Thread: Would you Pick a Puma over a Jap 4wd?

Originally Posted by jplambs

Hi Lucas,

I live out east of Perth on a farm and quite a few of the local farmers went out and bought the new(ish) V8 as soon as it came out. Pretty much everyone of them that I have spoken to says that they are not very happy with them, apparently they don't perform as well under load as everyone was expecting. You should have heard the number of people out at the Newdigate field days that were complaining about them. Also, my bosses brother was saying that they are finding their's very difficult to service, etc compared to previous models due to the location of components in the engine bay. Haven't actually checked that out for myself but he is a pretty good farm mechanic so he should know what he is talking about.

There isn't a problem if you are a tojo tragic,everyone else notices it straight away.The engine has power,it just doesn't produce it were you need it,they also share the same trouble most non LR vehicles have as far as the engine and gearbox aren't a match.Drive one with a load on and you can't seem to get the right gear at the right speed. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

...and all 5 drink like you wouldn't believe,you could fit a Gen 111 under the cab and get better fuel economy.They would be my last choice before walking. Pat

I find that extremely hard to believe. Isuzu have some of the most economical engines in their class.

Are your guys driving around with the brakes on???

Originally Posted by isuzurover

As Alan/ATH explained below. WA means "Wait Awhile"... Unless you are in the mining industry and paying a premium. I have found that I almost invariably need to wait for common parts to be sent from "over east", which I could buy over the counter in Bris/Syd/Melb. (Anywhere apart from a 6000 postcode is 2 days via express post, not one).

However, all the mines use nissotas, and every mechanic in a mining town would be able work on them.



That is the theory, but what would have happened if something HAD gone wrong, and how long would it have taken??? (NT Means: Not Today, Not Tuesday, Not Thuursday )

The mines don't work on them,Tojo won't release the software.They park them until a service truck comes on site or they are sent to town. Pat

Originally Posted by ATH

I'd go the Jap crap for availability of dealers out of Perth if I was you, especially as you need it for work.
I've experienced a breakdown with a Td5 Defender in Newman which I'm sure you'll agree is not a small bush town by Oz standards and it took 3 WEEKSto get it back to Perth!
If you can afford that amount of time to be not working, go the LR.
Alan.

All the smaller rural dealers do is change filters and thats it,if there is a major fault they go on the back of a truck.If you had a tojo it would've been trucked to Kal or a coastal dealer and if you needed a MAF,injector,starter,alternator etc you would wait weeks for it,I know because I've had to do it. Pat

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I find that extremely hard to believe. Isuzu have some of the most economical engines in their class.

Are your guys driving around with the brakes on???

Come up to Kal and you can pick any of the 5 and we will drive to Laverton,you can drive and if you can get thier on one tank I'll buy you a years supply off beer.Thats if your back doesn't give out first. Pat

Well im afraid to say it guys but the Puma is off the list. I looked at a 110 pickup last night at southerns an unfortunatly the seating position is not something i could live with.

Im looking at Isuzu's now. I drove a D-max last night as was seriously impressed. Im waiting on the dealer to get back to me on pricing and compatibility with the service body i intend to install.

Can I just add my 2c.I've been in Kal for almost two years,before that the Hunter Valley and in both cases I've been no were near a dealer and have never had trouble getting my vehicles worked on.I bought an L322,it would be the most high tech vehicle you could buy and with a dealer 700k away I have had no trouble getting it serviced at all,not only that I can get parts for it easily,at no point have I had trouble with the Disco either,I must admit I was supprised to find ZF in town have service kits on the shelf and bosch had injectors as store stock.If I bought a Puma in this situation I would also buy the nanocom software and if going to remote area's I would carry a box of spares,I would if I had a Jap 4wd too.If I bought either of my mates Troopy's or my two work troopy's instead of my defender I would be broke,and I would have sold them long ago,I did not think twice about buying the L322 and when my old defer hits 500k I'll being staying with the green oval when I finally retire her. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

Come up to Kal and you can pick any of the 5 and we will drive to Laverton,you can drive and if you can get thier on one tank I'll buy you a years supply off beer.Thats if your back doesn't give out first. Pat

So you are talking about a newish NPS with a 140L tank. That implies you are getting worse than 35 L/100. Laden or unladen???

The Perentie 6x6 is reported to use 27 L/100 on the highway. The ISUZU would likely have higher wind resistance and higher payload.