Thread: Pros and Cons of Land Rover

I went through exactly the same process as you; Cruiser Ute, needed a Dual Cab for the family, always loved the look.................

I went for a PUMA 130, so far so good. The first long trips are coming in the next couple of months.

I have added MULGO seat sliders to put the seat back further and IMHO on lobger type drives it is more comfy than my friends Japanese dual cabs. It rides much better with the coils over leaf.

I got it as I have my live axels up front like the crusier ute and also a nice long tray mine is 2.2m long some have up to 2.4m

They actually have clearance and come with decent tyres out of the box, something that does not exist on the Jap dual cabs.

Originally Posted by DeeJay

There's your leakage problem..

I was wondering why I was getting so wet.

To be fair they are a piece of poo when it comes down to quality control but the best thing about them is everything unbolts. I have bashed my 2002 110 up rocks, through rivers and bogholes, driven for hours across rough as guts roads which shake your fillings loose and not once has it ever broken down and left me stranded.
Their biggest problem is lack of servicing and/or by someone who actually knows something about them.

I see someone quoted "always having to keep an eye on something" and how true that has been in my experience. I bought mine because I like simple, solid engineering and generally the Defender hits the spot. I love the way it looks and love driving it. I wouldn't reccomend one to anyone who is leery of noises, whines
etc unless you like tinkering. Mine is an older one albeit in perfect condition and I don't do my own repairs. My idea was to fix any niggles and get it perfect but just not sure if that could ever be the case with a Defender. I must say though, if you want a vehicle that will generally always get you home, a Defender could be the vehicle for you. Unlike my Rover 75 which has been in the repaires for several months waiting for a new computer!

Thanks very much for the info everyone - very much appreciated! All the info has been a big help.

They have got it right already.
Service is the key.
Mine bit my leg of and then came back for the arms! I still love it more than anything I have ever owned.
They are a machine you will always tinker with. Tightening up bolts and changing things but you get to know it so well it will become second nature.
A Defender is not a drive it and forget type of beast but it will become part of your family.

Originally Posted by newhue

My tub has 13 700 on it now, it's one of those ford type Defenders that many think are crap, and to be honest at first I was there as well. A few teething issues from new left me disappointed in my new debt, but now they are sorted by Land Rover, I wouldn't, and can't think of anything else I would replace it with.

There a strange beast if you try and evaluate one through Japanese glasses. Almost down to every aspect, like no room in door skins for speakers. The hump in the floor runs width ways. The battery is under the passenger seat. You sit in it not slob in it. You can hose it out. Are bitty and like a macarno set.
But once you see it through LR glasses it all starts to come together and they are so versatile and easy to work on/with.

A 130 will horrify you in a car park, but fill it full of crap and it's extremely stable and capable off road. The Puma's go very well, they are quieter, air con is far far better than previous models, as to the seats. But yes, like ALL modern vehicles they can have major and costly issues with water ingress. I have moved my ECU to higher ground, added a snorkel, and looking at adding an extra and bigger fuel water trap to counter act this.

Most Defender owners seem to use them, so I think the service thing is very important that others have mentioned.

Other wise take one for a test drive somewhere.

As someone said when I posted up a similar post to you....by the time you make it to here, you are sold on a LR anyway.

Hi Interested are you replacing the Standard fuel filter with a after market one?
thanks

Have a 130 DC td5 - 2004 model. Currently at 200K of work - lots of heavy loads and trailers and not very good roads.

So far no regrets at all. Not to say no repairs - but nothing very costly and mostly easy to fix. It has been the lowest repair/operating cost of any work vehicle I have ever owned and has done heavier work. Main difference has been no expensive transmission failures - which are so common on vehicles from Japan.

The td5 engine has given no trouble at all - yet - I have checked and tightned the oil pump bolt (was not loose but wasn't tight either) and taken off the cat and egr. I have added a temperatue alarm - and would recommend them as the TD5 engine is not tolerant of overheating. Other than this only routine maintainance - but it has always had this.

Did manage to break a chassis - but was easy to fix. Of note was thinner steel on one side of the chassis to the other. Land Rover build quality is character building at times.

Other than that have replaced clutch and brake master cylinders and put heavier axles on the back. Am about to replace front wheel bearings, 1 swivel and front CV joints and replace front suspension bushes. They hav'nt failed but there is some wear in there. I tolerate an oil leak between the transfer case and gearbox. Will fix it when there is some other reason to drop the case out.

All of which is not much for 200K of heavy work. There is no other dual cab vehicle around which will do what this will - I routinely put 1t. pallets on the tray and tow heavy trailers.

alanw