No, they don't go to the dirt in the first place.

Seriously, I've spent a lot of time off-road in a lot of states, and I have never seen a Gelandewagen off-pavement; I suppose they have traveled along a gravel road somewhere to get to a lodge or something, but I've never personally seen it. Believe me, if I ever do, I'll take pictures and post it all over here just to give them some (non) street cred.

I mean, they've been making these things for a thousand years; it's not like they're all 1-year-old $190,000 AMG G550s.

 

I haven't need to apply the brake to shift from neutral to drive. (2022 110) I tow a heavy trailer and JLR recommends starting off in low range and when moving around 25 mph, shift to high range. To do so requires a shift into neutral. It does work.

 

As bad as they ride on rode people that own them are probably trying to avoid a trip to the chiropractor.

 

I never thought of it before, @NoGaBiker - but you are right! I go offroading, but I'm not hard core. I consider myself more of an outdoorsman who wants a vehicle to get to the places I want to go. So, I don't spend a lot of time just 4-wheeling for it's own sake. But, over the years, I've accumulated time & miles where you want to have a proper kit set up. In all that time, I've seen some crazy arsed stuff. Much of it humorous, some of it sad. Great memories. But in all that time, not once have I seen a G-wagen in an offroad setting. Not even a gravel road. Never thought of it, but you're right. It's like when I look at the daily BringATrailer update on today's closing auctions and there's this crazy exotic super car. Out of interest and childlike enthusiasm (but no real desire to buy), I check it out only to find it has less than a thousand miles on it. Why even get a car like that if you're not going to enjoy it?? (Yeah, I get a lot of folks try to do "investments", but there are better ones out there). I'm sure if I paid more attention 40 years ago in my psych class I could think of something profound along the lines of they just want to possess it or the perceived status of owning it. But me - if I'm not going to suck the life out of it, why bother. To each their own and I hope they enjoy them the way they use (or don't use) them.

 

One time when I was at Uwharrie National Forest, NC I did see just one G-Wagon while I was in a Jeep Rubicon. I was a little apprehensive driving some of the trails in a ~$45K Jeep, but then I saw the ~$190K G-Wagon I said that guy is nuts or has enough money to not care

 

I have to exit the same way and it goes right into drive for me. Weird.

My next conundrum is likely having to end my monthly car wash subscription since I am likely going to add the expedition roof rack and ladder to my Defender 90. I want to be able to still run through the automatic wash but I guess I likely cannot if I add those accessories.

 

I just came across this thread, not realizing it's about the same issue I have with my 2023 Defender:
https://landroverforums.com/forum/20...eutral-116663/

I guess if enough of us complain, JLR will do something about it.

Would be awesome to have a "car wash" mode button to hit which configures it when going thru the conveyor car wash.

 

OMG! Gives me so much anxiety! Same issue! Have had LR Sports in the past! Now 2023 Defender!

 

You shouldn’t have to put it park, at least I don’t, but it isn’t a simple matter of touching the brake and shifting. I *think* it has to come to a complete stop. In any case, that’s what gets it into drive at the car wash exit for me. Brake to a complete stop and shift. What’s odd is, other than the car wash, I can put the defender in neutral and shift back to drive without even touching the brake.

Edit to add: it takes a deliberate press on the brake, full stop, and possibly a little time. It’s infuriating.

 

My brake pedal has to be fully depressed before I shift SLOWLY from N to D, and it works fine then.