In my case usually cruise speed is between 100-110 Km/h. Occasionally I go up to 120. But I always have in mind that if a front tire blows up, then I´m likely done. These squared defenders are extremely unsafe when they rollover. As well, std brakes are not bad but you need a lot of muscle to bring it to stop at high speed. I would like to have an external cage but it is not available in my country. Well, it is but it cost a little fortune to ship it. Bear in mind you have risen the center of gravity quite a bit so it is even more dangerous. I consider these Defenders as only updates of the Series III so safe top speed has increased only a bit.
They are unsafe in case of a roll-over but we don't feel unsafe driving at highway speed limit. As said in the video, it's good to drive how you feel comfortable and safe. These vehicles are capable of a lot and we get told to hold back when in fact we know well our 4x4 since we have it since 2009
Two things - 1. diesel is so expensive now, I always drive slower than I could probably drive it. 2. Safety - I once heard that my crumple zone is the other car!
I have been driving Defenders since they were first released and series and Range Rover’s before then, well over 40 years. We currently have three Defenders and generally do very little motorway driving, I much prefer backroads. However we never exceed 110 in our 2.2 Puma 90 or Td5 110 which are the highest legal limit here anyway. In our 300Tdi fitted out for remote travel (long range fuel tanks, dual batteries etc) and quite heavy would never exceed 95kph but usually 90kph as fuel consumption goes up significantly between 90-95 but as already pointed out breaking distance (increased with extra weight) , high center of gravity in my opinion just not worth the risk. Once the wheels are not pointing down you have precious little protection.
Mine is a 20 Yr td5 110. It is capable of going faster but I generally keep it at 65mph, approx 107 km as that is the sweet spot for my engine and transmission. As a driver you learn what speed the car is happiest at , Also it's good for fuel consumption as I'm getting nearly 30mpg at that speed with a heavy loaded truck.
Please remember that the Defender was not a car but a truck (in Italy). This means that it was sold without airbags for example. The maximum speed - 130 km/h - is really really the top speed. The brake system, the suspension are at their limits. So, if you want to drive in safe condition you have to limit your speed below 100 km/h. Yes the Defender can tow a Mass of 3500 kg trailer, but please remember that the trailer has a brake system installed. If you load your Defender, and you drive always at maximum load, your brake and suspension system and the chassis frames are working at their limits. Conclusion. You have to mantain some margins to drive with a truck.
Landys are fun to drive! When I had my TD5 110, whether loaded or unloaded, I'd go fast if the road and conditions allowed it. It didn't always match the traffic signs, though. My comfort zone typically ranged from 110 to 120 km/h. Going any faster required full attention and became more exhausting. But on German motorways, I'd be overtaking other cars at 150 km/h. Sure, the fuel consumption shoots up once you cross 90 km/h, but hey, isn't the whole point of having a car to savor the joy of driving, right?
Happy you enjoyed it as much as we do :) and for sure driving requires full attention at all times, especially when going fast. Aah those German highways, some do drive really fast ;)
Hi Emeline, I regularly cruise in Boo at 80-85 mph (129-136kph) when driving through France and she is perfectly stable, the engine isn’t racing and I feel perfectly safe 🤷♂️ When I first bought Boo new from a Land Rover dealer the salesman said it was the fastest Defender ever made with the new engine, the older engine was the 2.4 TDCI and he quoted that it had a top speed of 89mph……. I said wow, how fast is the new 2.2 TDCI then………he said 90mph!!!!! 😂 I have had Boo stage 1 chipped by Alive tuning and it has made an enormous difference, not to the top speed but how it gets there, Boo is so much more responsive now and because it was only the stage 1 remap it puts no extra stress on the engine. I agree, in todays society there are far too many people offering ‘expert’ opinion when they has very little knowledge. Enjoying this series guys 😘 Kind regards Tony
I did drive my defender puma, 2.4 L, 110 2008 all through Australia and yes load it, and done so in a very efficient manner, Miura did impress me all the time, I did wen fastest about 150 kms/P for a log long periods of time and a average speed of of 110kms for over 7 hours strait some times you know how big Australia is all Done with not problems at all, a few drives where done to a pushing atmospheric temperatures of above 40*C easily, defenders are very capable vehicles, ppl as u mentioned just find the balance and get to know the capabilities of your vehicle Cheers 🍻
THE most limiting factor IMHO. English minor road: tip toe around the bends. Italian motorway? Kills you above 70 km/h. German one after rush hour: >130 km/h to gets you home faster.
