Thinking of getting a current Defender - honest feedback / advice needed

[LRHybrid100]

Hi Guys,

I am thinking of getting a new Defender, looking for any honest feedback and advice based on your experiences based on current model Puma motored Defender.

THX in advance

BR LRH

[dullbird]

Great car for touring but I would be inclined to wait for the newer defender due out with the improved traction control.

Otherwise get an 10/11 model year and most quirks should be ironed out.

it will be a big improvement on your TD5 fender that you had but I'm not sure you will enjoy it over the comfort of your disco...I guess it will depend on whether you ultimately prefer a fender over a disco anyway.

[justinc]

As DB says, a great tourer but I have several customers who have expressed annoyance over build quality and niggling faults that they are frustrated with after shelling out $60k. Door leaks, roof leaks, rust on bulkhead INSIDE, poor paint finish, leaks into rear of cab in a 130, loose suspension components and even a loose (Dangerously so) wheel bearing that on a 200km old vehicle failed a roadworthy:mad: Agreed some of the above are responsibility of pre delivery etc, but nonetheless frustrating. This includes '08 and '09/'10 models.

I love driving them, and overall they are an improvement in the previous model.

Just don't expect a quantum leap in finish and fit.


I don't own one, but work on them, drive them, and talk to the owners a fair bit. Some have had LR's all their adult life.


JC

[spudboy]

I have been lucky (?) with mine and not had any issues, unlike a few others. But, mine has been left bog standard, the only addition being a Mantec Snorkel. No suspension mods, no lifts, no fat tyres, nothing.

LR replaced the rear diff as it was a general recall item on the 07 models I believe, and my CD player kept skipping tracks so they gave me a new one.

HUGE improvement in drivability over my TD5. 6 speed box is excellent. Much quieter. Engine is like a chipped TD5 :eek:

Fit and finish are no better/worse then TD5. Up the usual Defender standard, or lack thereof.

HTH
David

[stig0000]

would not buy one, i couldn't trust it out west, i no people have taken them out there, but when we have pumas come in for service, there isent just a straight service, there is a list of complaints,

more have a list then ones that dont buy far;)

wev had one customer trade a sorted td5 in on a puma, hes now asking for the td5 back,;)

[dmdigital]

I drive one in a remote region, I've driven it around Australia.
Would I do it again? Most definitely!
Are there problems? Yes, but talk to people with new Toyotas, Nissans, Jeeps,...
Have I had any major faults? No.
Have others had problems? Yes.

Swapping from a Tdi Defender to the Puma every day or so is a big difference in driving. The Puma is a great touring vehicle and much better as a daily drive than the Tdi.

[eezeetoo]

I have a 110HCPU MY10 with just on 18,000kms on it. I have taken it to remote areas. Longest road trip has been Adelaide - Brisbane - Adelaide. I have not had any problem whatsoever with the vehicle (no squeaks, rattles, untoward behaviour - nothing). I had Sovereign Motors in Adelaide go over it when they seviced it at 12,000kms and they could find no issues. It had used about 3/4ltr of oil at that stage.
I LIKE my Landy a lot!!:D:D:D:D:D

[scarry]

My son has one,& it has never had an issue.Fit & finish is poor,but that's a defender:)

What i notice when driving it is how much smoother the engine is than the TD5 D2
It is also surprisingly comfortable.

Umm,also get lots of waves from other defender drivers wherever you go:eek:

[one_iota]

Don't do it for a number of reasons.

I'll share my experiences:


I have had to see the dealer every six months or 12,000 kms whichever comes first for the last two and a bit years......nasty.
Furthermore I've had to be careful not to suffer from hypothermia with the temperature dial set in the blue area.
The worst part is that I can hear myself thinking at 110km.....and what I am thinking is: "I must not exceed the speed limit".
Off road l forget to use the accelerator and the CDL and still seem to go forwards. I miss getting stuck.
Sure there have been a couple of things go amiss but I come from a low base: I used to own an Alfa Romeo. :p;)

[Scallops]

Yeah - go for it LRHybrid100! I've had a completely trouble free 3 years of Puma heaven - just love it! The events we shared long ago in Alice Springs are a figment of your imagination. :D

Someone told me once that all LR's need 3 years of warranty to get straightened out - mine only took 34 months.

