Thread: puma ??

Back again. I was so inspired by the postings of JOHNR and Allan that I grabbed my driving licence, clenched my keys to the Puma firmly in my fist, kissed the Mrs. and kids goodbye and strode out to Zulu, our Puma. There she was glinting in the evening sunshine from last week's waxing. I was a man inspired. Where could I go-Africa maybe. No, dinner would be ready in an hour's time, so Africa was out of the running. Anyway I climbed into Zulu, switched her on and once more smiled from ear to ear. Down the road and headed for some heather covered land. Low range second, diff locked and off we went. Climbing and lurching I was still grinning when I headed for home a half an hour later. Might not be Africa(-maybe next week), but dinner was calling. A pure joy.
Has anyone ever experienced anything remotely similar with any other vehicle?I have my doubts.

Originally Posted by stig0000

the thing with the defenders especially is that because they are mostly hand made it depends what day your car was built on, and you can really tell the Friday afternoon cars and the Monday morning hangover car

so true.

Mine has a nasty pulling-left problem since new. Done wheel alignment, has had the chassis checked, steering box reset, nothing has helped, not even replacing the crappy General Grabbers with 265 BFG AT's *sigh*

We're starting to get used to it and live with it, still only 4500km on the clock. Other than that, nothing major has appeared (yet).

Going on a 5500km tour of Namibia in 2 weeks' time, here she is, with the camping kit bolted on:

I am about to get new Puma, when ever it arrives .

But isnt it a simple decision ? Buy it or don't buy ? Do I like it ? dont I like it ?

All cars/4wds have there issues, if you likethe car/4wd buy it and deal with the issues.

If you dont like it, dont buy it. Sorry it is that simple. It only you that can make that chioce.

Hi VNX205,

Yep, you would of thought so but actually my other half has experienced the exact same thing when driving our various Defenders. She drives like a nanna on road to save fuel (she doesn't like filling up) but is a demon off-road!

Not sure of the exact reason why they use more fuel - different engines, more complexity, different drivetrains etc, but I have also noticed it mentioned on various forums so it is not just us. I'm pretty sure if you look up the fuel economy figures of the 300TDi, TD5 and TDCi you will notice a steady decline in fuel economy.

Cheers,

Cripesamighty



Quote:
Originally Posted by cripesamighty
Hi VNX205,

Actually driving style has stayed the same but can't get as much range out of the tank!

The 300TDi got better fuel economy than TD5 (the long range tank went from the TDi into the TD5) and the Puma's fuel economy is not as good as TD5's. Mind you performance has certainly improved with each model update so am not complaining!


Cheers,

Cripesamighty

That surprises me.

Surely the new engines are more efficient than the ones they replaced and should use less fuel to do the same job.

Maybe what is happening is that you drive the vehicle so that it feels as if you are driving as hard as you used to, but because of the extra performance, you are actually accelerating faster.

Originally Posted by cripesamighty

Maybe what is happening is that you drive the vehicle so that it feels as if you are driving as hard as you used to, but because of the extra performance, you are actually accelerating faster.

I would nearly bet this is the reason for more fuel consumption, although there could be other, minor effects for example, the new airconditioning aparently works a lot better - and probably uses more power doing just that.

John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I would nearly bet this is the reason for more fuel consumption, although there could be other, minor effects for example, the new airconditioning aparently works a lot better - and probably uses more power doing just that.

John

Could be or the fact they don't have vents, meaning the air con has to used?

Yes the air conditioning works very well.

However it makes very little difference to the fuel consumption at least not that I have noticed over the average of a tank of fuel. 11l /100km.

Fortunately the Defender still has wind down windows so the use of the AC is not mandatory although on a long run at freeway speeds both from a noise comfort point of view and the aerodynamic benefit albeit marginal in a Defender the AC would be far superior to the vents.

(I've just trodden on a sacred cow there )

I have been able to get an average of 10l/100 whilst travelling at speeds lower than 100 kph. The 300 Tdi achieved that as a rule but didn't have the "oomph".

I find that the torque in the Puma engine allows me to drive very economically without having to push too hard. I think that the "advertised" fuel consumption for the Puma is 13l/100 km for the city so 10 to 11 ain't bad for both town and country.

My fuel consumption seems to be ok. My previous 300Tdi Deefers (90s) all struggled to do better than 10km/l or 10l/100km which ever you prefer.

My Puma 90 on the other hand only has 1397km on the clock this far but a recent trip to the South West with around 150km offroad in the Leeuwen Naturalista Park has so far delivered an average of 10.14km/liter or 9.86liter/100km. Gentle sand tracks with a few rocky sections couldn't have played too much of a role though.

I believe it's the foot thing. The first Defender I've ever owned that needs constant effort to stay below the posted speed limit!