Well, compares to the latest offerings, yes.  But the early 110 doors are
much like series ones.  I was thinking mostly of the seat angles and so on.

Some go to that market of course, but around here that is a minor market and
most go to farmers, builders, engineers, and public utilities; the same
customers who should be buying LR products.
What is wrong with LR also gaining further customers from the 'life-style'
brigade anyhow? They already have a big market, in fact a leading position
in that sector yet they effectively let others have a major slice without a
fight.

Engines are dictated by emmission legistlation so there will be no return to
'simple' TDi200 type engines.

welded "semi-moncoque" (far less easy to

I can't see why that should be more of an issue for LR than for the
opposition. If it is involved in a serious chassis-bending accident it will
invariably be an insurance claim.

body panels without the rather miraculous ability of Defender

You must be joking? My LR is made of thin alloy that dents if you sneeze on
it. It has so many dents on it that it can only ever get worse by having a
serious bending. I cannot see how that would be much different with a Disco
based Defender.
To illustrate this I have to say that my RR has a dented wing and door
already and I anticipate more in future. Oh, and it also has a scratched
front bumper where it drove into a low static machine and a crease in the
back bumper where it reversed into a heavy cattle crush.
I suspect what you are more worried about is bending something new. There
are more important things to worry about.

crappy modern bumpers

The bumpers will not be likely to protrude as does the present vehicle. The
angles underneath are not known because it has not been built yet and anyhow
are not critical unless they are totally inadequate IYSWIM. I have lived 21
years with a 110 hi-cap with a tow hitch behind and any new vehicle is
likely to be better than that.
As for fragile plastics, well the present Defender has plenty of that,
including plastic seats that the dog puts its claws through and which cracks
and breaks up in short order. Hopefully the new one will have better
quality, roomier, more comfortable interiors with doors that have concealed
hinges that don't sag and seams that don't leak and stops that don't shear
off easily.

For my sins and among other things, I do farm myself. A proper working farm
with triple axle 16ft ifor williams boxes to carry over 200 cattle, long
fencing poles to carry, steep banks to traverse etc. I also have a Defender
110, a RR, a Trooper, a Terrano, and a Cruiser Amazon to compare with. I
have also run other Defenders, another couple of Range Rover classics, a
Disco, a Shogun, a Subaru, a Mitsu pick-up and others to compare with.

I won't however, pay the repair

Although I have never done this with either Defender or RR, or anything else
come to think of it, I can see no reason why not. It is however a lazy man's
way of doing things and shows little respect for the machine. I have never
heard of this complaint from owners of 'Japanese' trucks either and I
seriously suspect that it has never occured to them that it is acceptable to
use the bonnet as a platform for themselves to work on.

open gates with front bumper..... etc etc). You can't even

Well you can with the Disco and RR, on the bonnet anyhow. Most gates around
here, between fields anyhow, seldom swing on hinges and if they do  they
have latches or baler twine to hold them shut. Having said that, I do use
the front tyre of tractors in such a way occassionaly but every time I tried
with a LR the bumper missed an upright and the gate either hit the wing or
hooked onto the bumper, so it is not effective anyhow.

It seems so. You want a retro toy and I want something that works
efficiently and reliably while providing my drivers and myself with the
comfort and safety that they deserve. It would also be nice if fence posts
fitted properly in the back, which is why I run a hi-cap which regularly
carries two four foot round bales of silage in the back.

Any new Defender is pie in the sky. I seriously doubt whether it will be
replaced by anything more than a rebadged and slightly modified Ford pick-up
truck. That is if they wish to compete in the utility market at all.

Huw

Hellova lot of the trendy lifestyle doublecab pickups appearing round here,
often towing 3-axle sheep trailers.  There *are* new LRs, but reltively few.
I daresay the double-cap trucks make a good towing vehicle and a good farm
truck, although personally I wouldn't fancy reversing a trailer with one, 's
bad enough with a 110 with improved lock (like mine was).

I don't see why they can't build a suitably-tough body onto the disco
platform, presuming they want to.  What will go in that case is the SWB
version, which would be a shame.  Of the new defnders I *do* see around
here, most are 90s - and I can't see them making a special shortened disco 3
platform just for a Ute.  Mind, they might see a market for a sporty small
disco 3-based thing to replace the freeloader... but I understood that the
freeloadre replacement was going to be on a vovlo platform.

'course, we could all talk to Santana and suggest they resurrect the SWB
chassis.  If I were in the market for a new 110, I'm reaosnably convinced
it'd be Santana not LR, these days - cheaper and a damned good looking
truck.

Perhaps Santana can get a licence from Ford to build 90s?