Defender thoughts

A factor is ones mechanical skills, can you do a lot of preventative maintenance yourself, and similar on the side of the road.
Some can, some cant

The Pumas seem to be significantly improved on the old ones. Plus, stock they will go pretty much everywhere you are likely to go. Much more reliable too so you won't be fixing things all the time. And it's the end of an iconic vehicle, so buy some history. Listen to the wife.

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Originally Posted by AndyG

A factor is ones mechanical skills, can you do a lot of preventative maintenance yourself, and similar on the side of the road.
Some can, some cant

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Definitely something to consider.

Each time I fix something with Defender, I become that bit more mechanically/electrically familiar with it. To me that familiarity is worth a lot. It would take me a while to gather that experience on a new car.

With a new one you don't have to worry about repairs - and if you work for a large company, then servicing for 3 years. I was/am averaging 3-12k per year on maintaining my TD5 Defender. The savings paid for the lease on a new one. I don't have the time, and can't live without two vehicles to be able to do major repairs my self so that's why maintaining it costs so much.

Ironically I could not get rid of the TD5, and still have it. It was my first brand new vehicle - and now that its used less - so my repair bills have dropped. I decided to keep it till it will go no more, and plan to keep spending whatever it takes to keep it going... (It's probably about due a head gasket - head and perhaps a gearbox rebuild.) Just about to hit 270,000ks. I recently had a new clutch/flywheel/harmonic balancer/rear main/ complete rear axle disk to disk)

There is no logic where land rover's are concerned...


Having got both side by side - I would say the Puma is an improvement in some areas (important ones) and a regression in others (quality). If you have more than 2 kids - the PUMA with the 7 seat option is bloody brilliant. The seats are much better in the PUMA, and the A/C is improved (if it's working OK). The TD5 was better put together and you can seem many cost cutting things were done to the PUMA. My TD5 is chipped/no exhaust/no EGR'd/etc and goes really well - it's a little bit faster than the PUMA. The PUMA's not to bad though.

If I could only keep one Defender I would pick the PUMA, it looks nicer.

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Originally Posted by BilboBoggles

There is no logic where land rover's are concerned...

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Spot on...

Many thanks for everybody's replies Ian going to have a look and drive of one on Saturday let's see what happens . Richard

My Wife told me to get a new car,so I got a puma. Very happy chappy here.
Cheers Billy.

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Originally Posted by tact

Rather broad comment, likely correct for a certain kind of focus. But really depends on the kind of fun a feller wants to get out of his defer.

For example if the focus is on conquering really hard trails (as opposed to touring) then I can take you 5min from my place to a trail a stock Defender will not go. (I know, I tackled it in mine when it was stock). For sure I got further than lifted, locked and loaded toys and pajeros got. Defender pride still intact.

Point made right? For touring, maybe even cape trips, a stock defer is good to go. But if jollies mean hard core trails then mods are the go.

Don't get me wrong. I am not a big time vehicle modder. The mods to my defer are minimal. 33" tyres were just a tyre replacement (no spacers, no new rims, no change to susp or offsets), Ashcroft ATBs front and rear, a BAS tune, removed sidesteps and raised the rear plough bar up a bit.

I have no plans for raised air intake, bullbars, or winch. Am not intending to go anywhere needing that kit.

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Do you Know of anything that will go up that track Neil?

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

Do you Know of anything that will go up that track Neil?

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Yeah, for sure. It's not an impossible trail. Any decently prepared/modded barge with a reasonably experienced driver can make it. A little luck also helping, and maybe a few try's at it.

There is no way a stock defender (much less the usual suspects in stock trim) would go all the way.

But on a good day - sometimes a pretty ordinary driver can get a stock vehicle further than a poor driver in better (modded) vehicle.

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Originally Posted by tact

Yeah, for sure. It's not an impossible trail. Any decently prepared/modded barge with a reasonably experienced driver can make it. A little luck also helping, and maybe a few try's at it.

There is no way a stock defender (much less the usual suspects in stock trim) would go all the way.

But on a good day - sometimes a pretty ordinary driver can get a stock vehicle further than a poor driver in better (modded) vehicle.

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So, just curious, what's the issue on that trail - clearance or traction?