View Full Version : My wife wants to know.....
78RRman
25th November 2012, 06:43 PM
As I've just purchased a new defender as a daily drive my wife was wondering how many other women drive the defer every day. she also wants to know how heavy the clutch is and didn't really want to drive it in the city on the test drive. She's 5'3 and petite. I had a 94 tray for a work truck so I didn't even think about it when I drove it. She loved the manual 88 classic I had and I think the clutch was lighter in the puma. I think she'll be fine just got the pre delivery jitters and maybe a little misinformed information from some non land rover folk.
Tombie
25th November 2012, 06:44 PM
Very easy for her I'd expect
78RRman
25th November 2012, 06:55 PM
That's what I think from the test it seemed really good to drive but I have to admit I was in I want one mode and looked a little like :D
Chops
25th November 2012, 07:21 PM
My daughter has driven mine and thinks its heavy, however, with a new licience at 18, she has nothing to really compare it to, other than a little Fiesta (at the time) I don't think it's much to go by. Her cars clutch is sooo light I stall it because I can't feel it. 
I think your wife will be fine with it, I reckon it's (the defender) light compared to some 4x4's I've driven.
Nera Donna
25th November 2012, 07:32 PM
My wife test drove a Defender prior to me ordering mine and said it was OK to drive. (used to drive the wheels off my 92 4.5ltr Patrol wagon) Once I got it she flat refused to drive it, too slow, it feels like a truck blah, blah, blah four years later she is still not interested. Consequently my 2008 Puma only has 20,500km on it from new. My gain, her loss :banana:
dullbird
25th November 2012, 07:37 PM
I used mine as a daily driver for about 2 yrs.. They do feel heavy at first but I guarantee after 3 days of driving she won't notice it.
It's not a big car to drive so she should be fine in the city...I'm sure once she drives it and gets used to sitting in a commanding position where she can see all around her she will love it.
If you want to show her how light it is get her a drive in another members 200/300 tdi for comparisson;) she will think its feather light. :)
I now drive a hilux daily for work purposes and although its quite and quick I would have the defender back in a heart beat
Witchdoctor
25th November 2012, 07:39 PM
My wife drives our 90 Puma every day, its not like her last daily drive (Ford Courier 4x4) but has no problems with it, in-fact i have to prise the keys from her if i want to drive it. She loves it!
Cheers
David
n plus one
25th November 2012, 07:40 PM
As I've just purchased a new defender as a daily drive my wife was wondering how many other women drive the defer every day. she also wants to know how heavy the clutch is and didn't really want to drive it in the city on the test drive. She's 5'3 and petite. I had a 94 tray for a work truck so I didn't even think about it when I drove it. She loved the manual 88 classic I had and I think the clutch was lighter in the puma. I think she'll be fine just got the pre delivery jitters and maybe a little misinformed information from some non land rover folk.
My wife doesn't drive the Puma everdya, but only coz' it's not a daily driver :D But she's happy to drive it any time - fair enough she's a fair bit bigger than your wife, but it's hard to see how any body who has a bit of mechanical sympathy (i.e. can work with an agricultural driveline) would have any dramas driving one? 
No clutch is likely to require more than 20kg of force to activate and I assume you wife probably weighs more than twice that much and can stand up from the sofa? At least it's got power steering - that could be a deal breaker with a set of wide muds fitted!
scarry
25th November 2012, 07:41 PM
The first time my wife went to take the sons Puma somewhere,she couldn't work out where the ignition key went,so it went nowhere.
Once we got that sorted she actually didn't mind it,no complaints at all.
But she does prefer an auto.
78RRman
25th November 2012, 07:44 PM
*78RRMANS WIFE HERE* (yep I hacked his profile) 
Thanks for the replies I'm liking what I'm reading. I think I will be fine like he said I drove the RR fine I loved it actually and he says to me it's easier than that. I regret that I didn't take it for a run when we were in Melbourne but 1. We had 4 kids with us inc a newborn at the time so was pretty hectic and 2. I had not driven a manual for about 18mths and am not a city gal at all and hate driving up there period let alone in a car I'm unfamiliar with and having not driven a manual for over a year!!! 
Mum is freaking out at some of the reviews and then I went googling and some of the reviews are rubbish but I was expecting it when comparing it to other modern 4wd's. then I came across another post in another forum of owners saying how heavy the clutch is ect and that the no good for daily use (males I might add) and I got worried but am feeling more reassured now so thanks.