The leaking transfer case and surging/slight miss EGR valve dramas I get these days are normal Puma issues apparently ;)

I'd keep your TD5.

PS - there was no recall on '07 diffs.

[spudfan]

Best nest egg I ever spent.

[alittlebitconcerned]

I really enjoy many aspects of my car but it gives heartache as well when it comes to ongoing niggling issues. This would not be such a drama if taking my car to the dealership for warranty repair was more productive and less like sitting down to a gruelling game of chess with someone who cheats.
In all honesty I don't think they are they have proven themselves to be a reliable vehicle but I would still get one again if I felt confident in my warranty support. I base this on the belief (god I hope I'm right) that eventually the issues will get sorted once and for all.
Buyer beware; seriously.

[Bluefox]

Bought my '09 Puma C/Chassis about 3 months ago and have done about 6000kms. Fuel use is about 10.5 - 11ltr/100kms. Engine and gearbox combination I find to be realtivly smooth and quite. Brilliant off road, even without traction control (which mine dosen't have).

No mechanical issues to speak about but some oddities though: rear driver's side sliding window dosen't shut at all. Rattle where A-pillar meets windscreen, still haven't figured that one out yet...

Overall very happy with the Defender so far, although I think you need a sense of humour to live with them :)

[Marty110]

I picked up my Puma 110 in February this year and it has done 14,000km including the Vic High Country and outback SA. So far - replaced front diff, replaced brake vacuum pump (is leaking again now), replaced rear transfer case seal and rear diff pinion seal twice, repaired dash controls that failed and have had to fight with the dealer and LRA all the way on warranty due to my OME suspension.

But.... I love the engine and 6 speed - it is so much better to drive on and off road, so much better towing and the vehicle is more comfortable than my TDi. However - I kinda wish I kept the TDi and spent up on it instead.

[PAT303]

I priced a new 130 while I was in Perth and it was 60K drive away with a few extra's.I'm thinking I'll get 7k for my old one so 53k which is 3k more than I spent 12 years ago on my old one so I'm well in front.I have to wait till March next year thats all. Pat

[Scallops]

I priced a new 130 while I was in Perth and it was 60K drive away with a few extra's.I'm thinking I'll get 7k for my old one so 53k which is 3k more than I spent 12 years ago on my old one so I'm well in front.I have to wait till March next year thats all. Pat

Well - I hope you will feel you are well in front after owning it for a while. But it seems to me that too many Pumas have too many problems.

The enthusiastic folks are generally those who have rather new vehicles or those who would like one but don't have one yet.

Seriously - to answer the original question - If I had my time again, I'd buy that last TD5 in Australia that I had a chance to buy in December 2006.

I'll always own a Land Rover - but it might turn out to be only my 1956 Series 1 - the next 3 years will tell.

[newhue]

My 130 is less than 3 weeks old and has 1000klm on it. So far it's been back twice to the dealer with separate issues, the last on a tilt tray. It's got to back a third time to fix the first issue, and they may as well have a look at the water leak it has in the front passenger foot well while they are at it. I am not unhappy with it, in fact I love the dam thing, but I am a little concerned of it being a lemon.

I think cars these days of all brands can and do have warranty issues all over the place. They are all made to tighter budgets so something has to give.
I know several Jap owners who are having claims, so it's not just LR's as they will have you think.
I prepared myself to get some grief from whatever car I purchased. I also popped a few questions on here just like you are doing to help get my head around my decision.
Now I'd be lying to say I'm not a little disappointed after spending 57K on a new car and have what has happen happen. But the dealer has been very good, I know from this forum others have had more, others have had less grief than me, and like others say I have 3 years up my sleeve to tackle any issues.

