Thread: Will I regret buying a new Defender?

It's a work ute, and it's working, so what's the problem? This depreciation, and starting to cost stuff may be well and good for your family car or your hobby but a farmers ute should be bought, looked after as all tools and equipment should on the place and worked until it's time to push the poor tired old thing under a tree, and then you take the tray and bull-bar off and put it on the next one.

Keep the one you've got going. You think it's going to cost you money? It's costing you $26000 right now if you swap it. You do your oil changes but every year take it in to town to someone trustworthy who knows these vehicles for a major service and looksee. They'll tell you which bits are getting tired or starting to clag and you'll fix it before it lets you down.

$26 hard earned big ones sure feels better in your pocket than in LRA's. Strewth it's not as if something else on your place is not going to go pear shaped and reliee you of some of that 26.

Of course if you feel like a new ute and can afford it then you go for it, absolutely, but we're talking gut not head, so its a different conversation.

Yesterday I said that I was very happy with my Puma after 11000km...
Today walk out and spot some oil.
Further investigation and it appears to be from a leaking transfer box rear oil seal.
Ah well, such is life.

Originally Posted by miky

Yesterday I said that I was very happy with my Puma after 11000km...
Today walk out and spot some oil.
Further investigation and it appears to be from a leaking transfer box rear oil seal.
Ah well, such is life.

Miky, I have seen a few do this, and believe it or not both have had loose output flange nuts, the oil travelling down the splines, out past the washer and nut and past the flange and park brake drum where you see it right now.

Get it checked/ tightened ASAP, the longer it stays like that, the more has to be replaced, worst case tailshaft nuts come loose next and the drum, tailshaft flange, and output flange will require replacement too.

JC

I have no comment of the relative merits of the purchase - that's for you to decide.

What I can provide commment on is my 110 Puma wagon - it's got 40k on it now and hasn't let me down once.

Issues I have had are:

Front passenger door return mechanism failed (split pin fell out).
Paint on the roof (over the winscreen and panel join) needed some minor repairs.
Front passenger mud flap went west - incorrectly fitted at dealer.
Tow bar wiring not right - incorrectly fitted at dealer.
Clunk in rear diff went moving off - flange bolts replaced and loctitied.
Excessive drive train lash (rear end) - new drive flange fitted.


None of these remotely approach show stoppers and the rear dif thing is something I'm pretty picky about - I ultimately suspect that the diff will be replaced.

I wouldn't say my Defender has had the hardest life but it's seen it's fair share of dirt and low range, also I take perverse pleasure in racing faster cars around town and on windy roads - so it definitelty hasn't been babied either.

From memory I had pretty much the same amount of warranty stuff with my TD5.

Thanks
I am interested in everyones problems or not. As someone mentioned earlier, the people that have had problems may well be over represented on the forum, and those with none don't stand out from the crowd. This may not be the case but its good to know that there are a few that haven't had major problems.

I have had a look at a Patrol forum and the new 3L ones have had their fair share of problems. The gearbox's don't seam to last is one prob and Nissan don't want to warrent them I have read. They are also very heavy on fuel, something my TD5 and the new Pumas are not.

Its ok to spend money keeping mine going but it doesn't take long to start spending big bucks if you do need a new engine or injectors etc. The only difference is its small amounts over a period not all at once like a new car. I am not going to talk about the pros and cons of buying a new car cost wise as thats a seperate issue. I have never purchased a new car before always low km second hand. I am getting off topic, but thanks for giving me your opionions on the reliability of the new defenders.

If they were really bad then you should here about them breaking down on road tests for 4x4 Au and Overlander. They have tested quite a few in the fast few years and I don't remember reading about anything that broke or any other problems. I do remember a 100 series cruiser breaking a front diff in a 4x4 of the year shootout some time ago. Not sure which mag though.

Thanks again for the feedback.

You Td5 has got quite a bit of life left in it but for me I'm buying one because my Tdi hasn't.I'm also getting a lease because I want to lower my tax so I can kill two birds with one stone. Pat

I have a 2004 130 TD5 with 115K, and a 2010 puma 90 with 9k...ok call me greedy but I also would like my old Series 3 88" back that I imported from UK and perhaps a 101FC, ...but I digress.

The 130 was secondhand from Kalgoorlie, and has done 60k in 2 years (including a month long Karrtha trip, a WA goldfields blast and a 2 week Per-Syd-Mel-Ade-Per adventure) and aside from good preventative maintenance and the odd cabin niggle, has only required a rear diff seal and a clutch master cylinder. Admittedly it was 2 seals and 3 clutch cylinders but the replacement spares were crap.

The Puma 90 is now on 9k in 6 months and has been utterly fault free. Not a glitch, pause, fault, gripe or concern.

New or old. If there's nothing wrong with your 130, keep it, love it and keep doing the maintenance....I flew helicopters in the military that were over 25 years old, and we are hosting one here in Perth where we just cut the cake for its 50th birthday!!! If you want the 'security' of buying new, then remember that companies don't pump out warranties for nothing, new cars break down too, especially new models. (The recalls.gov.au website shows that LR had 2 last year, 14 in past 5 years - not Defender though!!). And new models also have more critical electronic control and gadgets.

I love the 130 because its basic and goes. I love the 90 because the aircon works well, I can hear the radio and it doesn't have the turning circle of the QE2. But when heading across the country the 130 is the pick for me.


aew849

I can't help but think what I would be reading had this been early 1998, just prior to ordering my 300Tdi,110! I picked it up on return home on the 4th July 98. I had a number of persons saying things like "ensure it's had the gearbox upgrade", Oh an another said "what a pretty little Defender this will be", the latter just made me more determine to go ahead.

Similarly I had ""good advice"" on all the changes that I would have to make, "you know how to get it up to speed"! One of the first trips was to the Cape full of family and gear and had no troubles whatsoever. 80 Series in company had to do bushes etc, etc and was astounded that I had no issues. He an older fellow and somewhat more experienced than I, was quite impressed.

I have purchased a Puma and have had little time to give it a good old roggering, but am confident that it will do the job, for a standard vehicle.

If for some reason you are doubtfull, then do not go ahead in purchasing, anything for that matter. Especially for the sum of dollars exchanged. If however you are somewhat confident in the purchase and you believe this is truely what you want then "fill your boots".