Thread: New member needs Defender answers

Originally Posted by PAT303

Ford,PSA,LR all had a hand in the TDV6,Ford made-designed the Puma,it comes off the ford line and is shipped to the LR line in a box regardless of what car they are in the engines are ford.The different manufacturers do small changes but if you know about manufacturing you will know that to do changes on a product passed a point it becomes cheaper to start a whole new design.The reason that those makers worked together was cost,no other reason,more manufacturers means more vehicles means economy of scale,in other words the more you make the cheaper they become.Ford played no part in AM,they just owned it.Having worked in the car industry you all would be supprised what engine-drivetrains are in different cars,Nissan to holden,mitsu to Mazda etc.The ECU changes LR made to the Puma are just Program changes,like a Tombie chip in a Td5.If I buy a Puma next year it will be serviced at Ford or I'll stick with Dyno tune,most likely the latter. Pat

Your right Pat,,and most of the public have no idea of how many parts are actually "inter-changeable" between different car makers and thier models,,

Originally Posted by PAT303

Ford,PSA,LR all had a hand in the TDV6,Ford made-designed the Puma,it comes off the ford line and is shipped to the LR line in a box regardless of what car they are in the engines are ford.

The different manufacturers do small changes but if you know about manufacturing you will know that to do changes on a product passed a point it becomes cheaper to start a whole new design.

The reason that those makers worked together was cost,no other reason,more manufacturers means more vehicles means economy of scale,in other words the more you make the cheaper they become.Ford played no part in AM,they just owned it.Having worked in the car industry you all would be supprised what engine-drivetrains are in different cars,Nissan to holden,mitsu to Mazda etc.

The ECU changes LR made to the Puma are just Program changes,like a Tombie chip in a Td5.If I buy a Puma next year it will be serviced at Ford or I'll stick with Dyno tune,most likely the latter. Pat

thats right......

All I said is its not a straight ford..it has landrover parts in it tuned by landover and yes ecu mapping specific to landrover. I would not class that as a straight ford drop in like you suggest. but thats just probably differences in interpretation between us both.

if it was a drop in we would all have cruise control...and probably auto's as I believe you can get these on the duratoque which runs the same engine.

Anyway I'm only regertitating what I was told by landrover so I guess if they are wrong then i'm wrong

I too am considering a purchase of a new defender. I have driven hired Defender on Fraser Island two years ago. I was impressed with what it could do, especially because I had zero 4wd experience prior and have read driving on Fraser could be difficult.
The only thing that's stopping me is the reliability reputation which seems to precede the Defender (or Landrover?). :-(. Many often use a quote "not if but when" it breaks.
I don't mind the aged look at all :-)
I don't know anyone who owns one to confirm this.
Have any of the owners of current Defender experienced any problems that caused them to get stuck in the middle of nowhere? If so can you give details. Do they really all leak oil?
Many say getting a defender is a lifestyle change, what do they mean by that? Will I have to become a mechanic? :-)
Thanks for reading.
Mark

I'm 90% sure the 1.5 litre unit in a Mitsubishi Colt is from the Mercedes-Benz A-Class parts-bin. The Chrysler Crossfire is also literally all CLK leftovers under the skin.

Originally Posted by markz

...Have any of the owners of current Defender experienced any problems that caused them to get stuck in the middle of nowhere? If so can you give details. Do they really all leak oil?
Many say getting a defender is a lifestyle change, what do they mean by that? Will I have to become a mechanic? :-)
Thanks for reading.
Mark

I've got a new PUMA 110, and an older TD5, and whilst the TD5 has a few weeps (as oppposed to leaks) the PUMA is 100% dry with not a leak in sight from the engine or the trans.

I think the lifestyle change referred to might be to do with going back to basics, and not having velour seats and 10 stacker DVD players, etc. Living life in a simpler manner.... but I could be wrong

You won't have to become a mechanic, at least not for the first 3 years. If you want to though, they are pretty good for the home mechanic to work on. Relatively simple in a world of complexity.

Originally Posted by PAT303

Ford,PSA,LR all had a hand in the TDV6,Ford made-designed the Puma,it comes off the ford line and is shipped to the LR line in a box regardless of what car they are in the engines are ford.The different manufacturers do small changes but if you know about manufacturing you will know that to do changes on a product passed a point it becomes cheaper to start a whole new design.The reason that those makers worked together was cost,no other reason,more manufacturers means more vehicles means economy of scale,in other words the more you make the cheaper they become.Ford played no part in AM,they just owned it.Having worked in the car industry you all would be supprised what engine-drivetrains are in different cars,Nissan to holden,mitsu to Mazda etc.The ECU changes LR made to the Puma are just Program changes,like a Tombie chip in a Td5.If I buy a Puma next year it will be serviced at Ford or I'll stick with Dyno tune,most likely the latter. Pat

pat i think you are dead on, it's been happening in europe for ages fiat peugeot,citreon all in bed together when building their commercial panel vans same lumps same train different badges ford and mazda do it vw and skoda (but they are related after a buy out)

Originally Posted by markz

I too am considering a purchase of a new defender. I have driven hired Defender on Fraser Island two years ago. I was impressed with what it could do, especially because I had zero 4wd experience prior and have read driving on Fraser could be difficult.
The only thing that's stopping me is the reliability reputation which seems to precede the Defender (or Landrover?). :-(. Many often use a quote "not if but when" it breaks.
I don't mind the aged look at all :-)
I don't know anyone who owns one to confirm this.
Have any of the owners of current Defender experienced any problems that caused them to get stuck in the middle of nowhere? If so can you give details. Do they really all leak oil?
Many say getting a defender is a lifestyle change, what do they mean by that? Will I have to become a mechanic? :-)
Thanks for reading.
Mark

reliability issues are professed by landcruiser drivers, any motor in the world will have issues some landies will some won't. some land cruisers will be pigs some wont luck of the draw imho what's wrong with learning how to maintain your vehicle an understanding of how it works can save you time and money i relish getting my paws mucky

Thanks everyone for the new defender info.Went to the dealer yesterday who I had organised a test drive with but none had yet arrived from where ever they come from.I must have looked disappointed because he said I could test drive it for a couple of days when one arrives.This will be great as I can really see if I can conform to the drivers position and have time to see how to arrange the cargo area to suit my travels.