When is the US going to get "real" Land Rovers?

"R. David Steele" /OMEGA> wrote in message
...
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?

Isn't it something to do with us building vehicles which aren't up to US
safety specs? Initially I thought emissions, but then I thought perhaps not

R. David Steele wrote:
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?

The main problem is that LR and Ford's marketing dept have trouble seeing
where they wouls fit in to the US market. They would be smaller than many US
pick-ups but would be more expensive to buy. They do not have the comfort
and luxury of a typical US pick-up and most of the market demands this. The
sheer utility of a Defender and the off-road ability would of course be
superior to most pick-ups but perhaps still not create a large enough market
to make them viable. LR continually say the no longer sell Defenders in the
US because of emmissions and passenger airbag issues - this of course is
nonsense as they sell thousands of Discoverys with exactly the same engine
and emmissions and fitting a passenger airbag is not beyond the engineering
wit of Lode Lane either. On the upside, the US will definitely get the new
Defender based on the T5 chassis in a few years, so you'll have to hang on.
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
The two biggest problems are that US diesel is very porr quality with a high
sulfur content and modern high-tech turbo-diesels won't swallow it. The
other problem is that petrol is cheap and there in very little diesel-car
culture in the states yet. It would however be great to drive a 30mpg TD5 in
the states so you can tell all the tree-huggers who think you drive a
gas-guzzling SUV to **** off!

> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?

Politically, it is very difficult for the US to procure non-domestic
military kit. Even when the US military decided they must have British
Harriers, the top brass had to lie to congress and leap through all sorts of
hoops to make them look American before they could purchase them. Same thing
with the British Chobham armour used on all abrams tanks. The US Rangers
bought some special Defenders called RSOV but I doubt they will ever figure
very highly.

--
Julian
---------
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R. David Steele wrote:
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?

The main problem is that LR and Ford's marketing dept have trouble seeing
where they wouls fit in to the US market. They would be smaller than many US
pick-ups but would be more expensive to buy. They do not have the comfort
and luxury of a typical US pick-up and most of the market demands this. The
sheer utility of a Defender and the off-road ability would of course be
superior to most pick-ups but perhaps still not create a large enough market
to make them viable. LR continually say the no longer sell Defenders in the
US because of emmissions and passenger airbag issues - this of course is
nonsense as they sell thousands of Discoverys with exactly the same engine
and emmissions and fitting a passenger airbag is not beyond the engineering
wit of Lode Lane either. On the upside, the US will definitely get the new
Defender based on the T5 chassis in a few years, so you'll have to hang on.
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
The two biggest problems are that US diesel is very porr quality with a high
sulfur content and modern high-tech turbo-diesels won't swallow it. The
other problem is that petrol is cheap and there in very little diesel-car
culture in the states yet. It would however be great to drive a 30mpg TD5 in
the states so you can tell all the tree-huggers who think you drive a
gas-guzzling SUV to **** off!

> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?

Politically, it is very difficult for the US to procure non-domestic
military kit. Even when the US military decided they must have British
Harriers, the top brass had to lie to congress and leap through all sorts of
hoops to make them look American before they could purchase them. Same thing
with the British Chobham armour used on all abrams tanks. The US Rangers
bought some special Defenders called RSOV but I doubt they will ever figure
very highly.

--
Julian
---------
= Pretentious Sig required =

"R. David Steele" /OMEGA> wrote in message
...
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
>


Because they do not meet their minimum crash and rollover standards.
Apparently they are good enough for us in the UK :-(
This will change with the new utility range which is only a year to
eighteen months from launch. Yippee!

Huw


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"R. David Steele" /OMEGA> wrote in message
...
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
>


Because they do not meet their minimum crash and rollover standards.
Apparently they are good enough for us in the UK :-(
This will change with the new utility range which is only a year to
eighteen months from launch. Yippee!

Huw


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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"R. David Steele" /OMEGA> wrote in message
...
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?

don't meet US crash regs , don't have airbags ....
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
all the engines have been too small for the US market i nthe past, also
large cap V8s sell well enough

no doubt there is some technicla hitch as well

> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
>
and admit defeat, it's rear USS forces don't use domestic products, and
when they do they keep it specialised - however a lot of the non domestic
kit used by US forces is British in origin and / or design



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"R. David Steele" /OMEGA> wrote in message
...
> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?

don't meet US crash regs , don't have airbags ....
>
> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
>
all the engines have been too small for the US market i nthe past, also
large cap V8s sell well enough

no doubt there is some technicla hitch as well

> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
>
and admit defeat, it's rear USS forces don't use domestic products, and
when they do they keep it specialised - however a lot of the non domestic
kit used by US forces is British in origin and / or design



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
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In article >,
/OMEGA says...
>
> |> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?
> |>
> |> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
> |>
> |> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> |> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
> |>
> |
> |
> |Because they do not meet their minimum crash and rollover standards.
> |Apparently they are good enough for us in the UK :-(
> |This will change with the new utility range which is only a year to
> |eighteen months from launch. Yippee!
>
> Neither does the Hummer. Yet it is sold to the public.
>
> and, btw, US gas prices are now climbing over $2 per gallon, or
> so my wife recently told me. It may even reach $3 by summer.
>
>

Can I come down there and get in on those bargin prices?
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In article >,
/OMEGA says...
>
> |> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?
> |>
> |> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
> |>
> |> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> |> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
> |>
> |
> |
> |Because they do not meet their minimum crash and rollover standards.
> |Apparently they are good enough for us in the UK :-(
> |This will change with the new utility range which is only a year to
> |eighteen months from launch. Yippee!
>
> Neither does the Hummer. Yet it is sold to the public.
>
> and, btw, US gas prices are now climbing over $2 per gallon, or
> so my wife recently told me. It may even reach $3 by summer.
>
>

Can I come down there and get in on those bargin prices?
--
____________________
Remove "X" from email address to reply.

The hummer is sold but it is classified by the authorities as a truck (due
to weight mainly) and therefore does not have to comply to passenger car
standards.

As for the US military, it does use Land Rovers. IIRC US Marines and some
other special forces use them.

Take care
Pantelis (not living in the USA, just happens to know the above)


"Chris Phillipo" > wrote in message
.. .
> In article >,
> /OMEGA says...
> >
> > |> Why can't the US get Defender 90s, 110s and 130s?
> > |>
> > |> Why can't we have diesel powered Landies?
> > |>
> > |> And why doesn't the US military use the Defender as a basic, and
> > |> cheaper, vehicle for the average troops?
> > |>
> > |
> > |
> > |Because they do not meet their minimum crash and rollover standards.
> > |Apparently they are good enough for us in the UK :-(
> > |This will change with the new utility range which is only a year to
> > |eighteen months from launch. Yippee!
> >
> > Neither does the Hummer. Yet it is sold to the public.
> >
> > and, btw, US gas prices are now climbing over $2 per gallon, or
> > so my wife recently told me. It may even reach $3 by summer.
> >
> >
>
> Can I come down there and get in on those bargin prices?
> --
> ____________________
> Remove "X" from email address to reply.