Thread: Puma Longevity ??

Rosco,

PUMA's are like any new car, some will have problems, some worse than others.

Lots of members on here like to rag on them as they are the latest model and forums will always attract owners wanting help with problems and other needing to "vent", more so than good new storeys.

My personal experience is very positive, with only very minor issues and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one to a mate. After all, you have 3 years to get it sorted.

There are PUMA owners on here with close to 200,000K's with barley an issue.

The engine gets lots of attention, being to small and only from a transit but the reality is transit vans do hundreds upon hundreds of thousands K's across the planet without issue, and at 2.4L it is only .25Ml per cylinder small than the famous (tongue in check) TD5.

Make your own decision, but I say Go For It and enjoy mighty PUMA....

Mine has 2600km's on it already and I've only owned it for 2 days,impressed with the motor and gearbox and ahem,it gets to it's 135km/hr speed limit very easily. pat

Mine's a 2009, just coming up on 50k.

Only meaningful issues to date have been new halve shafts/flanges and seals - done under warrranty after I raised whfelt was excess drve train lash.

Sundry issues include: paint around windscreen, paint on roof join, passenger door not staying open (needs to be done again) and a loose rear view mirror.

There's a recall for the transfer case/handbrake to be done.

Not much all up really. I'm happy and would buy again.

A good dealer is worth their weight in gold.

MY Puma 90 came in with the first batch and was purchased by me in March 2010. I have now done 36,000 km. Had a transfer case oil leak after about 6 months. Presumably this is the same leak that is now subject to recall. Other than that only a few very minor things (eg re-gluing one of the rubber door seals).

Cheers
KarlB

Had a td5 and other than having the gearbox removed, reconditioned and eventually replaced ( could never select 2nd gear) it was a great bus. Has it's share of LR personality I.e door seals that don't, no turning circle, grove in my left shin at about the same Hight as the hand break lever. Did about 80k before I sold it ( biggest mistake of my life). It never let me down. Loved the car and loved the bonnet vents, even when I forgot to close them and hat water wash my cd,s out of the slot. Oh yes, let's never forget the frozen left knee is summer when I was foolish enough to have the ac on... But I miss her so much.....

missing the old girl for so long and still waving to defenders drivers as I passed them in my Holden I though I can't wait any longer. I rang up my loacal LR stealer said how much for a new 110. $53 k drive away was the immediate response. I said I.ll give you $51k for a silver one and offered my credit card for the deposit. Deal was done that quick.

It's been a year now and the puma, warts and all is so much a better car. I can get 2nd ( gearbox is beautiful...... ) door seals still don't and the groove in the left shin is still a perfect fit. My cd stay dry on deep crossings but very sad to loose the vents. Ac and heater WORK. No, not a typo... My daughter in the rear seat asks me to turn it off as it's too cold in the car in summer..... A defender.... Hmmm..

Hand break drum is a little lower... Ehhhh what do you do? More steal in the car, miss the visible welds inside the doors... But I love the car.

Problems? 20k on it's had a few.... Windscreen motor was a dud - replaced under warranty. Engine mcu was a suspected dud - replaced under warranty ( was actually a symptom of some wiring I did.... Errrrr sorry land rover). Traction control and abs lights keep coming on... Been back and forth to the dealers about 5 times for this. It's there now in fact. It's a sneaky bug but they still have 2 years and 80k plus to fix it, they will. They give me a loan car and all the free e,tag usage I can eat so I'm not complaining and I always get the defender back clean....

No complaints. Love driving the car, love driving her with ease where other cars with similar after market mods to her fail to proceed and love watching the big monsta trucks scream and bounce their way up hills with all the good ol' boys high fiveing at the top of the hill while the defender just walks it's way up the hill past them as they slap each other on the but. I just smile and nod and go on my way.......

Yes it's a sad thing. Td5 is brilliant for all the things that make it great, puma is brilliant too.... Which is better... Hmmmmm. I think the puma if for nothing other than a working heater......

Sorry. I'm off to the lav with some tissues and a LR book..... Hmmm

Thanks for the replies fellas.

If I decide to go down this road ... which is becoming more likely by the day , how similar are the 2?
i.e. What bits that I've added to the TD5 will go straight on a Puma?

Bullbar ?
Towbar ?
Steering guard ?
I would expect roof racks etc wouldn't be a problem, nor would the rear draw, luggage barrier etc.

[QUOTE=Rosco;1522676]Thanks for the replies fellas.

If I decide to go down this road ... which is becoming more likely by the day , how similar are the 2?
i.e. What bits that I've added to the TD5 will go straight on a Puma?

Bullbar ? yes
Towbar ? yes
Steering guard ? yes
I would expect roof racks etc wouldn't be a problem, nor would the rear draw, luggage barrier etc.correct /QUOTE]

I had a good look at mine today and I'm impressed at the level of detail LR have done as far as retaining the pipes,wires,tubes etc on the puma model.The engine bay is full of retained componants and heat shielding,guarding is everywhere and the chance of wires,pipes rubbing through would be very low,they have done well.The attention to detail in the puma is light years ahead of the Tdi,Td5 and is equal to my L322 Range Rover. Pat