You like going on safari with the Land Rover Defender.
Yeah, yeah, I know all the blah blah blah about global warming and fuel consumption. But just LOOK at this vehicle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Land_Rover_Defender_front_20070518.jpg
Isn't it worth a melting glacier or two?
Predating the Hummer by decades, the Defender was an SUV before the term existed. Its only competition for cool is the Mercedes G-Wagon. But guess what? This kick-ass car can't be purchased in Canada because it has no air bags. Yes, the nanny state strikes again, ostensibly working hard to keep us safe. The argument breaks down in the fine print, though: the policy only applies to new(ish) vehicles - if the car you're buying is an old junker, it doesn't have to have airbags. So somehow I'm safer in a 20-year old Land Rover than I am in a brand new one.
Let's call this policy what it is - protectionism. Protectionism may or may not be the right way to keep a thriving auto industry in Canada, but hiding behind a hypocritical claim of "safety concerns" (presuming that it's the government's role to force air bags on us in the first place) makes me puke.
Transport Canada, you suck.
By the way, some sources have expressed concerns about LR's quality (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060810/FREE/60807017/1041/PROMOBLOG0). But the same source, Auto Week, gave a positive review of the 2007 Defender (albeit one that doesn't really address long-term quality): http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070510/FREE/70507014&Profile=1041
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2 comments:
'Kay, so I dunno if this blog's even alive still but here's my two cents:
Oh my God - my family is having the same issue with importing our Defender! We moved over to the UK from Canada, and now we're debating going back since we're not too struck on it here, but we've now got this great vehicle nobody wants to part with. I knew there was an age restriction on importing them. I hadn't realized it was all down to *airbags*, of all the rubbish.
As it is, I suspect we're going to try and ship a Series 3 over instead but we'd prefer a Defender for various comfort reasons. Plus they apparently have better suspension. I can't believe it's all down to airbags. I hope this blog's not dead, I haven't found anyone else in Canada who likes Land Rovers lol!
I love defender. I'm Canadien and I'm actually crazy of them. I try to import one from Europe. (left hand drive) it seem easy but I need to look for an older than 15 years to rid of the airbag policy! Bummer! My wife is from UK and we try to use the gift exception from her dad to her. Doesn't work for Canada. Bummer again. The only way I found it's by buying a used one that someone import years before from UK to US. I found one in Utah, top shape, 1982, 110, red, diesel 2.5... 14 000$USD... You need now to do the process to import them from US to Canada. But it's a shame to pay that much when you the truck worst half of it!
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