Land Rover's Defender is a hardy perennial of the automotive world - it's like Sir Tom Jones, in many ways. It's been around for ever and instantly recognisable as the same icon from all those years before, save for a few judicious facelifts and the application of a bit of bling to keep it relevant.
Unlike many of its contemporaries the Defender has genuine character that hasn't been piped in by the marketing department prior to going on sale, it's one of those cars that inspires true love in its dedicated owners.
And the Defender is a real embodiment of the maxim that a car is for life, not just for Christmas. Environmental-types may scoff at your choice of large 4x4, but given its potentially huge life span it's a much better choice than many cars.
On the road the Defender takes some getting used - the ladder chassis and live axles are agricultural compared to the competition and rolling through a corner is an acquired taste.
The Defender is a faithful companion once you've got used to its foibles though - grip is strong and the peerless driving position (both in terms of the chair and your view of the road) leaves you feeling like the king of the road.
Off-road, the Defender has no real competition - the best 4x4xfar and all that. Before you shell out all that cash you'd do well to consider really how many expeditions through the Gobi desert you'll be doing, though. As a day-to-day proposition you can do better than a Defender.
The standard equipment is worse than pitiful - even the stereo is extra, for goodness' sake, although finessing under Ford ownership means there is at least something resembling a dashboard these days.
The Defender is a car of utmost contradiction - the noise is almost intolerably loud and the 82mph top speed means motorway driving can become a chore, but then the seats are so good that you'll not get tired as quickly as you might in another car.
It's determindly optimistic go-anywhere-do-anything attitude is what will endear the Defender to you, though - it knows it isn't perfect, you feel like it would drive through walls to keep you happy, and unlike other cars that are designed to feel robust, this genuinely is.
The Defender is obstinately idiosyncratic, infinitely compromised and unlike almost anything else on the road - but that's what makes you love it.