DEFENDER HAS BEEN A REAL PLEASURE

[voltron]

What is it about the Defender. I think in stock form the only thing that lets it down is the ride comfort. Since I have added Billsteins and not been so fussy about how much weight it's carrying with accessories, the car just seems to have found it's perfect balance. The extra weight also has improved the ride quality a lot, once i added permanant fixtures in the load space like 60l water tank, drawers that are full all the time and fridge that runs constant with the 2nd battery. Every time I sit in it now it just feel perfect from seating position, to vehicle height to the ride and chassic dynamics. It's really a joy to drive. I don't find it noisy at all in overdrive, the windnoise is about the only issue and I get a bit frustrated driving hilly bits on long trips with the lack of power in the motor, I've been caught out passing someone and then they catch me on a long hill, then I pass them again and they think I'm one of those drivers who can't maintain a constant speed and **** them off.

My freinds have Rangers, BT 50's and Hilux's and they think I would be impressed with them when I go with them in their cars, and I am impressed by certain things but I just feel like I am in another car, nothing new, get me out of here. There is no argueing there ability and performance points.

Has everyone else found this balance and who isn't quite completely happy with there Defender yet??

Cheers

[Pickles2]

We're only six months into Defender ownership, coming off a previous range of high performance V8s, so the Defender is "different", very different, and we are DEFINITELY enjoying the experience. Perhaps the only "issue" we have, with repect to its on road performance, is its ability to overtake B Doubles, and B triples as we encountered on our Broken Hill trip....but obviously that's not a big issue, but overtaking anything, just requires a bit more care.
When we're in our Defender, we feel we're in a good place, and we're most definitely, comfortable.
Pickles.

[bemm52]

Love ours we bought a new 90 in 2013 as a shared car......couldnt get SWMBO out of the drivers seat........so by chance got a good deal on a 130 2013 but bought in 2014..... 15klms on clock runout thingo
Now we have one each its interesting to compare the two same year models as far as feel......hers is coming up to 20k, mines still as tight as at 2k needs to loosen up a bit
GO GO PUMAS !!!!!!!

only downside is the amount the dealers charge for servicing...............they sure play catch up on any specials they give on the sales side

[Drover]

Had my SVX since 2009 and still lov'n it.......go the PUMA's :D

[Lagerfan]

Now we have one each ...

We're thinking of going the same route and for the same reason, love our 90, only problem is the rows about who gets to drive, so thinking of picking up a 110 this year too if we can find the $$$ and last order dates permitting. Oh and I fancy a Perentie too, is this an illness?

[Larry]

............only downside is the amount the dealers charge for servicing...............they sure play catch up on any specials they give on the sales side

There are a lot of workshops around that know their Land Rovers back to front & charge a lot less than the dealers!:angel:

[manic]

My TDI 90 has been running super sweet recently, and its only 25 years old! Done some epic trips, all fun, zero drama.

... damn, I've gone and jinxed it now haven't I.

Good luck the Puma's!

[PAT303]

There are a lot of workshops around that know their Land Rovers back to front & charge a lot less than the dealers!:angel:

How are your dealers charging?,mine is $500 or so and the independants were $600 in Perth. Pat

[rijidij]

.........................Oh and I fancy a Perentie too, is this an illness?

Yes, it is an illness........and there's no cure :eek:

Cheers, Murray

[MLD]

I love my Puma. Having owned a TD5 110 and now a Puma the Puma is head and shoulders a better truck to drive. Less NVH, fresh interior, aircon that sort of works and blows on your face, comfy ergonomics, great first gear for off-road. The only thing I'd change from factory in the cabin is the height of the cubby box. It is too low. I'm getting scoliosis from the imbalance between cubby box and window sill.

Yesterday I was playing on the pipeline track in Newnes. The old girl walked through the ruts, rock steps and debris like it was a woollies car park. No wheel spin and let her do her thing in first low on antistall. Progress was halted only by the photographer wanting to relocate. My passenger/photographer was an 80 series driver that is fully kitted out with 35" muddies, big lift and twin lockers and he was impressed with the ease the old girl did it. I wanted to do the 'Oh what a feeling' jump but thought it might be a little cheeky.

For those moments of brilliance all other quirks and complaints melt away.

Did I say I love my Puma? Well I do.

MLD

[The Cone of Silence]

Voltron, I know what you mean about the weight; when I packed Monty up for the recent Simpson trip, he actually felt smoother and more comfortable with the extra weight.

MLD - get a Mulgo ExBox. It puts the top of the cubby box at the same height as the driver door so you get even armrests. it also frees up space under the driver's seat for a compressor for example, and moves the electrics inward and higher in the vehicle. Win-win!

