"No more! I Swear" !!!!?????
You expect us to believe that?
Congrats! You are truly mad!

[faithless_1984]

Congrats sir.!
Your garage is expanding day by day.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Do post some nice shots, and is that aluminum sheets on fender and hood?

Need to spend some time driving and getting used to its quirks first. And there are lots of those - reaching out for the gear lever, for example, is an exercise in itself.

EDIT: yes those are chequered aluminium sheets. This South African did all that work himself - bought the aluminium sheets, had it cut by a chap who had a waterjet cutter (whatever its called), and riveted it all by himself. The hood, the fenders, the sides and also the rear floor. He also did the rock-sliders on the side himself. Quite an enthusiast - he ordered the OME suspension from Australia and had it put in by a local Indian garage who maintain teh vehicle. Met the chap (speaks malayalam, so it helps) and his son, so maintenance is taken care of. I wouldnt dare to take this within a few kms of Al Tayer (authorized Ford/Jag/Land Rover/Ferrari/Maserati distributor) - their billing AND their service is really scary. I asked about a seat for the rear, they quoted Dhs.10,000 (Rs.125,000+)

Originally Posted by GTO - Touring

More importantly, when are ya engaging that magic 4x4 lever?

All the time - its a full-time 4WD - no need to select.

Originally Posted by GTO - Touring

And I suggest (if you are going to keep her for long), better start customising her.

It already comes with Old Man Emu suspension and a 2-inch lift kit + Rock Sliders + skid plates. According to the current owner, even that is an overkill on this vehicle as it doesnt need any mods.

All the same I will be looking at ARB Air Lockers (at least for the rear) sometime in the DISTANT future.

Originally Posted by GTO - Touring

I look forward to some meaty off-roading pictures from you.

Cant go off the road and think about pictures - both are very intense activities. We've done a whole lot of off-roading on the Safari, but have no or very few pics - when you're up against terrain, there's no time to stop and take pics unless the intention of going off the only is only to capture pictures.

Originally Posted by tifosikrishna

Steer, buying automobiles have become a kind of weekend hobby for you huh???

What next?

EDIT: @ fiatless and zipper too.
My wife hasnt found out yet - hopefully she will share your enthusiasm when I pick her up from the airport tonite in the Defender.

What next? Find a doghouse, thats what!

That will do for quite a few years, thank you very much. I think its a reasonably well-rounded group of autos now - time to stop buying.

[iraghava]

Aha! Now that's the big daddy of the off-roaders! Congratulations on the new buy Santhosh! Hope the doghouse is comfortable!

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

My wife hasnt found out yet - hopefully she will share your enthusiasm when I pick her up from the airport tonite in the Defender.

What next? Find a doghouse, thats what!

Hats off, You really are very brave ( or your wife is not like most wives) - its "alleged" ride on tarmac ( apart from the big black surprise ) would be like adding injury to insult

[sushanthr77]

I remember seeing one parked close to York/Musalla (Bur Dubai) a few days back. It looked brand new. Not sure whether it was yours.

At first sight, I was intimidated by its appearance. The images don't do justice to its road presence and size.

Merry X-mas!

[TheARUN]

Congratulations mate!

Heard the DEFENDER comes with an alluminum body, and the vehicle will out-last you.

The greatest thing is the heritage. This is the vehicle that concurred continents. The ultimate thing on 4 wheels. Its actually the first vehicle that most tribals saw!

[raj_5004]

WOW! the defender... one of my dream machines...
when did you buy it buddy? any off-roading pics?

[JayD]

Congrats steer!!! and get ready for the Doghouse tonight!!! Buhaha!!!

[maddy42]

Congrats Steer. You for one are making good use of recession. Lol
Merry Xmas. Tell your wife its her Xmas gift from good ol Santa

[jkdas]

Congrats !

A thing to ICE. Two subs atleast.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by sushanthr77

I remember seeing one parked close to York/Musalla (Bur Dubai) a few days back.

PLEASE. You will NOT see my vehicle parked near York or similar establishments

Originally Posted by sushanthr77

At first sight, I was intimidated by its appearance. The images don't do justice to its road presence and size.

I agree - its a special feeling to be looking DOWN at the fat boys in their Landcruisers and Hummers. Okay I cant go anywhere as fast as they can, but when you're stuck in traffic and nobody is going anywhere in a hurry the feeling is PRICELESS!

The number of offers I've been made for the vehicle is ridiculous - all of them from local arabs, starting with the guy at the Traffic Department that did the transfer and gave me the registration card. He held on to the registration for nearly 15 minutes trying to convince me to sell it to him at prices that were way above what I had paid. He asked me how much I'd paid and I gave him a figure that was 25k more than what I paid - he said "habeebie you got it FREE. I bay you more for it, I bay you the real value. We close it right now, okay?"

Then there was this old arab gent who got out of his LC while we were stuck in traffic and came to me. He thrust his card into my hand and said "I wont ask you to sell it to me because I dont wish to insult you. ANYTIME you decide to sell this sayyarah, call me. Direct mobile."

The feeling is incredible. And I havent even started going off the road yet...

[PAVAN KADAM]

Originally Posted by maddy42

Congrats Steer. You for one are making good use of recession. Lol
Merry Xmas. Tell your wife its her Xmas gift from good ol Santa

Ya true, for some people recession is working in the reverse order.

Congrats Steer,

Ratan TATA would be happy seeing your garage."All in the Family" if only now he buys out HM (Mr TATA are you hearing)

[ported_head]

Wow, what spartan interiors! Great buy, this is turning out to be on sooper garage.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

He thrust his card into my hand and said "I wont ask you to sell it to me because I dont wish to insult you. ANYTIME you decide to sell this sayyarah, call me. Direct mobile."

What a quote to make an offer, brilliant. What does sayyarah mean?

[greenhorn]

next question, when is it going to get a tata badge