Hi All,

I have a very basic spec in the holding pool that will hopefully convert in September when my allocation becomes available. Currently working with the following:

P300 110
Base - fabric and steel wheels
Hakuba Silver
Off-road tires
black headliner
Cold Climate Pack
Clearview Mirror

I'm waffling a bit on Premium LED and full digital display. Can anybody provide insights around experience with any of the following:
Base LED
Premium LED
Base gauges
Digital gauges

Also curious if anybody has pictures of the fabric interior on '22 MY?

Thank you!
Joe

 

With the P300, D110, coils, steel wheels and off-road tires you have specifed out an overlanding or extreme off-road platform version of the Defender, but have left-off the rear e-diff -- a critical component which cannot economically be added later. (Towing capability can be added later, so I am not mentioning that one).

As part of the "off-road houligans" on this site (so named by someone on a recent thread ), I feel duty-bound to try to pry from you another $1200 or so to take the leap of purchasing the off-road pack -- one which you may regret if you fail to do so.

In any case, enjoy !!!

 

It's a response like yours that validates the choice to live in the L663 world - simple but synthesizing a substantial amount of passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm! I've navigated the sports-car world for the last decade or so and have found few groups who share this kind of depth regarding conversation. Thank you for the response!

I appreciate the guidance and will take it into consideration. I have always been compelled by utility when it comes to my daily drivers. Most recently sold my 2002 MBUSA W463 and have been making use of my wife's 16 LR4 while deciding the next move on the daily driver front. I will be using the car as intended, but not likely to exploit it's FULL potential, so curious as to the extent you believe the e-diff would benefit capabilities and in which circumstances?

-Joe

 

As noted on several other threads over many months, there are four new points of consideration in ensuring you have the e-diff option:

1) The e-diff is very useful on-road, as it is "clutched" and thereby it operates to whichever torque splits are necessary to provide grip but not wheel spin (it makes the old-style on/off locker obsolete).
2) Because of its nature it is expensive and challenging to install post-purchase -- though there is a very heroic person on this site who has achieved it -- a very interesting, hard to replicate and inspiring read.
3) It is very difficult to accurately access how challenging are trails you may want to explore within the next 10 years -- bad weather can turn an easy trail into a very challenging one very quickly -- plus, you may go off-road and become additcted to it!!
4) If you resell the vehicle, it will be more valuable with the ediff -- particularly since you already have specified your Defender as a platform for remote overlanding and heavy duty (frame lifts) rock crawling off-roading. Someone will want to modify it heavily, once you put a few years of road driving into it.

Enjoy !!

 

From day one, Trio has been a wealth of knowledge and experience, not taking anything away from ArmyRover or Morretti. Because of him and this site, I have been extremely pleased with my Defender that was built in 2020. I too, recommend the rear diff, it's worth the money. There is a video from New Defender Group that shows the benefit of the rear diff. You will notice that even though both are capable, the locking dif makes it look that much easier in good conditions.

 

Defender Off-road Houligan. If I ever make t-shirts or stickers, I'll send you one @TrioLRowner ! I'm proudly in that camp. But, I also recognize those that want to go 22" tires and cruise around with a wonderful latte as deserved Defender owners. Great vehicles are bases for their owners' whimsy!

 

Great points. I don't like the idea of being limited if I end up getting into something that might require it, so I ordered it on my build.

If you are making a factory order I think its a no brainer. For those who are picking one from off the lot then you simply might not have the option. The majority of defenders I have witnessed marketed online don't seem to include the off road package.

 

We need that sticker that encompasses all defender owners

Defender Off-road Houligan navigating the trail while sipping on the lattes

 

Hardcore

 

I don't even want to think about how many blokes grabbed a coffee from them solely for the chance at lecturing them on the improper paint job.