These Defers do go well with the 2.4 6 speed, ford have a good combination going there. On paper the donk is lagging to other brands power and talk, but I know who will win the slowest hill decent in first gear race.
Yes the Defer are a bit noisy internally compared to a prado or cruiser wagon, but not to my 06 3lt chipped izusu rodeo with it 2 3/4 inch exhaust I had in a previous life. And yes a Puma would leave it for dead.
However comparing apples with apples regarding 4x4 commercials in the same league, the cabin noise would be similar or even a bit quieter in a Defer.
The constant all wheel drive allows a Defer to stick to the road very well if required. But you may find they look after your licence inadvertently, as you probably wont want to drive it fast. The lack of alarms to tell you the door is ajar or open, lights are on, keys in the ignition, seat belt not on, etc is a real bonus in my book. And I don't care that it has no leather gear stick, 8 speaker sound system, or 10 drink bottle holders.
They are primitive I guess, but they are very capable out of the box, kinda 70 dirt, 30 road, and will remain that way for as long as they can probably; which is why people love or hate them.

It's a hard gig going form a Jap to a LR if that is what you are doing. It's like going against the grain, and your mates will be watching and ready to comment when required. But if you are like me and always had a thing for a Defender and its hard to explain, then I think you will be smiling more than frowning.

[PAT303]

Well - I hope you will feel you are well in front after owning it for a while. But it seems to me that too many Pumas have too many problems.

The enthusiastic folks are generally those who have rather new vehicles or those who would like one but don't have one yet.

Seriously - to answer the original question - If I had my time again, I'd buy that last TD5 in Australia that I had a chance to buy in December 2006.

I'll always own a Land Rover - but it might turn out to be only my 1956 Series 1 - the next 3 years will tell.

Yep,I got told that very same thing 12 years ago. Pat

[dullbird]

yep everyone hated the 300 when it came out due to issues..them issues where then soon forgotten, when the shockingly reliable TD5 came out...goodness then the TD5 was forgiven when the Puma came out.

and on and on and on:)

[Scallops]

We have a dozen 70 series cruisers here at work that are used in seismic exploration. They are without doubt more reliable than my Puma, and taking an open minded look around me, more reliable than many other Pumas too.

In my last job - we were provided with 4.2 litre Patrols. I had 4 over the years I worked there. Nothing went wrong with any of them. These were driven to all parts of Australia loaded up with Geophysical equipment.

I'm not trying to rubbish the marque - I'm being honest.

I'm stating my experience to give the fellow my honest answer. As I remember it, he had a pretty well sorted TD5 Defender. If I owned that vehicle or any other well sorted Defender, I wouldn't be buying a new one.

But like others here - I still love my Defy and will keep it for as long as I can afford to, but my experience with owning a new LR product has been less than I hoped for. Sure it's got character - yes I love it's looks, granted it's very capable, of course I can carry near on a ton, it is a great tow vehicle - but it's also had far too many warranty issues for me to be able to say it's reliable or a good choice.

[newhue]

We have a dozen 70 series cruisers here at work that are used in seismic exploration. They are without doubt more reliable than my Puma, and taking an open minded look around me, more reliable than many other Pumas too.

In my last job - we were provided with 4.2 litre Patrols. I had 4 over the years I worked there. Nothing went wrong with any of them. These were driven to all parts of Australia loaded up with Geophysical equipment.

I'm not trying to rubbish the marque - I'm being honest.

I'm stating my experience to give the fellow my honest answer. As I remember it, he had a pretty well sorted TD5 Defender. If I owned that vehicle or any other well sorted Defender, I wouldn't be buying a new one.

But like others here - I still love my Defy and will keep it for as long as I can afford to, but my experience with owning a new LR product has been less than I hoped for. Sure it's got character - yes I love it's looks, granted it's very capable, of course I can carry near on a ton, it is a great tow vehicle - but it's also had far too many warranty issues for me to be able to say it's reliable or a good choice.

I am only very new to the LR experience, but I think you are on the money there a fair bit Scollops.

I have to admit I do find it odd that series guys take a recovery vehicle on runs. Other guys plan extended trips and want someone to come along with good mechanical knowledge. You don't find that with Jap owners.

[P38ace]

Here's my 2c.

Among many other vehicles owned over the last 20 years, I've had 6 Toyota 4WDs from new and 6 Land Rovers, 90, D1, 2xP38, L322, FL2.

Nearly put a deposit down for a new Puma back in early 2007 in advance of the model release, but ultimately decided to wait while it was debugged.

