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

Originally Posted by dullbird

well I know someone that sent a car back to sydney to be fixed from perth and got it back in I think it was 5 days but that is another story....

And what if something HAD gone wrong??? so what? I wasn't not going to go on my trip I had panned for over a year on a "what IF" thats why a lot of people dont buy landys at all on the what if's what if it didn't break down...then I had a lovely holiday

Firstly, why would it need to be sent to sydney, and secondly, it would take a truck >48 hrs to drive Perth-syd non stop one way (apart for fuel). So unless the car went by air I am very dubious. But anyway, Perth is not Newman...

Re the 2nd point, I was simply pointing out that the difference between what the LR assist policy states and what may actually happen if you break down in a remote area may be two different things...

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Firstly, why would it need to be sent to sydney,

and secondly, it would take a truck >48 hrs to drive Perth-syd non stop one way (apart for fuel). So unless the car went by air I am very dubious. But anyway, Perth is not Newman...

Re the 2nd point, I was simply pointing out that the difference between what the LR assist policy states and what may actually happen if you break down in a remote area may be two different things...

because the part he needed...would not be sent express so he cracked the ****s and sent the car back AFAIA to make a point. which cost them alot more money then expressing the part..

Dubious or not I never said you had to believe me just telling you what he told me.....

It can be hard to 'take the plunge' and pay for a new vehicle, especially if it remains 'untested' with respect to years of history to rely on.

Our brief, before purchasing, was a new vehicle that we would keep for at least 10 yrs and build up as a tourer and weekend get away vehicle.

We asked ourselves the following questions when we were tossing up between Cruiser, Patrol and Puma.
Price, insurance costs, service intervals and their costs (you may be able to get a commercial deal that gives you free scheduled servicing for 3 years), payload, fuel capacity (this may be an issue for you with the Puma only having 75 lt tank) and the cost of any extras you may need immediately.

If the Puma ticks all the necessary boxes for your specific needs (and it did for us) then you should have no worries about making the decision.

In years to come people may be referring to the Puma as 'bullet proof', 'built to last' and 'indestructible', but the only way the Puma will get a reputation of reliability and toughness is if we continue to test them, push them hard and use them for the purpose they were intended.

They are not a 'precious' vehicle and if we need to take a few 'risks' to prove that, then I think that’s what we should do!

"They are not a 'precious' vehicle and if we need to take a few 'risks' to prove that, then I think that’s what we should do!"

I thought that what manufacturers were supposed to do during testing. They always brag about how many thousands of kays they've done over many months and during torrid conditons always forgetting about the huge back-up they have following along behind.
Not once in LRs adverts will you see any mention of lack of service centres out of the main metro areas.
But then they couldn't do that as it may make yet another dent in their already miniscule sales figures!
Alan.

PS. The responses from LRA/RACWA couldn't be faulted after our breakdown, or the haulage yard, it was the truckies themselves who couldn't be bothered.

Get the 130 dual cab ( + a trailer for your tools) BUT put in the contract that for any warranty work where the car must stay longer than the day YOU put it in for a service you get a replacement 4wd (with tow bar) to use until the car is ready. I dont think they will go to slow the 2nd time after you bring back the drive car with 1 inch of dust throughout.
Just get that in writting and you are set.

G'day All,

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in.....

I have had a string of patrol cab chassis over the years, for vineyard / farm work (lots of tools and equipment are always in the back), and the biggest mistake i made was getting rid of a 4.2 tdi (with some work done), and changing over to a 3 L.

Dont get me wrong, the 3L goes alright unladen, but give it a load in the back or towing and it really starts to struggle.

Also the 4.2 didnt use too much fuel...... kind of.

Statistically speaking anything made my a man has the potential to have imperfections and faults, its called the manufacturing process regardless of brand or maker.

Everything has the potential for design flaws and defect parts

Anything you buy will require some special diagnostic tool to repair it and will cost you $ to keep it on the road.

Question is can you get it fixed when you need it in the time frame you need it in as your relying on it to make a living

No dealer network outside Perth means Land Rover products will lose points over Toyota and Nissan products due to their better dealer network.

As for vehicles they are all pretty much the same in what they will do and so it boils down to your tolerance for fault and your $ reserves to pay for it.

Land Rovers when working and depending on your own skills will survive in the bush and you can time your servicing and repairs based on Perth downtime, so it's not a situation where it shouldn't be considered.

As for lemons, anyone can buy one, so how lucky do you feel punk

Originally Posted by frantic

put in the contract that for any warranty work where the car must stay longer than the day ... you get a replacement 4wd (with tow bar) to use until the car is ready.

...
Just get that in writting and you are set.

I seriously doubt that the Perth LR dealer would agree to that - but it would be interesting to try!!!