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Probably because they thought few would care which side they were on.
You have a valid point, but in three years of being on the various Defender forums l've never read any other complaints about switches being on the wrong side for LHD
“I wish Land Rover would stock different electrical parts that accomplish the same functions” said no one ever LOL.
That ball-bag is one insufferable pain in the hole. He's unwatchable. Rant videos and clickbait.
I'd leave him behind too.
New Defender is pretty darn good off-road. Fact is, most folks bemoaning it's off-road chops have never driven one off-road. Given that most every old Defender is no longer stock, doing an out of the box comparison would be impossible so opinions rather than data dominate.
Wheel lifts are par for the course with an IFS/IRS vehicle. It's a bit like driving an ironing board sometimes. The need for flex/articulation has largely been superseded by the traction control and the locking diffs that are far smarter than I. A wheel lift isn't the problem it can be in an unlocked live axle. Many people's derision is misplaced in this regard although the ironing board ride is less comfy on trail than a live axle with flex will get you.
Low profile tires on these is without doubt the biggest glaring design failure. 17" rims with steel an option on all should be the norm. Tires you can air down to elongate the footprint has not been superseded by any electrical whizzbang. Airing down appropriate tires, with tough sidewalls not only adds to the traction but improves, comfort, stability and is far gentler on the vehicle when out and about on the rough stuff.
For me that's the only change I'd like to see. 17's/18" on all.
Dropping to 18"s and getting proper tires was the biggest game changer in terms of capability and opening up new terrain for me. A live axle with more flex wouldn't be anywhere as transformative.
-I totally agree 1,000% that a ND trim with 18' rims would be a complete game changer. [I don't care about top speed, and I get that the speed focus for JLR makes a requirement for larger brake calipers. I'd trade the top speed and acceleration for slower with 18" rims]. I have been looking to buy a ND, but have held off for two features (one is smaller rim size so I can have a greater tire selection + more room for banging the wheel around). The other - which whatever I'd still buy anyways - is a solid roof option. I have a glass panel roof now, and I want a change. Simple as that, but ND doesn't have capacity to manufacture it right now. So because of the glass roof and the 19" rims, I've been holding off, hoping the backlog goes down and JLR can again offer the solid roof (as it did initially), plus look at the rim size again for a new trim oriented less toward top speed and more toward trails (slow and mud rut) & highway potholes (fast and shock killing). The inside is great and the ride is great. JLR is like the baseball player that needs to hit it 400 yards to get it out of the park: 390 yards; 398 yards; 370 yards; 392 yards.... it's so close. Just drop the rim size and forget top speed, and it's going to be a fantastic trim to offer along side of the others sporting 8 cyl rocket engines with 21" rims. When I look at the tech packages available for off road, nothing I've done will tax what they offer on ND - what I do off the pavement is way more likely to be confined to be problems for my tires & suspension, and not (if ever) the LR tech. The ND tech looks great - but it seems miles ahead of what the tires are ready for. [I recall a story of a LR4 stuck in beach sand - was it the tech that failed? No way - the LR4 had a great off road package of electronics + air suspension. It was the low profile tires they sold with the LR4: great on the pavement but insufficient in wet sand. What's the point of buying an LR4 if you're not going to have fun with it!? Although the off road tech features were ready to assist - the LR4 had low gear transfer case - the tires were not listening to the tech & he needed a tow]. IMO the tires are very important and yet easy to overlook. A 17" or 18" rim would give ND owners way more tire choices, plus extra room in the wheel arch. The LR4 did have I think 18 or 19" rims, so it was not terrible; but JLR kinda misses the basic nut that all their totally awesome off road tech can only instruct - it's the tires that ultimately are fully and completely responsible for keeping you moving. If JLR put 50% of the effort into the tires as they do to the 4x4 tech, they'd be at 18" rims already with ND. I think they will get there - they just needed to get ND up and out initially. But with 2024 models, JLR is now 5 years going with ND. Ultimately, I don't see the 18" rim as unachievable. I have hope.
"Here you go brother. I have no idea what they’re saying but it’s a bit comical how bad a stock old Defender is off-road"
It needs the driver to have knowledge of how to drive off road.
You can't just point it at the trail and set the adaptive off-road terrain response like you can on the new one.
You actually have to drive it.
Agree, Defender is lacking in a number of design features. One helpful item I added, are kayak tie downs so I could attach things like a hanging clothes rod, straps and nets to secure cargo, etc. Bought a pair on Amazon for $7.
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-I totally agree 1,000% that a ND trim with 18' rims would be a complete game changer… Ultimately, I don't see the 18" rim as unachievable. I have hope.
Are 18” wheels no longer an option? I never considered any other wheels when I was spec’ing mine.
Are 18” wheels no longer an option? I never considered any other wheels when I was spec’ing mine.
I think the 18" rims are still available, but only if you choose the 4 cyl engine. Many want the power of the 6 cyl engine (if you load Defender up - all the seats + luggage in the back - and then hit the highway doing 70 mph for a few hours, I'd have to think the 6 cylinder would be preferable), so from that starting point, no, the 18"s don't appear available. The bigger engine apparently requires bigger calipers, and those bigger rims. I suspect if JLR limited acceleration and top speed, and somehow prioritized the bigger engine for low end and slow speed, it's possible you'd have 18" rims on the 6. But not so yet
I think the 18" rims are still available, but only if you choose the 4 cyl engine. Many want the power of the 6 cyl engine (if you load Defender up - all the seats + luggage in the back - and then hit the highway doing 70 mph for a few hours, I'd have to think the 6 cylinder would be preferable),
Well, I've had my 110 with the P300 4-cyl at highway speeds all day (Philadelphia to Maine) loaded with a large Golden Retriever in the back, four adults, and a plastic Thule box full of gear on the roof. No complaints whatsoever about power. 300hp is plenty for cruising and passing. I'm sure more power is more fun, and with the hybrid the mpg is pretty much the same as the smaller engine. But you don't need more hp than 300 to cruise comfortably all day in this vehicle.
Well, I've had my 110 with the P300 4-cyl at highway speeds all day (Philadelphia to Maine) loaded with a large Golden Retriever in the back, four adults, and a plastic Thule box full of gear on the roof. No complaints whatsoever about power. 300hp is plenty for cruising and passing. I'm sure more power is more fun, and with the hybrid the mpg is pretty much the same as the smaller engine. But you don't need more hp than 300 to cruise comfortably all day in this vehicle.
Ditto. Most of the folks who think they need, the power of the 6 cylinder haven't driven the P300.
It performs well, handles excellent, and stops impressively while wearing 18" wheels.
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