Meanwhile I bought one of the first release 200 series TDV8 cruisers expecting the usual trouble free experience. To cut a long story very short, this was far from the case. I sold it after 12 months of frequent dealer visits and I'll never buy another Toyota. My understanding is Toyota have still not fixed the issues.

Back to the Puma, just over 2 weeks ago and after a 5 month wait, I took delivery of one of the first 2011MY 110's. It was only built in July and to be honest I was not expecting any issues. However so far it's been back to the Dealers twice and they've had it for the last 7 days fixing the problems, which in only 1 weeks motoring (1000 km) amount to failed aircon, back door lock, wiper motor and coolant hose.

Am I happy? Yes, because the attitude of the LR dealer and the Toyota dealer are chalk and cheese. LR will readily recognise and fix any defect while Toyota simply deny they exist.

Moral of the tale = all vehicles have issues, buy the one you want to drive. ;)

[pc3]

Here's my 2c.

Among many other vehicles owned over the last 20 years, I've had 6 Toyota 4WDs from new and 6 Land Rovers, 90, D1, 2xP38, L322, FL2.

Nearly put a deposit down for a new Puma back in early 2007 in advance of the model release, but ultimately decided to wait while it was debugged.

Meanwhile I bought one of the first release 200 series TDV8 cruisers expecting the usual trouble free experience. To cut a long story very short, this was far from the case. I sold it after 12 months of frequent dealer visits and I'll never buy another Toyota. My understanding is Toyota have still not fixed the issues.

Back to the Puma, just over 2 weeks ago and after a 5 month wait, I took delivery of one of the first 2011MY 110's. It was only built in July and to be honest I was not expecting any issues. However so far it's been back to the Dealers twice and they've had it for the last 7 days fixing the problems, which in only 1 weeks motoring (1000 km) amount to failed aircon, back door lock, wiper motor and coolant hose.

Am I happy? Yes, because the attitude of the LR dealer and the Toyota dealer are chalk and cheese. LR will readily recognise and fix any defect while Toyota simply deny they exist.

Moral of the tale = all vehicles have issues, buy the one you want to drive. ;)

Well said......also there is a difference between Toyota and LR driver's, the Toyota Drivers will completely deny any problems exist with the Fabled Landcruisers. Defender driver's talk openly about the issues with there cars and accept to some degree there a work in progress.

I drove a diesel Crusier ute (1999 model) for 10 years, only had one lot of trouble with it overheating before Xmas just gone, its now sold it had 180,000 on the clock when I sold it, it left me stranded the other side of Deniliquinn on a stinking hot day, I am lucky a bloke stopped and towed me back to Denny. This ute was however is a different beast....no electronics, but gee my Defender 130 twin cab is at least twice as comfortable to be in, despite what Toyo ute owners will have you beleive, the 1999 ute neally killed my body after any more than an hour in it..........in my 20's it did not bother me fuinnily enough.

The 130 twin cab is better to sit in than our family 2008 falcon station wagon for any length of time, it would start out less comfy but after an hour or so does not seem to fatigue you.

Problem with LR is it could have stronger drivetrain, more attention to detail AND the big one more regional support. Most Toyo drivers have the luxury of having a dealership in every town. Many LR drivers including myself have to drive for at least an hour to get service, and when in the outback well there is no support.......

[p3ck3r]

i have had my puma about 1month done around 5500km in it already i have had no problems apart frm realy bad signal frm the radio. if i can make it to the first service with out any problems i will be happy i think the more you look for a problem and pussy foot around in it the more problems you will have use the car for what it was made for. i work on vw audis n the genral vag group of cars the one that dnt have any problems are the ones that get a propper work out.

[newhue]

with all due respect p3ck3r, if there is silence instead of as cranking motor when I turned the key, I wasn't looking for a problem...it kinda hit me in the face.

[JohnR]

My Puma is Almost 3 years old :eek: I got mine the same time as Scolops and our experiences have been chaulk and cheese. I can't tell you why?? Luck?? Style of driving?? (I drive like I stole it :twisted:) Who know's??:confused:

I wont say mine hasn't had any problems but they had all been minor and no problem has ever made it stop or made me cancel any trips.

