has anyone seen the new BMW off road advert for the X series? It features the X3 and shows someone bombing along off road. Not a particularly difficult track but it was singing the praises of the off road ability. The point I want to make is why doesn't LR have adverts like this? All we seem to get now is urban jungle stuff. The way the brand is going we will find a generation growing up who think its just an expensive school run cruiser. Or perhaps that's what they want. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

 FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Nice one
Dave DAVE.
I.A.M. F1rst Driver.
Gone 2003 Discovery TD5 Auto,
Gone 1986 Defender 90 Station Wagon
Gone 1984 Range Rover 3.5 Vogue Manual.
Gone 1970 Series 11A/3 SWB 3.5 V8 Hybrid
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Van
Gone 1966 Series 11A SWB Van
Gone 1964 Series 11A LWB Station Wagon,

The Discovery 5 was advertised by driving through a desert sand storm.

Also the Disco Sport has been advertised recently, it was driving along dirt tracks. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

These days, advertisers are trying to sell you a lifestyle rather than a product

SVX D5 was at the top of mountain ⛰ in the advert to mountain goat 🐐 is struggling
 MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

dorsetfreelander wrote:

..... The way the brand is going we will find a generation growing up who think its just an expensive school run cruiser. Or perhaps that's what they want.

I think you hit the nail on the head - been to a dealership recently? - you wouldn't want to get any of those pretty things dirty. People who really want rugged vehicles seem to be buying L200's and the like these days. And LR would not want those grubby farming and hippy types in their showrooms upsetting their Mulberry handbagged customers would they? (Lady Chatterly might be taken with them mind you ..... )

Oddly of course, the X series are even prettier inside than LR, and less capable off road. Never mind, it's marketing.

I do have some hopes that the new defender will be rather like the Freelander in many ways - people say the FL2 can do pretty much everything a defender can, only without breaking your spine in the process (and accepting it won't take bashing quite so well). The new defender needs to take that more comfortable starting point and ruggedise it. Time will tell where they go with it.

Apparently when the last Disco was new, Jeremy Clarkson drove one up a mountain for a Top Gear programme. When they got to the top and finished filming he got helicoptered off the mountain and left it there for the film crew to bring down, they then discovered that he still had the keys in his pocket.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

That’s correct my friend was on the team. When the chopper came back clarkson threw the keys out to the team  MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Oddly of course, the X series are even prettier inside than LR, and less capable off road. Never mind, it's marketing.

Must admit I did look at the DS but thought the interior was dreadful, both in design and quality, my X3 runs rings around it (provided its on tarmac ). I am very surprised that LR have never gone down the i-drive type route for the infotainment - touch screens are unsafe to use on the move and how on earth did they manage to get the two screen system (such as in the velar) past through is beyond me. I have read a lot of reviews from road-testers who have said knobs are much easier and safer to use - yes the two screen set up looks flash but they are totally impractical!

The BMW I-drive system continues to amaze me! I was heading home one evening and had a message come up on the display and HUD that there was a hazard half a mile ahead, clicking on the item on the infotainment and it said that a nearby road was closed due to a fire and displayed it on the map, as I got by the police had closed the road due to a derelict building fire - I was amazed how clever this system is - i didn't even have the satnav on at the time

Anyone remember when the L233 came out JLR were adamant that the nobbly buttons are a key feature that when wearing gloves the controls can be accessed relatively easily! Even with the final facelift the kept emphasising this. Then the L405 took a very different route... MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

Sort of hoped that LR would bring out a ruggised option pack for the DS with things like a stronger undertray,, a bit more ground clearance, better wheel/tyre combo, anti scratch side panels etc. but no, sigh, just a 'sports' car option coming. Sigh again.
VW Amarok looks interesting, but a bit big. FL2 Ex D2, D3, RRS, etc. now all gone.

They are more likely to bring out a "School Run" pack the way they are going.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Mr McGovern will be appalled if saw the state of my D5, mud and grass hanging off various bits pieces.

This is it clean

 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Good job you told us it's a D5, I can't tell most of the LR cars apart anymore.  3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE