What SUV beat out the X5, RX330 and others...

[BMWDave]

What SUV beat out the X5, RX330 and others for best luxury 4x4?
9/8/2005

4X4 MAGAZINE'S '4X4 OF THE YEAR 2006' ACCOLADE GOES TO LAND ROVER'S RANGE ROVER SPORT

LAND ROVER'S RANGE ROVER SPORT

Land Rover has won three awards from influential specialist title 4x4 Magazine in its '4x4 of the Year 2006' competition, with the Range Rover Sport beating 42 other 4x4s to the top accolade.
The Range Rover Sport Supercharged won the 'Luxury' category, beating the BMW X5, Lexus RX3#0, Volvo XC90 and VW Touareg before also being crowned 4x4 Magazine's '4x4 of the Year 2006'. Land Rover's latest addition to the range convinced the judges with its unique breadth of capability, dynamic exterior looks, luxurious interior package and pioneering technologies such as the patented Terrain Response? system.

Commenting on the Range Rover Sport, 4x4 Magazine's judges said: "There could only be one winner, because there was only one car that filled our enthusiast senses with its unbelievable blend of charismatic off-road ability and breathtaking on-road performance. A superb technically advanced machine, packing enough practicality to serve as a genuine family sports-tourer, but one that the true high-performance driving enthusiast will enjoy beyond measure."

The 'Extreme' category was won by the Defender 90 County XS that defeated the Jeep Wrangler, Ricardo Ibex and Santana PS10, thanks to standard equipment such as the coveted TD5 engine with two-speed transfer box and permanent four-wheel-drive through a lockable centre differential.

Land Rover UK managing director, Phil Popham, added: "This is another prestigious title for the Range Rover Sport and a well-deserved victory for the Defender, which proves it is still a peerless off-road icon. We know only too well the rigours our products are put through by the judges at 4x4 Magazine, so to come away with three awards is truly a remarkable achievement."

Both the Defender and Range Rover Sport ranges are available now from Land Rover dealerships across the UK, from ?17,995 and ?35,000 respectively.

[ifcar]

Imagine that, "4X4 Magazine" preferred a Land Rover to an AWD Camry wagon.

[giant_mtb]

Imagine that, "4X4 Magazine" preferred a Land Rover to an AWD Camry wagon.

Go figure.  <_<  

[Tom]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

[Secret Chimp]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

Well, the Defender falls into that category, but that thing isn't legal here anymore =P

[Tom]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

Well, the Defender falls into that category, but that thing isn't legal here anymore =P

:angry:  

[Submariner]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

Well, the Defender falls into that category, but that thing isn't legal here anymore =P

No, but I know a guy in Boston who imports them regularly.  I think he has something like 15 in his warehouse in Boston.  

[BMWDave]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.  

[BMWDave]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

Well, the Defender falls into that category, but that thing isn't legal here anymore =P

No, but I know a guy in Boston who imports them regularly.  I think he has something like 15 in his warehouse in Boston.

I know of that guy too, but they cost about 60K for a mid 90s Defender.  Ouch!

[cozmik]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.  

[ifcar]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

:D  

[Raghavan]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

 

[thewizard16]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

[Tom]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

[ifcar]

Boo Ya.  But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.  If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

He means that the presence of complex electronics do not have to mean a lack of reliability.

[cozmik]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

He means that the presence of complex electronics do not have to mean a lack of reliability.

And my point was that a lack of complex electronics does not necessarily mean the car will be reliable, which Wizzard may or may not have been agreeing with. I am not sure what position he was taking.

[BMWDave]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

He means that the presence of complex electronics do not have to mean a lack of reliability.

And my point was that a lack of complex electronics does not necessarily mean the car will be reliable, which Wizzard may or may not have been agreeing with. I am not sure what position he was taking.

Let me put it simply...the engine is in the Land Rover Discovery II, Range Rover (previous gen) and Defender 4.0 was a Buick design dating back all the way to the 60s, when LR bought it from GM.  Its a tried and true engine, very dependable.  I would much rather have a Defender where besides the engine, almost nothing could go wrong, than have a Discovery II where I have to worry about fancy electronic safety and locking devices, etc.

[Tom]

Cars with complex electronics can be reliable.
Cars with complex electronics can be unreliable.
Cars without complex electronics can be reliable.
Cars without complex electronics can be unreliable.

That should take care of it.

[Tom]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

He means that the presence of complex electronics do not have to mean a lack of reliability.

And my point was that a lack of complex electronics does not necessarily mean the car will be reliable, which Wizzard may or may not have been agreeing with. I am not sure what position he was taking.

Let me put it simply...the engine is in the Land Rover Discovery II, Range Rover (previous gen) and Defender 4.0 was a Buick design dating back all the way to the 60s, when LR bought it from GM.  Its a tried and true engine, very dependable.  I would much rather have a Defender where besides the engine, almost nothing could go wrong, than have a Discovery II where I have to worry about fancy electronic safety and locking devices, etc.

What Dave is trying to say is that heated seats are for wussies  

[BMWDave]

Cars with complex electronics can be reliable.
Cars with complex electronics can be unreliable.
Cars without complex electronics can be reliable.
Cars without complex electronics can be unreliable.

That should take care of it.

Yes, but its not so simple.  British electronics are not quite Japanese electronics.  My LR has been very reliable, so I shouldnt complain.

But my point is really that in a vehicle with the same engine, where one vehicle as no electronics and the other vehicle has lots of electronics, the car with less electronics will be proportionally more reliable in the long run.  Electronics will NOT last forever.

And overall, the car with less electronics will have less gadgets that could potentially break down.  

[BMWDave]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

He means that the presence of complex electronics do not have to mean a lack of reliability.

And my point was that a lack of complex electronics does not necessarily mean the car will be reliable, which Wizzard may or may not have been agreeing with. I am not sure what position he was taking.

Let me put it simply...the engine is in the Land Rover Discovery II, Range Rover (previous gen) and Defender 4.0 was a Buick design dating back all the way to the 60s, when LR bought it from GM.  Its a tried and true engine, very dependable.  I would much rather have a Defender where besides the engine, almost nothing could go wrong, than have a Discovery II where I have to worry about fancy electronic safety and locking devices, etc.

What Dave is trying to say is that heated seats are for wussies

 

[thewizard16]

Boo Ya.? But today American LR are too filled with breakable gadgetry and expensive luxury items.? If they offered a good, basic 4X4, that would be good.

I agree, I dont approve of all this electornic wizadry...I would have bought a Defender instead of a Disco had it been available at the time.  There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Hell, it's British, and a Land Rover, things would go wrong if it was a big wheel.

Electronics don't make a vehicle unreliable in the least. Quality and reliability are directly connected. Good electronics, good research making them, good work installing and wiring them, coupled with good software, no reliability problem. There's just as much risk in mechanics failing as electronics if you put the same amount of effort into both.

Huh?  Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but electrical problems certainly can make a car unreliable.

He means that the presence of complex electronics do not have to mean a lack of reliability.

And my point was that a lack of complex electronics does not necessarily mean the car will be reliable, which Wizzard may or may not have been agreeing with. I am not sure what position he was taking.

Yes, I was agreeing, I just didn't throw in a british comment.    

[Raza]

Touareg V10 TDI (it's coming back!)

According to Motor Trend, as I recall, the ML500 beat the Range Rover Sport.