We have been to the Cape, The High Country, Faser Island (a few times) most of the 4wd parks. It gets driven every day and is the kid's taxi.

I am in the motor trade repair industry and so you hear of lots of gripes. All marques have them I guess a lot of how you feel about you car is how you get treated by the dealer in responce to those problems. I couldn't praise Southside Land Rover high enough for the service they have given me. And a tip, Respect begets Respect (and service).

Don't get me wrong there have been a few horror stories apear here on the forum and I really feel for those people. Out of interest does anybody know how many defenders have been sold in Australia broken down year by year or how many Puma's have been sold?

I have 80,000km's on it now and still going strong :D Love it :wub:

Cheers,

[dullbird]

i have had my puma about 1month done around 5500km in it already i have had no problems apart frm realy bad signal frm the radio. if i can make it to the first service with out any problems i will be happy i think the more you look for a problem and pussy foot around in it the more problems you will have use the car for what it was made for. i work on vw audis n the genral vag group of cars the one that dnt have any problems are the ones that get a propper work out.

hahahah I love these lines..people have tried the pussy foot around approach "it works for me I have never had a problem" and people have tried the give it a thrashing "it worked for me I have never had a problem"

oh lets not forget the it has to be the drivers fault because "I have never had a problem"

here is my theory SOME of these cars actually have problems and a lot dont! perhaps people need to just except that rather trying to look for an excuse or someone to blame.:)

[robharvey]

I've got an 09 110 SW with 32k on the clock. Just had the rear diff and clutch replaced, due to reading the various forums I was expecting that. Also had the high pressure fuel pump develop a leak due to a bolt coming loose, and a relay go on the blitz due to water ingress (which was my fault).

Get a good dealer, and as pointed out, forge a respectful relationship, and the ownership experience will be so much better.

[scarry]

Am I happy? Yes, because the attitude of the LR dealer and the Toyota dealer are chalk and cheese. LR will readily recognise and fix any defect while Toyota simply deny they exist.



Exactly,after running a fleet of jap vans for the last 20yrs,& having 3 new LR's in the last 10,we were only talking about this last week.And you know who we find to be the worse by a country mile,the Tojo dealers.They are simply,not interested in ANY warranty issue.Luckily, we have very few warrenty issues.

[islu51]

Don't get me wrong there have been a few horror stories apear here on the forum and I really feel for those people. Out of interest does anybody know how many defenders have been sold in Australia broken down year by year or how many Puma's have been sold?




currently running approx. 20 utes and 30 wagons per month.

[abaddonxi]

Check this out - http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/115057-mitsubishi-broken-chassis.html

Now that's a problem with a new car.

Some people have had problems, but of those few that have, how many have then had the situation where LR won't repair, replace, etc.

Not many from what I've read.

Being willing to acknowledge a problem and repair it without having to go to court is what we expect of a new car warranty, and LR seem to see it the same way.

[newhue]

ummm, I think we are talking to ourselves.

Just like the Triton original poster, our chap has not been back after popping the original question.

[flagg]

TL;DR depends on your dealer. I imagine you would be in a position to know a good one :p

Hi Guys,

I was very close to ordering a Puma about a year ago. 60k worth. I started to get the run around from the dealer before I even put my money down so I went the other way... got a County.

(the rest is kind of a rant :) )


Halved the budget - 30k. No Loan to buy the 110. Spend on upgrades and accessories - as I have the money to do it. Save a HEAP on interest.

It has worked out really well.

If I was to do it again, I'd find the cleanest td5 I could. Strip it down, sound proof it (dynamat etc), chip+intercooler, diff+axle+CV upgrade, flipped d1 rims, suspension upgrades, LR tanks etc.

For under 60k. I'm not saying that Puma's are no good (its always the previous model LR that was "the last real LR" ahahah but the Td5 is where the value is. I went for a County because I didn't want a Tdi and I would have needed a loan to get a Td5.

[Scouse]

ummm, I think we are talking to ourselves.

Just like the Triton original poster, our chap has not been back after popping the original question.I'm sure he has a very good reason for asking the question :).

[LRHybrid100]

Thanks Scott, nice to see there is still a little decorum around here!!!

