Land Rover Defender vs the Atlantic Ocean - and the car wins (just)

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Richard Webber pays the Land Rover Defender a farewell tribute in the only way possible - a challenge. But just to remind us all how superbly capable and resilient these fantastic vehicles are, he's chosen a 20-year-old Defender 90 with 216,000 miles on the clock to make a trip...into the Atlantic ocean.
Read the full story behind our Land Rover Defender special here: bit.ly/1Kl5jhz
Follow Richard Webber on Twitter here: / rjbwebber
Autocar, the world's leading motoring magazine and website, delivers industry-leading news, the most in-depth car reviews and opinion from our team of experts. Our presenters include some of the world's top motoring journalists who have unrivalled access to the world's fastest, rarest, most exotic and most exciting cars on some of the world's best roads and race tracks.
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[@ascentnlp]

Wow!! That is Wesley!! I bought this Land Rover back in 1996 with 14,000 miles on the clock, stuck another 175,000 through the years. He toured all over Scotland, was on Skye many times, but never did make it to the Outer Hebrides. His best adventure was a three week expedition to the Sahara Desert, 6,000 miles from Edinburgh to Portsmouth, North to South of Spain and then down into the Sarah and back. Thank you so much for this video. It is amazing to see him again.

[@Bodgemiester]

The salt may have the final say for this one

[@ascentnlp]

@@Bodgemiester it was for sale 2 years ago in the Scottish Borders. It’s now black but I believe the MOT ran out last year.

[@Bodgemiester]

@@ascentnlp great news, hopefully a new galvanised chassis

[@heartmind6373]

Enough usage, brother. Ship it out to Africa.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Respectful tribute, heart-breaking reality of our times. They shouldn't even call its replacement a Defender. Any connection will only be philisophical.

[@worldhello1234]

You can still drive them. They are just out of production.

[@PacificCoastAuto]

As uncommon as it sounds, there are a lot of the Defenders here in Japan. Though prices are through the roof these days.

[@Odidafumbi]

PacificCoastAuto same here in the Uk, struggle to find a good one with less than 80,000 miles on the clock thats 10-15 years old for below 15k!!

[@KermitTheFud]

Aye but you pay what you get

[@ffukamizu]

+PacificCoastAuto we have one here in brazil, the 4 door version. We are selling it tho.. for 20k dollar.

[@BeatsCraftn]

+Odidafumbi they no longer make them, they are going up

[@hokitika21]

I recently drove one of these for the first time on the road it wasn't too great but when I took up it off road then I realised what all the fuss was about. I really want to buy one for myself now.

[@GavinRussell59]

I taught off road driving for years with land rover BEST car on the road the defender

[@daleval2182]

Come try my 2018 Raptor, best is subjective

[@XaviSpit]

One off the best cars ever made! (And one of the my favourites xD)

[@recommit]

Rust in peace, after a salty crossing like that one!

[@prabhanieliyanage6860]

😂

[@cheapestvapesupplies1391]

As long as they take it in freshwater (equal depth) afterward, it should wash most of the salt off the underbody and components...

[@recommit]

Cheapest Vape Supplies I spent 14 years as a marine technician. Once a steel chassis has been introduced to salt water, make your peace with the inevitability that it "is" going to rust badly. Absolutely nothing gets salt out once it is in there.

[@Sam-dj8tp]

@@recommitused to work on a coach which was previously owned by a company on the coast and it was incredibly rusty compared to identical ones which worked in land. Amazing how much a bit've salt water can do!

[@Malc180s]

The reason I had one was because of its sense of occasion. Driving to the shops felt like going on safari. It's much more like a supercar in that sense; you can buy a GTR to go fast, much like you can buy a land cruiser to go off road, but neither does anything other than their job, whereas a Ferrari and a Defender provide the joy as well as the capability. Great fun, bomb proof reliability (I still remember driving through a full tank of petrol in my 200,000 mile tdi 90 wondering why it felt a bit slow, and why it was being extra smokey - never did a jot of harm), and always slowly appreciating! If I didn't have a motorway commute I'd have another in a shot.

