Is it a lemon? Or the "character" of a defender?

**spudfan** · 10th February 2010, 10:58 PM

Yep the roof is still birmambright alloy.
Before I bought the Puma Defender in 2008 I decided to look for comments from existing owners. I wanted to know how it really was so I searched for Puma Defender Tdci Australia. That is how I found this site. The reason I wanted some feed back from Australian owners was because I figured that Australian owners would give the vehicle the testing needed to truly evaluate this vehicle. Not only do you have long open roads but the tough offroad conditions that will test any vehicle. Also you have a culture of heading off into some pretty inhospitable places where not only is vehicle reliability necessary but some mechanical knowledge and a good dose of common sense.
When I found this site I discovered that people were using the latest Defender to head off to the "SIMPSON" and other such places. There were off course some comments relating bad experiences with the vehicle but on the whole it was well liked and respected. So I decided that if it was good enough for the Australians it was good enough for me. Besides I would not be heading off to the "Simpson" any time soon and I would have a three year warranty and three years AA breakdown and recovery cover.
The point being that if you want info, feedback and advice on the Puma Defender you have come to the right place. In the end the choice is up to you.

**chumpion** · 22nd February 2010, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by chumpion

I guess it's a Defender thing.....

My 09 Puma is in the shop at the moment. It went in for it's 10,000km service, and a list of things to look at including:
* Whining rear diff,
* Crunch between 3rd and 4th,
* Low Range not staying engaged,
* Door handles loose,
* Door's all out of alignment (causing rear door to not be able to be opened sometimes..),
* Water leak near rear door,
* Terrible window tinting,
* Rusty bits under the vehicle,
* Paint starting to peel off on roof.

Just an update on the above - the diff whine was only evident about 100km/h before. Now it starts at 40km/h.....

Tinting was redone, doors were all fixed, and the water leak was fixed.

But.... the paint repair on the roof.... it is fixed, but they used a different shade of grey, and a paintbrush. Looks bloody terrible! And they took photo's of the rust underneath..... yeah - that'll fix it....

So, it's back to the shop for another week.

**2234jones** · 25th February 2010, 03:32 PM

Just a suggestion, you could try the controller of the franchises as they have to sell so many vehicles and score a certain level of customer satisfaction to retain their franchise, I had this issue with the wife's Hyundai Santa Fe, and we got it cheap as we knew they wasn't selling enough.

Just a suggestion, but I would recommend going to another dealer, it may mean traveling, but if they rectify the issue then it'll be worth it.

Hope you get this sorted thanks Mark

**one_iota** · 7th March 2010, 01:09 PM

It was good to meet you today alittlebitconcerned. It is a small world.

Sorry to hear about your problems.

They say that the pen is mightier than the sword. If you haven't done so already write a letter to the dealer copied to LRA.

**alittlebitconcerned** · 7th March 2010, 08:14 PM

Likewise One Iota! It was good to know you are more than pleased with your truck, and whatever problems you've had got sorted without issue; makes me more positive about mine getting fixed.

Didge · 11th March 2010, 11:20 PM

Alittlebitconcerned, when I bought my 95 Def 110 last August (2009) I too was a tad concerned with what I thought could be costly problems and whether I'd bought a lemon but since having them fixed (at reasonable costs I might add) I'll refer you to Queen's song to convey my feelings for defenders in general

"The machine of a dream
Such a clean machine
With the pistons a pumpin
And the hub caps all gleam

When Im holdin your wheel
All I hear is your gear
When my hands on your grease gun
Oh it's like a disease son

Im in love with my car
Gotta feel for my automobile
Get a grip on my boy racer rollbar
Such a thrill when your radials squeal

Told my girl I'll have to forget her
Rather buy me a new carburetor
So she made tracks sayin
This is the end now
Cars don't talk back
They're just four wheeled friends now

When Im holdin your wheel
All I hear is your gear
When Im cruisin in overdrive
Don't have to listen to no run of the mill talk jive

Im in love with my car
Gotta feel for my automobile
Im in love with my car
String back gloves in my automolove "

Don't know the song? download it, take ya def for a drive and I'm sure you'll agree,
cheers gerald

**trailcutter** · 16th March 2010, 08:07 PM

took a new 2010 110 dual cab for test drive yesterday,,noticed fluid on iside top windscreen ,,vehicle had,nt been detailed fot lot yet,, so i thought fair enough,,coud,nt be leaking ,,tried the wipers/spray,,once/twice ,,,,,,,sure enough water passing thru top windscreen seal d/side,,,,,,love the vehicle but just how much character do the new ones retain,,,,,, concerned,,,

**one_iota** · 16th March 2010, 08:48 PM

Well apart from a new engine and gearbox they are basically the old one.

Just as in the old one it is the luck of the draw as to what leaks and where.

At least they are known issues...although I haven't come across the window leak one.

The Discovery did that a lot though. My Defender is much dryer .

**chumpion** · 19th March 2010, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by chumpion

Just an update on the above - the diff whine was only evident about 100km/h before. Now it starts at 40km/h.....

Tinting was redone, doors were all fixed, and the water leak was fixed.

But.... the paint repair on the roof.... it is fixed, but they used a different shade of grey, and a paintbrush. Looks bloody terrible! And they took photo's of the rust underneath..... yeah - that'll fix it....

So, it's back to the shop for another week.

Sorry folks - have another update...

The Puma went in for the whining Diff, and now it's back to whining at only over about 90km/h (better than 40, but still...).... but now theres a clunk ech time the driveline goes from positive to negative pressure....

It's really noticeable in city driving, and coming up to traffic lights.

And now the rear door has bent out of shape at the top so much fumes are starting to come into the rear of the vehicle.

It's not 1 year old yet!!!!!!

And to top it all off - I met another guy in the dealer this morning with the same model defender, with the same clunk, and the same whine. Gave him my business card, so if it doesn't get fixed first time for him, I can add his vehicle somehow to my case with landrover....

Love my Defenders, but the friendship is starting to stretch a bit....

**dcale** · 19th March 2010, 10:34 PM

Hi,

My car is also under a year and also knocks when i slow down to a stop, not every time though. It only happens when you are slowing down under ~20km/h coming to a stop. It happens in gear/out of gear/with the clutch in and out and with and without the breaks on. The only way to stop it is to knock the transfer case lever into neutral. So far landrover have replaced the front and back diff which has had no effect except that the rear diff has a whine at 68km/h now. I believe it is in the transfer case possible gear box?? I have attached a recording I did with my mobile phone for any one interested you will have to listed carefully, it is in the background. Easier to hear with headphones.

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