TDCi Defender Appreciation Thread

[solmanic]

Just to up the ante on this little Puma group hug...

I find that when ever I park it somewhere, if I see another Defender I always park next to it, or near by. That's because the only thing better than seeing one Defender in the car park, is seeing TWO! I also like to think that seeing both together may give the owner of the other one pleasure when they come back. There is also the possibility of bumping into them for a little on-the-spot Defender love-in.

I also like driving into town where I can only get street parks because of the height, and jamming it into a space with only a foot at either end just to prove I am the master of manoeuvrability.

[dmdigital]

Every night mine parks next to an older Defender.




What's better than having one Defender in the driveway?




Two Defenders in the driveway of course

[solmanic]

What's better than having one Defender in the driveway?Two Defenders in the driveway of course

And I know there are those here who are fortunate to have even more...

I went to the Brisbane International Motor show early in the year and even though I already had my own new Defender, I still had to go and have a stickybeak at the one on the Land Rover stand. They are like automotive pornography - you just have to look .

[cripesamighty]

I guess I can count us in that group of multi-Landy owners, at least until we sell the TD5. Will definitely have to get some photos of both of them together before that happens.

[solmanic]

Yes, there is definitely a warm, satisfied feeling inside when you have a fleet of Defenders...



This is one of my favourite photos when my high-mileage, early 2002 Defender was yet to be delivered to its new owner and my low mileage, 2003 one had just arrived.

[Aaron]

I like the one on the left :P


Ill be there to pick your Puma up in a few years time.... Just like old times.

[jddisco200tdi]

I love the luggage space. I had a disco D1 before and getting the camping gear in for a family is going to be so much easier.

John D - Defender 110 2.4

[wally]

Now I know you only ever read bad stuff on these forums, and I know that we all come here to air our problems in the hope that we find a solution or at least some company in our misery.....

....but I thought it might be worth starting a Puma Appreciation thread! (I've noticed these type of threads pop up on some geeky - sci-fi forums, not that I frequent them mind you...) So here are the rules - no mention of issues or problems other than endearing idiosynchracies and the like. I want this to be a thread where we can simply say what we love about our new Defenders in the hope that we can restore the balance of good vs bad representation on the forum.
so here goes...

I BLOODY LOVE MY PUMA TDCi DEFENDER!!!!

Even with the ridiculous price of diesel I find I am still making excuses to get in it and drive across town or wherever just so I can be in it. The other day I did THREE trips to the SAME SUBURB just because it was a nice day for a drive in the Defender. And one of those trips was to another owner's place just to look at his all dirty from an epic trip around Australia.

Now, having seen his all covered in red dust, I just look at mine in the car port and have fantasies about where it can take me. But even just driving into town is fun enough.

The seats are comfortable, and I love the driving position. Yes, it's true, I get a warm feeling of superiority sitting up there looking over the roofs of most of the other "soft" SUVs in traffic. And not just because I'm higher up, it's because the very manual nature of the controls makes me feel that I'm somehow a more worthy, more capable driver than those people with automatic everything and air-bags all around.

I love the low down torque and the way I can leave it in third around most corners. I also love the way I can pootle around in sixth gear at 60kph with the engine just idling. Then I love the way I can slowly wind it all the way up to 110kph on the motorway (again in sixth gear) and cruise along without my ears bleeding.

I love the way the dog can ride in the back and stick his head out the windows so all I see are his ears flapping in the rear vision mirrors. And I love the way I don't have to care how dirty he is when he gets in because the rubber mats just wipe clean.

Off-road I love the fact that over just about any terrain it makes me feel so totally in control. I love that when I see ruts of any size I don't immediately feel nervous that I am going to rip the transmission out if I fall in one. I love that on steep pinches up the track to our property I can just let the gearing and engine do their thing while I enjoy the smells and the scenery. And I love just seeing it sitting out somewhere in the bush all covered in dirt and mud.

I love the way it still feels like every other Defender I've owned, but just a little bit better in every way. And most of all, I love the way that each time I get in I don't care where I'm going, just the fact that I get to spend some more time in my new Defender.

And you like iced coffee too?

[solmanic]

And you like iced coffee too?

... And I like the way it has beverage holders just the right size for a 500ml iced coffee.

[justinc]

And I get to drive everyone elses when i service them!!

Aren't I the lucky one???


Agreed they are a great drive, couldn't quite justify the purchase of one as a work vehicle yet, but working on it

JC