[@techdavey3486]

+Malc180s The 300 TDi Discovery is just fine on motorways as long as the steering joints are in mint condition. If they are not and if a previous owner has tweaked the engine, the vehicle is apt to wander at white-van-man speeds. One can of course put the mechanicals into a Series although the 200 TDi is easier to fit.

[@Transphoenixbiker]

after this video the defender rusted out over night. rip defender

[@DigitalYojimbo]

Came here to say this.

[@DigitalYojimbo]

not sure if his comment was disparaging to only land rovers but to all cars made of sheet metal.

[@atahservices2840]

they would have washed off the salt after thoroughly

[@caturlifelive]

Agreed

[@raonib]

Just like that RIP defender.

[@simonjtyleruk]

it's not just about what else a car can do, it's also about what you can fix yourself. The defender is another car we have lost for the people who want to keep a car for longer than 5years! the amount of mods I've seen on the defender is amazing. Yes its rough, but you can drill holes in its dash to fit what you need without worrying about an air bag! And please don't quote safety, we'll be banning motorbikes next.

[@Mephistos12]

Water getting in? Make a hole in the floor to let it out and then use a rubber bung. I love cars you can deal with.

[@samuelssenkolooto7877]

There was or is no need to modify the body of the defenders...the 110 and others in that format just look uniquely beautiful to some of us

[@eoinoshaughnessy7766]

I bought my first car 2 years ago when I was 11 now I'm trying to rebuild it which is my series 2 Land Rover with a 3.7 petrol engine it's a powerful beast of a machine the defender has always been a great car that many people dislike but many more like I would rather have a good old defender then a Lamborghini or a Ferrari and the sad thing is the new defender is going to be another Range Rover evoupe with Lamborghini air intakes well that's how it's going to be that's how it's going to be...

[@TheCarArchives96]

the replacement for the Defender would be the Lada niva

[@bobhope4288]

TheCarArchives Same off road ability. Same reliability. You have a point.

[@TheWierdFish]

+TheCarArchives For off road use solely, yes. But as a workhorse, the larger, more solid Defender with its multitude of body options ranging from 12 seat go-anywhere minibus to pickup truck, to van body to... well, pretty much anything you can fit on the rear chassis, gives the Defender a much broader spectrum of working possibilities. Quite simply, there is no vehicle produced that has the same range of abilities for anywhere near the price. A Unimog is similar in breadth of talent, but costs many times more, and is much bigger.

[@TheCarArchives96]

Foxtrot Oscar you could now get a 5-door Niva in the UK

[@TheWierdFish]

TheCarArchives I had a 3 door... and it was decent. But I also have the Land Rover, and that's _so_ much more useful. For instance, I can sleep in it, stretched out, I can fit my big tool box in it, and the welding gear, and I can tow a car with it. And I can get parts for it on every continent. Parts for Ladas are still difficult outside Russia and Eastern Europe.

[@TheCarArchives96]

Foxtrot Oscar True that :D but i have contacts for parts :D

[@lucasspiros]

DEFENDER drive a legend'' , its not a car its a philosofy ...

[@josegc4510]

goodbye little defender, we´ll miss u

[@w5r000bas]

5:50 The front lights are full of water!!!!!

[@ODIOPOWER]

Land Rover Defender AKA The unstoppable machine

[@ollieskins]

+ODIO POWER Yeah unstoppable- the worst electronics possible, frames that rust out in two years time, engines that leak oil and burn oil, but hey at least you're not driving a jeep!

[@ODIOPOWER]

u mad bro? you can see on the street some Defender with more than 25 years on the back. Its a pretty sturdy machine

[@TempoMontages]

+ollieskins i have a discovery that i got for 1k and the only problem is a bit on antifreeze leaks but everything else works and the plastics are shit

[@Jeepguy1]

+ollieskins what do you mean at lest it's not a jeep the jeep was one of the best off-roaders ever made

[@darcybowyer5743]

Got 4 of them, all stout machines. Secret is pre Puma. Anything before that, more so Tdi 300 is bulletproof. In the end it comes down to charm and character. That the Defender has in spades. And the community. Land Rover has one of the best communities that isn't about one upping each other but rather helping each other out. Oh and that not only is it an appreciating classic (come down to Oz where good ones fetch crazy money) but out of the 2.5 million made, 1.7 million are still on the road. Not a shabby statistic for those who call it a fragile off road vehicle XD

[@MrEpicGamer67]

Scotland is so damn beautiful.

