2012 defender worth buying?

242stickman - you don't sound like someone who will be happy with a decision to buy a Puma to me....I would really suggest looking elsewhere from the gist of what I take from your posts. I feel that whilst Rovers may be somewhat quirky, they are also quite unique - if that worries you - run! I expect you may have a few issues with a brand new one, of course, you may not, but what I would be absolutely certain of is that if you saw any such eventuality through you'd end up with a vehicle you'd be happy with.

I love both my Rovers - my Puma has been trouble free and rock solid for more than several years now, after some initial teething issues; my Series 1 is 56 years old, is largely original (and everything that is not is new old stock Rover), and she is still going strong. Hope you get the same from a Suzuki or similar! But I have never seen a 1956 Land Cruiser actually driving along a road- not ever - have you?

We are all largely captive to our own prejudices, I think you need to bear that in mind and make a decision yourself. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dobbo

so slipping liners on a vehicle with 102000km's on the odo is purely acceptable.

brand new vehicles with driveline vibration due to poor design and balance of tailshafts.

incorrect brand of fuel causing engine failure

blown turbo's

warped heads

"rover diffs are made of chesse"

boundless amounts of electrical issues

Highly electronic expedition vehicles???????????? WTF....


etc...



Do you actually read this forum or just look at the pretty pictures?

LandRovers have a lot of issues, and just because some git in a Ben Sherman suit tells me it's the most capable 4x4 out of the box, doesn't inspire me to risk my family's lives driving a Puma 110 into the desert single handed. An older styled 110, any day of the week, but not a vehicle from 2007 onwards. Why do you think they stopped the Camel trophey's (because the new vehicles could no longer make it)

Ford looked at the 110, took the beautifully simple design that worked, wrecked it, then sold Land Rover to India.

---

Just Unbloody Australian Dobbo.

You bet it's worth buying ! Picked mine up in Feb'12 for the special $39,990 on road price. Also have a Range Rover Sport but wife wasn't happy taking it through deep water or narrow bush tracks !!! No worries with 'Shorty'. The difference in 2011 and 2012 model is huge. The heater and aircon work a treat, seats are good and engine is much quieter. Loved the sucking sound of the air into the air intake (like Darth Vader)...though this has gone now I have fitted a Safari snorkel They have put improved door seals and the only trace of dust on first long bush trip was through the rubber seal joints at bottoms of rear door...easily fixed with a smear of black Siloflex. Intermittant wipers, car alarm with good horn, even good headlights. We used crawl control in low first to go up 100m deeply rutted slippery red clay incline..it just walked straight up..other lads in their 'look at me' 4x4 couldn't get up there even with huge run ups...leaving a trail of body parts in the process ! The new Defender still has a soul and I enjoy it immensley.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jools

You bet it's worth buying ! Picked mine up in Feb'12 for the special $39,990 on road price. Also have a Range Rover Sport but wife wasn't happy taking it through deep water or narrow bush tracks !!! No worries with 'Shorty'. The difference in 2011 and 2012 model is huge. The heater and aircon work a treat, seats are good and engine is much quieter. Loved the sucking sound of the air into the air intake (like Darth Vader)...though this has gone now I have fitted a Safari snorkel They have put improved door seals and the only trace of dust on first long bush trip was through the rubber seal joints at bottoms of rear door...easily fixed with a smear of black Siloflex. Intermittant wipers, car alarm with good horn, even good headlights. We used crawl control in low first to go up 100m deeply rutted slippery red clay incline..it just walked straight up..other lads in their 'look at me' 4x4 couldn't get up there even with huge run ups...leaving a trail of body parts in the process ! The new Defender still has a soul and I enjoy it immensley.

---

Intermittent wipers! Is there no limit to the clever innovations from Land Rover? Actually my Tdi Defenders have those.

I bought mine in March 2012. Best car I have ever owned. Just about finished all the mods. Awesome offroad and not a bad tourer either. I drive regularly between Sydney and Melbourne and enjoy every minute in it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jools

You bet it's worth buying ! Picked mine up in Feb'12 for the special $39,990 on road price. Also have a Range Rover Sport but wife wasn't happy taking it through deep water or narrow bush tracks !!! No worries with 'Shorty'. The difference in 2011 and 2012 model is huge. The heater and aircon work a treat, seats are good and engine is much quieter. Loved the sucking sound of the air into the air intake (like Darth Vader)...though this has gone now I have fitted a Safari snorkel They have put improved door seals and the only trace of dust on first long bush trip was through the rubber seal joints at bottoms of rear door...easily fixed with a smear of black Siloflex. Intermittant wipers, car alarm with good horn, even good headlights. We used crawl control in low first to go up 100m deeply rutted slippery red clay incline..it just walked straight up..other lads in their 'look at me' 4x4 couldn't get up there even with huge run ups...leaving a trail of body parts in the process ! The new Defender still has a soul and I enjoy it immensley.

---

Got a 2012 Puma - replacing a tricked up 1988 90 with a 4.6 V8. The puma is a different beast - more civilised, quiet, economical - and it's growing on me.
For those that want a rational purchase, its not a Defender. The design is ancient, there are no airbags, its an anachronism. There are other, more rational but soulless options for everyone else.
However, as I considered buying my new 4x4, I came to the realisation that if I didn't get another Defender I would always be enviously looking at other peoples Landies. I don't feel the same about Toyotas or Nissans. And I didn't want to be sitting in a new Landcruiser regretting not getting a Landy - the "grey man with regrets"

My D90 bought in Feb has been brilliant, it's been back to the Dealer to get a minor problem fixed when the inlet pipe fell off the turbo but that's been it. No other problems and I just love it. It amuses me when other manufacturers bring out retro models ie mini, beetle, PT cruiser and those Land Cruiser things when the Land Rover isn't retro, it just hasn't changed, however, underneath it has some serious technology. The Jeeps are similar but I don't understand why they are more popular, is it because of the open top lifestyle thing, or just better advertising or just the usual American wanna be culture that we are slowly adopting. Anyway, my D90 has done 10,000 km and it just gets better.

Bought my new Defender 90 in March so far 12000 trouble free kilometres very happy with it.

Picked up MY12 90 in February and just clocked 12,000. No issues. Gets better every drive and has character every time you drive it.

Dont shoot ...I'm, a lux driver!
But have been lurking arround this forum for months and in the near future would like to buy a D90. Some of you have mentioned that there was a special earlier this year. Was that some sort of end of year (eg. my2011 runout) or was it because of the change to the 2.2 ltr engine etc. I guess what i'm asking ......does Landrover Aust. have regular specials?

Oh and how long does it take from deposit down to delivery to the dealership (solitair in SA i think)
Thanks in advance