Yup looking at either a D110 Dual Cab:

http://assets.config.landrover.com/v1cmq/lr/au/l316/001bq/extoly_au_l316_001bq_n-799.jpg

or a D130 Dual Cab

http://assets.config.landrover.com/v1cmq/lr/au/l316/001bq/extoly_au_l316_001bq_n-603.jpg

[LRHybrid100]

This will be to replace the D2 once I sell it :D

[alittlebitconcerned]

That 110 seriously looks the business; but then the 130 load space is hard to beat. Tough decision.

[zeus11]

I'd vote for the 110 DC

I think they look great.............. if i had the coin i'd get one.

[pc3]

The 110 dc is the sexiest looking...,. Thought about it, but the 130 is sooooo practical I have 2.2 meter tray on mine and they are great for carrying my camping gear it's so practical and they still look grouse

[chops110]

Well, I might be a bit biased but....

I went for a new Puma 110 wagon a bit over a year ago. She's a beaut, only prob has been rear window wiper motor replaced under warranty, otherwise all good.:) I do like the DC's but dealer didn't have one and I wasn't waiting (and anyway we live in Tassie and anything in a ute with a canvas cover gets wet eventually)

Dora wears a TJM winch bar + 12,000Lb winch (wire rope) on the front and has sagged a bit so will pop in some new springs just to raise her up to level. They say Pumas are hard to lift (something to do with propshaft angles) but I'll just be going back to factory height (no need for a lift IMHO, they don't get the diffs any higher anyway unless you go for bigger boots and then you compromise that wonderful super-low crawl gearing).

Anti-stall in low range is the best thing. Have been stuck on an impossible hill and been able to reverse down at idle with my foot jammed on the brake pedal - it won't stall but you do get the ABS and can steer as it doesn't break traction. Try doing that in a Toyota!:D

Chops110

[Scallops]

Yup looking at either a D110 Dual Cab:

or a D130 Dual Cab



Reckon the 130 is the go between these 2 - the only thing the 110 has going for it is looks. Good luck with your Puma. These threads are great - never has the question been asked and the proposer not bought one! :D

[BilboBoggles]

I own a TD5 and a MY09 PUMA. I've done 190,000 k in the td5 and just done 40,000 in the PUMA. I personally prefer the TD5, I find the engine smoother than the PUMA, it's also has a much smoother ride on corrugated roads than the PUMA. The TD5 has been finished to a much better standard than the PUMA, which is saying a lot as the TD5 was pretty rough anyway. Comparing them side by side you can see the cost cutting that went into the PUMA.

My PUMA already has rust forming on the inside of the bulkhead.

Comparatively the slop in the drivetrain on the PUMA is much worse than the TD5, and that's with a difference of 150,000k;s on the clock. I can drive the TD5 without clunking it. The PUMA is nearly impossible to drive smoothly.

Having said all of that I still think that the PUMA is a great vehicle for driver comfort, the A/C works, the radio is nicer, the rear seats are a massive improvement over the TD5. So it really depends what you value in a car. That's why I kept both defenders...

[JohnR]

Have been stuck on an impossible hill and been able to reverse down at idle with my foot jammed on the brake pedal - it won't stall but you do get the ABS and can steer as it doesn't break traction. Try doing that in a Toyota!:D

Chops110

That is cool!! I'll have to try that!

Cheers,

[newhue]

Comparatively the slop in the drivetrain on the PUMA is much worse than the TD5, and that's with a difference of 150,000k;s on the clock.I can drive the TD5 without clunking it. The PUMA is nearly impossible to drive smoothly.



I feel much better now, I thought it was my driving [bigsmile1]

[spudboy]

.... These threads are great - never has the question been asked and the proposer not bought one! :D

By the time you get around to asking the question, you've already made up your mind :p

[dobbo]

Reckon the 130 is the go between these 2 - the only thing the 110 has going for it is looks. Good luck with your Puma. These threads are great - never has the question been asked and the proposer not bought one! :D


I've asked it a few times, even had a good look at a Puma at a dealer the other day, I'm still not convinced it is

A: Any better than what I currently have in both the D2 and County.

B: Anymore reliable than what I currently have.

