Buying a MY12 defender.... honest help please

Just remember that these things are "hand built".
It's just the nature of the beast as they say.;)

Exterior Panels will not line up!
Interior panels will/can creak & again not line up.
They leak water!
They will let dust in!
All in all they are reliable, they can have issues as others have said, just like any other manufacturer.
2.2s are relatively new, just released late last year & all seem to be ok.
Common issue rear door seals come adrift, crimp/sikaflex it back on all ok.
Dealer should have completed all checks prior to delivery, but after about 500k's things will loosen up, can highly recommend that you run a spanner over all suspension components & just do a visual inspection for peace of mind.

It only takes one slightly backed out pin somewhere & this will/can cause headaches.

But again that can be any manufacturer.;)

Good luck.

WRT dealers, normally dealers will tend to be a little more helpful if you purchased the vehicle from them.:wasntme:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scallops

If you've already committed by buying one, is not all this information after the fact?

How did you find your TDI Disco? If you've owned a Rover, you are probably going to be OK! :D

Seems the early Pumas were shockers, maybe OK now, but in all honesty you can talk to any new vehicle owner these days and horror stories seem to be owned by no particular marque - they're ubiquitous. And perhaps that explains why I am yet to meet any Puma owner who has not required warranty work of some description. And being an active member in 2 LR clubs, I know plenty. Build quality is not good, teething mechanical issues are commonplace.

That said, I'd never be rid of Grover. I love the darned thing! And it's fine now.

My experience has been it's best is to find a good independent service agent rather than use dealers. If you do need warranty items sorted, you have no choice, but for anything else you do.

Good luck with the new Defy. :)

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Haven't had a warranty issue,22,000k's on the clock. Pat

It was said to me when I was in the same position of trying to convince myself about a Defender, if I had made it to AULRO it was a forgone conclusion that you want it, so go get it.
I took that advice. I had never spent 60K on a vehicle before. I have never had a vehicle like it, and I don't wish to ever part with it.

I work with guys with all types of 4x4, anything new had had something fail, some more than others. From what I have seen a Defender is no better or worse than its competition regarding warranty issues. However use it for what it is built for and it leaves all the competition behind bar a Patrol and perhaps commercial lines of Land Cruiser.

If you expect no issues under 100K than don't buy a Defender, but don't by a toyota either, so your money lay in a Patrol; and well who knows it may fail as well.

My D90 was my first new car, so a decision not easily made. Now that I have 2k on the clock I have a long list of mods that will improve the comfort level. Already been off road and it was just fantastic! Like another said on this thread, these cars have soul. Just wish LR wold spend a few extra dollars on noise and heat protection.

My 2010 110 Defender is about to clock up 60,000kms. So far LR have had to re-glue a door seal and thats about it. One of the guys in the UK has clocked up over 230,000 miles without too much greif:

Defender2 - View topic - 230,000 miles today

Take one for a good long test drive.......


Cheers,

Just read the Defender2 thread on this 2007 PUMA with 230,000 mile...

Original motor, turbo, gear box, diffs, axels blah blah blah

That’s nearly 400,000k's - Go the Mighty PUMA

The King is Dead, long live the King

Quote:

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Originally Posted by troyfyn

See thats what i just dont understand why im paying $60k...??? If i spend that much i shouldnt need to consider being in dealerships getting loan cars waiting on a fix and hoping for a better puma at the end......

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It's not just Land Rovers.. last year my father spent well over a hundred grand on a new cruiser with extra's.. which has spent more time at the dealers being 'repaired' than it has on the road..

We took our Nissan back several times (to an uncooperative dealer) with problems when we first bought it..

and how many people purchase a brand new car/home/boat without some kind of teething problem?..

I had a small problem with a leaking pinion seal on my Defender when I first got it.. but it's since been fixed on warranty so I don't see it as a problem.. The Defenders are a great car and as far as I have seen no less reliable than the other brands on the market.. I love mine and wouldn't even consider having anything else.. :)

Should new cars need work, regardless if they cost $30,000, $60k , $100k?
Answer: No.

Do you believe defender is more likely to have problems, and you don't want 'more' problems?
Answer: buy what you consider a more reliable purchase.

Confirmation bias is strong way of gaining ' knowledge' . We often see what we want see/ hear etc.

I think if you start thinking this way then you are better of buying something you regard as more reliable.

Enjoy whatever new car you buy. Such a big purchase for our short life!




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i got my new defender with the expectation of problems and have had nothing major so far. few minor things to sort out but overall no regrets.

I wonder if the 2.2 will introduce a new set of problems?

Doubt it. Pat