Thread: New Defender, any good?

Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts. We live about 1hr from a dealer so it is great to have this web site to get help.

Secretly I am hoping that when we do the sums it will turn out to be cheaper to keep paying for repairs to the D2 than go for a new car. That said I do like the idea of a "shed on wheels" and driving a truck. The difference between a Fender and D3 is not lost on me. The D3 is off the list because of price for a 7 seat TDV6 and limited fuel tank but as said I would still like one.

I am going to test drive the Puma Fender.

Originally Posted by weeds

i always find it odd when people compare the defender to a D3 or range rover.......quite opposites really when it comes to the style of the car, one is far less refined than the others

Exactly. I love the D3 but I'm anal about my cars. If I used a D3 for the same off-roading that I do and have done I would find it heart breaking. It wouldn't get used.

The scratches and general damage that you pick up in serious off road use would mean the D3 would end up trashed in the longer term. Somehow... defenders just end up looking more beautiful (in my eyes) with use When I look at a defender that looks to have been used I can just tell it has stories and memories to be told.

The D3 is comfortable and has carpets and all the fruit. The defender is a car that you can (and I do) clean the interior with a hose! However the wife wouldn't whinge about driving a D3 around town (I think).

I think people should get over the unreliable thing.I have to say that Tojo's would be without doubt the most over-rated POS there is.I get bagged out over my LR's at work too,funny thing is the bloke that does the most has had nothing but trouble with his new Hilux,on friday he was on the phone for 30mins to the dealer because the engines Knocking,his wife is not happy as it left her stranded with a broken diff a month back.I would buy another new LR anyday,even if it did have a problem at least you can buy parts for them,Tojo owners rave about the dealer support I can tell you there isn't any.I could not live with paying the prices they charge for parts that are made in Thailand when you do finally get them. Pat

The Playdough would be the pick of the Tojo's. Hilux is certainly no longer unbreakable and the finish durability is rubbish compared to the previous models. 70 series and 200 series are both way to expensive and if anyone ever thought a Defender was poorly finished, look at the $65,000 70 series Workmate!

D3 over a 200 series is a no brainer either, just based on cost alone.

My new Defender is wonderful to drive, the engine is a lot more responsive than the Td5 and the gearing is brilliant once you get used to the 1st - my wife has started referring to it as 0.5 The TC is very good, A/C and heater works very well. Backseat is redesigned and full seats as are the very rear, though the head room in the very back is limited. All seats are very comfortable with inertia real belts and head rests all round

The thing tows a 1.5t camper trailer like it's hardly there. No oil leaks in 6500km, you will read that they do use some oil whilst breaking in, but this isn't unusual for many of the new diesels from what I've been told. At this stage mine did use about a litre after towing a camper for the first 4200km, but after a 5000km oil change hasn't used anymore.

The 500mm wading depth isn't unusual, it would have applied to your Disco too and to many other vehicles. Fitting a snorkel, moving breathers and its all fine. The door seasl are still standard Defender fair though, so expect some dust ingress at the least.

Take one for a test drive is the best way.

Well it's interesting reading, all the replies to your question and everybody who had anything negitive to say (apart from Xavie), didn't own one???

We own one, and have had it for a bit over 12months now and in a nutshell AWSOME

I have owned many 4wd's in the past and this is by far the best one ever. All this talk about Ford stuffing things up with the Transit engine? I can not imaging a better test bed for an engine than probibly one of the most commonly used courier vans in the world! If you've ever watched courier drivers they know how to test an engine "Too much electronics" I can not say this hasn't worried me, but as I have said to myself "get with the 21st centuary" show me a new car that does not have electronics (apart from something from an eastern block country)

My wife can't get enough of it and I feel privelidged when she lets me drive her car
Go buy one and join the best club there is Defer Owners!




Cheers,

The other good thing you get when you go from a Disco to a Defender is waves from other Defender drivers. I think my success rate has to be over 90% compared to about 10% when I drive the Disco (when I bother).

mate nice looking truck, just like mine but black
have to catch up one day side by side

cheers chaser

I've had mine for 1 year now - 30 000km, no oil leaks, no water ingress into the cabin, no roof liner sag! - So, is it any good? Well, it's our one and only ever LR so it's harder for me to compare ours with other models, but...

I've driven the TD5 Defender - IMO, there is no contest - the Puma is a big improvement in so many ways.

There is no turbo lag when you accelerate; it is much quieter; there is much more usable room around and under dash (no skin off the knees from "AC" unit); it has proper AC that works; and it has much better gearing for cruising - who wants to drive with a diesel's rpm well over 2000rpm in top gear? The TD5 needs another gear too!

The anti stall feature when in low range 1st is beyond compare - you just can't stall it. Think how good that is for serious offroad driving. And the spread of torque is great - usable over the rev range. All the seats have changed - not just the rear ones - and although I'm told the old ones were fine we found the new ones very comfortable.

I took mine around Oz recently - across the Gibson and Simpson deserts, through the Kimberly, across the Gulf. We had no dramas that stopped us and found it a really practical vehicle. That said, it did have the following things occur...

1) LH mirror fell off
2) RH rear window winder fell off
3) both rear disc guards fatigue cracked and I had to pulled off before they caused further damage.
4) the gutters are not strong enough - a rack even with minimal load will cause the gutter paint to crack and the soft filler to be displaced.
5) both front ABS sensors failed.

Still - all of these items were repaired under warranty at Suttons in Alice.

It is a very efficient engine - we achieved 9.8l/100km overall fuel consumption and we had about 700kg luggage on board with a roof rack. The engine had more than enough grunt to do the job everywhere we went. I also feel that the Ford engine will be a long lasting unit as it is so down tuned - look at Transit vans and the way they move - they're rockets! So a down tuned version is producing nowhere near it's max power or torque so is less stressed.

Overall - we are very happy with the vehicle and even happier that we waited the 11 long months for the Puma to be available. But a Defender is a long way from a Disco - you'll need to not only drive one, but take some time to get used to it. These vehicles are not for everyone, but without a doubt, it's the truck for me and it is a keeper.