Thread: Your experience with a 2012/2013 defender

Originally Posted by Rurover

Andy,

I suspect quite a few members of this forum will tell you that it's a largely emotional decision to buy a Defender. Which it is.... you have to WANT to put the Land Rover name on your list of vehicles to consider, given the "easy" way out would be to follow the majority and buy a Japanese or Korean 4-WD.

However for me, when I bought my first Defender (a 300Tdi) around 25 years ago I reckon, it largely came down to value for money. For significantly less than I could buy a Land Cruiser or Patrol I got a much more capable vehicle with full time 4-WD, full coil suspension, disc brakes all round a very efficient (albeit small) turbo diesel and a no nonsense vehicle that gave no concessions to the "needs" of yuppie urban types. No chrome, no carpet and no bodies designed by some ****** from Italy. (All of which you ultimately pay extra for).

The latest Puma Defenders still pretty well follow those principles, though I'd have to admit they ARE better appointed, more comfortable, more easy to drive and less noisy . Still the same basic body style though and still no chrome, leather or carpet. (Though you can get leather as an option I'm told).

The sceptics will say that Land Rovers are unreliable. Well I'm now on my third Defender (just recently bought a Puma) and the first two were super reliable.
I also hear plenty of horror stories about other brands of 4-WD being much less than reliable.
So is there a downside? Well, dealers are few and far between if something DOES go wrong. (Though this forum is an amazing resource if you DO need help).
The on-road ride is not exactly BMW class, and they do lack power compared with say a V-8 Cruiser or even a V-6 Discovery. BUT once you get off road then the Defender just feels right! It's got enough power & torque, great wheel articulation, plenty of clearance, a good traction control system and a great driving position.

Finally, unlike most modern cars the Defender body at least is a pretty simple and basic construction, Just a big (mostly) aluminium box sitting on a hefty chassis. So its easy to add all sorts of bolt-on extras for touring, camping, extra fuel, water tanks, fire-fighting, military use, whatever.

So there you are, some emotion-free reasons to buy (or consider) a Defender. But you DO get emotionally involved, because the Defender IS different. You're not buying a mass produced clone of the standard motor vehicle of the day.. it's a unique vehicle with an unmatched heritage and in fact the body shape still reflects those roots established back in 1948.
Oh, and if you DO buy a Defender, all other Defender owners will wave at you as you pass. That's got to be worth something!

Alan

So very well said mate. My sentiments exactly.
Love my defender

I've had my 2.2 130 for about a year. It had a split turbo hose recently and went into limp mode. Otherwise it's been perfect.