There is something in the build of Land Rovers that turn them from a car to a character - and once you've been drawn in, it becomes a fixation.
There's an unspoken understanding between Landy tragics in Australia, just one example
being the enthusiastic wave shared between Defender drivers as a nod of mutual respect.
Being mid-twenties I don't have the personal history of Land Rovers that is engrained in
many from years prior, but in only a year I was quickly drawn into the cult following of this
iconic car.
They can be noisy, rough and have plenty of mechanical quirks - but every time I get in one
I'm grinning from ear to ear.
The charisma exuded by these vehicles is something that needs to be felt to be truly understood - and once you've been bitten by that bug, there's no going back.
The rattles, the reliability and the rugged appearance gives personality to a vehicle that might be more comfortable, but most certainly wouldn't be as fun, without these characteristics.
In addition, very few cars possess the handcrafted touches that I am still uncovering on my 2012 make Defender 90 to this day.
The staples in the centre console and the smiley face drawn alongside an employee number on my back interior door panel, for example, add a human touch that most modern vehicles are inherently lacking.
However, by far the biggest drawcard of the Land Rover is the off-road ability and the resultant rough-and-ready adventure lifestyle they encourage.
No road feels too long or perilous from behind the wheel of a Landy, and indeed they can
be credited with opening countless avenues of exploration across the world for almost seven decades.
From the Series I, II and III to the later Defenders, this outline has become a universally
recognisable symbol of freedom - so it's no wonder they're considered off-roading royalty.
If you're thinking of joining us you'll just need a sense of adventure, a willingness to wave to fellow Land Rovers and a simple promise that you'll never refer to your car as a Jeep (just kidding...kind of).
I'm not even sure I can be considered a real Defender owner when mine doesn't leave an
oil puddle in the garage, but I love them dearly nonetheless.
