Monaco is an anomaly on the Formula 1 calendar. It's bumpy, the pits are cramped, overtaking is almost impossible and it has hard, unyielding walls instead of the gravel traps demanded by modern safety standards.
Anywhere else in the world such a circuit seeking an F1 slot would be laughed off but Monaco's flaws are tolerated because of its history and glamour - F1 without Monte Carlo would be almost unthinkable.
It's much the same in the 4x4 world with Land Rover's Defender. This iconic dinosaur is a misfit in a market full of hi-tech, super-luxurious SUV's but it's such a legend that buyers overlook its out-datedness.
Yet even long-lived dinosaurs need a nip 'n tuck now and then and the Defender range was updated late in 2007 with a new engine and a modern fascia. It's the most extreme makeover in the Defender's six-decade history and has brought more comfort, anti-lock brakes and traction control to the station wagons and bakkies - but not crash bags or a maintenance plan.
The new drive train retains permanent all-wheel drive and a low-range transfer case but has added a new six-speed gearbox with a shorter first gear and taller sixth to improve crawling and cruising abilities.
The clutch has also been made lighter to spare the driver's left leg and the new hump in the Defender's bonnet is there to accommodate a taller and more powerful new turbodiesel engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission.
The previous 90kW/300Nm, 2.5-litre TD5 engine was ditched in favour of a new 2.4 that makes the same power but thumps out an extra 60Nm spread over a wider range thanks to a variable-nozzle turbocharger.
The latest Defender is all about gutsy low-down grunt rather than high-revving performance and its power delivery feels much the same whether hauling only the driver or a full load of passengers.
Gutsy yes, but it has a narrow power band that keeps you busy with gear changes while accelerating up to its not-very-high cruising speed - this Landy won't go any more than an indicated 140km/h but, once there, will tootle along comfortably in sixth with an occasional downshift on hills from its smooth-shifting gearbox.
Off-road is where the engine comes into its own with righteous looow-down pulling power. Low range it allows you to crawl very slowly up steep hills instead of rushing at them and it's also not likely to stall so you can dawdle at idling speed without wearing out the clutch.
Clean ergonomics
There's also a differential lock that can be invoked on the move, full-time all-wheel drive, long-travel suspension and a tall ride height so the Defender is a true mountain goat that can go pretty much anywhere it pleases - or Marthinus van Schalkwyk allows.
The most extreme makeover has been in the cabin. The Winston Churchill-era fascia is replaced by a modern version with all the latest trimmings. It not only looks good but also functions well and has clean ergonomics and easy-to-operate controls. Oddments space is plentiful and comforts include aircon, keyless entry and a sound system.
There are new, more comfortable, "stadium" seats that set rear passengers slightly higher than those ahead - seven of them in the Defender 110 thanks to a third row that folds against the luggage bay's walls if more cargo has to be carried
Despite its makeover, the Defender still feels crude and truck-like when compared with modern SUV's. Its boxy shape creates a lot of wind noise when cruising and the engine's loud.
The turning circle is bus-like, the steering's vague, and the handling is as soggy as week-old lettuce yet the Defender still has a certain charm that you either "get" or you don't. I did; driving it always felt like an adventure.
Service getting better
Robustness comes from a tough ladder-frame chassis and corrosion-resistant aluminium body and Land Rover says 75 percent of the 1.9-million Defenders sold since 1948 are still running.
Land Rover was for many years a synonym for poor after-sales service but the brand seems to be getting its house in order according to recent surveys. Let's hope that trend will continue.
VERDICT
The revamped Defender will still send taxi moms scurrying for cover but the adventure-seekers it's aimed at will find it a bit easier to live with.
Crude but robust, old-fashioned but timeless. It's the Swiss Army knife of 4x4s. - Star Motoring