An open letter to Dave Phillips

WHEN will you learn that LRM reporters such as yourself, who, rightly or wrongly, have quite an influence on the type of vehicles people buy, should perhaps be a little more mindful of all those folk who have bought such vehicles as the Discovery 5. Describing the current design as being “by someone who has trodden on a clay model with nobody realising it had been squashed” is rather childish rhetoric. I do wonder at your choice of wording and description.

Many people did complain that the D5 was not boxy enough and not enough like the D4. Some even went on to even complain about the number plate not being symmetrical, for heaven’s sake. Duh! Why was it that the old Defender like our 2012 Puma didn’t cop complaints?

It was too rounded, they said about the D5. It was too much like the rest of the fleet. Please take a look at BMW, Kia and Merc, etc! Do you hear complaints about them?

Sadly there are a number of LR owners, especially Defender owners, who live in the past. How the hell do you make a brick more fuel-efficient, cleaner and slightly faster on highways? You redesign it, and cop the fact that this is the 21st century

Just because the Wilks brothers designed a vehicle some 74 years ago doesn’t mean it shouldn’t change. We have decked out our D5 for outback and bush driving and, believe me, it is as capable, if not more capable, than the Defender.

We sold our Puma some months ago and although we loved it and did some fantastic trips around Oz in it, we were happy to get rid of it. We do love our D5, and in a year or so will end up buying an all-new Defender once JLR decide on the direction they will take re motor types. We’d love the straight-six diesel 110 and that would be our first choice, but if they come up with an all-electric vehicle with better range, then we may well go down that path. It must be difficult times for the motor Industry not knowing what path to take during these uncertain times.

Thousands of buyers of the D5 model have lost huge amounts of money because of negative feedback such as yours. The negativity has been a major factor regarding the D5’s sale slump. The fact is that the Discovery is equally as capable as the all-new Defender. Some people think it far too prissy. Yes, it is different, but there are many out there who do like it.

All the crap that surrounded the pre-launch of the new Defender says heaps. There was so much “why did they have to change the old Defender?” that it almost sunk the new one before it reached the assembly line.

The D5 is quiet, it is comfortable, and having driven across the Simpson sand dunes, it is incredibly dust-proof. We are told it can travel through water up to 900 mm in depth, although we feel that is suicidal no matter where you are. During monsoonal floods here in Australia far too many fools do try crossing flooded creeks, and many lose their vehicles, and, of course, their lives. Only last week two lives were needlessly lost.

Here I am in my 70s stating exactly what the kids of today are saying. The past is the past. The number of younger folk who have commented to us that they like our D5 really lifts my spirit. Your report does the opposite.

I do enjoy your articles, but I think you should think twice before putting pen to paper on certain subjects. I like to think we are okay financially, but there are many, who through no fault of their own, specially during Covid, have found themselves in poverty street, on the bones of their arse, and such negativity as yours doesn’t help them. Derek Little Queensland, Australia

All opinions on all Land Rovers are subjective, Derek. I respect your views, but I happen to disagree. We all have our opinions: editor Patrick was very impressed with the D5, having tested it in extreme terrain – Dave.