I think I'm used to the noise now but I might explore a thin carpet on the ceiling now that I have the pop-top.

Being a passenger in my mates' cars (Ranger, Hi-Lux, Land Cruiser), they seem to handle the corrugations better than the Defender. Maybe it's just my suspension set-up....but I'm pretty sure that when it was stock they were noisy and very rattly too and seem less so in their cars.

But then, as mentioned, their cars have no soul or character which is important for me.

Bobby

[Cammo]

I'm still running stock suspension and drivetrain - except for wheels/tyres - whilst I save for the next round of upgrades. The only ride related complaint I have is insufficient dampening on the rear end when heavily loaded or towing upwards of 2 tonnes.

Drivability is worlds apart from what my 200tdi was under similar loads/conditions. Like everyone, I hunger for more power when climbing/overtaking/towing/any combination of the aforementioned.

I myself am in a better state after a long trip in the defender compared to anything else. Comfort for me is not a problem, but my wife gets a sore lower back after about six hours. A mulgo exbox is on the list to bring the cubbybox up to the height it should've been at from factory.

Despite its few shortcomings and quirks by the score, I can't think of another vehicle I'd rather have. Mine only has 34 500 kms on it, and they haven't been completely trouble free, but it has enabled us to see some spectacular sights and destinations already.

Defender. Awesome.

Note: not completely against the idea of a dual cab 6x6 perentie with decent sound deadening, heating, cooling, sound system decked out with a camper body on the back...... but too invested in this one at this stage....

[yogi_dog]

When you are in a defender you know your in a good 4wd and yes it may lack some a few mod cons but all the common models are so similiar and just like a car. I owned defender for years, kitted it out with suspension upgrade dual batteries, rear draws etc and it rides a lot better. The defender is like the old series models which I owned a few. No matter what the load they drive the same. Yeah lack a bit of power up steep hills but economical and reliable. Took ours 14,000km across the country with 3 kids and camper trailer an no drama at all.

Sent from my GT-P5110 using AULRO mobile app

[holsd90]

I had a high spec Audi for work and a 2012MY 90 for the weekends. Sold both two weeks ago to get a Range Rover Sport. Regret selling the 90 already even though I love the RRS. While a lot noisier, the 90 was still very comfortable to drive and had that X factor you all know.

[cal415]

Voltron, time for a remap.... no more issues on hills, its a puma right?

and Yes, i love my defender 130, my county 110, my RRS tdv8, small collection of discoverys and other rovers, etc etc etc etc... its a sickness.

[voltron]

Voltron, time for a remap.... no more issues on hills, its a puma right?

and Yes, i love my defender 130, my county 110, my RRS tdv8, small collection of discoverys and other rovers, etc etc etc etc... its a sickness.

Already looking into it mate. A workshop that used to tune my GTR who now tunes Deisels also because they said that market has boomed. They use the same software most euro companies use to reflash so I'm going to suss them out. I know there are others who do it but I have dealt with these guys for a long time and trust their ability in tuning especially for performance. And they may just have some other ideas that may not have been thought of. I will admit he laughed when I told him what I am driving now. ;)

[Orkney 90]

After driving Citroens for many years, I have to say the Defender is the best, most fun car I've ever had. I am enjoying my 90 so much that I will be looking for a LWB Series just for the sheer fun of it...

[Chops]

Been said many a time,, so much so that a few close ones on here joke about it :D

I find mine comfy and easy to drive, but there are issues with power, but nothing a chip cant fix.

Took another ute for a spin over in SA at Easter that was chipped,, wow what a difference. Just a simple plug in job that just transforms the car completely.

Have had a couple of warranty issues, but I still love my baby :D

[cal415]

Who is the tuning shop? i noticed the guys at streamline who did my 6L calais tune now do deisels, they quoted me 2k to do the TDV8 RRS, had to pass on that considering a mail order tune from the UK will probably be better and about a 1/4 of the costs

[Pickles2]

Puma tuning?...I think that whoever does it should know what they're doing, & REALLY be totally familiar with the Puma, otherwise massive problems can occur.
Plus, if anything goes wrong, I reckon local back up is a must.
In the UK, there's heaps of guys, I guess BAS is the most well known, but there's others who also do a good job,...a bit more hard to find in Aus?
Pickles.

[PAT303]

Trouble is I can't go anywhere without getting bailed up over mine,everyone wants to look over the X-Tech and everyone wants to ask me about the Tdi with my Hobie living on the roof.The good looking woman that chatted me up at the beach last week was alright though,no complaints there. Pat