Thread: Puma 2.4 Reliability

Originally Posted by fourteen8

Hi all,

I may be in the market for Defender. The boss already give me a green light. I think she fed up of me sending Defender on sale almost every night
Currently I have a Discovery 2 Td5 and only being use 1-2 times a week to take my kids or me to play sports. So I am not sure whether I should get one (that's why I said maybe at a start). But the green light from the boss may not be for long.

Anyway, I have been looking for Defender post Td5 mainly due to better seats and interior and looks from the outside. I found some 2.4 Defender which is not that bad in term of price and condition and mostly is around 2010 Defender. I also been reading some post regarding 2.4 and but mostly are old posts.
Now my questions are:
1. Is 2.4 that bad or all the issues had been rectified by now?
2. Are they all having issue or only few bad ones out there?
3. Should I budget a replacement engine in the future?
4. Should I wait until I can afford 2.2 Puma?

I remember in the early year of having Td5, people used to say Td5 is bad engine compare to 300Tdi at that time. My Td5 was also need to have head done gasket and change to cooler thermostat. Not to mention other issue like front shaft, XYZ, etc but that not engine related. But now I am hearing a lot of people actually like Td5 and some said it is the most tunable engine. is it the same as 2.4 puma? is it because they haven't really know what the issue and how to rectify it?

Below article said Td5 is the best engine Defender ever has.
The best ever Defender engines | Auto Express



Thanks,
Gus

Hi Gus

I have not owned a 2.4 but do have a 2.2 and a Td5 (and a 300Tdi ). My preference for day to day is definitely the Td5. The puma gearbox gets very tiring after a while as you are constantly changing gears. The R380 in the Td5 (and the 300Tdi) IMO is much more user friendly box giving you a wider power range to play with before you change. The puma is an acquired driving style, I find you need to accelerate into corners much earlier than with either of the others! End of the day your choice but don’t discount the Td5.

We love all our defenders and do not anticipate ever selling them. The smile factor every time you hop in, and the comradeship on the road with the defender wave! Can really make your day sometimes.

Cheers Simon

I'm not sure what the reliability problems are but then I've only done 160,000km in mine, it had 120k on it when I bought it and it clocked over 280k last week. I've solo traveled some of the most remote locations in Australia without significant problems. What are the reliability problems I should start worrying about?- if I know, I'll be ready for them when they come up.

Originally Posted by POD

I'm not sure what the reliability problems are but then I've only done 160,000km in mine, it had 120k on it when I bought it and it clocked over 280k last week. I've solo traveled some of the most remote locations in Australia without significant problems. What are the reliability problems I should start worrying about?- if I know, I'll be ready for them when they come up.

Mate, sounds like you bought a dud. I’d be getting rid of it as fast as you can. With that sort of history you’d be lucky to see 500k I reckon. Should have bought a Cruiser - now they’re reliable.

Originally Posted by fourteen8

Hi all,

I may be in the market for Defender. The boss already give me a green light. I think she fed up of me sending Defender on sale almost every night
Currently I have a Discovery 2 Td5 and only being use 1-2 times a week to take my kids or me to play sports. So I am not sure whether I should get one (that's why I said maybe at a start). But the green light from the boss may not be for long.

Anyway, I have been looking for Defender post Td5 mainly due to better seats and interior and looks from the outside. I found some 2.4 Defender which is not that bad in term of price and condition and mostly is around 2010 Defender. I also been reading some post regarding 2.4 and but mostly are old posts.
Now my questions are:
1. Is 2.4 that bad or all the issues had been rectified by now?
2. Are they all having issue or only few bad ones out there?
3. Should I budget a replacement engine in the future?
4. Should I wait until I can afford 2.2 Puma?

I remember in the early year of having Td5, people used to say Td5 is bad engine compare to 300Tdi at that time. My Td5 was also need to have head done gasket and change to cooler thermostat. Not to mention other issue like front shaft, XYZ, etc but that not engine related. But now I am hearing a lot of people actually like Td5 and some said it is the most tunable engine. is it the same as 2.4 puma? is it because they haven't really know what the issue and how to rectify it?

Below article said Td5 is the best engine Defender ever has.
The best ever Defender engines | Auto Express



Thanks,
Gus

I would stay with the D2 TD5, unless you’re desparate for more cargo space.

I have owned 110s for 20 years, and I agree with the first response above, the 6 speed was painful.

I’m also not a fan of how Ford matched their gearbox to the Lt230.

The puma interior is very appealing, which is why I took one for a test drive.

IMHO the D2a/D2 is a good combination of modern engineering, modern simplicity, capability, comfort and passenger safety.