[@ajk4605]

Bill Cosby Have you ever saw the Isle of Mull ?

[@TucsonDude]

Just like the demise of the intrepid English Empire, so goes one of the last vestiges of a true adventure vehicle.

[@georgemorley1029]

British.

[@xxryanxx2543]

5:51 the passenger seat is empty

[@benmcintosh7036]

XXRYANXX cause he was filming

[@shaunlastname391]

Passenger was "thanking" the driver 😂

[@nunop32]

Thank you Land Rover for this 67 beautiful years

[@wrathgar11]

2:04 No trees... very funny.

[@JoeLoBro]

Nice boat you have there.

[@adversusmundi507]

This pops up in my recommended every so often. I think of it as a gentle reminder that it is okay for grown men to cry, seeing a steel chassis being dipped into the Atlantic Ocean. No amount of dinitrol will save that poor bastard.

[@TheCarMagDriver]

Excellent, original Journalism. Great work and a nice story told. Good work Sir it, looked fun. MC

[@kaliko70]

Thank you for making this wonderful short video about the trusty Defender. I think it's a great shame that LandRover are considering ending production of this amazing vehicle which is still absolutely the best vehicle for moving people and goods around so many places in the world today. I have seen hundreds here in Polynesia, many still working fine after 30 hard years, and many other brand new 110's carrying tourists to and from visiting ships. I wish LandRover would reconsider and still make Defenders available to these far-flung places.

[@techdavey3486]

+kaliko70 The problem for the Defender is allegedly North American safety legislation which means that new ones can no longer be sold over there. I would guess that with an engine mounted north-south and a chassis instead of mega-strong sills; it is very difficult to meet the offset impact test where just the front corner is collided with the forty ton concrete block. Trade protectionism perhaps as many US built 4 x 4s give far worse results in this very difficult test.

[@JohnSmith-pd1fz]

+Tech Davey Yeah, jealousy by the EU and, more especially, the yanks is what has done for this vehicle. If they can't produce it they'll make damned sure nobody else can either.

[@kaliko70]

+Tech Davey Agreed! But then I wonder how the Jeep Wrangler makes it past these US offset impact tests when it, too, has a ladder chassis and engine setup similar to that of a Defender? I'll bet Land Rover is as much to "blame" in this sad decision as any outside force, and has made up its own mind internally for whatever crazy reason (*cough*accounting dept*cough*). I just don't understand why they would kill off such a legend which is _the_ fundamental, essential, and central force which makes Land Rover's brand so legendary and respected! Can't they just keep it on as the icon of the company, and sell it to those who wish to buy in places where they are approved? (BTW, Jeep doesn't seem to have any trouble selling loads of Wranglers; I see them here in Hawaii all the time used by the rental car companies.)

[@kendal5210]

That new defender is a mockery of Britain and it’s achievements throughout history, defender you will be sincerely missed and I hope that Chelsea tractor discovery eloquently freelander thing will be replaced with a proper defender

[@Neo1968Man]

Well presented, informative video.

[@MrLankruza]

I couldn t live without a defender.

[@garniak]

well most of people can

[@dkphantomdk]

hmm.. does the car like the salty water ? - I wouldnt put a car in the sea.. !

[@techdavey3486]

+dkphantomdk Hope that it got put in a freshwater lake or river soon after as salt destroys cars, even Land Rovers. Incidentally I have dunked a trailer in the sea but the next day it was dunked in Cardiff Bay (freshwater) Result, no excessive rusting. Its not rocket science!

[@atahservices2840]

It's mostly Aluminum

[@pachy444]

+Tech Davey no, dunking in fresh water afterwards doesn't remove the damage, once it's been in the sea it's fuck ed

[@Starlight_66]

.... - mostly...

[@worldhello1234]

What kind of damage to a water sealed car like this?

[@tristanacosta407]

Fantastic documentary by AutoCar

[@krisnaive]

Excellent video Autocar

[@snacklofter]

Excellent video thanks.

[@ThePyrogenica]

Brilliant tribute

[@Ktheodoss]

Great video & Amazing vehicle!

[@avalanx]

Great video all around!

