Thread: Puma Positives & Negatives

Originally Posted by Naks

If you have a well-sorted out Td5, no use getting a Puma.

Mine's had a pulling left problem since new, and stealers cannot fix it, and won't let me take it to someone who can without voiding my warranty

Park it on smooth concrete and with a plum bob mark the concrete on all four corners of the chassis and with the steering centered and up on stands remove the wheels and mark through the center of all four hubs and then measure the diaginal length between all eight marks.Refit the wheels and plum bob from the top of each front wheel and mark the concrete and measure the distance between that mark and the hub mark and put a piece of tape on the middle of both front tyres and measure between the two pieces then roll the tyres so the tape is at the back and climb underneath and measure again.Somethings not straight or the geometry is wrong and lastly tell your dealer to shove it if he won't let you get it checked elsewere,you paid for it so he should fix it or give your money back. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

Park it on smooth concrete and with a plum bob mark the concrete on all four corners of the chassis and with the steering centered and up on stands remove the wheels and mark through the center of all four hubs and then measure the diaginal length between all eight marks.Refit the wheels and plum bob from the top of each front wheel and mark the concrete and measure the distance between that mark and the hub mark and put a piece of tape on the middle of both front tyres and measure between the two pieces then roll the tyres so the tape is at the back and climb underneath and measure again.Somethings not straight or the geometry is wrong and lastly tell your dealer to shove it if he won't let you get it checked elsewere,you paid for it so he should fix it or give your money back. Pat

And you'll find the front diff offset to the rear, having a panhard rod setup does this

300tdi
Fuel tank replaced on first fill, shock bush replaced and radiator leak within 14 months. Other stuff like door adjusments etc.

Td5 (2005)
CDRadio mounting, accelerator pedal electronics, P38 rear axle rebuilt twice and leaking swindscreen creen. Other stuff like doors and rubber seals etc.

Puma (2010)
So far one rubber door seal and paint in gutter.

Positives - it is probalbly the last model with the traditional shape and I have one.......

Agree with you on that Dave - I also reckon it is going to be the last model of it's kind.

FYI, when I dropped the Puma off with Mulgo to start the fit-out, we had 3 separate people come over to the car (2 old Defender owners), peer inside, go "hmmm", then sit in the drivers seat and all had the same reaction: "wow!!!!!!!! It's just like sitting in a....car!!!".

They couldn't believe how refined it was, and the new seats are all more comfortable. Also on the way over to Dan's place that morning, I had to hitch my trailer in the rain, then got in while all wet and there was a fair bit of humidity that day due to all the rain we've had - and blow me down - the first time I've ever had no fog on any of the windows when it was raining !! I didn't even need the aircon on - the new vents work brilliantly.

Us Defender drivers are easy to please....

I do love my 07 defender but if I didn't live close to the dealer, didn't have a second car and if it weren't still under warranty, I probably would have strapped on a bomb vest and headed off to LR head office by now. With no exaggeration I have had a problem for nerely every week I have driven this car. I keep expecting to find a made in China sticker somewhere.
I am told by those that know more than I do, that once these things are ironed out the car will be reliable. With that in mind I can live with the hiccups (for now) and and get on with enjoying the car which I do immensly. I love it but to be honest can't really say why. It has some kind of mysterious Mojo I think.

This is the thing - some of us go through a prolonged "getting it sorted" period. Once it's there - I still believe the Puma shall be the dog's bollocks.

Is it just me or there is alot of PUMA problem threads in Defender Section currently?

Originally Posted by LRO53

Is it just me or there is alot of PUMA problem threads in Defender Section currently?

I can only put it down to the fact that there are a lot more out there.