The D2 with a modest lift and legal 31 inch tyres is as capable off-road as a stock Defender (assuming it's a Puma with stock traction control or an Td5 Extreme with traction control...otherwise traction control in the D2 carries the day). Now the Defender lends itself to easier mods and bigger tryes than a D2 but there is nothing in it unless you want to go big lift and big tyres in a Defender and the 100inch D2 wheelbase is in the sweet spot between the 90 and 110. The 110 and 90 departure angle is better but again there isn't much in it and a steel rear bar is cheap for a D2. Factor in the comfort and fun factor if you go a manual V8 and it's an easy choice to make especially when until the new Defender comes out people are still asking mad prices for a Deefer.

Cheers

I've got a '09 2.4 PUMA with 175k on the clock... I've only had it since Jul'18 and I've spent a reasonable amount of $$ on it getting it ready for our big trip this year... When I was looking, the prices of the 2.2ltr was out of my range, but the 2.4 seemed to be more of a chance of getting one within my price range. I asked a mate who already had a '11 Puma 2.4 as to which one (2.2 or 2.4) - he told me to look for a 2.4ltr or at least that what told to him when he was looking years before he got his..


Things that I've had to fix on mine since buying is:


> Cracked Exhaust Manifold
> VCV valve replacement
> Passengers rear door central looking not working...
> MAF sensor replaced which turned out to actually be the MAF Senor Plug being faulty


and that's it...
I was fortunate to find one that came with some good mods/upgrades
> Ashcroft Intermediate shaft (or spud shaft) installed
> Front(ARB / Rear(Ashcroft) Lockers
> Cranked Rear Trailing arms
> Extra Oil Capacity for the Transfer Case
> Bullbar/Winch/Lightforce Spotties
> Roofrack
> Sidebars
> Frontrunner Rear Drawer System
> UHF
> Toughdog suspension / rear airbags
> Aux Inner guard Fuel Tank
> Kaymar Rear Tyre Carrier
> Engine Remap

The price I paid was well under the 40k mark that I had budgeted for...


With regards to the Puma 6spd gearbox - I would have to agree with some of the previous comments about changing gears but this can be resolved to a point by skipping some gears instead of going through all the gears when starting/stopping...depending though on the road that u are driving...


not sure if that will help u, but I've also got a old tdi300 Defender and far as performance goes, interior appeal, seating - its like chaulk and cheese between the 2... but I still like BOTH and enjoy BOTH.


Btw: If u have kids - the PUMA would be the go as u seem to get more room in the 2nd row for the kids + far better seats...

Originally Posted by fourteen8

Hi all,

I may be in the market for Defender. The boss already give me a green light. I think she fed up of me sending Defender on sale almost every night
Currently I have a Discovery 2 Td5 and only being use 1-2 times a week to take my kids or me to play sports. So I am not sure whether I should get one (that's why I said maybe at a start). But the green light from the boss may not be for long.

Anyway, I have been looking for Defender post Td5 mainly due to better seats and interior and looks from the outside. I found some 2.4 Defender which is not that bad in term of price and condition and mostly is around 2010 Defender. I also been reading some post regarding 2.4 and but mostly are old posts.
Now my questions are:
1. Is 2.4 that bad or all the issues had been rectified by now?
2. Are they all having issue or only few bad ones out there?
3. Should I budget a replacement engine in the future?
4. Should I wait until I can afford 2.2 Puma?

I remember in the early year of having Td5, people used to say Td5 is bad engine compare to 300Tdi at that time. My Td5 was also need to have head done gasket and change to cooler thermostat. Not to mention other issue like front shaft, XYZ, etc but that not engine related. But now I am hearing a lot of people actually like Td5 and some said it is the most tunable engine. is it the same as 2.4 puma? is it because they haven't really know what the issue and how to rectify it?

Below article said Td5 is the best engine Defender ever has.
The best ever Defender engines | Auto Express



Thanks,
Gus

I’m finding the comments on the 6 speed interesting. Its been a long time since I’ve driven anything with an R380 in it so can’t really compare, but I can’t see what the problem is with the 6 speed. I find it a very enjoyable drive, even when commuting - and freeway driving in a Defender is much better with the 6 speed.

That said, I wouldn’t argue with the comments on the Td5. Always liked it, whether in a Defender or a D2 and wouldn’t dismiss either as an option. I loved my D2 and would happily have one again. My only concern with them now is how old they are. Keeping one you already have is one thing but buying another one could mean inheriting a world of pain.

Cheers,
Jon

I went from a 2004 TD 5 D2 to a 2012 2.2L 110.

I don't regret it. I still miss the sound of the TD5 as the transit motor just doesn't sound right in it. I do miss the auto, the D2a was an easier car to drive. But the defender is a lot more fun.