[@headrichard8309]

You don't need a computer to fix a rare breakdown win win all the way.

[@thebrickcreator1111]

Shows how much you can trust a good old landy

[@edgewoodil]

can't afford one of those,I have a 1991 Isuzu Trooper LS with 218k miles and it still runs like a tank,love it.

[@WEIMYBIMMER]

maybe the new 2018 wont do that!

[@drivesafely12]

I hope the vehicle was thoroughly cleaned up after that. All that salt water! A brilliant performance.

[@GT500VSZ06]

The sea water go inside headlight 😂😂😂

[@ajgoodson6634]

autocar should win an award for this, they took an amazingly cool video and made it boring with monotone voice over and lack of music

[@MatthewDavidAlbritton]

Probably the most gnarly bow-wave ever made. Love this video.

[@gonewiththewind8072]

Jeep would never do this! What a beautiful artwork on 4x4 chassis she is

[@smoothmicra]

Now that looks like a hoot of a ride, amazed they didn't get wet feet, and I hope he gave it a good hose down afterwards or it might have fallen to pieces in rust before he could drive it back to Edinburgh!

[@ProducerCliff]

I heard they were going to continue building it in India? Please let them continue building it somewhere! My first car was a land rover and I've had so many I've lost count. I was hoping a Defender would be my retirement car too, something I could buy new and it would last at least for 30 years, by which time I should be dead... and happy.

[@techdavey3486]

+CliffordSGM The trick is that just like the Indian built Morris Oxford and Morris Minor the vehicles will not be "E" marked. This will prevent them from being sold in Europe.

[@andrewhoward7200]

3 years on I know but that was precisely my thinking in 2007 when I bought a new Defender 2,4. It's been reliable, regularly hauling 3 tons of sand from a quarry and 80,000 autobahn miles at top speed (83mph). No problems with electronics or engine management etc. but what has killed it is the looming diesel verbot. Already banned in many cities-mine is planned soon. Sickening.

[@notexan182]

2022 and yes...the defenders are still alive

[@pood_49]

Beautiful vehicle

[@craigross4971]

Nice. Would have thought st kilda being the edge of the uk. Probably need a bigger snorkel for that one!

[@kayedal-haddad]

Anyone know how to get a hold of Scott Taylor?

[@PlymouthJoseph]

You see... THIS is why I want a Land Rover, but I want a 110. Have that with 9 seats and you could become a ferry! Also, having a Land Rover defender in England where there are so many floods is always useful, especially when you realise that at the bottom of your street which was once a road is now a river.

[@roddyk05]

Rust In Peace.

[@sebimitre1]

i love it its amazing R.I.P

[@ticos08]

What a car ,love it ..

[@wt1236]

Fantastic vehicle.

[@Reguis1000]

who are this people that dislikes such videos??\ Great video guys@Autocar

[@zuberimohammed2506]

How much does it or price

[@Pienimusta]

Great military car ! We drove rally with these in military and had about 10 guys in one car ;D

[@34mrt89]

very nice

[@maccoretti]

What the hell do you buy new in 5 years time if you need something this capable and rugged?

[@PowerdByWill]

maccoretti You just don't need to buy a Land Rover new, it's never been neccesary

[@TheoldSouth]

A used one or a Jeep Wrangler

[@TheoldSouth]

***** a stock wrangler rubicon is more capable than any other stock vehicle on the market (defender included). The fact that they can be modified more only increases their advantage over all other off-road vehicles

[@TheoldSouth]

***** The wrangler can handle around a 60% climb or descent. A top heavy Landcruiser, Defender, DIscovery, 4runner, or any other vehicle for that matter, cannot beat it. That's why they use Jeeps for rockcrawling. It has a low center of gravity and low range gears and axle ratio to make it perfect for climbing and descending steep hills.

[@richardharrold9736]

PowerdByWill How did people cope when the only Land Rovers were new ones... =P

[@alfredvalrie5541]

That's awesome.

[@ethan928]

Wow! The enthusiasm XD Ahaha

[@ChuckRage]

now that's impressive

[@jackiewatson5665]

Does anyone know the colour?

