It doesn't say much about the inbuilt security if they are that easy to steal... or is it the keyless entry "amplification" routine being used?

Mercedes has introduced a new layer of security. Lay your key fob down on a shelf or table and after 30 seconds it turns its self off, until picked up. Logical and simple.

Thanks for the heads-up Keith. My son has just bought a Range Rover Sport, so I'll let him know he needs to invest in a decent Tracker as things tend to go walkabout round where he lives. A while ago someone relieved him of his exhaust while the car was on his drive.

I saw the new Defender today by the Roadside outside Cirencester in it zebra squirly print glory. No time to stop to take a picture.

Not sure if it had broken down :-)

Can't the scum now detect them with an electronic gizmo? So I have heard from my neighbour who told this by the police when his van was stolen.

I’ve got one of the last TD5 Defender County (2007). I’ve always been paranoid about the the theft issue of these vehicles. One of the best security mods is fitting a Optimil QR steering wheel. At least it will slow the low life down if they do attempt to take it.

I have a Mercedes GLS as my daily driver, had it for nearly two years and think it was anything but a daft purchase.
It has seven seats when needed (we have a big family - 13 grandchildren!), huge load carrying capacity ( I’ve moved a sofa, a double bed and more garden centre purchases than I care to admit too), it’ll transport 5 adults plus their full size suitcases, it’s a real workhorse. It’s also the most comfortable motorway cruiser I’ve ever had, you can get out at the end of a whole day of driving and feel like you’ve only been in it for a short while. It “only” has a 3 litre Diesel engine but it was built by AMG so has plenty of pick up. It replaced my previous E class saloon which was quite comfortable but absolutely hopeless if it snowed, the GLS is permanent 4WD.
I don’t see that any of these benefits could be considered as daft and I’m surprised at how much anti-SUV feeling there is. Take a look in any public car park (around where I live in Kent at least) and a large percentage of the cars are SUVs so we can’t all be wrong can we? In fact public car parking is probably the only down side as it it a big car. I doubt I’d have bought it if I still lived in London.
I’m know there are people that don’t “get” Morgans who think that my Plus 8 is daft - no boot, no power steering, no radio, no suspension (😉), not easy to get into, very low, need to grease the suspension etc. It’s just horses for courses. If we all bought vehicles based on logic and being sensible we'd all be driving around in identical boxes on wheels.

Well said Steve! I get tired of the derogatory remarks on here at times regarding SUVs.
Mines probably the most comfortable car I’ve ever had and hugely practical. I’ll never take it off road apart from fields and the odd forest track but it suits me and what I want from a vehicle.
Each to their own....certain people like extremely noisy exhausts and find it amusing to wake the neighbours and set off car alarms. Enough said!

SUV = practical car , Morgan = non practical car , suppose we need both !

In defence of JLR recent tests by ADAC found that 2018 Discoverys & Range Rovers & 2019 Evoque & Jag XE were not vulnerable to relay attack. Yes you can fit a tracker but far preferable not to get stolen at all so use a mechanical steering lock & keep the key in Faraday shielded pouch. Never understood the logic of making your car more vulnerable to theft for a "convienience" feature. I never found it hard to get a key out of my pocket, insert it in a lock & turn to start the car.
MJF you have been fortunate to have reliable Range Rovers. JLR have languished at the bottom of reliability surveys for years. Certainly all cars are getting more reliable but even Toyotas do break down. The most reliable car is a Suzuki Swift.

I recognise that my experience does fly in the face of published statistics, but it is hard not to be influenced by your own overwhelmingly positive experience.

The telling call will come next year when the current one is due to be replaced - do I go for my 4th one or do something different ? The key issue I have at the moment is the lack of modern engines in the Range Rover when compared with the other European manufacturers rather than any other concerns.

Your post did make me look again at some reliability surveys which has prompted me to conclude that I don't like any of the cars in the upper sections of the survey anyway, so it looks like whatever I do, I will be consigned to be at the riskier end of things.