I'm hanging out for bragging rights when the Octa wipes the floor with the Cruisers. Fingers crossed.

 

They rolled one yesterday but recovered it and still finished and won the stage.

According to this, they’ve been 1-2-3 on all but one day, due to a broken control arm that let Toyota claim 3rd place on that stage.

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/def...gh-dakar-rally

 

This photo is so hot it’s not my background on my computer

 

In every thread on any platform of social media there will be someone who personally knows a neighbor's cousin's friend at the pub who had a RRS and it exploded with 100 miles killing 200 people. It's just a "known" Internet and general knowledge that JLR products are the least reliable products in the world (despite outscoring Jeep in every single reliability test published). On the other hand, those same people also "know" someone running a Landcruiser, Tacoma, or 4Runner for 350,000 miles on its original oil and tires.

Like some many things that are "known" these days, nothing will change those peoples' minds. I like Toyotas but my personal lived experience has had three complete engine failures in trucks and 4runnner (before 150,000 miles in each), transmission failure and complete electrical failure in a Land Cruiser and many other issues. I still look back on these vehicles with some fondness, but they were not the ironclad reliable, no depreciation things that people claim. Recent updates to the shared platform and multiple engine recalls indicate that claiming 100 series LC reliability for current Tacomas, 4Runners and 250 series LC is wishful thinking. And yet my local dealer is asking $73,000 for a *used* 2025 4Runner and $85,000 for a *used* 2025 LC. There's no rationality there.

I hesitate to type it, but my P300 110 has been 99% reliable in the 4+ years I have owned it (from new). I did have a turbo failure at 8000 miles, but was able to "limp home" almost 200 miles to get it replaced. That has been the only issue I've had in over 4 years. I can't imagine a world where I would pay more for a 4Runner than a Defender - but that's the world we live in based on marketing and perception.

 

Interesting article from Motor Trend - apparently JLR is considering offering a production version of the D7X-R, with a focus purely on off-road. Compared to the OCTA, which is made for both on and off-road use.

They are also looking into selling the D7X-R to privateer teams with full factory support, similar to the Defender Rally Series they did in the UK a few years back. I'm sure a full-fledged customer racing program could be quite successful.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/land...street-version

 

In the video I posted earlier, the honcho for the JLR team smiles and basically confirms that much of what they're doing in this Dakar team will make it to the consumer. I'm guessing it'll be the suspension and perhaps cooling upgrades.

Harry did a nice video of the Defender Dakar - focused a lot on the drivers. Seems that we didn't do so hot on Day 1 (after the Prologue)

 

Which specific video that you posted earlier are you referring to? That would be sick if they did make such a car.

 

Sorry, I thought I posted this earlier!

 

Seems like Mr Dakar were handed a 24 hour penalty because of some issue.
Very sad for him and for JLR. But they are still in the race and there is still hope for a 1, 2, (and maybe 3) podium finish. Hoping against all odds, but wiping a 34hr time difference basically means the winning Landcruiser needs to retire.

 

These trucks are running 17 inch rims. I wonder what calipers they are using? It also makes me wonder if I could get a similar setup for my V8 90? I understand that brake system is all proprietary but a 6 pot front 4 pot rear setup could be in the cards down the road.