[@WillyMesserschmitt1]

i would love to buy one, it has the looks and ability. just wished it can have a auto, at least a 4 spd

[@Moonface00z]

too bad they ended the production.. The new defender i saw in the convention center is a whole new level. Sad thing we have to wait for 3 years

[@ihaveheartburn2290]

I'm from Nova Scotia!

[@nuttick]

Eh? I think ye'll find nothing but Newfoundland between ye an Nova Scotia! And some briny deep! Grand truck, lads. Some day, some day...

[@Crawlerer79]

Should've had the snorkel head around the other way. Great vid tho :D

[@steviechalmers1218]

The best 4x4 by miles ❤️👍

[@danielradatan]

Simple the besth!!! Classic of classic!!!

[@antolinmora2509]

Poderoso Defender

[@okdadi]

pure beauty

[@john972061]

I like land Rover I hope they create a new model even when I was a kid

[@landy477]

Brilliant

[@jackc4870]

Where can I buy a bull bar with spotlights like that

[@cutdepiefails6596]

RIP defender. They did not even bothered to turn the snorkel to not chug bare salt water

[@shane4865]

Amazing, a boat that has wheels too.

[@TheAussieRepairGuy]

And I wondered why people keep paying a premium price for the Australian Army Perenties, and then ship the hot dip gal chassis overseas. Like lets make a doco about how valuable and iconic these things are, by filling one with salt water. Lucas, prince of darkness will visit that vehicle very soon.

[@mhamadjoud8861]

رائع جدا جدا

[@Aaronhouston33]

There every where in Brazil

[@harryc266]

Why? So popular. Some people don't want a flashy concept car (that horrible 2018 design) they just want something that works. Why not just update the underpinnings and tweak the styling very minimally.. I just don't like it when company's get rid of there best cars.

[@beetleything1864]

Holy. All that salty water -that’ll do it good 🙈

[@alanhynd7886]

Unsurprised the Landy made it, but with a dry footwell? Surely not? What engineering wizardry make this old battlewagon watertight.

[@justinperry7852]

Awesome

[@Wiegman4x4Terschelling]

The Land Rover won the battle but he lost the war.

[@tonmaydas8516]

Beast!

[@user-fq1ew7zb2t]

القوه قوه لابارك الله في الضعف💪💪💪

[@sennthemanwin98]

Actual video: car becomes boat

[@Mr.k3n]

There's something about land rovers. I had a gold freelander 1 td4 and it was pretty shite but i still miss her.

[@donlovett6267]

Just like the end of Fast and Furious 7 but replace Paul walker with the Land Rover

[@chillkootmarkowee8738]

The Land Rover really has an American heart it came with a Cast Aluminum 215 cubic inch Buick Rover V8.

[@Triple259772]

Yes that's why the engines are shit. My rover has been sitting around for two years because I can't afford to fix it. Wish they would have gone with a Japanese motor.

[@chillkootmarkowee8738]

Triple259772 No its cause the fuckin Brits had electrical issues that's whats stopping it from runnin. Buick were known to be tough and built like tanks

[@Triple259772]

+Eagle Dakota there has been no electrical problems what's so ever. Just leaky head gaskets.

[@chillkootmarkowee8738]

Triple259772 ok then

[@darcybowyer5743]

215ci "Turbo-Fire" V8 the Yanks used to call it. Not bad if looked after one could say.

[@markmillar535]

When did Angus get out?

[@tilltillmanns8455]

If you listen carefully you can hear the feint sound of a corroding chassis

[@bikelifewill6483]

Cried 😭

[@skylark91]

Didn't understand a word that he said, but good ol' Land Rover nonetheless.

[@willmyersw511]

there not being canceled just made abroad and shipped now

[@bimbeano]

Can you try this with a Cayenne as well ? :-)

[@888johnmac]

+bimbeano.. please do i'd love to see that.. I don't think it would end well but it would be amusing

[@davidsingleton7242]

Cayenne...I doubt that it would even be able to negotiate the access onto the beach let alone cross to the island!

[@kylsters]

damn the price will rocket now

[@tomschlatter95]

Very sad, that the Defender isn´t build anymore. I hope the G-Class, also an old Offroad-Veteran, will build also in the future. G-Class and Defender are the real Offroad-Vehicles - if both will go, there isn´t a real Offroad-Car anymore.