I looked at a 70 series as well, they are around $10000 more than a Defer, but the servicing is half the price, so it's still in the same price bracket.

The Land Rover (we'll come get you when your Puma breaks) policy is all good and well, but what happens to all of our stuff, the horses and horse float?


I don't need these hassles.

[LRHybrid100]

Well, I might be a bit biased but....

I went for a new Puma 110 wagon a bit over a year ago. She's a beaut, only prob has been rear window wiper motor replaced under warranty, otherwise all good.:) I do like the DC's but dealer didn't have one and I wasn't waiting (and anyway we live in Tassie and anything in a ute with a canvas cover gets wet eventually)

Dora wears a TJM winch bar + 12,000Lb winch (wire rope) on the front and has sagged a bit so will pop in some new springs just to raise her up to level. They say Pumas are hard to lift (something to do with propshaft angles) but I'll just be going back to factory height (no need for a lift IMHO, they don't get the diffs any higher anyway unless you go for bigger boots and then you compromise that wonderful super-low crawl gearing).

Anti-stall in low range is the best thing. Have been stuck on an impossible hill and been able to reverse down at idle with my foot jammed on the brake pedal - it won't stall but you do get the ABS and can steer as it doesn't break traction. Try doing that in a Toyota!:D

Chops110

as for lift I would just replace the front with the genuine D130 / D110 HD coils which are made for just this reason - worked well on my D110 TD5 with ARB bar and winch.

[pc3]

Reckon the 130 is the go between these 2 - the only thing the 110 has going for it is looks. Good luck with your Puma. These threads are great - never has the question been asked and the proposer not bought one! :D

I reckon thats because they have pretty well made up there mind there getting one by the time they reach aulro (my situation anyway) there mates all pay them out but actually have no real world knowledge, they come here, they then purchase with eyes wide open expecting the odd niggle etc.

[PAT303]

I've asked it a few times, even had a good look at a Puma at a dealer the other day, I'm still not convinced it is

A: Any better than what I currently have in both the D2 and County.

B: Anymore reliable than what I currently have.

I looked at a 70 series as well, they are around $10000 more than a Defer, but the servicing is half the price, so it's still in the same price bracket.

The Land Rover (we'll come get you when your Puma breaks) policy is all good and well, but what happens to all of our stuff, the horses and horse float?


I don't need these hassles.

10,000 more?,the quotes I got put the yard price of the troopy next to the drive away price of the defender.With the tojo everything is an extra,nothing is standard so the price balloons out another 20K once all the goodies that the defender has are added.That price also doesn't include suspension and camber adjustment that needs to be done on the troopy and they are cheaper to service but again that fixed price cost is only to get you in the door,the drive away price is more. Pat

[JohnR]

I've asked it a few times, even had a good look at a Puma at a dealer the other day, I'm still not convinced it is

A: Any better than what I currently have in both the D2 and County.

B: Anymore reliable than what I currently have.

I looked at a 70 series as well, they are around $10000 more than a Defer, but the servicing is half the price, so it's still in the same price bracket.

The Land Rover (we'll come get you when your Puma breaks) policy is all good and well, but what happens to all of our stuff, the horses and horse float?


I don't need these hassles.

Well stop trying to talk yourself into one and stick to what you have. There is no need to bag something you don't have or have any experience with just because you need to justify it to yourself.

Untill you have one, your only talking hearsay.

P.S. I recon Counties Rock! Their just not for me. :D I'd love to build a comp truck out of one :twisted:

Cheers,

[Scallops]

I've asked it a few times, even had a good look at a Puma at a dealer the other day, I'm still not convinced it is

A: Any better than what I currently have in both the D2 and County.

B: Anymore reliable than what I currently have.

I looked at a 70 series as well, they are around $10000 more than a Defer, but the servicing is half the price, so it's still in the same price bracket.

The Land Rover (we'll come get you when your Puma breaks) policy is all good and well, but what happens to all of our stuff, the horses and horse float?


I don't need these hassles.

I'm not convinced either! Nor do I need the hassles! My comment regarding the 130 being a better proposition over the 110 DC was based on the assumption that the chap is going to buy one or the other regardless.