Jas 
(Sorry darling :p)
The ho har's
25th November 2012, 07:44 PM
Our '03 defender clutch is very light compared to my '78 series 3 clutch:)
Jas drive it occasionally and you will get used to it;):D
Mrs hh:angel:
SimonM
25th November 2012, 07:45 PM
My wife enjoys driving our 130 though I have to admit she struggles getting a drive when I am around. Today we saw a nice black 90 just outside if Maitland and now she wants one of them :)
78RRman
25th November 2012, 08:02 PM
Our '03 defender clutch is very light compared to my '78 series 3 clutch:)
Jas drive it occasionally and you will get used to it;):D
Mrs hh:angel:
Once it's here it will be my only option we only have one car and 78RRM works away so Ill be the one to receive it before him!!! I'm not worried at all now just needed that bit of reassurance after reading non LR folk opinions
Jas ( the wife )
Sue
25th November 2012, 08:04 PM
I'm 5'2 and drive mine every day... in one year I've managed to put 54,000 kms on the clock.. to say I love driving that car would be an understatement.. :) 
The clutch is a little heavier than other vehicles but you get used to it soon enough.. besides think of it as exercise.. ;)
dullbird
25th November 2012, 08:07 PM
I'm 5'2 and drive mine every day... in one year I've managed to put 54,000 kms on the clock.. to say I love driving that car would be an understatement.. :) 
The clutch is a little heavier than other vehicles but you get used to it soon enough.
. besides think of it as exercise.. ;)
Yep for one leg!! :D
One leg will be slight and dainty the other will have a kankle :D oops I have put you off again:eek::p
Sue
25th November 2012, 08:12 PM
Yep for one leg!! :D
One leg will be slight and dainty the other will have a kankle :D oops I have put you off again:eek::p
Na... you just use the other one for kicking cheeky mens butts.. :p
78RRman
25th November 2012, 08:13 PM
Yep for one leg!! :D
One leg will be slight and dainty the other will have a kankle :D oops I have put you off again:eek::p
ROFL!!! Dont say that haha
The ho har's
25th November 2012, 08:22 PM
You will be fine Jas;):)
WOW another female on the forum:D:D
We are few and far around here:(
Mrs hh:angel:
rick130
25th November 2012, 08:50 PM
Yep for one leg!! :D
One leg will be slight and dainty the other will have a kankle :D oops I have put you off again:eek::p
Yoga, yoga fixes that ;)  
:D
dullbird
25th November 2012, 09:31 PM
Yoga, yoga??? 
Is that 2 yogis one program for each leg?
dullbird
25th November 2012, 09:31 PM
Yoga, yoga??? 
Is that 2 yogas one program for each leg?
So should I not also say your right arm will be beautifully tanned and your left remain white, due to your window being down and your right arm hanging out due to no space for your elbow in the cab?! :D:p
isuzu110
25th November 2012, 10:08 PM
My wife has had either a county or TDI defender as a daily drive for the last 10 years, through three pregnancies. She's quite petite.
The main problem I have is all the guys who stop to chat her up when she's driving it.
rick130
26th November 2012, 04:49 AM
Yoga, yoga??? 
Is that 2 yogas one program for each leg?
So should I not also say your right arm will be beautifully tanned and your left remain white, due to your window being down and your right arm hanging out due to no space for your elbow in the cab?! :D:p
Hahaha, naa, it was pause and repeat for emphasis, but only one of. Sort of like Woy Woy or Wagga Wagga :angel:
And I would've thought the second problem only occurs to us broad fella's, not the more petite among us :D
dullbird
26th November 2012, 07:54 AM
Oh perhaps I'm broad then :(
Not looking good for me then a broad, broad with one kankle and one brown arm.
Mmmmmm attractive
rick130
26th November 2012, 12:25 PM
Oh perhaps I'm broad then :(
Not looking good for me then a broad, broad with one kankle and one brown arm.
Mmmmmm attractive
No no no, more than likely I'm just like every other bloke and not as big as I think I am :angel:
:lol2:
[edit] and I was serious when I said yoga (or pilates) for developing and balancing leg strength.
78RRman
26th November 2012, 03:31 PM
No no no, more than likely I'm just like every other bloke and not as big as I think I am :angel:
:lol2:
[edit] and I was serious when I said yoga (or pilates) for developing and balancing leg strength.
Who doesn't love a bit of yoga!!!
rick130
26th November 2012, 05:24 PM
Who doesn't love a bit of yoga!!!
I love it so much I did my teacher training and became a part time teacher :D
Hmm, Yoga for Defender Drivers.
I can see the online AULRO subscription only video now :lol2:
78RRman
26th November 2012, 06:13 PM
I love it so much I did my teacher training and became a part time teacher :D
Hmm, Yoga for Defender Drivers.
I can see the online AULRO subscription only video now :lol2:
I'd be in :D I will have to say this is Jas again otherwise 78RRM will kill me haha. Wonder if he knows I've hacked his profile yet? :p
He s such a hunk
78RRman
26th November 2012, 07:15 PM
I'd be in :D I will have to say this is Jas again otherwise 78RRM will kill me haha. Wonder if he knows I've hacked his profile yet? :p
He s such a hunk
Ahhh omg now I've been hacked hacking his profile :lol2: serves me right :p
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