwhelming here. What utter bollocks from someone who drives a 90s Merc and knows all about crap cars.
289
@ WC
Is that a remote possibility...I mean, I don't believe I have EVER actually seen one!.....and yet here you still are - infecting these pages!
What IS your opinion on this 110 Special Edition?
It would make a change from your constant deriding of individuals you don't know, & have never met. Making assumptions about their knowledge, or even in this case their current vehicles. Been peering into the old (cracked) crystal ball again WC?
FYI, (not that my opinions are any business of yours), Resent Bankers...Yes definitely - created a two speed economy and we are paying the price.
Envious...never - I reckon a car dealer has more credibility - in comparison he earns an honest pound!
Adrian987
Diamonds not for ever
nettingham
User Error
Not *Defending* the price [snigger], but I think this is more the case that whoever last folded the seats flat didn't rotate the seatbelt sockets round to their horizontal positions first...? From the photo I would say it looks like that's what you're supposed to do.
Norma Smellons
Ready for a bit of rough
Einarbb
These cars vanished from the market where I live years ago...
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