From 2012, with the 2.2 TD4, the speed limiter changed from 135 km/h to 145 km/h. I don't know why as ABS and TC were improved in 2011 and DSC (ESP) only came in 2015. Ah, wait! - the noise insulation was improved with the 2.2, so JLR must have though THAT would be the limiting factor to top speed, not the lack of airbags or the wobbly drive train 🤣
My cruise velocity with open road is about 110/120 km/h, with my puma 2009, and i feel ok with that, only a bit fast to overpass another vehicle, something very unusual…😐
I’ve had many different vehicles and a couple of the same and they all have had there own caricaturist’s. The speed, the weight it can handle the fuel mileage. Even the sound when going down the road. Common sense and gut feeling tells you a lot also. My top speed in a vehicle is I think 130 mph. The speedo only went to 120 and it went past that a ways.
Always some idiot who tries to tell you what to do and not to do. Especially on the internet. You know the vehicle better than anyone and are better equipped to know what's safe
On Motorways/Autobahn i end up most of the time sitting at 110km/h to 120km/h as a comfortable long distance speed. Just for overtaking i go faster for a short distance.
There are a lot of sofa warriors these days who think they know it all. I just follow the recommendations in my Land Rover manual, and it states nothing about maximum speed. I drive my 130 BFA 300tdi for more then 10 years now at highway speeds of 130Km/h (adjusted on gps is 120Km/h and with no head wind 😂) and did not have any major problems. Of course you have to keep in mind the heavier and the faster the vehicle goes the longer your breaking distance wil be.
Yes too many sofa warriors ;) I do think it's always a good idea to experiment ourselves and see what works for us even when we hear some old sayings. Seems they are often repeated without real experience behind the words.
Assuming new tyres, good shock absorbers, the standard Defender, heavily loaded, is not recommended above 100 kph when cruising on national roads / highway. Having weighted items on a roof rack makes it even more challenging. Overtaking speeds up to 120 kph should be reduced as soon as possible especially when overtaking large trucks. The Defender is an overland vehicle by design, not a high speed highway vehicle. Cross wind and air disturbances from large trucks affect the car a lot since it’s aerodynamic shape is poor. Travelling far distances should not be about how quick you can get there. If it is do not buy a Land Rover!
I appreciate that you seek our input, but it seems like your interest may be somewhat limited, given your comments both here and in the video itself. Personally, I have reservations about handling the vehicle at speeds exceeding 110 km/h in the event of an evasive maneuver. I sincerely hope you and your loved ones never find yourselves in a serious accident. Please prioritize safety on the road! 🚗💨
You need to drive with the same speed as the trucks, just like 90 km/ h, your fuel consumption will also be better. Especially when you have kids in your landrover, you should never ever drive over the 90 km/h. Stay safe! Greetings from the Netherlands
Car speed limit on highway is fine as the Defender is a car and not a truck, then it's a personal preference to drive at a certain speed. Kids are always safe with us 👍 and having or being with kids shouldn't hold us back from any adventure or exploration
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Fastest drive I've experienced with him is 160 km/h and that was scary! Guess what part didn't like it and smellt burnt
you need UF-4514 front radius arm chassis bushes and puma brakes if you have the 21 mm pistons you need the 26mm brake pistons.
I guess you did not like the fine he got or you guys shouting at each other😉
Lucky no fine and certainly no shouting 😉
My guess is the clutch?
Then I guess you were overtaken by a 1973 toyota land cruiser while you were trying to control a death wobble
In my case usually cruise speed is between 100-110 Km/h. Occasionally I go up to 120. But I always have in mind that if a front tire blows up, then I´m likely done. These squared defenders are extremely unsafe when they rollover. As well, std brakes are not bad but you need a lot of muscle to bring it to stop at high speed. I would like to have an external cage but it is not available in my country. Well, it is but it cost a little fortune to ship it. Bear in mind you have risen the center of gravity quite a bit so it is even more dangerous. I consider these Defenders as only updates of the Series III so safe top speed has increased only a bit.
They are unsafe in case of a roll-over but we don't feel unsafe driving at highway speed limit. As said in the video, it's good to drive how you feel comfortable and safe. These vehicles are capable of a lot and we get told to hold back when in fact we know well our 4x4 since we have it since 2009
Two things - 1. diesel is so expensive now, I always drive slower than I could probably drive it. 2. Safety - I once heard that my crumple zone is the other car!
True diesel is even more expensive than before! That crumple zone is also the other car even at low speed
I have been driving Defenders since they were first released and series and Range Rover’s before then, well over 40 years. We currently have three Defenders and generally do very little motorway driving, I much prefer backroads. However we never exceed 110 in our 2.2 Puma 90 or Td5 110 which are the highest legal limit here anyway. In our 300Tdi fitted out for remote travel (long range fuel tanks, dual batteries etc) and quite heavy would never exceed 95kph but usually 90kph as fuel consumption goes up significantly between 90-95 but as already pointed out breaking distance (increased with extra weight) , high center of gravity in my opinion just not worth the risk. Once the wheels are not pointing down you have precious little protection.
Mine is a 20 Yr td5 110. It is capable of going faster but I generally keep it at 65mph, approx 107 km as that is the sweet spot for my engine and transmission. As a driver you learn what speed the car is happiest at , Also it's good for fuel consumption as I'm getting nearly 30mpg at that speed with a heavy loaded truck.
Agree, it's all about personal experience with the car and how one enjoy it the most :)
Please remember that the Defender was not a car but a truck (in Italy). This means that it was sold without airbags for example. The maximum speed - 130 km/h - is really really the top speed. The brake system, the suspension are at their limits. So, if you want to drive in safe condition you have to limit your speed below 100 km/h.
Yes the Defender can tow a Mass of 3500 kg trailer, but please remember that the trailer has a brake system installed. If you load your Defender, and you drive always at maximum load, your brake and suspension system and the chassis frames are working at their limits.
Conclusion. You have to mantain some margins to drive with a truck.
Landys are fun to drive! When I had my TD5 110, whether loaded or unloaded, I'd go fast if the road and conditions allowed it. It didn't always match the traffic signs, though. My comfort zone typically ranged from 110 to 120 km/h. Going any faster required full attention and became more exhausting. But on German motorways, I'd be overtaking other cars at 150 km/h. Sure, the fuel consumption shoots up once you cross 90 km/h, but hey, isn't the whole point of having a car to savor the joy of driving, right?
Happy you enjoyed it as much as we do :) and for sure driving requires full attention at all times, especially when going fast. Aah those German highways, some do drive really fast ;)
Hi Emeline,
I regularly cruise in Boo at 80-85 mph (129-136kph) when driving through France and she is perfectly stable, the engine isn’t racing and I feel perfectly safe 🤷♂️
When I first bought Boo new from a Land Rover dealer the salesman said it was the fastest Defender ever made with the new engine, the older engine was the 2.4 TDCI and he quoted that it had a top speed of 89mph……. I said wow, how fast is the new 2.2 TDCI then………he said 90mph!!!!! 😂
I have had Boo stage 1 chipped by Alive tuning and it has made an enormous difference, not to the top speed but how it gets there, Boo is so much more responsive now and because it was only the stage 1 remap it puts no extra stress on the engine.
I agree, in todays society there are far too many people offering ‘expert’ opinion when they has very little knowledge.
Enjoying this series guys 😘
Kind regards
Tony
I did drive my defender puma, 2.4 L, 110 2008 all through Australia and yes load it, and done so in a very efficient manner, Miura did impress me all the time, I did wen fastest about 150 kms/P for a log long periods of time and a average speed of of 110kms for over 7 hours strait some times you know how big Australia is all
Done with not problems at all, a few drives where done to a pushing atmospheric temperatures of above 40*C easily, defenders are very capable vehicles, ppl as u mentioned just find the balance and get to know the capabilities of your vehicle
Cheers 🍻
Absolutely, they are very capable! 🙌👍
you need UF-4514 front radius arm chassis bushes and puma brakes if you have the 21 mm pistons you need the 26mm brake pistons.
Don't understand how this has an incidence on speed.
Road quality is a variable that Defender owners cannot control, and it influences ride quality and safety a lot.
THE most limiting factor IMHO. English minor road: tip toe around the bends. Italian motorway? Kills you above 70 km/h. German one after rush hour: >130 km/h to gets you home faster.
Sure always adapt speed and way of driving to road and weather conditions 👍
From 2012, with the 2.2 TD4, the speed limiter changed from 135 km/h to 145 km/h. I don't know why as ABS and TC were improved in 2011 and DSC (ESP) only came in 2015. Ah, wait! - the noise insulation was improved with the 2.2, so JLR must have though THAT would be the limiting factor to top speed, not the lack of airbags or the wobbly drive train 🤣
😆 they always surprise us ;)
My cruise velocity with open road is about 110/120 km/h, with my puma 2009, and i feel ok with that, only a bit fast to overpass another vehicle, something very unusual…😐
Don't feel it can be unsusual to overtake other vehicles at 120 km/h, at least in CH, some regular cars have really slow drivers ;)
I’ve had many different vehicles and a couple of the same and they all have had there own caricaturist’s. The speed, the weight it can handle the fuel mileage. Even the sound when going down the road. Common sense and gut feeling tells you a lot also. My top speed in a vehicle is I think 130 mph. The speedo only went to 120 and it went past that a ways.
Always some idiot who tries to tell you what to do and not to do. Especially on the internet. You know the vehicle better than anyone and are better equipped to know what's safe
Agree with that 👍
On Motorways/Autobahn i end up most of the time sitting at 110km/h to 120km/h as a comfortable long distance speed. Just for overtaking i go faster for a short distance.
👍🏼 I somewhat do the same :)
There are a lot of sofa warriors these days who think they know it all. I just follow the recommendations in my Land Rover manual, and it states nothing about maximum speed.
I drive my 130 BFA 300tdi for more then 10 years now at highway speeds of 130Km/h (adjusted on gps is 120Km/h and with no head wind 😂) and did not have any major problems. Of course you have to keep in mind the heavier and the faster the vehicle goes the longer your breaking distance wil be.
Yes too many sofa warriors ;) I do think it's always a good idea to experiment ourselves and see what works for us even when we hear some old sayings. Seems they are often repeated without real experience behind the words.
Ha! I drive mine at 80 to 90 km/h. It’s about the journey not the destination :-)
Journey is also good at 120kmh 😜
My 300tdi maxed out at 120km/h. 😂
Assuming new tyres, good shock absorbers, the standard Defender, heavily loaded, is not recommended above 100 kph when cruising on national roads / highway. Having weighted items on a roof rack makes it even more challenging. Overtaking speeds up to 120 kph should be reduced as soon as possible especially when overtaking large trucks. The Defender is an overland vehicle by design, not a high speed highway vehicle. Cross wind and air disturbances from large trucks affect the car a lot since it’s aerodynamic shape is poor. Travelling far distances should not be about how quick you can get there. If it is do not buy a Land Rover!
I appreciate that you seek our input, but it seems like your interest may be somewhat limited, given your comments both here and in the video itself. Personally, I have reservations about handling the vehicle at speeds exceeding 110 km/h in the event of an evasive maneuver. I sincerely hope you and your loved ones never find yourselves in a serious accident. Please prioritize safety on the road! 🚗💨
Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
100 KS will save you $$$
If your overlanding destination is not yet fixed, let me now.
Our big project? North America ;)
You need to drive with the same speed as the trucks, just like 90 km/ h, your fuel consumption will also be better. Especially when you have kids in your landrover, you should never ever drive over the 90 km/h. Stay safe! Greetings from the Netherlands
Car speed limit on highway is fine as the Defender is a car and not a truck, then it's a personal preference to drive at a certain speed. Kids are always safe with us 👍 and having or being with kids shouldn't hold us back from any adventure or exploration
Easy at 140
👍
Well you have blocked my comments so there you go
Checked and don't see any blocked comments